Froggy Memories

What did I remember about Froggy the Gremlin and the Buster Brown Show from my childhood? I remember that there was Froggy (I didn't remember that he was called Froggy the Gremlin). I remember the phrase, "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!" I guess I thought plunking his magic twanger referred to plunking on a guitar, because my children drew a picture of Froggy for me in the early 70's based upon what I told them about him, and their drawing was of a frog with a guitar. (See their Drawing of Froggy)

I didn't remember Smiling Ed, or that it was he who said, "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!" to make Froggy appear, which he immediately did, in a cloud of smoke! Then Froggy said, "Hiya, kids, hiya, hiya!" I didn't remember that Froggy caused a lot of mischief and caused guest lecturers to follow his lead and say silly things. And I didn't remember any of the other characters: Midnight the Cat, Squeeky the Mouse, or the piano (I think it was Grandie).

I did remember Buster Brown and Tige. What I remembered was: "I'm Buster Brown, I live in a shoe. That's my dog Tige, he lives in there, too!" When I asked Jerry Maren (who played Buster Brown on the show) for his autograph on the photo of Buster Brown, he immediately said, "That's my dog Tige, he lives in a shoe. I'm Buster Brown, look for me in there, too!" What memories that brought back, hearing his voice as he said it so many years ago!!

And I remembered Gunga, the boy who was in a lot of the stories with his elephant. I remember the sentence, "Neeyah, Neeyah, I asked you to bring me the BIG horse!" or something like that in one of the stories about someone who was very, very large - almost a giant. I remember that the story scared me.

I have recently found some video and audio tapes of some of the old radio and TV shows, so I was able to see Froggy the Gremlin in action, and to see Gunga in some of the old stories. (If you are looking for videos or DVDs of the shows, one place to find them is at http://www.ebay.com and search for: andy's gang).

What do you remember from the old Buster Brown Show? Send me an E-Mail, and I'll add your memories to this page!!

Here are the Froggy Memories I have received so far.

(Be sure to see my Froggy the Gremlin page for information
and pictures of Froggy and the rest of the gang!!)

February 22, 2008

I have and would like BB collectors to see the attachment.  Last seen in Schroeders Antiques price guide 6th edition 1988.  Mr Rich Penn of Rich Penn Auctions has a great interest in this item, but I would like to know collectors. Ed Alexander eddiea22@roadrunner.com

Buster Brown Merry-go-Round

February 25, 2007

I was born in the fall of 1945 and grew up in Chicago.  This to give all a point of reference.   What I remember most is when an older lady (a teacher I think) used to try to teach Froggie subjects and he would interrupt her with foolishness such as:   She: "now children we will talk about ..." Froggie interrupting: "throwing mud pies"! She "Yes, throwing mud pies...No! Froggie"   The dialog would go on for a while until she was so angry that she would try to strangle Froggie at which point he would "Plunk his magic twanger"  and disappear in a puff of smoke leaving the poor lady totally lost. 

February 25, 2007

I have been saying Pluck your magic twanger froggy it seem like forever.I am 63 going on 30. MY kids ,5 girls, and my wife always thought I was nuts.I just said it again today and my wife said I should look on the internet and see what comes up.And here your are.YahHoo.That show and your dad brings back some great memories of a simpler time in everyones life.It is so nice to see so many people remember that show.God bless and Happy Holidays. regards   Dave Gibson Sandusky,Ohio

Note from Michele: Smilin' Ed was not my father - I'm just a Froggy fan like the rest of you :-)

February 25, 2007

After sending this and doing some additional research, I see that they actually filmed some of the stories in India and the young actor was named in them. I guess I didn't know how much "Smiling Ed" was a part of Froggy and his magic twanger, et al. What wonderful reminiscing.     After I got into it last night, my Saturday morning TV memories got stimulated I went onto "Don Winslow of the Navy" serials, buying two on Amazaon, as well as purchasing a "Captain Video and his Video Ranger" set, and the inevitable "Flash Gordon" serials, with Buster Crabbe. I stopped, after spending $76 dollars on DVDs (to go with the dozens of similar serials on VHS, which I have, but still haven't seen)!!!  I hope to view these before I kick!!   I can look forward to buying the old Superman serials, movie version--not TV, where three Man of Steel stands up to the bullets, but ducks when the bad guy throws the empty gun at his head!!  What was that all about?   Thank you, again, for keeping Smiling Ed alive and giving me (and others) an opportunity to relive those wonderful times.  As noted, I barely remember Andy Devine in his "SE" incarnation.   Your Dad was a wise business man, back then, to keep control of his characters.  

Don't get old/.   Captain Video was a full blown hit, on the "Dupont network." My mother claimed that it was forced off the air, because the "space stuff" they showed actually was being tested or pursued by the "government."   (Mom was a big believer in conspiracies.)   Dupont did get into a major dustup with the FCC over it's control of local stations. But, who knows if there was another more nefarious reason.   Don Winslow was a serial, which was shown as part of other Saturday morning shows, whose names I long forget; ditto Flash Gordon, although that later became a TV show on its own.

Note from Michele: Smilin' Ed was not my father - I'm just a Froggy fan like the rest of you :-)

February 25, 2007

I was too young to remember, but I do remember the day Andy Devine took over the show.  No warning or explanation was ever given--it was just, smile, carry on, and don't answer questions!  About 40 years later, I ran into someone who had been an adult at that time and he swears Ed did a "Face in the Crowd" act at the conclusions of the show, unaware that the engineers had left the mike on, and was fired immediately.  He was supposed to have called the children, to whom he was supposedly waving goodbye, some very crude names. Since this gentleman is the only person prior to my finding your site to even remember the show, I couldn't offer any other rebuttle--especially if it was true.  My mother and father didn't believe children should ever know the truth about such things, and were unlikely to tell us--neither even remember the show existed now--they're in their early 80s.  Do you know anything about this?   Shari

October 24, 2006

I remember Smiling Ed and parts of his show. (BTW. All of my spellings are phonetic.) He was on Saturday mornings.   SE would open a large book and begin to read a story, which would meld into one of two tales, each starring the same teenage actor.   The first story was "Gonga Rahm, the East Indian elephant boy," with his elephant "Tela," who was Lassie-like in that he understood everything his master would say. (Tela once tracked someone after Gonga held an article of clothing to the elephant's trunk and said, "Smell of his dodi, Tela.").   Gonga was befriended by the "Maharajah," the local leader, who lived in a palace.   The second story, starring the same actor who played Gonga, was about an American Indian youth. That contained is the "giant story" you remember and, indeed, the only one that sticks out in my memory.   In his American Indian mode, "Gonga," who had a typical white man bestowed American Indian name, i.e., White Feather, Blue Cloud, Little Elk, etc, had a brother, cousin, or good friend, a peer who shared his adventures.     In the story you remember, our heroes had a fight with a giant Indian, who scoffed at getting on the small Indian ponies that "normal" size Indians rode and he beseeched his God to "send me a big one....." I also remember the giant getting shot, with arrows, and pulling them out of his body.   That's what I remember.

Just started reading the comments others posted.   The cat, which purred nice, was named "Midnight," but I don't remember if it was on the Smiling Ed show, but I think it was.   After seeing the others refer to him, I do remember Andy Divine, in the story teller capacity role. But, I think ti may have been when "Smiling Ed" either left the show or passed away. I also associate only SE with the American and east Indian stories.

October 24, 2006

I have a Hymn book  "Smilin'Ed Mc Connell's New Radio Hymns" Copyright 1938

Note: See the Hymn Book at http://michelesworld.net/dmm/frog/gremlin/hymnal.htm

October 24, 2006

Didn't the show also include shorts featuring a character called Rajah the Indian Boy ?   Fantastic website ! Brings back a lot of memories ! John E Meagher 2201 Alliance Waller, Texas

October 24, 2006

I was born in the mid forties, and watched several different shows in the early to mid fifties, that I just barely remember.  I have thought about this show for years, but thought it was a children’s serial.  I remember one story about a little Mexican girl who had a donkey and they played Donkey Serenade throughout the story.  I do remember Froggy and plunk your magic twanger, etc.  But I didn’t remember if they were on the same show with the children’s stories.  Were they?   I seem to now remember that Froggy and Andy (I vaguely remember when Andy took Ed’s place on the show) would come on and do their thing, and then it would go back to the story.  Am I remembering that right, or were they two different shows?  If you could clear that up, I’d appreciate it.  When I did a google search of “Saturday morning donkey serenade”, I found your website!!  It may be there in the memories section, but there are so many and I tried to scan them, but found nothing about donkey serenade.  Anyway, thanks for the site and keeping the old memories from my childhood alive.  It was fun traveling down memory lane. Thank you, Sandra L. Brown

Thanks so much for answering my email, and so quick!!  Was the show called The Buster Brown Hour or was it called Andy’s Gang?  I seem to remember the Buster Brown Hour, but my memory seems to be in bits and pieces trying to remember that long ago.  There were so many shows I remember watching, and some of them are mentioned in your memories section.  Shows like the Cisco Kid.  (a funny story…I have 2 chihuahuas, and I named them Cisco and Poncho!)  Also, The Range Rider, who I got to shake hands with (and also his sidekick, Dick West) at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, way back then.  I watched Winky Dink and You and had the plastic screen and colors to draw on the TV.  I watched Sky King, and all the old comedy shows like Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, etc.  I also loved Your Hit Parade with Snooky Lansen, Giselle McKinzey, Dorothy Collins and Russell Arms.  “The Shrimp Boats are a Coming” was number 1 for a jillion weeks in a row!   In the middle 50’s, I couldn’t wait to get home and watch Mickey Mouse Club, one of my all time favorites.  I had such a crush on Tommy Kirk!   So, thanks again for the walk down memory lane and keep up the good work for all of us Boomers who are now our own grandmas!! Thank you, Sandra L. Brown

October 24, 2006

Great memories.  Here's something to add to yours.  Remember the support that Smilin Ed got from Brown Shoe Company?  Before TV this was the only way we got to see some of our "heroes."   Roger Edwards Chandler AZ

October 24, 2006

Hi:   As I remember it, there was a series of (maybe) ten minute adventures during each show on the radio.  Little Fox, the Indian Boy was one of my favorites, but there was also Ganga and his elephant Teela.  Where can I get more info on all those characters and who wrote those story scripts?  Thanks.  David Pitkin, Chestertown, NY 12817

October 24, 2006

I got shoes - you got shoes, Everybody's gotta have shoes; But there's only one kind of shoes or me GOOD OLD BUSTER BROWN SHOES!!!!   I just thought I'd toss this in - I didn't see the theme song anuwhere.  With all due respect for Andy Devine ("Jingles"), I only miss Smiling Ed McConnell as THE Boss of the TV show.  You'd think at almost 73 years of age I'd forget that theme, but it brings me right back to my Radio days.  I wish I could hitch a recorder to my memory.  Why, I even remember the last TOM MIX radio show, and how I cried with Walsh when Tom (Curley Bradley) rode off into the sunset, "When it's roundup time in Texas, and the bloom is on the sage . . . ".  The Good Lord knows how much I miss radio - and why!

