Image: Ugly Howdy Doody 1948

Description: Photo of the Howdy Doody Show from 1948 when the puppets used on the program were those created by Frank Paris. Howdy Doody is seen on the photo's right. In this same year, Paris and Bob Smith had an argument, with Paris leaving the NBC studios with his puppets. This had happened before, leaving the live children's program without its star and forcing Smith to improvise excuses. The network decided to let Paris stay away permanently. They quickly came up with a storyline that Howdy Doody was on the campaign trail for the 1948 elections, as he had been running for president. NBC also put together a map so Howdy's whereabouts could be tracked on television. NBC then used the time to hire a puppet maker named Velma Dawson to create a more photogenic Howdy Doody, which is the one most people remember.
Title: Ugly Howdy Doody 1948
Credit: Radio and Television Mirror page 55
Author: Macfadden Publications page 2
Permission: Copyright not renewed.
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No