E. Roger Muir

Producer / Director / Executive
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-hour interview, E. Roger Muir (1918-2008) discusses his early television producing experiences for NBC, including bringing The Perry Como Show from radio to television. He details directing NBC Opera Theatre, Your Hit Parade, as well as baseball games for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He talks about becoming the producer of the popular children's program Howdy Doody, which he produced throughout the program's run. He chronicles the run of Howdy Doody, including the different puppets used, the popularity of "Buffalo" Bob Smith and "Clarabell the Clown," and the show's transition to color. He also speaks about the creation of Gumby, which debuted on the program. He then chronicles his job heading children's programming at NBC before leaving NBC to produce game shows. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 20, 1999 in Wolfeboro, NH.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"After the very first show, 'Variety' comes out and the review didn't say 'Puppet Playhouse,' it said, '"Howdy Doody's" a hit!'"

People Talking About ...
E. Roger Muir
Highlights
E. Roger Muir on directing a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game
03:49
E. Roger Muir on the Howdy Doody's theme song and music
03:08
E. Roger Muir on Bob Keeshan leaving the role of "Clarabell" on Howdy Doody
06:40
E. Roger Muir on "Howdy Doody" changing appearance when they got a new puppet on Howdy Doody
07:01
E. Roger Muir on the introduction of the first "Howdy Doody" puppet on Howdy Doody, and on "Howdy" running for president
05:29
E. Roger Muir on how he would like to be remembered
00:31
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television in 1939, and on going to work for NBC
On producing early service shows on NBC starting in 1947, including I Love to Eat and You Are an Artist; on bringing The Perry Como Show to television from radio, and on meeting "Buffalo" Bob Smith; on directing operas for NBC, conducted by Arturo Toscanini

Chapter 2
On directing NBC Opera Theatre; on directing a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game; on directing Your Hit Parade
On the beginning of Howdy Doody; on the studio audience of Howdy Doody, which was made up of children, and on becoming producer of the show; on the introduction of the first "Howdy Doody" puppet on Howdy Doody, and on "Howdy" running for president

Chapter 3
On the advertisers of Howdy Doody; on Bob Keeshan as "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody; on how the peanut gallery got its name on Howdy Doody
On "Buffalo" Bob Smith getting his nickname on Howdy Doody and on the "Howdy Doody for President" storyline on the show; on "Howdy Doody" changing appearance when they got a new puppet on Howdy Doody; on the puppeteers and supporting characters of the show

Chapter 4
On the Howdy Doody's theme song and music; on his day-to-day duties on Howdy Doody, and on the crew of the show; on the 1976 revival of Howdy Doody
On Bob Keeshan leaving the role of "Clarabell" on Howdy Doody; on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's heart attack during the run of Howdy Doody
On Howdy Doody's transition to color; on working with "Buffalo" Bob Smith on Howdy Doody

Chapter 5
On the last Howdy Doody broadcast, and on the legacy of the show; on working with Pinky Lee and Shari Lewis at NBC; on developing Gumby with Art Clokey
On working in children's programming; on leaving NBC, and on developing and producing The Newlywed Game with Chuck Barris; on the Quiz Show Scandals and on producing game shows in Canada

Chapter 6
On his then-recent projects; on his advice to aspiring producers; on how he would like to be remembered and on various people he worked with in his career
On b-roll photos from his career- puppets from Howdy Doody; "Clarabell the Clown" and "Howdy Doody"; Lou Anderson as "Clarabell"; "Buffalo" Bob Smith with "Howdy Doody"; "Buffalo" Bob Smith with the 1976 "Howdy Doody"; "Howdy Doody"; "Howdy Doody" with his parts off; Jim Beard the chef; with "Buffalo" Bob Smith and Lou Anderson; headshot of E. Roger Muir; Studio 3H at 30 Rock; a mobile unit truck; cast of Downtown Quarterback; Sonja Henie and friends at the 21 Club
Shows

Gumby

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E. Roger Muir on developing Gumby with Art Clokey
05:07

Howdy Doody

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E. Roger Muir on the creation of Howdy Doody, hosted by "Buffalo" Bob Smith
09:38
E. Roger Muir on the studio audience of Howdy Doody which was made up of children, and on becoming producer of the show
03:23
E. Roger Muir on the introduction of the first "Howdy Doody" puppet on Howdy Doody, and on "Howdy" running for president
05:29
E. Roger Muir on the advertisers of Howdy Doody
01:44
E. Roger Muir on Bob Keeshan as "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
04:44
E. Roger Muir on how the peanut gallery got its name on Howdy Doody
03:51
E. Roger Muir on "Buffalo" Bob Smith getting his nickname on Howdy Doody
00:58
E. Roger Muir on the "Howdy Doody for President" storyline on the show
01:44
E. Roger Muir on "Howdy Doody" changing appearance when they got a new puppet on Howdy Doody, and on the merchandising of the show
07:01
E. Roger Muir on the puppeteers of Howdy Doody, and on the supporting characters of the show
08:12
E. Roger Muir on the Howdy Doody's theme song and music
03:08
E. Roger Muir on his day-to-day duties on Howdy Doody, and on the crew of the show
03:52
E. Roger Muir on the 1976 revival of Howdy Doody
03:44
E. Roger Muir on Bob Keeshan leaving the role of "Clarabell" on Howdy Doody
06:40
E. Roger Muir on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's heart attack during the run of Howdy Doody
04:02
E. Roger Muir on Howdy Doody's transition to color
02:25
E. Roger Muir on working with "Buffalo" Bob Smith on Howdy Doody
04:43
E. Roger Muir on the last Howdy Doody broadcast, and on the legacy of the show
04:29