October 24, 2006

"I'll be good, I will, I will !"   was another Froggy false promise.   I remember every bit of the show--Buster Brown Shoe commercials,  although it was years later when it clicked that the dog's name was  Tige--obviously short for tiger....to my ear (born in 1949) it  sounded like Tike.   Buster was a little strange....however, I  probably had a pair or two as a kid.  (More likely Red Goose  Shoes).    Froggy was the personification of the little devil on the  opposite shoulder of the angel in cartoons.  There was something  decidedly dark about the Froggy on the clock and it is understandable  why some kids might have found him almost scary.  It would depend on  your age, perhaps.    Froggy was one of the first champions for  mischief--- and much like Brer Rabbit in Uncle Remus stories....a  little guy who could fool the big guys.      Granted, the plot line  on the little skits was as predictable as a Casper cartoon but wasn't  it fun to see.  Midnight and Squeaky were surreal even back then--the  entertainment was never clear--just the feeble violin playing and  "Nice"--voiced, I just read, by the legendary June Foray.  I remember  the jungle Gunga Ram..which gets confused in my mind with Ramar of  the Jungle.... The stock footage of the kids falling out of their  seats pieced into the show seemed odd at the time--suddenly there was  all this laughter and hysteria.  I guess that was a different kind of  Froggy fooling us kids !   MC in Nashville

October 24, 2006

This is one of my all time favorites  Froggy Gremlin. I haven't read all of the posts so please excuse me if I am going over something that has already been discussed.  I remember a Grandfathers clock that Froggy would appear on top of in a puff of smoke. There was one skit I remember fondly. There was a lady(?) giving a cake recipe      Lady: (in a falsetto voice)             You Take 2 Cups of Flour              Then add a pinch of salt              and two eggs and 2 cups of milk         (At this point Froggy would chime in)   Froggy: and a gallon of gasoline    Lady: And a gallon of gasoline....OOOHHHH NO he did it agian

October 24, 2006

Just a short note....I'm 65 now and back in the early 50's my mother took us to the studio to see the show...they were taping a sound or laugh track for the TV show they said!!!! I still have a neckerchief they gave us at the show....   Sincerely Darrel DeFreitas

October 24, 2006

You remember that Smilin' Ed's last name was McConnell (sp?).  We watched them on Saturday morning on our Philco television.    Several years prior we had driven throught the night to a neighbor's home who had a television... the first any of us had seen.  They took pictures of what they had seen.  One was a picture of Kukla, Fran and Ollie and another was a test pattern with an Indian Chief in the middle. 

October 24, 2006

The past few days I have been thinking about "plunk your magic twanger froggie" and asked my husband  if he remembered what show it was on. It has been driving him crazy trying to remember also but he seemed to remember The Buster Brown Show. Tonight we talked with friends and we remembered Buster Brown shoes and we could recite the jingle completely after all these years. Then I thought of Andy Devine (what a lovable guy he always was and who can forget his distinctive voice), I was born in 1943 and don't remember Ed. Thank you for having this great web site where I could "remember" more.         Does anyone know what happened to the machine that we used to put our feet into then look down to see inside the foot, I think it also measured the feet at the Buster Brown store? My guess is that they proved to be dangerous. Barbara Miner Clinansmith

August 15, 2006

I was just thinking of the poof poof piffles magic phrase whilst playing with my 3 year old grand daughter. She likes to emulate Harry Potter when he chants magic spells! At any rate I remembered there was a little girl in the ccomic book but I couldn't recollect her name. What kick when I decided to check the Piffles name on the internet and turned up your website! Now I have the lowdown on Big John and Sparky, Froggy and his magic twanger and all the other half forgotten memories from the early 50's! Thanks

Richard Davenport-Carmel, CA

August 14, 2006

Hello my name is Catherine and I am 35 yrs old living in Florida USA. I never knew this show exsisted but please let me explain.   I was sitting on the couch this morning and my wife was saying something I don't even remember what but all of a sudden a thought popped into my head a wonderful memory of my deceased father.   When ever something didn't go the way he thought it should or wanted to tell someone to back off he would always say "Plunk your magic twanger froggy" I have to be honest I laughed for quite awhile because I had no clue what it really meant. So knowing you can find about anything online I googled it and your site came up I never would have guessed it was a childrens show. Imagine if in todays times you said something like that on a kids show whooo boy. Its sad how in just a short few decades our world has changed so much. So I say HOORAY for the oldies. I will now always remember that and the smile my dad had on his face everytime he said it...Sincerely Catherine & Lori(Fl)

August 13, 2006

I'm a retired man who has had his Froggy  since boyhood. Some children keep a security blanket, I chose to keep my Froggy.     I first met Froggy when my Grandmother purchased my first pair of Buster Brown shoes.  I watched the TV show as a very young lad.  Froggy has been with me ever since.    He is not for sale.  I have a wooden chest filled with my boyhood memories and will pass this down to my children.    

August 13, 2006

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A WHITE CAT ON THE PROGRAM. THE CAT WOULD SAY "NICE" AM I THINKING OF ANOTHER PROGRAM??  EVERYONE I ASK ABOUT THE CAT , DOESN'T REMEMBER ANY CAT THAT SAID "NICE"  THANKS WALT

August 13, 2006

I was born in '52 , my wife in '55. She remembers Andy Devine but not the show. I have talked to her about Froggy the Gremlin and we have kidded around about starting a motorcycle club called Andy's Gang with the Froggy image in the colors.  I have very clear memories of Froggy the Gremlin and Midnight the cat. I have told her about "Pluck your magic twanger Froggy" and we laugh. She had never seen Froggy, only heard about him until we thought to just "google" Froggy the Gremlin. What a fun surprise to find your site and others. In reading the emails from other "boomers" I do recall the Buster Brown song, and see that others remember that,  but remembered a chorus line from the show as "I've got a gang, you've got a gang, everybody's gotta have a gang, but there's only one real gang for me..good old Andy's gang". Am I making this up or it that how it was sometime between '55-60 when Andy Devine was the host? Sky King, Roy Rogers, Amos N Andy and Andy's Gang in black and white. Funny what you remember as a kid.   Tony DiMarco, Brooklyn NY 1952-1990, Denver Colorado 1990 - present.

August 13, 2006

It's funny, I never realized there was a smilin' Ed. I was quite confused at the beginning of the thread thinkin' that maybe Andy Devine used that name. I only remember andy devine in the show. I do remember being in fear of froggy but I still had to watch him.   I also remember a slogan that  Devine said something like "Friends stick together with scotch brand celophane tape"   Thanks everyone for sharing memories. This was a fun site to run into.   Phil

August 13, 2006

I was a froggy the gremlin fan as well. I liked midnight the cat, playing that violin and saying “nice”  all the time. But froggy getting that guest (who was that actor?) to dump the spaghetti on his head or whatever, was the highlight of the show. I also liked Fudini and pinhead on another show, Beany and Cecil, and a puppet show called “Sparky and Heathcliff” that was a western, and included a saloon piano player with a cigarette (smoking!) hanging from his lip, and a horse called Heathcliff, and a kid named Sparky. Ed Carine

August 13, 2006

I'm 55 years old, and through it all, I've kept my rubber Froggy The Gremlin toy (Rempel Mfg. Inc., Patent Pending 1948?, J. ED. McConnell,. There is no amount of money that would ply this anchor of my childhood from my living hands. Although his back whistle is gone, I delight in putting my thumb over the hole, squeezing him, and making his tongue flex out at my wife and children.  "Hiya kids, hiya hiya."   Pete New York

August 13, 2006

It might interest you to note that  I was  a fan of your Dad's show  and remember him fondly. I do NOT remember Andy Devine at all. I was born in 1940 and TV came along when I was about 8 Years old. I play Online Bridge  and  I have  as my Permanent Greeting,,,"Hiya Kids, Hiya Hiya Hiya :-)).   Warm regards, Jeff Bennett

August 13, 2006

I have very limited memories of "Froggy" since I was very young at the time.  I watched in the early years (early 1950's).  I wasn't born until 1948.  The only memory I have is of a large rubber frog named "Froggy" who shot water at unspecting people sort of like Clarabell the clown shot seltzer.  I also recall that Andy Devine was the show's host and I remember a gallery of children who squeeled with delight at Froggy's antics.  I have no memory of the other characters but will attempt to locate one of the old videos on ebay. Thank you for restoring a wonderful memory from my childhood. God Bless, Judy Strickland

March 26, 2006

In one program Mr Pasta Fazool (today Mr Fazool would not be permitted as he is sort of a parody of all the old Italians who spoke broken english) - anyway Mr Pasta Fazool is making up some chemical concoction.  I don’t remember what it was, but it was some really gross compound, a black liquid of some sort.    Mr. Pasta Fazool, "Now, Im-a gonna take-a dis bottle of (whatever it was)......   (Froggy quickly appears in a cloud, interrupts, and rasps, "annnnd drinnnnk it!"    Mr Pasta Fazool gets a confused look on his face, looks at the container and says, "Yes, and drink it."  And raises it to his lips.  Next scene, he is stomping around, spitting out the vile stuff.    Smilin Ed intervenes:  " Darn you, frogggggggggy."    Froggy laughs evilly and disappears in a cloud of smoke while poor old Pasta Fazool is still dancing around on the stage all upset.   ---   I saw that session in 1952 or so and have never forgotten it.  

By the way I understand that McConnel once recorded "Life is Like a Mountain Railroad" on Columbia black label 78 RPM.  Never have seen it however, but you had to be more than just the usual bumpkin to get recorded by Columbia.   Dave Sprau St Helens, Oregon

March 19, 2006

I was just telling a young friend about my favorite TV show as a kid - and can't believe I came upon your web site.  What great memories.  I always loved when Froggy interruped Andy's story and Midnight the cat just sat and meowed.  Thanks for the site.

March 19, 2006

My gosh, a lot of people remember Smilin' Ed and the gang.  What a fan club you've got!  Wasn't his theme song to the tune of "Madamoselle from Armiteers"?  (I'm sure I misspelled both of those words.  French was not my major.)  Well, time to go out and buy a pair of Buster Brown shoes.  Best to you.  Phil Schwimmer, Skokie

March 19, 2006

What a treat, loved the trip down Memory Lane!  I just want you to know ever since remotes came into our home many years ago, they have been called twangers.  We were born in the mid forties, loved Froggy in the fifties and to this day, have a household item named in his honor.  Quite a legacy, don't you think?   Sue Henderson

March 19, 2006

Unforunately, I do not remember the lyrics to the jingle.What I do recall is Andy Devine ending the jingle with the words....." with Scotch Cellophane Tape"! It was a very nursery rhyme-like melody ;but dear Andy, God love him , took the melody in a direction that would have made Igor Stravinsky proud ! I am certain that God is looking after Andy.I am equally as certain that he was not invited to join the Heavenly Choir ! In case you are wondering  Michele, yes , I did wear Buster Brown shoes ! Andy. 

