Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')

Subject: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: Cool Beans
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 02:17 PM

One of the chief creative folks behind Howdy Doody, he took the tune "Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay" and turned it into "It's Howdy Doody Time."
    A good guy. I never made him but we had a couple of phone conversations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/arts/25kean.html?scp=1&sq=Edward%20Kean&st=cse

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: Janie
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 05:16 PM

May he rest in peace.    There will be many of us on Mudcat whose first experiences with television included a good dose of Howdy Doody.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: Amos
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 05:43 PM

"After leaving ÒHowdy DoodyÓ in 1955, Mr. Kean worked for several public relations firms. But music was his passion, and for many years he was a lounge pianist at hotels and clubs in Miami and Detroit. He once said that he was probably best known for coining the word ÒcowabungaÓ (originally spelled with a ÒkÓ) as a greeting for Chief Thunderthud, a character on the show. The word has become part of American vernacular, used by the cartoon character Bart Simpson and by the crime-fighting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

ÒYou know,Ó Mr. Kean said, ÒI tried to get my phone number listed as Cowabunga Kean, but couldnÕt get them to do it.Ó
"

(From above link)

---

So he ended up putting his brand on three or four generations of mindless munchkins in America. Well done, man....

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 05:46 PM

Too right. Though I saw a bit of TV before that, it was Buffalo Bob, Howdy, Clarabelle and all the rest that drew us to the set every night after school.

The years sneak up on you when you're not looking sometimes.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: GUEST,dwr
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 05:52 PM

Buffalo Bob: Say kids, what time is it?
Kids: It's Howdy Doody Time!

It's Howdy Doody Time.
It's Howdy Doody Time.
Bob Smith and Howdy Do
Say Howdy Do to you.
Let's give a rousing cheer,
Cause Howdy Doody's here,
It's time to start the show,
So kids let's go!

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 05:58 PM

Correction: I did a copy and paste up above, but I'm pretty sure that should be Bob Smith and Howdy too, not Howdy Do

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: beeliner
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 06:08 PM

Well, we used to sing it a bit differently:

"It's Howdy Doody Time
This show ain't worth a dime,
And as for Clarabelle,
He can go straight to..."

We didn't have TV back then, but there was a radio version on Saturday mornings, which was probably a selectively edited version of the daily TV shows, eliminating as many of the sight gags as possible.

There was an EXCELLENT book, Hey Kids, What Time Is It", which gave an extensive, unauthorized behind the scenes look at the show and its various cast members.

The author was the son of one of the show's execs. Can't remember his name but your library may have it.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 29 Aug 10 - 10:34 PM

I always wanted to sit in the Peanut Gallery. And the first Clarabell was Bob Keeshan, who later became Captain Kangaroo. Sorry to read about Ed Kean. His song brought smiles to my face and many others.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: EBarnacle
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 02:14 PM

I actually got to be part of the Peanut Gallery twice, when my cub scout group did the trip to the show. We got to watch the show being put together.

Then, as now, I am amazed by how many retakes are necessary for a brief segment on TV or video.

Lady Hillary and I sometimes work as "backgrounders" for various filmic events and, as with musicians, are constantly amazed that the less they pay, the more we, the "movable furniture," get abused.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: JJ
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 08:24 AM

Let me second beeliner's recommendation of Stephen Davis' book about the Howdy Doody show. But the title is, Say Kids! What Time Is It?

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: Genie
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 03:33 AM

So, Cool Beans, you say you never made Mr. Kean?
Do you mean you never met him? Or did you meet him but just let it go at that?

G ;D

Subject: RE: Obit: Ed Kean ('It's Howdy Doody Time')
From: Cool Beans
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 10:34 AM

G.,
It was between "never met him" and "never made his acquaintance." I guess I never decided.
CB