I Love to Eat

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E. Roger Muir on producing early service shows on NBC starting in 1947, including I Love to Eat and You Are an Artist
07:00

NBC Opera Theatre

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E. Roger Muir on directing NBC Opera Theatre
04:35

Newlywed Game, The

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E. Roger Muir on leaving NBC, and on developing and producing The Newlywed Game with Chuck Barris
06:40

Perry Como Show, The

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E. Roger Muir on bringing The Perry Como Show to television from radio, and on meeting "Buffalo" Bob Smith
06:59

You Are an Artist

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E. Roger Muir on producing early service shows on NBC starting in 1947, including I Love to Eat and You Are an Artist
07:00

Your Hit Parade

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E. Roger Muir on directing Your Hit Parade
02:31
Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

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E. Roger Muir on the first time he saw television in 1939, and on going to work for NBC
03:16

Advice

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E. Roger Muir on advice to an aspiring producer
01:03

Historic Events and Social Change

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E. Roger Muir on the first time he saw television in 1939, and on going to work for NBC
03:16

Industry Crossroads

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E. Roger Muir on the Quiz Show Scandals and on producing game shows in Canada
05:14

Pop Culture

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E. Roger Muir on how the peanut gallery got its name on Howdy Doody, and on how "Clarabell the Clown" got his name
03:51
E. Roger Muir on the Howdy Doody's theme song and music
03:08

Quiz Show Scandals

View Topic
E. Roger Muir on the Quiz Show Scandals and on producing game shows in Canada
05:14

TV Theme Songs

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E. Roger Muir on the Howdy Doody's theme song and music
03:08

Television Industry

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E. Roger Muir on the Quiz Show Scandals and on producing game shows in Canada
05:14
E. Roger Muir on advice to an aspiring producer
01:03
E. Roger Muir on the then-current state of children's programming
01:46
Professions

Producers

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E. Roger Muir on advice to an aspiring producer
01:03
Genres

Children's Programming

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E. Roger Muir on producing Howdy Doody
18:30
E. Roger Muir on producing Howdy Doody
28:14
E. Roger Muir on producing Howdy Doody
28:37
E. Roger Muir on developing Gumby with Art Clokey
05:07

Game Shows

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E. Roger Muir on leaving NBC, and on developing and producing The Newlywed Game with Chuck Barris
06:40

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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E. Roger Muir on directing NBC Opera Theatre
04:35
E. Roger Muir on directing Your Hit Parade
02:31

Service Shows

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E. Roger Muir on producing early service shows on NBC starting in 1947, including I Love to Eat and You Are an Artist
07:00

Sports

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E. Roger Muir on directing a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game
03:49
People

Art Clokey

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E. Roger Muir on developing Gumby with Art Clokey
05:07

Arturo Toscanini

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E. Roger Muir on directing operas for NBC, conducted by Arturo Toscanini
01:39

Bob Keeshan

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E. Roger Muir on Bob Keeshan as "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
04:44
E. Roger Muir on Bob Keeshan leaving the role of "Clarabell" on Howdy Doody
06:40

Bob Smith

View Interview Page
E. Roger Muir on bringing The Perry Como Show to television from radio, and on meeting "Buffalo" Bob Smith
06:59
E. Roger Muir on the creation of Howdy Doody, hosted by "Buffalo" Bob Smith
09:38
E. Roger Muir on "Buffalo" Bob Smith getting his nickname on Howdy Doody
00:58
E. Roger Muir on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's heart attack during the run of Howdy Doody
04:02
E. Roger Muir on working with "Buffalo" Bob Smith on Howdy Doody
04:43

Fred Coe

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E. Roger Muir on Fred Coe and Bob Stanton
01:03

Paul Alley

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E. Roger Muir on Paul Alley
01:09

Pinky Lee

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E. Roger Muir on working with Pinky Lee and Shari Lewis at NBC
04:26

Shari Lewis

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E. Roger Muir on working with Pinky Lee and Shari Lewis at NBC
04:26

Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

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E. Roger Muir on Sylvester L. Weaver
02:22

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