March 13, 2006

I am yet another who remembers Froggie and Midnight and the incredible time my brothers and I had laughing at Froggie's interjections that would result in the adult being made a fool.  My husband and I were both born in 1947 but come from different parts of the country, so we share some of the same memories.  We are always going back to our early TV times and asking if the other remembers such and such.  Of course, "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie" is amongst those memories, but he is most often known to say to me, "To the Moon, Alice!"  I was actually kind of frightened by Froggie, because he was so mean-spirited, but once the adult was "shamed" and we all had a good laugh, the fear melted away.  It just had the same effect over and over again.  (I don't remember Twang your magic Twanger, but so many of your e-mailers do, it certainly must have been said as much as Plunk.) Hi to all from Wilmington, DE  Diana Moyer Lincoln

March 13, 2006

Froggy the gremlin was the inspiration for at least one "garage band" during the mid 1960's. When I was just a young lad of 14  or so my pals Eddy "Froggy" Ericson, Sterling "Tootie" Joslin, Tommy Olivola, and Georgie Morrison were in a band called Froggy and the Gremlins.  Just like the TV show, we used the line, "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy." Wow, I hadn't thought about that for a real long time! Dave Crawford 

March 13, 2006

I don’t know if anyone else mentioned this because I haven’t read through all the submissions. In the 70’s there was a local “monster movie” late-night TV host in Cleveland, Ohio called “The Ghoul”. He basically ripped off the whole “Froggy” shtick. (Come to think of it, he basically ripped off his character as well from Ghoulardi.) For the longest time, I thought it was his creation. My friend, Danny, bought a Froggy at a Comic Book Convention once. We were psyched! ZIngie zingie! Ray T

March 13, 2006

Thanks for the great web site........I'm always amazed, when I talk to people my age, that I am the only one that remembers the Andy Divine Show and also Captain Midnight, or even Sky King. I recall that Froggy was always getting himself into trouble, and when Andy Divine would open the box, Froggy would say "I'll be good, I will, I will", but then of course he'd get into trouble again. Also I recall Andy Divine and the kids in the gallery singing " We need shoes....we all need shoes......everybody's gotta have shoes......but the only kind of shoes for me.......Buster Brown Shoes........." Thanks again for the great site. Ron Hansen........Omaha Ne.........born in '47

March 13, 2006

I remember, as a kid, secretly listening to the radio "late" at nite: The Shadow  and lots of other scary stuff. Saturday morning was the best!  "Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy"   http://michelesworld.net/dmm/frog/gremlin/gremlin.htm  And, of course you could go on The Teddy Bear picnic http://home.usachoice.net/vcei/tbp-words.htm One's imagination was engaged.  You could create your own vision of the characters...   The first decade of the internet is like that, we can use our less developed senses to imagine the person on the other end.  Soon that will all be history, but until then I want to remember the Radio Days... and enjoy this wonderful time                                                    froggy

March 13, 2006

Hi there:  This 73-year-old guy remembers Smiling Ed well.  I listened every Saturday, and even went to one of the shows, I believe in the Merchandise Mart.  Boy, what a disappointment when I learned there was no real Sweaky the cat nor Froggy the gremlin.  But Smiling Ed was very real, and what a real thrill for me, just a kid at the time.  Glad he's on the internet.  Phil Schwimmer, Skokie, IL, pschwimmer1@aol.com

March 13, 2006

I was a Buster Brown show devotee.(Along with Mighty Mouse and Winky Dink). Sat. morning was the BEST. I just found your website & I'm amazed to see how much info you have put together. I loved reading the comments from other folks who rember a time before cell phones, computers, & video games became the norm. Does anyone remember the lyrics for Buster's song? I'd love to be able to use it on a birthday card for my sister. THANKS. Joyce in PA

Note by DMM: See Buster's song 1 and Buster's song 2 for two versions of this song

March 13, 2006

Wow! I just surfed your site and my body was racked by waves of nostalgia. Andy, froggie, midnight, everything, it was all there. There is no way I can add to what I have read so far. But on the topic of old shows, I would like to know if there is anyone out there who remembers a radio show on Saturday morning (I was born in 1949) that was hosted by (and I struggle here to remember) Gil (Who) Mahoney and his magical Leprechaun band? We didn't have television until I was about 4 and I loved the radio almost as much. Thanks for the memories and great job, folks, on remembering them!

March 13, 2006

What a great site... thanks for the memories!!!!     A Sunday morning wasn't the same, if Buster Brown was missed!  I think it was on Sunday morning... but after Sunday School, or early afternoon.  It was as regular as the clock itself, whenever it was. Bob  (65 years old, but I remember it like it was yesterday!) lol..

March 13, 2006

The most poignant moment in the history of television. "Neeyah, Neeyah! Why you no bring me big horse?" It has haunted me for 53 years. The despair and disappointment of life and an unknown, neglectful god. A giant outcast, unfit for community. Dark, stormy skies. A slumped, drooping figure. This was the moment when the Fifties became the Sixties.   G. Lestrade

March 13, 2006

As a child, I couldn't wait for Saturday morning to arrive. I remember Froggy tormenting the hapless "music professor" by making him repeat some nonsense that he would interject during the lesson ! Who could ever forget Froggy's "I'll be good I will,I will", or Midnight the cat's" Nice"? Great memories all. Andy Brennan . Staten Island New York.

March 13, 2006

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Froggy and the rest of the gang are alive and doing well ! Am I mistaken, or wasn't the great character actor, Hans Conreid, [who, buy the way, played the unforgetable Uncle Tonoose on The Danny Thomas Show] one of Froggy's favorite Saturday morning pin cushions? By the way, do you remember when Andy Devine used to attempt to sing the Scotch Celllophane Tape Jingle ? They sponsored the show at that time.It was painful to hear, but he "sang" it with such conviction ! Keep up your great work . Froggy Lives ! Andy.

January 13, 2006

I did a search for Ed's Gang and Andy's Gang along with Suki, and I found your website.  This is the only site I could find the mention of Suki.  The reason for my interest in the Suki character is he was played my father.  While I was looking at old photos, I noticed one with him and a chimp.  He told me about his short career in Hollywood when he was on the Buster Brown show where he had to act with a chimp, sharks, and a fake squid along with people.  Also, he told me my grandfather was also in the film as Sumo since they could not find an Asian actor to play the part.  So, it is interesting to find about the show he was associated with.

Also, I am trying to find a video of this episode if it exists.  I would appreciate any help like episode number, episode name, which show was it actually on (Andy's Gang or Ed's Gang), etc.  Since my father was small at the time (and did not really comprehend what was going on), he does not remember those things.  Thanks and keep up the site.

January 13, 2006

Thank you so much for your Froggy page. I was on the phone with a friend and we were talking about frogs, got on our respective computers and started a search on the word "Froggy". I saw "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy" and clicked on it as it had been one of my favorite shows. Then I saw the Froggy toy and said, "Oh my god, I had one of those." Although I remembered it, I had forgotten that it had anything to do with Froggy. I thought I had just liked it because it was a frog. Your page really brought the memories back. And now I have a mission to find another "Froggy" for my very own. :) Thank you Sandee

January 13, 2006

Like the e-mail of Oct. 2, 2005 from Gregory, I, too, remember Andy’s Gang and Froggy!  I was born in ’52 and remember it quite clearly.  I have mentioned Froggy to several people who grew up in the same era, including my husband, but no one remembered him and several thought I was imagining things.  Nice to know I’m not the only one who remembers the show!  And don’t forget these shows from the 50s:  Ding Dong School show, Sky King, Disney’s Mousketeers, The Lone Ranger, Captain Midnight and, of course, the happy trails of the Roy Rogers Show…Thanks for bringing back some good memories and for confirming that Froggy wasn’t just an “imaginary friend!”  Janet from Houston

January 13, 2006

Of course!  My sister and I used to sing the song all the time.  "Does your shoe have a boy inside? What a funny place for a boy to hide. Does your shoe have a dog there, too? A boy and a dog and a foot in a shoe.  Well, the boy is Buster Brown. And the dog is Tige, his friend. And they're really just a picture, but it's fun to play pretend. So, look-look-look in the telephone book for the store that sells the shoe --- with a picture of a boy and a dog inside, so you can put your foot into -- Buster Brown shoes - Arf! Arf!!!?  There you have it - the entire song.  I have an excellent memory for song lyrics - it makes a great entertainer,  Oh, and BTW, it was Andy Devine on the 'Amos and Andy Show' who said "Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy"   -- What fun!  Thanks for the memories...  Kate Reardon, San Francisco

January 13, 2006

I am also a fan of the Buster Brown Show. I especially liked the Gunga Ram movies about an Indian boy and his elephant. I was exploring your web site and wondered if you know of any source where these movies might be available. It would be a true pleasure for me to watch one again. Any info regarding these classic films would be very much appreciated. And congratulations on a great web site. Thanks.                                                                        Yours truly,                                                                    Sam Julian

January 13, 2006

Michele, I had just sent the following email to my family around the country when I started reading the "memories" section of your website and realized how many friends I have out there.    ======================  

"Hiya, kids, hiya, hiya, hiya!"    Does anyone know what that phrase is from?    I had a rubber Froggy from a '50s children's TV show for many years in Mansfield, Ohio, and I think that my life was somewhat influenced by this little character called "Froggy," whom I thought was "Froggy the Frog," but I've learned it was actually "Froggy the Gremlin."  It was probably my favorite toy, except for its odor... it smelled just like the ether that was used when my older sister Saunnie and I had our tonsils rudely removed when I was six and she was ten.  (That's a whole 'nuther story, and I remember well how my brave sister fought the nursing staff as they tried to place the face mask on her.)    As I was working on a TV show in Tampa recently, co-host Jack Harris, of WFLA Radio, mentioned the Mayor's laryngitis making her sound like "Froggy the Gremlin" from the Smilin' Ed McConnell show of the 50s, and then he said, "Hiya, kids, hiya, hiya."   That was all the impetus that I needed to do my search.  Thanks to google.com, I found information on the show within seconds, and I'm ready to share.    http://michelesworld.net/dmm/frog/gremlin/ed.htm    (Turn up the volume to hear him speak!)    The influence of Froggy has lasted a lifetime (I hope so far only half of a lifetime), as I remember him interrupting Smilin' Ed and finishing his sentences for him, which caused Smilin' Ed to go completely off course and say things that he really didn't mean to say.  Only nowadays, in my "adult" years, I usually don't do that... at least not out loud.    This bit of nostalgia was a refreshing mental vacation, and now I'm going to start looking on eBay for "Froggy the Gremlin," or "Froggy the Frog," as he's known only to his closest friends, so he can stand in his place of honor on my desk, right at shoulder level.    Jack (Sarasota, Florida)

