Howdy was not even given a good behavior release to attend the unveiling of his bronze star on the NBC Walk of Fame.
Nor was he around when the a Howdy Doody Time website came to life a few weeks ago, he remained hidden away in Connecticut.
No, Howdy was not around, but he may be released soon. Currently there is a lawsuit involving the family of Rufus Rose (puppeteer) vs Detroit Institute of Arts. Both want custody of Howdy Doody -- the family to sell him at auction and the museum to display him in their large Puppet collection. The cases are being submitted today.
After the show went off the air the puppets went with Mr. Rose. The DIA claims NBC gave custody to Rose with the understanding that Howdy would be eventually joining the puppet collection at the museum and of course the family says -- not so! A letter written in 1970, from Rose to Smith, appears to strengthen the DIA's position.
In the early seventies Bob Smith "borrowed" the puppet for public appearances and he lived with Buffalo Bob until 1998. At that time Howdy was returned to the puppeteers family and was going to be auctioned off. Proceeds were to be split between Bob Smith and the Rose estate, but Smith died a few months later, before the auction could take place.
It has been suggested that the auction price of this American icon could bring as a high a price as $1,000,000. Unfortunately anytime this much money is involved, good intentions can fly out the window.
Updated: 5/11/00
Howdy Doody is still hidden away in a bank vault, but the case finally made it to court. Last week's hearing had lawyers for the family and the museum filing cross motions for a summary judgment. Each side now has two weeks to submit additional information.
And Now The Court's Decision
Howdy has finally been freed from the trunk and will be joining other well-known puppets at the Paul McPharlin Puppetry Collection, in the Detroit Institute of Arts.
From the Detroit Institute of Arts:
"United States District Court Judge Christopher F. Droney ruled the Detroit Institute of Arts is the rightful owner of the puppet, according to the terms of a 1967 contract between Howdy Doody show puppeteer Rufus Rose and NBC. "The ruling also authenticated the puppet, noting that in a 1970 letter to Buffalo Bob Smith, Rose referred to the puppet as 'the one and only original Howdy Doody'."
