The Howdy Doody automaton is more than 70 years old. Gruber is 99. "I was involved in the Howdy Doody show," Gruber said the other day, showing off his pride and joy. "I duplicated the puppet." ...

The Howdy Doody automaton is more than 70 years old. Gruber is 99. "I was involved in the Howdy Doody show," Gruber said the other day, showing off his pride and joy. "I duplicated the puppet." ...

The Howdy Doody automaton talking puppet that was created by Mathew Gruber, 99, in the 1950’s, a duplicate of the puppet used on the famous children’s TV show.

Frank Paris, whose puppets appeared on the show, was asked to make a Howdy Doody puppet. Two NBC producers jumped on the concept and the Howdy Doody show was born.

The museum claims in its lawsuit that Rose and "Buffalo Bob" Smith, the host of The Howdy Doody Show, agreed years ago to donate the original 27-inch-tall wooden puppet to the museum.

It worked then. And it still works now. The Howdy Doody automaton is more than 70 years old. Gruber is 99. "I was involved in the Howdy Doody show," Gruber said the other day, showing off his pride ...