January 13, 2006

Well, you know, I guess they call us the depression kids.....a rather strange lot we were.....most of us now are in kissin' distance of 70...that's what I said...70. and strange in the sense that many of us missed the action of a World War II....maybe most of us.....and many of us missed the Korean Police Action.....a few of us [like me] got the call up in the Cuban Missile crisis.....a big 30 days of active duty ....but folks.... we did not miss an era that is gone....like in... Gone With the Wind... My mama had an old pillow that I would use for my head when I hit the deck right in front our Philco upright radio.......gosh that ole mess of wood and glass tubes was sort of an alter that we parked ourselves before....all ears for shows like Smilin' Ed...Froggie and all the crew [on Saturday mornings...as I recall ] and maybe later on in the evening catching some program like "Adventures by Morse" that use to scare the heck out of a 10 year old.....or, "Lights Out" that could put the scare on us double duty..............my point being .....We were history makers....a like group of youth that will never be again....as the last of us fades into the distance....just as sure as those radio waves have faded that once bounced upon our respective ear drums...those few years back. Mp3's might take us back....and we can be thankful....but, really, nothing can take us back to those days Jack Armstrong....Wheaties secret code ring that would glow in the dark......Lash Larue....Sunset Carson.....Wild Bill Elliott...[ don't mess with me bad man....I'm a PEACEABLE MAN]   ....                               Thanks dmmaki..... for the memories....and God Bless you all

January 13, 2006

Thanks for the info on Smilin' Ed McConnell.  I remember listening to his radio program as a child of 4 or 5 in the early 1940's.  I remember Midnight the Cat (Her usual comment was "nice!") and Froggy the Gremlin ("Hiya, kids, hiya, hiya.").  Smilin' Ed also wrote words and music to one of my favorite hymns: "Whosoever meaneth me."
Richard Dyer

January 13, 2006

Ok, so I’m sitting at work contemplating a career change, I take a deep breath, look out the window for inspiration, exhale and out of nowhere come these words right out of my mouth: “ Plunk your magic twanger Froggie!”  It  was a startling, but entirely satisfying moment.  I fully expected some magic to happen.  Like others on your website, I immediately entered this phrase in Google and came up with your site.  What a trip!  I recall with great affection all the characters that livened my Saturday mornings, like Midnight the Cat, Squeaky  the Mouse,  Andy’s Gang and the beloved Froggie, my favorite. 

 Time to appropriate some of that Froggie mischief and stir things up around here.  Never thought I’d grow up to be a bureaucrat!

 Jane San Francisco Bay Area

January 13, 2006

This is the way I remember it:  Andy would say: "Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy!" and then the "boingg" sound, then Froggy would say: "Hiya kids, hiya, hiya, ah, ah, ah!" .  Tonight, I demonstrated the dialog to my 12 year old daughter, and of course I got the usual strange look. I told her that I might be able to find it somewhere on the internet, and that is how I found your site. By the way, I use the phrase "Peanut Gallery" from the Howdy Doody show quite often... Mike

October 2, 2005

....wasn't he "Bomba, the Jungle Boy"?  I remember an episode called "The Black Scorpion," in which the title character fortuitously stings the villain to death on a woodpile.  Migawd, the things that stick in our minds!   The biggest single mystery of that program, to my young self, was Uncle Andy's intros to the jungle stories: HOW did he always open that enormous storybook to exactly the right page?   Will return to this site to read all the comments.   Oh---and found this other site about Froggy's Professor patsy... http://www.angelfire.com/ny/nyuk/vito.html   Thanks! Boi-oi-oi-oi-oi-ng!   Dennis D'Asaro now New Baltimore, NY but then Culver City, CA

October 2, 2005

Subject: Hiya Doc Maki! Hiya Hiya Hiya!  [Froggy!] 
I simply couldn't resist that subject line opening  in re our mutual friend Froggy ...and not to forget Midnight ["Nice!"] and Squeaky the mouse. What an excellent nostalgic website and I can well recall Froggy wayyyyyy back when although I recall Smilin' Ed more so than Andy Devine. I suppose I've just dated myself [I just turned 60! My wife [of 33 years] 'consoles' me when I sang the blues about turning the big(ger) 6-0 by commenting, "Hey! Better you 'see'  60 versus the alternative, yes? Yes! ] .
In any event , I enjoyed reading the website but, alas, I couldn't get that audio clip of Froggy to download...dunno why. I found another audio/visual Froggy clip  [with Andy Devine] but it was 'not' the voice of Froggy that I remember. The one I recall was a very low, raspy voice which some suggest belonged to the announcer Archie Presby [surname spelling??] since the live shows had  Smilin' Ed doing the "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy" thing and then, on that grandfather clock, a sort of explosion and puffs of smoke, and there he was ... Froggy ... with his famous "Hiya kids, hiya hiya hiya"  and an army of kids in the audience responding in unison,  "Hiiiiiiiiiii Froggggggggyyyyyyyyyy!" So I assume it was Archie [as the show announcer I believe ] doing Froggy's voice.
Again, great nostalgia! I recall the 50's fondly ...and its media of the time. And I can still recall my marvel at seeing hand held AM radios with the 'fat 9 volt battery' and a 'new  breakthrough' called the 'transistor'  or the first time I tried on [in New York City] in a music store a pair of 'stereo' headphones! But alas, not too long ago, when a stack of  old '45' records were found in the garage, my 7 year old grandson says, "Look at that big 'hole' [!] in the middle of  that 'CD' [!!] , Papa,  .... is it broken?"   ;-) 
Regards,
Dr. Anthony J. Lomenzo [Tony]
And forthwith I'll duly let you recall the opening words of that equally nostalgic Bob Hope theme-song  .....    ;-)

October 2, 2005

I'm stunned.  I thought I was the only person left in the world who remembered ' Andy's Gang' and Froggy.   I pluged it in to Google just for laughs and find your page.     As Hope used to say " thanks for the memories".     Mike

October 2, 2005

Just wanted to let all of Froggy's friends know  that they can get  Froggy on VHS and DVD as he appeared on "Andy's Gang" and on "Smilin' Ed's Buster Brown Gang" from VIDEO OBSCURATA...

On the internet... go to KEYWORD... type in VIDEO OBSCURATA ...look for VHS or DVD in the listings... ON the VIDEO OBSCURATA homepage go through the individual listings or click on their link TELEVISION

VIDEO OBSCURATA  has at least ten (10) "Andy's Gang" episodes with Froggy...and one (1)   of "Smilin Ed's Gang" with our friend FROGGY. H. David

October 2, 2005

Hi,   I just came across my Official Membership Card for the Buster Brown Gang (1953).  Brings back a lot of memories.  I enjoyed looking at your web site.   Take care,   Cole Corser

October 2, 2005

Fun website. I too remember very clearly that Andy Devine said "Twang your magic twanger!" not "plunk."  Born in 1949 I don't recall ever seeing the Ed McConnell version of the show, but I clearly remember Andy's Gang and Froggy was my favorite kid show character followed closely by Crusader Rabbit and Tooter Turtle.   Froggy the Gremlin taught all of us the great power of suggestion.  Froggy is obviously the reason for the psychedelic 60s. Gregory in Santa Rosa.

October 2, 2005

I grew with Smilin’ Ed’s gang and for whatever comfort it may be to you, he was the one and only host with his wonderful laughter and warm and sunny personality. I am glad I found this web page because it represents memorable times in my youth. To see and hear your dad again just makes me very happy. I remember Andy Devine and have no quibble there per se,  but he could not compare nor should he be compared with the one and only Smilin’ Ed McConnell!  Richard Hayes

October 2, 2005

Hi, Just thought that Tom would like to know that the Christmas cartoon with the 3 little elves and Santa was called "Hardrock,Coco and Joe"-not Hydrox,as he thought. Hydrox is a cookie!(and good ones too!) More properly,the songs real title was "The Three Little Dwarves" and several people recorded it-Gene Autry,Les Tucker,etc. And,yes,I do indeed remember the cartoon-they used to show it every Christmas time when I was a kid wayyyyy back in the bad old days,on shows like WGN Chicago's channel 9 "The Ray Rayner Show" early in the mornings,when we used to watch it before going off to school and also,on "Garfield Goose" with Frazier Thomas,etc. Along with Suzy Snowflake and Frosty the Snowman,these little cartoons were gems of our childhoods! Sincerely,William A. Griffith

October 2, 2005

Last night's crossword puzzle asking "Buster Brown's dog's name" was an easy one for me.  It immediately brought back fond memories of Smilin' Ed McConnell.  I new I could find more information on the Internet.    I wonder how many times I played my record of Smilin' Ed.  I knew all the words and hearing them again was wonderful.  I hope Jane McConnell Cozart will read that I have no memory of Andy Devine taking over the show.  It was only Smilin' Ed for me!  I remember sitting in front of our radio listening to the programs.  His endorsement of Buster Brown shoes made having to wear the "sensible shoes" acceptable to me.   I have to admit that I always thought his name was "Smilin' Ed McCall!"   Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie!  Fond memories from the early '40s.  Lynne M

October 2, 2005

Thank you for this nicely nostalgic site.  It's good to see Smilin' Ed and the gang again and to see that many others remember them as well.   This may be my one opportunity to check out something I think I remember from my early childhood in the 40s.    I was living with my mother in Elgin, Oregon, where she was a high school teacher. Our neighbor (and landlady, if I remember correctly) was the wife of the town pharmacist, whose first name was Scott.  He was said to have earned the very first diploma in pharmacy from what is now Oregon State University.  But I digress.   I would sit on a stool in the neighbor's kitchen of a Saturday morning and listen with rapt attention to Smilin' Ed and the gang.  But here's what I think I remember:  the neighbor lady, working away there in the kitchen while she listened with me, was Smilin' Ed's real-live, flesh-and-blood sister!  This had the effect of making the show seem very real to me.  I believe this was mentioned again later in my childhood after we moved on from Elgin, but I never thought to bring it up and confirm that memory with my mother in my adult years before she passed on in 1983.   I wonder if anyone who knows about Smilin' Ed's family can confirm this for me -- or let me know 'tain't so.   - Brian Caughey

October 2, 2005

Hi Michelle,  I don't remember too much about the show except Buster Brown, his dog, living in a shoe and Froggie. But I Think a birtday song my family sings came from this show.  We remember most of the words, not sure about some.  Maybe you could post the words on your site or send me an email.    Thanks

October 2, 2005

I remember so well the antics of froggy and the tutor who would try to teach him the basics. She would have a pie in her hand and say to froggy"this is a pie and do you know what to do with this pie"? Froggy would say "you put it in your face" and she would say "and you put it in your face" and do so . The kids would go nuts as froggy would disapear then return on top of the grandfathers clock. What great memories, I never missed a show. I m 57 now and I am trying to find videos of the froggy show.   John J. Bilella, Jr East Norriton Pa. 19403

