Do you remember Howdy Doody? He was the doll that warmed the hearts of millions of children back in the late 40’s all the way up until the 70’s with his famous opening line, “It’s Howdy Doody time!”

“I used to watch the reruns back in the 70’s,” said antique collector, Phil Evans. “I found this Howdy Doody lunchbox washed up on a California beach and the doll at an antique shop.”

Phil Evans told Spectrum News that he’s been collecting antiques for almost 50 years.

“It’s just something I’ve always been into,” he explained. “As a kid, when we went on family trips, I would have my parents stop at antique shops; no one else was really into it.”

A recent Facebook post featured Evans’ Howdy Doody Doll.

“I saw the doll online,” Evans laughed. “He was made, I’m guessing, in the early 50’s.”

Evan’s hosts his collectibles, along with a number of other antique items, at the Lakeland Antique store. ​