Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:14:33 -0400
From: conradhartz-AT-islc.net
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Me and Howdy


I've rejoined Pupcrit and want to mention a Howdy Doody story.   Howdy  
spent the night in my home in 1996 after I conviced Bob Smith to bring  
him down from North Carolina and appear at our mini  
puppeteer/ventriloquist convention here in Beaufort, SC.   This was  
the original number 2 model and now resides in Detroit.  Howdy was  
very heavy to operate due to the large amount of plastic wood in his  
head.  It was thick(1/3 to 1/2").   But hey, did I care?  He was in my  
home!  I operated Howdy for Bob in the show while standing on a table  
behind Bob's piano.  It was a recorded voice for Howdy(Bob's) in  
conversation with him as well as singing the old songs.  My arms felt  
like gorilla arms after 15 minutes on stage.

Bob told me old stories that were a hoot.  He wondered how much Howdy  
was worth.
I told him to start at one million bucks.  Start there.  He knew that  
Howdy was up for grabs after his death.   He still had "photo Doody"  
which was a duplicate doll with mouth movement only.   NBC called me  
and wanted to see a tape of the show so they could determine whether  
they wanted to do an anniversary special on Howdy and Bob.   It did  
not come about.  Bob died two years later.   He admitted many errors  
in business deals, recognitions of artwork, etc.   They were making  
moolah in those days with commercials, endorsements and toys.   Poor  
Velma was only paid pennies............

Conrad Hartz


Conrad Hartz....Professional Puppets in Wood
3140 Clydesdale Circle S., Beaufort, SC 29906
http://www.geocities.com/conradhartz/mypage.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/g/k/gkoepke/hartz
1-843-525-6352

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