October 2, 2005

First of all, thank you very much for this wonderful website! It's so great to know that there are others out there in the world that look back on Froggy the Gremlin and Andy Devine and Squeaky and Midnight et all as fondly as I do. (Now I don't feel like the only old Froggy the Gremlin Freak in the world!)   I was born in 1943 and have vague memories of a radio show, "Smilin Ed' that had some of  these characters. But what I remember the best was the Andy Devine TV show in the early '50's. It featured Froggy, who would always get some pompous guest lecturer type to say or do silly things by getting them to repeat or act out what Froggy would say.   I remember in particular this German Ship Captain. He had a very thick German accent and would always be wearing a nautical Captain's hat. I remember one episode where the hapless old ship captain was trying to show the boys and girls how to make a toy boat out of balsa wood and Froggy got him to glue the balsa wood to his hands. Something like the Captain would say " Ya, boys und girls, you take der balsa vood.." And Froggy would say "And you glue it to your hands.." And the old ship captain would say "Ya, and you glue it to your hands" and proceeded to do so, much to the great amusement of the kids in the audience.   Hardly what you would call sophisticated humor, but great fun to kids.   As a follow up to this, I'd like to share a movie I viewed in 1970 or 1971. This was no longer the innocent 50's, it was the early seventies, when all those nice little 50's kiddies grew up to be anti-establishment, hippie young adults (a lot of them, anyway.) In the early 70's there were a lot of what you'd call "anti-establishment" or 'Counterculter" films or movies aimed at that audience.   I remember on called (I think, someone correct me if I'm wrong) "Kentucky Fried Movie". It was a series of vignettes each lampooning a cultural or political icon of the day. One of the vignettes was a recreation of the Andy Devine show with the audience of kids and none other than FROGGY THE GREMLIN. Up steps (an actor impersonating) Henry Kissinger, who was the USA Secretary of State at the time  when Richard Nixon was still President.   For those that don't remember Henry Kissinger, he was kind of a pompous sort who also had a very thick German Accent. He spoke excellent English, but his family left Europe to escape the Nazis when he was an adolescent so he had this very noticeable German accent -same kind of accent as the German Ship Captain.   Anyway, in the vignette, Henry Kissinger gets on the podium with Froggy off to the side and starts pontificating about the state of the world. While Henry is rambling along, Froggy interjects "because I am an asshole.." So Henry says "The world situation is like that because I am an asshole..." The kids in the audience immediately start laughing like crazy, Henry get very flustered and Froggy chortles through it all. The audience in the movie theatre, mostly young people like myself who had undoubtably watched the Andy Devine Show as kids, really cracked up at all of that.   Who knows, that might have been Stepen Spielberg or George Lucas's first feature film and we can say Froggy the Gremlin was one of their muses! :)   Again, thanks for the website. And does anybody else out there member the movie that had Froggy the Gremlin vexing  Henry Kissinger?   regards to all ('Nice' as Midnight the Stuffed Cat would say)   Grant Lamothe Vancouver, Canada   "come quick, Sahib"

October 2, 2005

I'm 52, and vaguely remembered a TV show with a big man and a frog that would cause trouble and then disappear in a puff of smoke.  For years and years I thought I was dreaming, and that this TV show never really existed.  On several occasions I would describe the show to someone, and it never click in their mind.  So I chalked it up to just having a great imaginiation as a child, or that it was a local TV show that few saw (not a network show).  Today I Googled "Froggy TV show" and here I am.  It brought smiles back seeing all Andy's Gand and Froggy info on your web site, and to top it off, to hear audio clippings from th show.   Thanks to the Internet and your web site, I've realized I'm not crazy after all.   Rich Arndt from Orlando, Florida

October 2, 2005

Hi, Michelle.  This is simply an email to thank you for your Froggie, et al Website.  I usually don’t remember my childhood, but I remember Froggie and Midnight and all the other characters and your site just brought all that back.  Thank you so very much!  Keep up the good work.  Christie Barbour, Mill Valley, California

October 2, 2005

Loved Froggy.....But after that, at 11 O'Clock, it was                                      SPA-A-A-A-A-CE PAA-trol!!

October 2, 2005

"Does your shoe have a boy inside?..What a funny place for a boy to hide.  Does your shoe have a dog there too?...A boy and a dog and a foot in the shoe.....Well the boy is Buster Brown and the dog is Tige his friend, they're really  just a picture but it's fun to play pretend....So look look look in your tellephone book for the store for the store that sells the shoes.......of the picture of the boy and the dog inside that you can put your foot into."   also remember During Gunga and Rhama (of Andy's Gang)...the chant of  the field workers or the natives chasing some one or thing   went " Ha Dadi Dai" than the main chanter would sing something and the chorus would go "Ha Dadi Dai"  and so on..............   Jay Goldberg

October 2, 2005

I remember a lot of what you remember, but I remember Andy Devine as the tv host. I remember Froggy and how mischievous he was. I also remember Midnight the cat, and that she played a violin (I think). Was it a real cat? I kinda remember Squeeky the mouse. I remember Buster Brown and Tige and the song. I also remember the jungle stories. Thanks for bringing back some memories of childhood in the 1950’s. Mary

October 2, 2005

DO YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON “THE BANANA MAN” WHO USED TO APPEAR ON “THE CAPTAIN KANGAROO SHOW”. I AM LOOKING FOR A DVD OF HIS ACT. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU RICHARD R. CAVES

Note from Michele: I searched for info at http://altavista.com for: "the banana man" kangaroo - and there were many listings with info. Here are a couple of them:
http://facweb.furman.edu/~rbryson/BananaMan/
http://facweb.furman.edu/~rbryson/BananaMan/BananaKangaroo.html
I also searched for: "the banana man" dvd and found some lsitings there. Some mention that DVDs are being created. You might want to check some of them out.

October 2, 2005

I was in my pre-teens in 44,45 &46. I grew up in Montana and remember hearing the "gang" on the radio every Saturday morning. The town was Bozeman and we had only one 250 Watt station tied to NBC. I would give a lot to go back to just one morning listening to the gang. Dick Hazen

October 2, 2005

Just a note to let you know how happy and surprised I was to come across your web sight today.  I had been photographing Mr. Crump (my name for Froggy).  I had written down the manufacturer and Mr. McConnell's name to see if I could find any information.  I can't wait for my husband to get home so I can share it!!
I have a 9 1/2 H x 12"wide Froggy, but he won't inflate because he got strung to the top of the flag pole many years ago..  I've had him for 45 years but until I never knew who Froggy was.
And thank you for having the article on J.ED. McCONNELL.  It makes the who story more interesting.  We didn't have a TV until 1956 so that may be the reason I was unfamiliar with it.
I will never sell my frog, but do they have much value?  He was a gift from the hospital administrator, Mrs. Crump, when I finished radiation treatments when I was 5 years old. I bet she knew who he was!! Froggy is named after her. My Froggy has all the paint but won't hold air so I know he's not worth much.  Do you know where I can find the value?
Thanks so much.  I look forward to hearing from you.
Betty

October 2, 2005

The grandfather Clock  and midnight the cat

April 4, 2005

Subject: Hiya Doc Maki! Hiya Hiya Hiya!  [Froggy!] 
Dear Dr. Maki:
I simply couldn't resist that subject line opening  in re our mutual friend Froggy ...and not to forget Midnight ["Nice!"] and Squeaky the mouse. What an excellent nostalgic website and I can well recall Froggy wayyyyyy back when although I recall Smilin' Ed more so than Andy Devine. I suppose I've just dated myself [I just turned 60! My wife [of 33 years] 'consoles' me when I sang the blues about turning the big(ger) 6-0 by commenting, "Hey! Better you 'see'  60 versus the alternative, yes? Yes! ] .
In any event , I enjoyed reading the website but, alas, I couldn't get that audio clip of Froggy to download...dunno why. I found another audio/visual Froggy clip  [with Andy Devine] but it was 'not' the voice of Froggy that I remember. The one I recall was a very low, raspy voice which some suggest belonged to the announcer Archie Presby [surname spelling??] since the live shows had  Smilin' Ed doing the "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy" thing and then, on that grandfather clock, a sort of explosion and puffs of smoke, and there he was ... Froggy ... with his famous "Hiya kids, hiya hiya hiya"  and an army of kids in the audience responding in unison,  "Hiiiiiiiiiii Froggggggggyyyyyyyyyy!" So I assume it was Archie [as the show announcer I believe] doing Froggy's voice.
Again, great nostalgia! I recall the 50's fondly ...and its media of the time. And I can still recall my marvel at seeing hand held AM radios with the 'fat 9 volt battery' and a 'new  breakthrough' called the 'transistor' or the first time I tried on [in New York City] in a music store a pair of 'stereo' headphones! But alas, not too long ago, when a stack of  old '45' records were found in the garage, my 7 year old grandson says, "Look at that big 'hole' [!] in the middle of  that 'CD' [!!] , Papa,  .... is it broken?"   ;-) 
Regards,
Anthony J. Lomenzo [Tony]
And forthwith I'll duly let you recall the opening words of that equally nostalgic Bob Hope theme-song  .....    ;-)

March 29, 2005

Thanks for the Froggy site. In play school, at 4 years old, when it came to free play time we would rush to the toybox to be the one to grab the rubber Froggy.
In reading the postings I came across reference to King Leonardo (among many other great memories) and the theme song was:
Here comes Leonardo, Leonardo Lion,
King of Bongo Congo, a hero Lion of lions,
With Odie O'Colognie he'll be here set to go.
So everyone come join the fun
On the King Leornardo show.
That's from memory. I must have sung that a lot...
I remember Odie installing a TV on the ceiling and saying in his British-butler voice, "Just crank back your throne and you can watch TV lying down." Then, of course, the TV crashes down on King Leonardo's head. They might have run that clip on commercials for the show or lead-in clips because it seems like I saw that little bit many many times.
Thanks again! Steve (Atlanta)

March 19, 2005

Here is just a bit of what I remember…

"We're pals, and pals have to stick together with Scotch Brand Cellophane Tape."

From a cooking show spot-
Guest Chef: "Well, first you take the Boston Cream Pie…"
Froggy: "…and ship it to Chicago! HA! HA! HA!"

Gunga and Ram sitting in the crotch of a tree. The scene cuts to a clip from "King Solomon's Mines" showing elephants and hippo's cavorting in the river at which point Ram gets to deliver his big line, and it was pretty much his big line every week "Aiyee, the Big Ones, they are watering! WE must go tell the Maharajah!"

I remember the clip of the "studio audience"-and it was the same shot all of the time-with the one geek in the front row with the white socks bouncing his legs up and down.

