FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 09/05/2007

Howdy Doody Exhibit To Open Sept. 12 At Bridgewater College

BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Artifacts from one of the most popular of children's television programs in entertainment history "The Howdy Doody Show" will go on display in the Reuel B. Pritchett Museum at Bridgewater College beginning Sept. 12.

The exhibit will run through Dec. 31 and will be open Monday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The exhibit is open to the public at no charge.

"Remembering An American Icon: Howdy Doody, 1947-2007," will feature memorabilia collected by Ralph MacPhail Jr., former BC professor of theater and Howdy Doody aficionado. The exhibit will contain photos of the various characters who appeared on the show, puppets collected by MacPhail as a child, lunchboxes, games, comic books, props from the show and toys from the original production era to the present.

The exhibit will also feature a "living room" where visitors can watch DVDs of Howdy Doody shows.

"The Howdy Doody Show" appeared on NBC from 1947 to 1960 and was one of the first children's television programs and, reportedly, the most popular one of the 1950s. It was a pioneer in children's programming and was used by NBC to sell color television sets in the 50s. It also was the first television show to appear in color.

Baby Boomers continue to commemorate the show today. There's even a Doodyville Historical Society.

For further information, contact Dale Harter, the College's archivist and director of the museum, at 540-828-5457, or 540-828-5462.

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