From the dawn of television...it's Howdy Doody time! It's Howdy Doody time!
Yes indeed, I consider myself not merely a sci-fi TV historian but a student of television history in general. Hence this fascinating collectible from approximately 57 years ago, relating to the once-popular kid's show, Howdy Doody.
Now, for X'ers like myself, probably the only time they've ever been exposed to Howdy Doody was on an early episode of Happy Days from the 1970s; wherein Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) joined a Howdy Doody look-a-like contest in hopes of snapping a photograph o fthe clown Clarabell with no make-up.
For Generation Y'ers...hmmm. Do you know who Howdy Doody is? I don't know...it's not something that's been re-run, and I don't think any episodes are available on DVD box sets...
Anyway, my wonderful mother-in-law gave me this collectible as a gift recently. It's labeled "made in the U.S.A." (not such a rarity in 1950...when this country still had a manufacturing base...), and copyrighted Harrett-Gilmar, Inc. It's also labeled "Another H-G" Toy and called on the box (as you can see..) a "Wiry Dan Electric Game."
Indeed, if you look closely at the playing board (see photo), with the clown's nose that lights up and all, this looks a LOT like an early model of that famous 1970s game, OPERATION. Only this is set at a circus...
Here's how you play (according to the instructions on the box): "Use coins or buttons for tokens or lift lower end of platform and remove silver tokens. Then replace platform. Choose for first and select a token. Start in upper left corner. First player spins arrow. When arrow stops, press arrowhead down on nearest silver circle and hold it down. Then touch wire to silver circles along the path in succession starting one space ahead of your position, until Clarabell's nose lights. Advance your token to silver circle that lit Clarabell's nose. If you stop on a spot by a message you must do what it says. The first player to go all through the circus and land on Howdy Doody's face by actual count, wins the game."
Some of the messages on the board include "scared by lions - lose 1 turn," "feed sugar to horse - gain 1 space," "water the elephant - gain 1 space" "squirted by Clarabell - lose 1 turn" and so on.
In all, this looks like it was a really fun game to play, and no doubt qualifies as one of the earliest TV toy tie-ins in history! Anyone out there have this as a kid? Or a parent who did? Go ahead, ask your folks who Howdy Doody is...
Yes indeed, I consider myself not merely a sci-fi TV historian but a student of television history in general. Hence this fascinating collectible from approximately 57 years ago, relating to the once-popular kid's show, Howdy Doody.
Now, for X'ers like myself, probably the only time they've ever been exposed to Howdy Doody was on an early episode of Happy Days from the 1970s; wherein Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) joined a Howdy Doody look-a-like contest in hopes of snapping a photograph o fthe clown Clarabell with no make-up.
For Generation Y'ers...hmmm. Do you know who Howdy Doody is? I don't know...it's not something that's been re-run, and I don't think any episodes are available on DVD box sets...
Anyway, my wonderful mother-in-law gave me this collectible as a gift recently. It's labeled "made in the U.S.A." (not such a rarity in 1950...when this country still had a manufacturing base...), and copyrighted Harrett-Gilmar, Inc. It's also labeled "Another H-G" Toy and called on the box (as you can see..) a "Wiry Dan Electric Game."
Indeed, if you look closely at the playing board (see photo), with the clown's nose that lights up and all, this looks a LOT like an early model of that famous 1970s game, OPERATION. Only this is set at a circus...
Here's how you play (according to the instructions on the box): "Use coins or buttons for tokens or lift lower end of platform and remove silver tokens. Then replace platform. Choose for first and select a token. Start in upper left corner. First player spins arrow. When arrow stops, press arrowhead down on nearest silver circle and hold it down. Then touch wire to silver circles along the path in succession starting one space ahead of your position, until Clarabell's nose lights. Advance your token to silver circle that lit Clarabell's nose. If you stop on a spot by a message you must do what it says. The first player to go all through the circus and land on Howdy Doody's face by actual count, wins the game."
Some of the messages on the board include "scared by lions - lose 1 turn," "feed sugar to horse - gain 1 space," "water the elephant - gain 1 space" "squirted by Clarabell - lose 1 turn" and so on.
In all, this looks like it was a really fun game to play, and no doubt qualifies as one of the earliest TV toy tie-ins in history! Anyone out there have this as a kid? Or a parent who did? Go ahead, ask your folks who Howdy Doody is...
Hello
ReplyDeleteI recently found this board game, my Mama had one as a kid and she doesn’t remember that it came with cloth napkin type characters. Do you know if it did, or are these cloth pieces I have from something else? Thanks so much