Eric M. Chandler Norwalk, CT

March 19, 2005

I was born in 1946 and grew up in So. Cal. Concerning Buster Brown: ( I always thought he pronounced his dog's name Tide) I recall Midnight the Cat saying "nice" in sort of a meowy voice. The show I'm thinking of was hosted by Andy Devine and showed episodes of "Rhama of the Jungle". Froggy was always putting words in Andy's mouth messing up what ever he was talking about or trying to explain. Mike Tatom, Hesperia, CA

March 14, 2005

I was so happy to find your site!  I had vague memories of watching a TV show as a child with a big man that had an odd face, voice and laugh!  I also remembered strange animals.  Now after looking at your site it has all come back to me, thank-you!!! Patty Purcell born in 1952

March 12, 2005

I WAS THINKING I WROTE YOU BEFORE ABOUT MY FROGGY. I WAS REALLY YOUNG WHEN I WATCHED ANDY'S GANG ON SATURDAYS AND I LOVED FROGGY.  I WANTED FROGGY SO BAD AND ONE NIGHT MY FATHER CAME IN WITH FROGGY BUT IT WAS SO COLD OUT THAT FROGGY WAS ICE COLD  AND IT MADE ME AFREAD OF HIM.  BUT WHEN HE GOT WARM WE WERE THE BEST OF BUDDYS UNTIL ON DAY HE WAS FROGNAPPED OUT OF OUR YARD AND I MISSED HIM SO MUCH AND AFTER ABOUT 50 YEARS I FOUND A FROGGY ON EBAY. I NOW HAVE A BIG ONE AND THE SMALLER ONE. MY WIFE THINKS HE IS THE DUMBEST THING I EVER GOT BUT I LOVE MY FROG FROM THE PAST WHEN LIFE WAS SO MUCH FUN AND SATURDAY MORNINGS WERE FOR ME AND FROGGY. THANK YOU   GOD BLESS YOU          REV. BILL BARNES

March 12, 2005

I remember the Song, "Does your shoe have a boy inside, what a funny place for a boy to hide, does your shoe have a dog there too, a boy and a dog and a foot in a shoe, now the boy is Buster Brown, the dog is Tige his friend" ....    and so on - can't remember the final lines!   What a hoot!  Some things just stick with you!   My brother in law at his place of work all of a sudden came out with "twang your magic twanger, Froggie!" and all the young people in their 30's looked at him strangely!  Of course, they didn't have a clue what he was talking about!  This started my research into Froggy the Gremlin!  We couldn't remember the show he was on.  We just remembered that catchy little phrase!    Thanks for the memories!   Linda in Georgia  

Note: see below for the rest of the words.

March 3, 2005

I love your site helping keep alive Andy's Gang and especially Froggy. I'm 57 years old now and just bought my first Froggy on Ebay for a huge price but will be happy just having him hang around to keep me smiling.

One of the animals from Andy's Gang not mentioned or at least I didn't see it was SAMBO the little baby Gorilla that I think played the drums in the band.

Billy Gilbert played the Professor that Froggy picked on and he also was seen in Laurel & Hardy flicks like County Hospital and The Music Box.

My grandson watched my Andy's Gang movies and said we were all wimps, boy has he missed the boat. Things sure have changed haven't they...

Jerry R. Arizona

PS, I bought some VHS tapes of Andy's gang and have transferred them to DVD so they will be around for another 50 years at least. I recommend everyone do this as the VHS will deteriorate quickly.)

February 22, 2005

I'd like to relate a story that was told  to me at a toy show in New Jersey around 1989. I passed a dealer table, and saw a large Froggy for sale. I began talking to the dealer, and he told me that his regular line of work was as an attorney in New York City. He handled some entertainment clients, and at one point tried to work out a deal for the release of "Andy's Gang"  to  "Nick at Nite". He said the main problem was that there were two groups who owned an interest in the show and neither could come to terms. Apparently one of the estates didn't want the show distributed at all. In any case the "Nick" deal fell through. This attorney whose name is long forgotten also told me that he had all 52 episodes on tape in EP/SLP speed, and that they were definitely in color. He said that he got 13 episodes on each tape, and even at the slow speed the picture quality was excellent. Naturally he wouldn't copy or sell them! There was a "TV on video" type book recently, that attempted to debunk the color theory.  I don't know what to think about that. I've always wondered why "Andy's Gang" has never gotten any type of legitimate video release at all, in the 20+ years that home video has existed. Now would be a great time for a box set on a company like Rhino, or Image with all the episodes directly from existing film elements. Something like what Rhino did with Gumby. I did manage to get about 14 episodes in decent quality in black and white, most from Video Resources in New York. I think that Video Resources had plans to release a lot more volumes but they were threatened with a legal proceedings and discontinued their tapes. That would probably mean that "Andy's Gang" is not in the public domain. That would be the reason it doesn't show up often on those low budget tapes and DVD's that turn up on shows like "Long John Silver" and "Robin Hood". Thanks for a fun site!  Lou Antonicello

February 20, 2005

I read one of your many E-mails posted asking if anyone knew how to get a Froggy with weak ankles to stand without damaging him.  If you look at the two pictures of my froggys "posted on your web site" you might notice that they are standing on white stands on top of my gremlin clock. What they are made of can be bought at any Home center that sells wood molding. I'm sending you some pictures so as those who have this very common Froggy The Gremlin problem might enjoy a very easy solution. This will let them display the old Gremlin almost anywhere, without having him fall over.  As always thanks for your wonderful website. Dwight Cooley  

Most common problem with Froggy is weak ankles.	This is a stand for Froggy made from a common wood molding strip.
Here is what a side view should look like. I gut this one 7 inches long. It measures 2 and a half inches wide.	Simply place him on this magical little stand and he stands just like he use to.  NOTE: This works for both sizes.
This is how he looks from the back.

February 20, 2005

Froggy the Gremlin lives.  Just ask my three grandchildren, ages 3, 6 and 7.  I tell them stories about that naughty frog who always turns a serious situation upside down with his pranks.  Such as the lady giving a lecture on how to make a cake (my grandkids watch intently, seeing it all in their imagination): 
"Today, children, I'm going to show you how to make a cake.  First you pour the cake mix into the bowl" (I pretend to hold a bowl in one arm and pour an imaginary box of cake mix with the other)
"and then you add the milk and the oil and an egg" (make appropriate hand motions in the air)
"and then you stir it up with a wooden spoon until it's all thick and goopy" (more hand movements)
"and then"
Suddenly Froggy chimes in with his gutteral voice:
"and then you pour the batter on your head!"
"Yes, you pour the batter on your head, like this"  (The lady does so and surprises herself.  She gets angry and growls loudly:)
"Ooooohhh!  That naughty frog!"
Froggy the Gremlin (Grandpa with his arms in the air forming right angles like Froggy's):
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha" (precisely five times, in a low, throaty voice).
The grandkids laugh and laugh at how the naughty frog plays pranks on everyone, and always ask for more stories about Froggy.  So that's how I know Froggy is still around.  Now that I've found your web site, I'm going to purchase a video for a walk down Memory Lane with my grandchildren.  Thanks for your contribution to my nostalgia fix.
John White
Cheshire, CT
JWhite8011@aol.com

January 28, 2005

No, no, no, it wasn't "Neeyah, Neeyah, I asked you to bring me the the big horse!"  It was:  "Neeyah, Neeyah, why you not bring me bigger horse?"  The usual phony Hollywood "Indian" dialect of that era.  And wasn't it 'Nayah,' instead of 'Neeyah?' I love to argue the fine points, if you haven't noticed.  Man, how do I recall these things from over half a century ago, and forget the name of someone I met yesterday?  Go figure.  But yeah, I remember that episode about the about the giant Indian and it was scary!  I remember the Indian boy saying to his pal at the end of story:  "He has gone to the Happy Hunting Ground to be with his Nayah."     

Thanks for creating this site, Michele!  I see it's a few years old now; hope you're still reading these comments.  Let's see, what else do I remember?  Gunga always saying to his boss, the Maharajah:  "I hear and obey, your excellency."  And who can forget this classic line:  Gunga would be on a hunting trip with the Maharajah, and when they spied the tiger waking past, the Maharajah would say:  "Aye, Gunga, see the big one as he stalks his prey!  Truly he is magnificent!"  Like others who have commented here, I also recall thay:  "Aye, Gunga, see the big one as he stalks his prey!  Truly he is magnificent!"  Like others who have commented here, I also recall the chanting of the beaters when they were out hunting game.  One guy would chant: "Han, tala bala bar,"  and then the chorus would always answer:  "Ha, tadi yay."  Or something like that.  God only knows why this has stuck in my mind!

Beside the two different "Indian" story lines, there was one about a South Sea Island boy,  I think his name was Suki, and he and his father were pearl divers.  Once he got his foot caught in a giant clam, and another time he had a wrestling match with an octopus (or maybe it was a squid?).  This story line didn't play too often.

Okay, once and for all:  it was 'Plunk' your magic  twanger, Froggy,' not 'twang,' etc.  For some reason, I completely forgot the Professor, the Italian chef and any other male guests;  I just remember the female 'old biddy' type guests.  A typical bit of dialog:

    Old Biddy:     "Then you pick up the custard pie..."
    Froggy:        "And you throw it in your face."
    Old Biddy:    "And you throw it.....Ohhh, look what you made me do!!"
    Froggy:        "Hah, hah, hah, hah (rasping laugh)"

I remember Midnight the cat, but had completely forgotten about Squeaky the mouse.  Thanks, everyone, for the reminders.

My wife (a year younger) also remembers the Buster Brown show, but she only saw the Andy Devine version, not the earlier (and IMHO better) one with Smilin' Ed.  Sometimes when she gets on my case (gently) about making some kind of a minor mess in the house, I'll reply in my best Froggy voice:  "I'll be good, I will, I will!"  Obviously, Froggy made an impression that's lasted over fifty years.

I remember the version of the show with 'Smilin' Ed, and how he'd get out the big story book.  When the camera focused on the audience of screaming kids, there was always this one kid who wore a striped short-sleeved jersey,  jumping around.  I guess it really was always the same footage.  When Smilin' Ed died and Andy Devine took over, I somehow lost interest in the show.  I'm not sure why, but I don't think it was Andy's personality.  This version of the show had a different 'look' to it, but I'm pretty vague about this.  Wasn't Andy's show live in the studio, whereas the Smilin' Ed version was filmed before-hand?  Anyway, I only watched it a few times with Andy at the helm.

I wore Buster Brown shoes at some point (brown wing tips, I think); they were well made.  But I don't recall ever going into a Buster Brown store.

By the way, I was born in 1944 - old enough to remember radio and the first days of television.  The only radio shows I recall listening to were Big John and Sparky on Saturday a.m and Sgt. Preston of the Yukon which came on late in the afternoon.  I grew up in CT.  Does anyone from the greater New York area reading this remember an early Saturday morning show called "Children's Theater" with host Ray Forest?  It consisted of a lot of different shorts, both entertaining and educational and was cut above most kiddie shows of that era.

Okay, I'll shut up now.  Best wished to all, Scott in Vermont (ssizer@adelphia.net in case anyone wants to email me).

January 28, 2005

Was it Squeaky the mouse who flew the little airplane?  I thought I remembered him as a squirrel.  My grandfather had a portrait studio in the '50s, and used a Froggy squeaky toy to make the kiddies laugh for their pictures.  When Froggy stuck out his tongue, it always got a laugh..   Thanks for the website.   Jerry

January 28, 2005

Watched the Buster Brown show every Sat. morning (Boston,Ma. area)and I naively  thought Midnight the cat was real. Didn't Midnight sit on a rocking chair while playing the violin?  Ni-i-i-ice.  And I recall wishing desperately that Froggie really meant it when he promised to be good. The show was my favorite!  My next favorite was a really bad puppet show call "Pinhead and Foudini". Anyone remember them?  Watched Cisco and Pancho and thought Cisco was handsome until I recently picked up an old picture of them and discovered that Cisco (Duncan Reynaldo) really wasn't really good looking at all.

