Howdy Doody
Surprises
TV Flash files “Surprises” as a desk essential hour — Howdy Doody (1947–1960) on NBC, season 2, episode 13, aired 1950-03-06, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E13: listed hour 14 of 21 in the Howdy Doody guide, hour 13 of 20 in season 2. It aired 1950-03-06 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Chief Chickapaw” (S02E12). Next is “Teaching Clarabell a Lesson” (S02E14).
Essential hour: “Surprises”. Surprises: a named hour that is the format's promise in one word — seltzer, gallery, and Buffalo Bob as ringmaster.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Surprises sit in the Howdy Doody guide?
S02E13 is listed hour 14 of 21 — hour 13 of 20 in season 2, season 2 episode 13.
When did Howdy Doody S02E13 air?
Surprises aired 1950-03-06 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Where should I start?
Start with Buffalo Bob, the marionette, and the Peanut Gallery at full shout — the call-and-response is the form. Clarabell (Keeshan then Anderson) is the side door.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Howdy Doody is Peanut Gallery screams, Clarabell's seltzer, and Buffalo Bob asking what time it is. Pioneer children's television that proved kids could own a national slot and a merch empire. In 2026 it is the circus model later hosts rewrote — plus the silent-clown lore of Keeshan then Lew Anderson.
Say kids, what time is it? (I know. Liturgy. I still typed it.) *Howdy Doody* is the original group chat with a scream track: freckled marionette, Peanut Gallery, Clarabell's seltzer, Buffalo Bob Smith hosting NBC from 1947 to 1960. Pioneer children's television that proved kids could own a national time slot and a merch empire. The timeline would have ratio'd the clown. The living room just screamed back.
Filed against
- Bob Smith as Buffalo Bob Smith
Bob Smith’s Buffalo Bob asked Howdy Doody what time it was — Peanut Gallery screams, Clarabell’s seltzer, pioneer children’s television that proved kids could own a national slot and a merch empire. The circus model later hosts rewrote.…
- Howdy Doody as Howdy Doody (marionette)
Howdy Doody was the marionette who proved kids could own a national slot — Peanut Gallery screams, Clarabell's seltzer, Buffalo Bob asking what time it is, a merch empire in a 1950s circus model later hosts rewrote. TV Flash files him as…
- Lew Anderson as Clarabell the Clown
Lew Anderson kept the seltzer coming as Clarabell the Clown on Howdy Doody — silent-clown lore in a Peanut Gallery empire that proved kids could own a national slot and a merch machine. Buffalo Bob asked the time; the horn answered. TV…
- Bob Keeshan as Clarabell (early)
Bob Keeshan’s early Clarabell made Howdy Doody a seltzer religion — 1950s catalog Peanut Gallery screams, then Captain Kangaroo turning the silent clown into Treasure House calm. TV Flash files him as children’s TV’s best glow-up: noise…