Lew Anderson
Encyclopedia
Lewis Burr Anderson was an American
actor
and musician
, most famous for being the third and final actor to portray Clarabell the Clown
on Howdy Doody
between 1954 and 1960. He famously spoke Clarabell's first and only line on the program on the show's final episode in 1960, with a tear visible in his eye, "Goodbye, kids."
Anderson was born in Kirkman, Iowa
, the son of a railroad telegrapher. He began playing his sister's clarinet
when she tired of it, and by high school had formed his own dance band. After a year in junior college in Fort Dodge, Iowa
, he received a music scholarship to Drake University
in Des Moines. He attended for two years, but then quit school to begin his professional musical life by accepting a job with the Lee Barron
Orchestra, a territory band
based out of Omaha
.
During World War II
, Anderson served in the United States Navy
where he started his first band. After serving in the Navy in World War II, he joined the Carlos Molinas Latin Orchestra, where he also wrote the American dance arrangements. In the late 1940s, he joined The Honey Dreamers
, a singing group that appeared on radio and early television shows like The Ed Sullivan Show
. While working with the group, he met "Buffalo" Bob Smith
who offered him the role on the Howdy Doody show. Anderson again played Clarabell on the short-lived "New Howdy Doody Show" in 1976-1977 and in the 1987 40th anniversary special and made personal appearances as Clarabell with Buffalo Bob for many years thereafter.
After his six year stint as Clarabell, he returned to music, and in his later years, played and led the 16-piece Lew Anderson Big Band Friday nights in New York's jazzclub, Birdland
.
Anderson died in Hawthorne, New York
from complications of prostate cancer
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, most famous for being the third and final actor to portray Clarabell the Clown
Clarabell the Clown
Clarabell the Clown was the mute partner of Howdy Doody.Three actors played Clarabell. The first was Bob Keeshan, who later became Captain Kangaroo. Keeshan was succeeded by Robert "Nick" Nicholson, who also played the character of J. Cornelius Cobb on The Howdy Doody Show. Lew Anderson was the...
on Howdy Doody
Howdy Doody
Howdy Doody is an American children's television program that was created and produced by E. Roger Muir and telecast on NBC in the United States from 1947 until 1960. It was a pioneer in children's television programming and set the pattern for many similar shows...
between 1954 and 1960. He famously spoke Clarabell's first and only line on the program on the show's final episode in 1960, with a tear visible in his eye, "Goodbye, kids."
Anderson was born in Kirkman, Iowa
Kirkman, Iowa
Kirkman is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States, along the West Nishnabotna River. The population was 76 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kirkman is located at ....
, the son of a railroad telegrapher. He began playing his sister's clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
when she tired of it, and by high school had formed his own dance band. After a year in junior college in Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
, he received a music scholarship to Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
in Des Moines. He attended for two years, but then quit school to begin his professional musical life by accepting a job with the Lee Barron
Lee Barron
Lee Barron was an American big band leader and radio and TV personality. His bands included Elroy Lee and the Crookston Dinner Club Orchestra, Snorty and His City Slickers, Lee Barron and His Belltone Music and the Lee Barron Orchestra, a territory band...
Orchestra, a territory band
Territory band
Territory bands were dance bands that crisscrossed specific regions of the United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. Beginning in the 1920s, the bands typically had 8 to 12 musicians. These bands typically played one-nighters, 6 or 7 nights a week at venues like VFW halls, Elks Lodges,...
based out of Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Anderson served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
where he started his first band. After serving in the Navy in World War II, he joined the Carlos Molinas Latin Orchestra, where he also wrote the American dance arrangements. In the late 1940s, he joined The Honey Dreamers
The Honey Dreamers
The Honey Dreamers was a singing group that appeared on radio and early television shows like The Ed Sullivan Show. The group was first formed in 1946 by Keith Textor...
, a singing group that appeared on radio and early television shows like The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. While working with the group, he met "Buffalo" Bob Smith
Buffalo Bob Smith
Buffalo Bob Smith was the host of the children's show Howdy Doody.-Biography:...
who offered him the role on the Howdy Doody show. Anderson again played Clarabell on the short-lived "New Howdy Doody Show" in 1976-1977 and in the 1987 40th anniversary special and made personal appearances as Clarabell with Buffalo Bob for many years thereafter.
After his six year stint as Clarabell, he returned to music, and in his later years, played and led the 16-piece Lew Anderson Big Band Friday nights in New York's jazzclub, Birdland
Birdland (jazz club)
Birdland is a jazz club started in New York City on December 15, 1949. The original Birdland, which was located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street in Manhattan, was closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but it re-opened for one night in 1979...
.
Anderson died in Hawthorne, New York
Hawthorne, New York
Hawthorne is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place located in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York. The population was 4,586 at the 2010 census.-History:...
from complications of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
.
External links
- Obituary on CNN.com
- Obituary on KNX
- Obituary on the Star Gazette