Howdy Doody Headed to Museum

N E W   H A V E N, Conn. Jan. 26 -- Hey, kids! Howdy Doody is headed forDetroit!

The original freckle-faced marionette belongs to the DetroitInstitute of Arts, a federal judge said in a ruling that clears theway for Howdy to join the likes of Punch and Judy, Kermit the Frogand other puppets in the museum's collection.

The ruling, released Thursday, settles a custody battle of sortsbetween the museum and the family of the late Rufus Rose, thepuppeteer of Howdy Doody.

"Howdy Doody would be central to our collection," saidAnnmarie Erickson, spokeswoman for the museum. "He signifies theend of the theatrical era of puppetry and brings us into thetelevision age."

Donation Contested

The museum claimed that Rose, who took the puppet to hisWaterford, Conn., studio after The Howdy Doody Show went offthe air in 1960, promised to donate it. Rose's family argued thatthere was no promise and that the puppet may not even be theoriginal Howdy.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Droney, however, said the puppetis the same one used when the show ended — complete with the "wearand tear of over 2,000 shows" — and therefore belongs to themuseum.

The Rose family is deciding whether to appeal, said theirlawyer, Mark Block.

"Naturally, we're disappointed with the decision. We'll take agood, hard look at it," Block said.

The marionette has been kept in a Rhode Island bank vault duringthe dispute.

One Successful Puppet

The Howdy Doody Show went off the air after 13 seasons andmore than 2,500 shows. The puppet was joined in Doodyville, U.S.A.,by Clarabell the Clown, Princess Summerfall Winterspring, PhineasT. Bluster and others, including host Buffalo Bob Smith.

At the beginning of each show, Smith would ask: "What time isit?"

"It's Howdy Doody time!" the kiddie studio audience and babyboomers around the nation would gleefully respond.

Several copies of Howdy Doody were made, including a stunt"Double Doody," now at the Smithsonian Institution. "PhotoDoody," a Howdy Doody puppet without strings that was made forpublicity photo shoots and appearances, sold for $113,000 in 1997.