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

    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.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of E. Roger Muir

    E. Roger Muir on directing a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game

    03:49
    Thumbnail of E. Roger Muir

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

    03:08
    Thumbnail of E. Roger Muir

    E. Roger Muir on Bob Keeshan leaving the role of "Clarabell" on Howdy Doody

    06:40
    Thumbnail of E. Roger Muir

    E. Roger Muir on "Howdy Doody" changing appearance when they got a new puppet on Howdy Doody

    07:01
    Thumbnail of E. Roger Muir

    E. Roger Muir on the introduction of the first "Howdy Doody" puppet on Howdy Doody, and on "Howdy" running for president

    05:29
    Thumbnail of E. Roger Muir

    E. Roger Muir on how he would like to be remembered

    00:31
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television in 1939, and on going to work for NBC

    13:05

    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

    15:38

    Chapter 2

    On directing NBC Opera Theatre; on directing a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game; on directing Your Hit Parade

    10:56

    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

    18:30

    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

    10:19

    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

    17:55

    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

    10:46

    On Bob Keeshan leaving the role of "Clarabell" on Howdy Doody; on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's heart attack during the run of Howdy Doody

    10:43

    On Howdy Doody's transition to color; on working with "Buffalo" Bob Smith on Howdy Doody

    07:08

    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

    14:02

    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

    15:22

    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

    22:26

    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

    06:50

    Gumby

    E. Roger Muir on developing Gumby with Art Clokey

    05:07

    Howdy Doody

    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

    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

    E. Roger Muir on directing NBC Opera Theatre

    04:35

    Newlywed Game, The

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

    06:40

    Perry Como Show, The

    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

    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

    E. Roger Muir on directing Your Hit Parade

    02:31

    1939-40 World's Fair

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

    03:16

    Advice

    E. Roger Muir on advice to an aspiring producer

    01:03

    Historic Events and Social Change

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

    03:16

    Industry Crossroads

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

    05:14

    Pop Culture

    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

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

    05:14

    Television Industry

    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

    TV Theme Songs

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

    03:08

    Producers

    E. Roger Muir on advice to an aspiring producer

    01:03

    Children's Programming

    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

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

    06:40

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    E. Roger Muir on directing NBC Opera Theatre

    04:35

    E. Roger Muir on directing Your Hit Parade

    02:31

    Service Shows

    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

    E. Roger Muir on directing a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game

    03:49

    Paul Alley

    E. Roger Muir on Paul Alley

    01:09

    Art Clokey

    E. Roger Muir on developing Gumby with Art Clokey

    05:07

    Fred Coe

    E. Roger Muir on Fred Coe and Bob Stanton

    01:03

    Bob Keeshan

    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

    Pinky Lee

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

    04:26

    Shari Lewis

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

    04:26

    Bob Smith

    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

    Arturo Toscanini

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

    01:39

    Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

    E. Roger Muir on Sylvester L. Weaver

    02:22

    All Interviews

    Loading Interviews...