Howdy Doody is an American children's television series that premiered on NBC on December 27, 1947. Hosted by Buffalo Bob Smith, the series ran until September 24, 1960.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
With the immense success of the Howdy Doody TV series, Macy's partnered with NBC to create a brand-new balloon based on the program for the 1949 Parade.
The balloon featured the show's titular character hanging from a balloon that was recycled from a previous balloon, with the faces of other characters from the TV series, such as Mister Bluster, the Flub-a-Dub and Buffalo Bob. The balloon was constructed by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and the figure was constructed by Wayne, New Jersey, residents Martin Neil and Frank Mendez.
Despite the series being popular, the balloon has not been seen since, as it was disposed of not long after its initial appearance. Since the balloon's retirement, Howdy Doody has been represented in the parade multiple times through live appearances. In 1961 and 1976, the Howdy Doody character appeared as a walk-around character, riding aboard the Tom Turkey float during the latter year's parade.
In 1987, the walk-around version of Howdy Doody once again appeared in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, following close behind the Woody Woodpecker balloon alongside Clarabelle the Clown and Buffalo Bob Smith.
The character was last represented in the Parade in 1988, through the form of a classic ventriloquist puppet. Since the aforementioned appearance, the Parade has been without any related Howdy Doody representation.
Gallery[]
- Howdy Doody/Gallery
- Buffalo Bob Smith, the host of Howdy Doody