Howdy Doody Look-a-like Contest - NBC ran a contest in 1950 to locate a legitimate double of the puppet Howdy Doody, the star of the popular children's program HOWDY DOODY SHOW/NBC/1947-60. The network received 17,231 snapshots before settling on five-year-old entrant, Billy Oltman from East Patchogue, New York. Billy appeared with his bandana and western shirt on the 500th anniversary of the show and was showered with 500 gifts. Now that kid ain't no dummy. Clarabell the Clown who co-starred on HOWDY DOODY was once raffled off to a lucky fan. The prankster clown visited the home of the fan who wrote the best twenty-five words or less letter saying why he or she wanted Clarabell to stay with them.