The show's host was "Buffalo Bob" (Bob Smith, 1917-1998), who wore cowboy garb. A distinctive feature was the "peanut gallery", on-stage bleachers seating about 40 kids. Each show began with Bob asking, "Say kids, what time is it?" and the kids yelling in unison, "It's Howdy Doody Time!"

Howdy Doody himself was a freckle-faced boy marionette, and was voiced by Bob Smith. Other puppet characters included Heidi Doody (Howdy's sister), Mr. Bluster, Dilly Dally, Princess Summerfall Winterspring and the curious Flub-a-Dub (a combination of eight animals).

There also were several human characters, most notably Clarabell the clown, who communicated by honking horns on his belt and squirting seltzer, and Chief Thunderthud, who originated the cry "Kowabunga!". Princess Summerfall Winterspring, originally a puppet, was later played by an actress. The characters inhabited the fictional town of "Doodyville".

Clarabell was first played by Bob Keeshan, who continued in that role until 1949. Keeshan later became Captain Kangaroo. At the end of the final episode, Clarabell (then played by Lew Anderson) broke his series-long silence to sadly say, "Goodbye, kids".

The New Howdy Doody Show aired from August 1976 to January 1977 in syndication.

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