January 19, 2005

I was telling my 31 yr old daughter today about Froggy... Hiya Kids, Hiya, Hiya!!!  Then Googled Froggy the Gremlin"...
One episode that made me laugh and laugh as a kid was when Froggy told the Professor to eat worms. Strange sense of humor, I guess.   Professor says "I get out my fishing pole, and then put the bait on the hook.. And then I... Froggy says "you eat worms"!!!   Thanks for your website... It made me think of the other characters I had forgotten.
Another memory for same era, was the comic book about Mary Jane and Sniffles... "magic words of 'poof, poof, piffles' , make me just as small as Sniffles"...   I used to say those words over and over... Never worked!
Fay from Santa Clara, CA

January 19, 2005

IT SEEMS TO ME ALL OF THOSE CHARACTERS WERE FROM ANDY'S GANG  AND IT WAS SPONSERED BY BUSTER BROWN NOW  THE SONG !!

DOES YOUR SHOE HAVE A BOY INSIDE  WHAT A FUNNY PLACE FOR A BOY TO HIDE  DOES YOUR SHOE HAVE A DOG THERE TOO >> A BOY AND A DOG AND A FOOT IN A SHOE
WELL THE BOY IS BUSTER BROWN AND THE DOG IS TYGE HIS FRIEND ITS REALLY JUST A PICTURE BUT ITS FUN TO PLAY PRETEND  SOOO  LOOK LOOK LOOK IN THE TELEPHONE BOOK FOR THE STORE THAT SELLS THE SHOE  WITH THE PICTURE OF A BOY AND A DOG INSIDE  SO YOU CAN PUT YOUR FOOT IN TOO
        MAYBE IV SEEN TOO MUCH TV   LOL   TOM

January 19, 2005

My older brother, now retired, and I used to enjoy Smilin' Ed's gang every Saturday morning on radio and later on TV.  We had our own personal trivia between us for years. It included terms from the show.   We laughed at Froggie's antics and thrilled to Ghanga's adventures.  I recall in stories they sometimes traveled to the Oottee Hill Country (my best guess as to how they spelled it.) with the Maharaja.  Recalling our year's  watching Ghanga stories, my first letter to my brother while stationed as a Peace Corps Volunteer in a Bolahun, Liberia (West Africa) in the '60s opened with these words,"Well, Dan, here I am in the Oottee Hill Country!"    I had always thought Ed was Froggie's voice. I saw few of the comics. The only one I remember was a trip to Gremlin land, an absurd place, reminding me of Gulliver's Travels.  Ed of course got in trouble with the law for who knows what.  I did sense that the TV show included dubbed footage.  I didn't really care; I was having too much fun.   I never thought about Ed getting paid for the show.  He seemed to have such a good time.  How often I recall his sincere admonition not to "forget church or Sunday School."  Then I think about the vicious attacks on Christianity in recent years and am glad there was not one around in the 40s and 50s to pressure Ed not to "offend" someone.   Much of America has become as absurd as Gremlin land in the Buster Brown comics.   Thanks for the walk down memory lane.   Sincerely,   Nelson Perkins

December 31, 2004

Thank you Thank you Thank you.  "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy," (it most definitely was "plunk," at least in St. Paul, Minnesota) is one of my favorite memories of Saturday morning TV.  I remember being very confused when Smilin' Ed turned into Andy Devine (whom I had previously known only as Wild Bill Hickock's sidekick).  The Froggy I remember popped out of the top of a clock, saying "Hiya, kids, hiya, hiya, hiya!"  Your website reminded me of his other antics.  The show was chopped up with all sorts of commercials, and I suspect that the "Rama the Jungle Boy" (?) films had originally been made for theatrical release and were "sliced and diced" to fit the TV format.  It also seems to me that Rama had at least two different names, in addition to occasionally turning into a Native American.  Those films confused me about which animals lived in India and which lived in Africa for years! I also remember "Winky Dink and You," "Pinky Lee" ("You hoo, it's me, my name is Pinky Lee!"), "Kukla, Fran and Ollie," and "Captain Video" -- which was on about 4 in the afternoon, just about when I got home from school.  That may have been the show with the tin foil robot.  I think the great thing about TV in the 50's was that no one knew what they were doing, so anything could happen!  "Niiiiiice!"

December 31, 2004

Wow! Froggy the Gremlin (still) RULES! Froggy the G constitutes "my Trickster ID"; compels me to all the Left Leaning, Lunatic Fringe of the Great American Dream Machine Counter Culture, Beatnik Hippy Maynard G. Krebs, Big John and Sparky -Teddy Bears' Picnic-"they love to sing and shout, they never have any cares. At six o clock their Mommies and Daddies would take them home to bed because..."; the "live" hand puppet Time for Beanie w/ Cecil the Seasick SeaSerpent, the Leaking Lena, Little Goose, ( all Hail, Stan Friedberg?), Montmorency Clutchrider, Sky King, Straight Arrow on the grey cardboard cartoon separators in the Shredded Wheat cereal boxes, Black Hawks Comix, decoder rings, real prizes in Cracker Jacks (w/ no danger warnings for nitwits); Red Rider and Little Beaver, Captain Midnight,  Lash LaRue--the good cowboy w/ a Black Hat; and who was the guy with the show that featured the early Bill Baird Puppets and the woman "Wanda" (?) that drew wonderful illustrations to songs. Senor Wnces, the Banana Man ("black and white"Ed Sullivan) The B Bar B Riders, The Phantom Empire Serial w/ Gene Autry, "Kala Nag",  Yancey Derringer w/ mysterious Indian sidekick  Pahoo, played by X Brands, the first fuzzy TV image I recall was The Lone Ranger, Hi O Silver, AWAAAY, OH Cisco, OH Pancho...Smilin' ED was the REAL DEAL, (R. Crumb even included him in ZAP) Sleepy Time For Teddy Bears zzzz Yankee in Savannah, Triple Scorpio, Is this a karass or what?

December 31, 2004

Midnight the Cat was a black, apparently stuffed, cat who played the violin and turned in a circle on a pedestal as he played. Every-once-in-a-while, he would say, "Nice! Nice!" in a high-pitched little voice. He fascinated and repelled me because he was a cat, and yet he was stuffed.
Froggy came out of a grandfather clock in a puff of magic smoke.

December 31, 2004

It's pretty strange, last night I was lying in bed and all of a sudden "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!" popped into my mind.  That phrase haunted me all night and when I got up this morning I typed it into my computer to research it and only your Web Site came up.  After reading your "memories" page, it all comes back to me.  I am retired, after spending 40 years in the military and government service, so I am certain it has been a very long time since any of this has occupied my mind.  Thanks for the memories and thank you for this service.  I can't wait to share this with friends and family.   Charles Phillips

December 31, 2004

I think the show’s title was “Smilin’ Ed and His Gang.” I believe the star’s name was Smilin’ Ed McConnel. Jim Vanore

December 31, 2004

I have an old Rempel Froggy the Gremlin from the 50's. I have 9" and 5' versions. The 9" has weak ankles. Does anyone know how to support  the ankles so that Froggy stands on his own without ruining the toy?

(See reply with suggestion for helping Froggy stand).

December 31, 2004

I believe one of the people that froggy used to torment was called 'The Professor'....   When the Professor would try to finish a sentence about an egg, froggie would finish it with 'and then I would smash it on my head'  or something like that.  The professor would then do just that!  He would turn to Froggy and try to grab him and we would hear "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!" and Froggy would disappear in a cloud of smoke!   Thanks for the memories!!!   Dan S.

December 31, 2004

I was talking to another old f*rt about Froggy the Gremlin, and gave him your URL...He wanted the "twang" noise for a web page sound (don't know if he found it or not)...
More on Odie...(my mind needs caffeine & sugar to function)...Odie had a faux-French accent; Leonardo acted kind of dumb, but was really more blunt than most Kings...Odie was his political advisor...IIRC, it was part of The King Leonardo Show...Didn't run too long...
Heh - now I've got someone looking for the Quick Draw McGraw/"El-Kabong" guitar noise...It never ends, does it???   ;)
-- - Rich B.

December 31, 2004

To David:  I think the Teddy Bears' Picnic was the theme of a radio show starring Big John and Sparky.  I never knew what Sparky was.  Some kind of puppet according to my disinterested father.

December 31, 2004

What's the matter with you people?  Froggy was real!!  So was Midnight and Squeaky.  And the jungle boy was real.  All that stuff was real.  I know, because in Anderson, Indiana I could get Smiling Ed on TV and then get Les, the Saps Donut guy, who would show me how to draw a picture of a duck.  And he was real 'cause I saw him at the Soap Box Derby parade. So they were all real.  Duh!

December 31, 2004

I love your site and have enjoyed reading the recollections of your respondents.  However, I remember one of the shows; I thought the same one that froggy was on; had a black cat that was supposedly able to say "nice" when the host spoke to it.  Please send me an answer if you know of this show.  Mr. Lauren Moore lhm4@hotmail.com

December 31, 2004

I remember a cat and a mouse on the TV show.  Can't remember which one played the violin and which one would say "Niiiice" in a squeaky voice after hearing the tune.  I also remember one of the animals interrupting the Italian organ grinder sort of guy with the mustache who would be telling a story and the animal would change the ending and get the guy all flustered.  That would crack up the kids in the audience. Great memories and I still use the "plunk your magic twanger" line today with friends.  It's a riot. Arnie Dahl Tulsa, OK

October 9, 2004

I was just asking a friend last week if she remembered a cartoon character named Odie O'Cologne.  He was a skunk and I think it was on Tutor Turtle maybe?  I watched it on JP Patches in Seattle back in the 60s.  Anybody remember which cartoon Odie was on?

Added October 14, 2004

Note: I received this message in response to another question about Odie:

The [cartoon] show was "The King and Odie", with Odie O Calodie being a skunk and King Leonardo being a lion...Probably a Hanna-Barbera, but I'm not sure about that...
-- - Rich B.

Two websites to check for more info, photos, and videos for sale:

http//www.toontracker.com/totaltv/kingodie.htm

http//www.toontracker.com/video/

October 9, 2004

I also remember Midnight the Cat and a mouse who I think was called  Squeaky. The theme song was somthing like
You've  got a gang
I've got a gang
Everybodys got to have a gang
But the only real gang for me
Is good old Andy's gang

October 1, 2004

I thought I remembered it being "twang your magic twanger"; froggy! Someone just had a huge cutout of Buster Brown and Tige on the "antique roadshow" (PBS) from Savannah GA.     Froggy and the gang were a big influence on my life and probably my songwriting.    Thanks Riverboat Banjo Bob from somewhere in the midwest. bobayres1@hotmail.com all right Nebraska!

