This was the first nationally televised American children's television show.
Clarabell the Clown never spoke on camera until the very last episode. While large amounts of money were offered by advertisers to have him say the sponsor's name or product, all offers were refused. After the closing credits of the very last episode, a drumroll was played, and Clarabell, holding back tears, softly said, "Goodbye, kids."
This was the first NBC show to air five days a week.
This was the first show ever to air more than 1,000 episodes.
In addition to Howdy Doody, the cast of marionettes included:
- Flub-a-Dub, a strange creature made up of seven animals in one, whose favorite food was meatballs and spaghetti;
- Dilly Dally, a baseball-capped young boy who could wiggle his ears;
- Phineas T. Bluster, the resident skinflint and mayor of Doodyville and nemesis of Howdy; one of the Bluster triplets.
- Inspector Fadoozle, forever peering through his magnifying glass, who billed himself as "America's number one private eye".