Thursday
Yes, you’re right and you’re showing your age. It was Froggy the Gremlin who plunked his magic twanger, and yes, it was Smiling Ed Wheeler and later Andy Devine. He was on radio first. The show was one continuous commercial for Buster Brown Shoes. Remember Midnight the Cat and (I think) Squeeky the Mouse? And Gunga Ram the Elephant Boy. I was always confused because they would show a bunch of little kids in a huge audience. But the kids and the scene were always the same. There was a little girl in the front row who got out of her seat if I remember correctly. But Froggy was the star. Smiling Ed would have a guest and Froggy would trick him into doing stupid things.
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I do not remember Froggy. When was this on television and what broadcaster?
I recall getting our first TV in Dallas in 1954. I was thinking oy was on NBC. Wikipedia confirms this and supplies Ed’s last name as McConnell.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilin%27_Ed_McConnell
My memory is hazy on that haha
We all thought Buster Brown shoes were dorky, so these first infomercials didn’t work. Keds were the style rage in my age and sex group.
Great reminder, Buddy !
I don’t know why I thought Smiling Ed’s name was Wheeler. It just stuck in my mind. I read the Wikipedia article. How about that. He was a gospel singer as well. And How about June Foray? Wasn’t she on the Stan Freberg radio show and Rocky and Bullwinkle? Also on the Freberg show was Daws Butler, also on Rocky and Bullwinkle. You can listen to the Freberg show on the OTR app. When I was a kid I bought his “Turn off the Bubble Machine” 45
Loved the walk down memory lane. That was a long time ago.
I was born in 1954. I remember P F Flyer tennis shoes. Black either high top or low.
I remember PF Flyers. We had Keds. I loved the ankle patches. Actually I have a pair that look like Keds. I wore them when I dressed up as Cheeseman.