[DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?{1}] (Variation of the theme song for the Howdy Doody Show){2} Written by: Unknown Performed by: Circa'58 & P-Nut Gold or The P-Nut Gallery First Released: 1958

Appears on:

Singles: Circa '58 & the P-Nut Gold A-side: "Do You Know What Time It Is?" B-side: Unknown (Radio Active Gold-Buddah, 45rpm, #RD-63)-1958;

P-Nut Gallery A-Side: "Do You Know What Time It Is?" B-side: "Lanny's Gold" (Buddah, 45 rpm, #BDA-239)-1971;

Albums: Rare Novelty, Vol. 1 [Various Artists] (CD, #NO-1955)-2008{11}.

{1}"Do You Know What Time It Is" is based on the theme song to the Howdy Doody Show. Each show began with Buffalo Bob Smith{6} asking, "Say kids, what time is it?" and the kids on the show would yell in unison, "It's Howdy Doody Time!" Then the kids all sang the show's theme song (set to the tune of "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay").

{2}The Howdy Doody Show was a children's television program with a frontier/western theme, that was broadcast on NBC in the United States from 1947 until 1960. It was a pioneer in children's programming and a pioneer in early color TV production as NBC (at the time owned by TV maker RCA) who used the show, in part, to sell color television sets in the 1950s.

{3}Howdy Doody himself was a redheaded, freckle-faced (48 freckles, one for each state of the union), boy, marionette and was originally voiced by Buffalo Bob Smith. The name of the puppet "star" was derived from the western U.S. expression "howdy do," shortened from the more straightforward form of the greeting, "How do you do?" This gap-toothed puppet in cowboy boots remains a favorite of the Baby Boomers' childhood memories and popular culture icon.

{4}All were recurring, marionette characters on the show.

{5}Clarabell the Clown was a human character who didn't talk and communicated by honking horns on his belt and squirting seltzer. The role was first played by Bob Keeshan (1947-1953), who went on to become, Captain Kangaroo, host of another children's TV show of the era; Bobby "Nick" Nicholson (1953-1955) and Lew Anderson (1955-1957).

{6}The Howdy Doody Show was hosted by Bob Smith (November 27, 1917-July 30, 1998), who was dubbed, "Buffalo Bob," early in the show's run. Smith wore cowboy garb, and, for a time, did the voice of Howdy Doody. Bob got his start as a singing radio personality in Buffalo, New York, and used music frequently in the program.

{7}Dilly-Dally was a curious marionette, a combination of eight different animals: a duck's bill, a cat's whiskers, a spaniel's ears, a giraffe's neck, a dachshund's body, a seal's flippers, a pig's tail, and an elephant's memory.

{8}Princess Summerfall Winterspring, originally a puppet, was later played by the actress Judy Tyler (1949-1953) and Linda Marsh (1953-1957).

{9}Chief Thunderthud, head of the Ooragnak (kangaroo spelled backward) Tribe of Native Americans was a live character played by Bill LeCornec.

{10}A distinctive feature of the show was the "peanut gallery," which were on-stage bleachers, seating about 40 kids chosen from the studio audience before the show.

{11}Transcribed from the track on this album.

Some interesting side notes:

[1]Howdy Doody did not make an appearance on the first show because the marionette had not been finished in time. Instead, Buffalo Bob Smith pretended that the puppet was in a box!

[2]The title of the comic strip, Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz, was derived from the peanut gallery featured in the Howdy Doody show.

[3]Heidi Doody was Howdy's sister, and appeared on the show from time to time. There were several other puppet and human characters that appeared from time to time.

[4]The original Howdy Doody marionette now resides at the Detroit Institute of Arts. There were also duplicate Howdy Doody puppets, used expressly for off-the-air purposes. Double Doody, the Howdy stand-in puppet for lighting and rehearsals, (now on permanent display at the Smithsonian) and Photo Doody, the near-stringless marionette that was used in personal appearances, photos and parades (sold in 1997 for more than $113,000 to a private art collector).

[5]Clarabell never spoke on the show until after the closing credits of the very final episode! Even then, while nearly in tears, all Clarabell said was, "Goodbye, Kids."