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3. Ozzie & Harriet (1952-1966) - This show seemed so real. The family of four was also a family of four in real life. The younger of the two boys (Ricky) was about the same age as me and I identified with him. Ricky launched his musical career with this show. He sold more records than all but Elvis. Two of his songs, Hello "Mary Lou" and "Traveling Man" still echo in my head even today. He was killed in a small plane accident similar to Jim Croce. I loved the bickering between Ricky and his older brother David ... "Oh yeah, yeah." I bought several of Ricky's albums. 2. Donna Reed Show (1958-1966) - This TV show was broadcast during my teenage years. The main star was also a star in one of my favorite movies ... Donna Reed. I watched this show not because of her but because I was crazy about the daughter in the show, Mary (Shelly Fabares). I watched her every week on the show, listened to her on the radio singing "Johnny Angel," saw her act with Elvis in three movies and then watched her act in later years as Christine on "Coach." She really caught my attention back then and I still have a special place for her in my heart. 1. Howdy Doody (1954-1959) - "Hey kids, what time is it? It's Howdy Doody time." That line may sound silly now, but it was a big deal to me when I was a kid. This show was on every day after school and I watched it regularly with my sisters. For a couple of years we would watch The Pinky Lee Show first, and that show would lead right into The Howdy Doody Show. Our family did not have a television until I was 8 years old, but as soon as we got one, I started watching this show. I had seen the Howdy show over at friends houses, but it was great to be able to see it at home. I did not like the puppets as much as I liked watching Buffalo Bob talking with the kids in the Peanut Gallery. I had a big desire to someday sit in the Peanut Gallery but never did. I watched all of the commercials intended for kids. Those included: Welch's Grape Jelly, Colgate and especially Wonder Bread. We begged our mother to buy Wonder Bread because "it helps build strong bodies 8 ways" but she bought less expensive bread. After the show was cancelled, the person that played Clarabell the Clown (Bob Keeshan) had a second TV show in which he created and played Captain Kangaroo. The Howdy Doody show included Dilly Dally, Flub-a-dub and Phineas T. Bluster, but my favorite was Princess Summerfall Winterspring. After my sisters and I graduated from Howdy Doody, we spent many, many days watching The Mickey Mouse Club, but Howdy was first and so he is on this list also. This show holds a special place within me because this is where I started my TV viewing.
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