October 1, 2004

Froggy’s saying has stuck in my head all these years, and I find myself thinking, “plunk your magic twanger, Froggie” followed by the noise “bo..ing!”  It finally dawned out me that typing those words into a search engine might lead me to some info.  I knew I had seen Froggy regularly on TV, but couldn’t remember on which show.  (I was born in 1948)   Now I remember Andy and of course, Buster Brown.  I got a new pair of Buster Brown shoes each year in Schenectady, New York.  Now  as a Texas antique dealer, I sure wish I had some of the promotional give-aways that I got each time my mom bought me new shoes!  Thank you so much for refreshing my memories !!!   P.S.  I also thought the “bo..ing” noise referred to plucking a guitar string…I can still hear that sound! Barbara (Samson) Bass

October 1, 2004

Thanks for the great web site and memories! I am 59, and I remember froggie.  I never thought he was a gremlin, just his name was "froggythegremlin".  Never thought about what it meant. Also, I had thought it was a jew's harp type twang - because we always had one of those around from the Johnson Smith Catalog, where you could buy any mischievous thing, remember that?   I did remember that someone named Ed had been there before Andy, but my memories had stuck with the gravely voice. (sorry Mary Jane)  I knew Andy  from Wild Bill of course, and an ad for some cereal that was "shot from guns". I actually remember when froggy would substitute a foolish word in a story and when he fooled the host into saying it instead, he would laugh "har har har", and the kids in the audience would clap and holler for glee, me at home as well, I'm sure.     I was reminded of this show later in life when Jimmy Buffet's song "Pencil Thin Mustache" included the line about Rama of the Jungle being everyone's Bawna.    R G Brooks

October 1, 2004

Dear Michele, As I told you, for years I thought that it was (Froggy Twang your Magic Twanger). I think that as children we sometimes heard things differently then they really were. There are many examples of this especially with songs. It is very likely that one of my friends said (Twang your Magic Twanger Froggy) and it just stuck in my mind. But what ever the reason was I now know without any doubt that to conjure up the Gremlin they said (Froggy! Plunk your Magic Twanger) I'm sending you this picture to demonstrate the difference in the size of the two Froges that the Remple Co. manufactured. I like to think of it as " Froggy and his Little Me." Thank you for your wonderful web site Dwight Cooley 

October 1, 2004

Oh,sweet Froggy,where are you? Vanished long ago in a cloud of magic dust with Midnight and Squeaky too.Oh,the years are many and the years are true .Since our little boy went toddling off to his trundle bed dreaming of his little friends. Midnight the Cat,licks his cherry cheek as he dreams a child's song.Awaiting the pluck of little frog's twanger                     Jules Ogden PS- For Great videos of Andy's Gang,email Videobeat2000@yahoo.com

September 14, 2004

Hi, It was during  World War II that we lived in Bartlett, Texas. I was around 8 years old. We had a Zenith radio, which I still have in my radio collection, and one Saturday morning, I turned the radio on to check out what was on. I think I was looking for "Let's Pretend," which someone had told me about. Instead, I had the NBC affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth. It was then that Smilin' Ed's Buster Brown Gang came on. I listened with fascination and was hooked. For years, the show was my favorite Saturday morning pursuit. I have recently purchased a tape of the show of December 13, 1947. It certainly brought back fond memories. I may have heard the show when it was originally aired. Thanks for the website. I hope there will be more information about Smilin' Ed. I was wondering the date of his birth and also when he died.
Sincerely,
James Haney
Moody, Texas

September 14, 2004

Hi!   Froggy has always been in the background of my mind, but I could never find anyone else who watched the show. I finally asked my husband if he remembered Froggy and he said he did. After that I went on the internet to see if I could find out something about Froggy. Well, I did. I have saved this website under my Favorites and everyday when I go on the internet the first thing I click on is "PLUNK YOUR MAGIC TWANGER FROGGY" and I really get a big kick out of it, so does my husband. The only two characters that I recall is Froggy and Andy Devine and how Froggy used to get Andy so very mad. It was funny. Better than anything that is on today for children!

September 14, 2004

Thanks for the delightful trivia about Froggy from the Buster Brown Show. I didn't know that he was also called a Gremlin, but what I most 'vividly' remember is being terrified of this frog and his sinister raspy laugh! I seem to remember a black cat with fluffy long black hair that just kind of sat there, but not a cartoon one.
What brought me to this site is just about an hour ago, I was talking about programs from our youth with my bf and he being a constant source of endless trivia,  came up with BBrownS and I came up with the sinister Froggy and my amphipian nightmares! So, I Googled...and here I am.
Thanks for the links and the smile on my face and a little bit more trivia to feed to my bf
Monica

September 14, 2004

Thanx so much for having this website!  "Pluck your magic twanger" is still such a really cool phrase!   Wouldn't it be cool if we could get David Letterman on his TV Show on CBS, to have the young girl who works in the office, who comes on stage in costume & reads these big cards, & David calls her on phone & tells her to say some silly phrase?   Letterman's a baby boomer like me, I betcha he's love to see FROGGY and Midnite the Cat, etc.  We're all getting nostalgic for the 50's, geez, it was innocent time, before Cuban Missile Crisis made us kids have to listen to "Tommy Turtle" the civil defense turtle, to "Duck & Cover)   Think we need Froggy---  & Tommy Turtle, too again-- for Homeland Security Alert system instead of the stupid colors!    Tommy can tell us to duck, cover and kiss our ass goodbye when the terrorists attack again! Froggy can keep us kiddies "safe" while we wait under our mental desks!   Linda Poole lpoole@brtc.net

September 14, 2004

HI!! Not too long after waking up this morning I was talking to my 12 yr old grandson, just chit-chat, kidding around, when I said, "Pop the magic finger Froggie"! I then began telling my grandson about this old TV show (I am 57 yrs old), I watched on TV as a child in Chicago. All my life I believed or thought I remembered the words, "Pop the magic finger Froggie", (can only imagine how these words would be inappropriately be misinterpreted today)! I have even asked friends my age if they remembered the Frog who spoke these words, they said they didn't. So as I was speaking to my grandson, thought, "Hey I can look this up on the Internet", which of course as you can see I did. Much to my surprise and delight, I had remembered incorrectly, but delighted that my memory had not failed me, there was a Froggie and Buster Brown! Thanks so much for taking the time for putting this information and great memories of the past on the Net. Gosh, how did I ever get those words so mixed up?! Memory intact and updated!   Christine in Texas

September 14, 2004

I was telling a friend of mine about trying to buy a Froggy Gremlin toy on e-bay. He had no idea what I was talking about so I explained it all to him about Andy’s Gang and how this mean frog used to pop out from behind the clock when Andy said “Plunk your magic twanger Froggy” and scare me and give Andy a bad time etc. We had a good laugh but I think he thought I was a little nuts. About a week later he and some friends were down in San Bernardino Harbor sailing when he spied a green sail boat named Magic Twanger. What timing. I now have a picture of that sail boat on my desktop. I also found out who owns the boat but have yet to write them and tell them the story. Casey Carver

September 14, 2004

Good God. You really can find anything on the internet. I remember Froggy,  Midnight saying, "Nice." and the Boy with the elephant, but I don't think I have thought about them in 50 years. As a Kid I wanted a Rama of the Jungle set and never got it. Oh, The traumas of childhood. That was probably the worst thing that ever happened to me as a kid, and I still had a Fort Apachie, a train set, and a Super Circus! DAMN we had it good back then. Its a different world today and I think I was SOOOO lucky to be alive then! Love your page and will link to it. AL

September 14, 2004

Hi! My father and I were visiting Akron, Ohio yesterday and came across Froggy in a show case there at a museum. I think he was made in Akron. Anyway, my dad (soon to be 60 next month) remembers having one as a kid and it was great seeing him happy to see one and talking about it when he was a kid. I would like to purchase one for him for his birthday, the smaller size Froggy but not sure where to start. I tried eBay with no luck. Can you direct me to someone who may have one for sale? Kind regards, Lisa (Note: E-Bay is the best place I know to find a froggy: http://www.ebay.com - search for: froggy gremlin)

September 14, 2004

Dear Michele, I thought you might enjoy this picture of my Froggy The Gremlin. I made the clock stand for him so that all my forgetful friends might remember him. I added the smoke just for this picture, I did, I did. It took me a long time, and a lot of searching but it ended up very nice. If it had not been for you great web site I might have just gone on in life forgetting all about my old pal. Thank You so very much for being there to jog my memory.... It's a lot of fun watching Adults become Kids all over again when they see the old gremlin standing on that clock. Froggy seems to bring us all back to a special place where we have only fond memories, thanks to Smilin' Ed's great creative mind, and Andy Devine's ability to patch the hole in our harts when Smilin' Ed passed away all to soon.    I hope you continue to keep your site going for years to come, it also is a very special place.   Dwight

September 14, 2004

I remember watching the Buster Brown show when I was growing up, but I have to tell you all that it was FROGGY TWANG YOUR MAGIC TWANGER, Not plunk.I will admit that I never heard the radio show and maybe that was what they said on the radio. I also had a 12 inch froggy the Gremlin, sure wish I still did.                                                                 Thanks for the memories        Dwight Cooley

September 14, 2004

I always enjoyed Smiling Eds program in Chicago 1945. I had met him, his wife, his daughter Jane and another son. They had horses at Blackhawk Stables in Illinois where I worked.

September 14, 2004

Thanks for the memories.  My husband and I were having a disagreement about Froggie and Midnight, so I went searching, and there was your website.  Of course I was right.  Ha!  Saturday morning TV was quite different fare from what my grandchildren have to view today.  I remember The Buster Brown Show very well, as well as Winky Dink, Howdy Doody, Mr. Wizard, and a show for which you ordered a plastic screen for your TV.  We drew on the plastic screen right along with the show's artist.  Does anybody remember the name of that show? (Note: That show was Winky Dink and You) Another great memory about Buster Brown shoes was shopping for them at Model Shoe Store in Norwood, Ohio.  In the back of the store was an x-ray sort of machine into which you placed your feet sporting new Buster Brown shoes for a check on how much room your feet had in the shoes.  That machine was a great novelty for every kid in town.

September 14, 2004

Hi.  Do you remember a show with or starring "Odie o calodie" (spelling is phonetic)?  It's driving me crazy. (Note: If anyone remembers this show, please let me know and I will forward your comments)

Added October 14, 2004

Note: I received this message in response to another question about Odie:

The [cartoon] show was "The King and Odie", with Odie O Calodie being a skunk and King Leonardo being a lion...Probably a Hanna-Barbera, but I'm not sure about that...
-- - Rich B.

Two websites to check for more info, photos, and videos for sale:

http//www.toontracker.com/totaltv/kingodie.htm

http//www.toontracker.com/video/

September 14, 2004

Boy do I relesh my memories of listening to the family radio and hearing all those great shows.  I vividly remember my mind conjuring up what the characters I heard looked like and the ever changing scenes I would associate with each character and situation.  I remember listening to Froggy and Smiley plunking the his majic twanger.  TV didn't arrive in my neck of the woods until 1955 or 1956 but I do remember listening Andy Devine and his unique voice and the characters the show had.  I do have one question though.  There was a running serial on the program about a (India) Indian Elephant Boy.  I don't remember his name, boy would I like to find out. Anyway, I'm sixty-two and boy would I like to have my radio programs back and let my ears and mind interact in imagining each and every character and the scenario of the situation they are in.  Thanks! George Negrete, Mission Viejo, CA

September 14, 2004

Hi Michele, It's me again it is, it is. I just thought I'd thank you for your tip about Ebay. I actually bought a Froggy.He's a little guy 5 inches. He was made in Canada by the Rempel Co. and Smilin Ed McConnell 1948. I also learned a lot from your site by going to Ronald L. Smith