Nick Nicholson

Bobby "Nick" Nicholson was born in New York on April 29, 1918. A talented musician, Nicholson's instrument was the trombone. Nicholson got his start in jazz bands in the late 1930s. While serving in World War II, he met his future wife Jane (nee Togler). They had two children. After another stint in dance bands, Nicholson was hired in 1952 by E. Roger Muir for "The Howdy Doody Show" (then :"Puppet Playhouse"), at the request of the show's star "Buffalo" Bob Smith. Nicholson's first role was as J. Cornelius "Corny" Cobb. When Bob Keeshan (who went on to be Captain Kangaroo) was fired in 1952 over a salary dispute, Nicholson assumed the role of Clarabell the Clown, which he played for about 18 months until fellow trombonist Lew Anderson replaced him in that character. Nicholson went back to being Corny Cobb until the end of the series in 1960 and for the revival of the series in the 1970s and the 40 year reunion in 1987. Nicholson was also kept busy by NBC as the staff conductor of the NBC Symphony for 10 years, including the earlier years of The Tonight Show, as well as writing many arrangements for various NBC shows. NIcholson and Muir created and produced several game shows, including the first two versions of "The Newlywed Game." Nicholson reverted to his love of music as a trombonist, arranger, and composer, and he was one of the founders of the Boca Raton Symphonic Pops, playing trombone and arranging music for the orchestra. Nicholson died on September 23rd, 1993 at the age of 75.