This Forgotten Burger Chain Was Inspired By An Old-School TV Show Only Boomers Will Remember

People of a certain age (and those who like dredging up retro culture) might recall "The Howdy Doody Show." Howdy was a red-headed, mildly creepy-looking (in a clown sort of way) cowboy puppet with his own TV show back in the '40s and '50s — kind of like a mid-century Woody from "Toy Story." Of course, some people may have never known that he was red-headed since the show aired in black and white for more than half of its 13-year run.

As the star of the first national children's TV show, Howdy Doody became a quintessential American symbol, a loved-by-all good ol' boy. In fact, the puppet was designed with exactly 48 freckles on his wooden cheeks meant to represent every state in the United States (this was before Alaska and Hawaii joined the union). He even eventually appeared on a U.S. postage stamp.

A few years after Howdy Doody faded from the airwaves in 1960, William Rosenberg (the man behind the Dunkin' chain) decided to help the puppet's legacy live on by opening a burger chain themed around the popular marionette. First opened the 1960s, the Howdy Beef n' Burger restaurant chain expanded to a peak of 27 locations, all in the Northeast. Howdy served up burgers, fries, chicken, and milkshakes — all the fast food standards — at prices intended to be a deal. "Feed the family on just pocket change," proclaimed an advertisement in The Boston Globe (via Newspapers.com). The chain also offered prizes (a la McDonald's Happy Meals) and buttons for the kiddos.

Howdy Doody certainly isn't the only TV or film character to inspire a restaurant concept (interestingly, he's not even the only puppet connected to an eatery). Many restaurants are based on fictional characters from movies and television. Perhaps one of the most notable is the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. which was created around the character of Forrest Gump from the 1994 film by the same name, along with his friend and sidekick Bubba. This now-international, casual seafood spot began in 1996, and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

In the "Friends" television series, Central Perk was the regular hangout of Monica, Joey, Rachel, and the gang; and the real-world Central Perk Coffee Co. is a coffee joint meant to replicate the TV locale. Featuring "Friends"-themed merchandise and menu items, this IRL rendition of Central Perk has two locations today: one in New York and one in Boston.

Tony Soprano, of "The Sopranos" fame, is the influence behind the East Coast pizza chain aptly named Tony Soprano's. The restaurant uses Italian mafia-related names for its menu items to keep to the theme. In a chicken-and-egg scenario, another restaurant called Soprano's Pizzeria & Restaurant opened three months after the show first aired and took the name Soprano by sheer coincidence. It was originally a nod to the owner's love of music, but once the popularity of the series took off he decided to lean into a "The Sopranos" theme to boost business, adding décor and paraphernalia to his restaurant centered around the show.