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R.I.P. Clarabell, Howdy Doody Show

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Wed May 17, 2006 at 07:20:14 PM EST
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Lew Anderson, who played Clarabell on the Howdy Doody show from 1954 to 1960 has died of cancer at age 84.

Long mute as Clarabell, Anderson broke the clown's silence in the show's final episode in 1960. With trembling lips and a visible tear in his eye, he spoke the show's final words: "Goodbye, kids." Though Anderson was not the only man to play "Buffalo Bob" Smith's mute sidekick, he was the best, Smith said in his memoir.

Occasionally I was fortunate enough to be one of the kids in the Howdy Doody Show peanut gallery. Once, I got to cut the cupcake for Buffalo Bob during the Hostess commerical. But Clarabell is who I remember most. All of the kids would squeal and scream with delight at his antics. He would run up and down the aisle with a seltzer bottle that had a squirt top . One time he sprayed my brand new dress and I cried and cried. But I still went back whenever I could get my mother to take me.

Bob Keeshan, best known as Captain Kangaroo, played Clarabell before Mr. Anderson. He died in 2004, Skippy wrote a nice tribute to him. But he left the show in 1952, which was a few years before I was old enough to go to the show and be in the peanut gallery. Mr. Anderson is the Clarabell I remember.

R.I.P. Clarabell, and thank you for such great childhood memories.

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    R.I.P. Clarabell, Howdy Doody Show | 12 comments (12 topical)
    Re: R.I.P. Clarabell, Howdy Doody Show (none / 0) (#1)
    by teacherken on Wed May 17, 2006 at 07:56:38 PM EST
    I wasn't regular, but my sister and I got to be in the Peanut Gallery once. I do not know who was playing Clarabelle then, but it would have been around 1950 or 1951. It was an important memory of my childhood. Thanks for letting us know.

    Re: R.I.P. Clarabell, Howdy Doody Show (none / 0) (#2)
    by squeaky on Wed May 17, 2006 at 08:03:16 PM EST
    From the picture Clarabell looks like an amazing creature. A star for sure.

    Re: R.I.P. Clarabell, Howdy Doody Show (none / 0) (#3)
    by mpower1952 on Wed May 17, 2006 at 09:32:41 PM EST
    To this day, I remember watching the last Howdy Doody show. When Clarabelle said "Goodbye, kids" I cried my eyes out. HD was my favorite Saturday morning show. I don't remember too many episodes but there was one when the Indian princess turned 4 years old, yet she was obviously not a young child. Turned out she was born on February 29th.

    Re: R.I.P. Clarabell, Howdy Doody Show (none / 0) (#4)
    by TomStewart on Wed May 17, 2006 at 11:39:23 PM EST
    Frankie Thomas, better known as Tom Corbett, passed away this week as well. TeacherKen: The Clarabell you saw was probably Bob Keeshen, who played the part from 1948 until '53, he later became Captain Kangaroo.

    Re: R.I.P. Clarabell, Howdy Doody Show (none / 0) (#5)
    by rdandrea on Thu May 18, 2006 at 05:59:29 AM EST
    Lucky You! We had tickets for the peanut gallery once (I lived in Northern NJ) but the day of the show we had a blizzard.

    Re: R.I.P. Clarabell, Howdy Doody Show (none / 0) (#6)
    by Bob In Pacifica on Thu May 18, 2006 at 06:48:19 AM EST