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Toys and Games ➔ Marionette, Howdy Doody
Identifier:
2014.38.1Description:
An articulated marionette of the famous television character Howdy Doody. The marionette has a painted plastic head, hands, and feet, a cloth body, a set of strings, and a control panel. The marionette is contained in its original packaging which indicates it was designed by Raye Copeland and manufactured by Peter Puppet Playthings, Inc..Howdy Doody was an incredibly important cultural phenomena of the late 1940s and 1950s. Originally a character created for radio by "Buffalo" Bob Smith, Howdy Doody made his first television appearence on NBC in 1947. The popular children's program featured a whole cast of characters, both human and puppet, who interacted regularly with the live studio audience, a group of children known as the "Peanut Gallery." The show which ran regularly on NBC through 1960 inspired countless merchandise spin-offs, such as this marionette. One of the most popular and groundbreaking children's television programs of all time, Howdy Doody was a pioneer in the move to color television, in using puppetry to connect with young audiences, on air audience participation, and perhaps not so positively, in advertising directed at children.
Date:
circa 1952Materials:
Plastic, Cloth, CardboardDimensions:
16" h 6" w 4" dCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift of Kathleen Johnston-CalatiLinks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlRKmAMrK8sExhibit/Program:
TOYS! (2018 – 2020)This GRPM original exhibit featured toys and games from the museum’s collections in meticulously crafted displays representing childhood in different eras. This interactive, multi-generational exhibition of toys and games is sure to rekindle childhood memories and spark the creation of new ones.
