The Howdy Doody Show - Clarabell Speaks & Other Episodes [VHS]
by Sandy Howard

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VHS Movie Reviews of The Howdy Doody Show - Clarabell Speaks & Other Episodes [VHS]

Movie Review: Fantastic Tape! Very well done!
Summary: 5 Stars

Movie Review: Experience or REexperience this show's crazy magic!
Summary: 5 Stars

This is THE tape for anyone who wants to experience the SAME magic -- or REexperience it. A MUST to own!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It contains four Howdy Doody episodes, including the famous final Clarabell speaks episode in which the camera zooms in and the clown says "Good-bye Kids!" (just before the camera blacks out, Clarabell/Lew Anderson blinks...he was crying for real).

But this is NOT just a nostalgia tape! It's a MUST-own for anyone interested in truly FUNNY kids programming with a lot of pizazz. The hour-long final color episode is included with three black and white ones. But the question is:

Can modern kids watch it? I watched this with my foster son's daughter Kayla, 6, who, minutes into the video insisted on seeing ALL of them. And when the most famous host in t.v. history "Buffalo Bob" Smith did commercials for Wonderbread, Hostess Twinkees and a since discontinued cereal, she wanted to go to the store to buy the products. Her brother, Greg, 9, intently watched the shows, too, laughing, but later added: "I saw too many strings..."

Actually, the marionette puppets still look quite good. I was struck by how well the silly (sometimes overlong)slapstick bits hold up. And, above all, at Smith's incredible showmanship -- from his comic timing during comedy bits to his wonderful songs to his interaction with Howdy (Howdy was Smith's voice on tape). All of it is broadly played but still funny a la Abbott & Costello style schtick comedy, yet with a gentle touch of the Three Stooges (Chief Thundercloud, my favorite, getting constantly squirted in the face with seltzer by Clarabell.)

This is THE TAPE to own if you want to see what the "magic" was -- and is -- in this pioneer kids show that lasted 13 years. Or if you want to see super t.v. history. Or if you're interested in VOICE OVERS (voice characterizations for the puppets were SUPERB), Or want to see marionette puppetry at its best...or mostly enjoy Smith -- the quintessential classy kids show host and a role model for anyone aspiring to be a showman or showwoman. Tape quality: EXCELLENT from the b&ws to the color (which is the actual color video)since they were printed from NBC originals. FOOTNOTE: It was weird seeing that final episode again...but this tape made me realize why this program was my favorite and had such an impact on my life (I'm now a fulltime ventriloquist). MY HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

Movie Review: A gem from before my time
Summary: 5 Stars

Best of all, this tape -- also available on DVD -- includes the hour-long final original episode of "Howdy Doody," on beautiful color tape. The last two years of the show were videotaped in advance rather than live -- but a fire in the 1980's destroyed all of these color tapes except the final one. But what a treasure it is! It is just like going back in time and watching the show new. We see Buffalo Bob and the kids in the Peanut Gallery. We see Howdy and Clarabell and Chief Thunderthud and all the rest in "living color" as they say at the beginning of the show!

All four shows on this video, except the final color one, are shown via nice-looking black-and-white kinescopes, and all the shows are courtesy of NBC! And they all include the nostalgic commercials for Wonder Bread and others. This is highly recommended, and long overdue on video.

Summary of The Howdy Doody Show - Clarabell Speaks & Other Episodes [VHS]

7-9 Years Video

• Genres > Kids & Family
• Television > Classic TV