Its Howdy Doody Time August 3rd 1949

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Who is this host, where Buffalo Bob Smith ?

ANSWERED BY @fromthesidelines

Ray Forrest, who hosted NBC's local "CHILDREN'S THEATER" in New York from 1949 through 1960, filled in for "Buffalo Bob" (as "Rodeo Ray") while Smith took a well-deserved vacation {of course, he pre-recorded Howdy's dialogue so that Ray would have someone to talk to}.

SUMMERY

Buffalo Bob Smith created Howdy Doody during his days as a radio announcer on WNBC. At that time, Howdy Doody was only a voice Smith performed on the radio.

When Smith made an appearance on NBC's television program Puppet Playhouse on December 27, 1947, the reception for the character was great enough to begin a demand for a visual character for television. Frank Paris, a puppeteer whose puppets appeared on the program, was asked to create a Howdy Doody puppet.

Bob Smith, the show's host, was dubbed "Buffalo Bob" early in the show's run (a reference both to the historical American frontier character Buffalo Bill and Smith's hometown of Buffalo, New York).

At first the set was supposed to be a circus tent, but soon was changed to a western town. Smith wore cowboy garb, as did the puppet. The name of the puppet "star" was derived from the American expression "howdy doody"/"howdy do," a commonplace corruption of the phrase "How do you do?" used in the Western United States.

(The straightforward use of that expression was also in the theme song's lyrics.) Smith, who had gotten his start as a singing radio personality in Buffalo, frequently used music in the program. Cast members Lew Anderson and Robert "Nick" Nicholson both were experienced jazz musicians.

As both the character and television program grew in popularity, demand for Howdy Doody-related merchandise began to surface. By 1948, toy makers and department stores had been approached with requests for Howdy Doody dolls and similar items.

Macy's department store contacted Frank Paris, the creator of the puppet, to ask about rights for a Howdy Doody doll. However, while Paris had created the puppet, Bob Smith owned the rights to the character.

An argument ensued between the two men, Paris claiming he felt he was being cheated out of any financial benefits. After one such disagreement, Paris took the puppet and angrily left the NBC studios about four hours before the show was to air live. It was not the first time this happened, leaving the live program with no "star".

With Paris's past disappearances, impromptu excuses regarding the whereabouts of Howdy Doody had been hastily concocted.

This time, an elaborate explanation was offered—that Howdy was busy with the elections on the campaign trail. NBC hurriedly constructed a map of the United States, which allowed viewers, with the help of Smith, to learn where Howdy was on the road. The explanation continued that while on the campaign trail, Howdy decided to improve his appearance with some plastic surgery.

This made it possible for the network to hire Disney animator Mel Shaw and his business partner Bob Allen to design (refer to U.S. Patent D156687 for a "new, original, and ornamental design" for the puppet) and Velma Wayne Dawson to build and operate a more handsome and appealing visual character than Paris's original, which had been called "the ugliest puppet imaginable" by Bob Smith.

Since Paris did not provide the voice of the character, Howdy's voice would stay the same after his appearance changed. The puppet that is remembered as the "original" Howdy Doody replaced Paris's original.