I remember this show and enjoyed it immensely. Andy Devine took it over at Ed's death, after his series ended "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" (1951). Sadly, the show was never as much fun after Ed, but Andy did a great job on his own. But what am I complaining about. Andy Devine was an old pro in the movies before and after. Those were the days of Crusader Rabbit and Winky Dink before the likes of Ruff & Ready ushered in an era of Saturday Morning cartoons. What I remember Ed & Andy's gang the most were the stories about the young men in India with the elephants. Very much reminiscent of Sabu in the Jungle Book and Elephant Boy.
2 Reviews
A talking Cat, a Musical Mouse, a Mischievous Frog and a Lovable Father Figure= Super Shoe Sales!
redryan6412 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This series seems to be less remembered today than its ANDY's GANG spin-off. That is, lovable, hug-able Deputy Marshall Jingles Jones*,from East Sadialia, Illinois(?) took over the show after the death of Smilin' Ed McConnell.
Having had its start on the Radio,this 1/2 hour kiddie fest proved to be no less popular than it had been on radio.The format was consistent went something lika thisa: The opening credits exploded on to the screen, accompanied by music and Ed McConnell's powerful voice belting out that "Smilin' Ed's Gang is on the Air!" The series, as I remember it,opened with M.C.Ed on a stage alone. It was edited to show an audience of kids. The same group was shown in every show. It looked as if it was filmed in a theatre,be it a movie or legitimate.**There was always a surplus of applause and laughter.
After doing a brief commercial for Buster Brown Shoes, very neatly woven into his monologue;then he went to one of 2 filmed story lines**,which have been called serials. They featured one of two series. But they were not of 'the continued next week' variety.*** As a segue-way into the story, Smilin Ed would do the introduction by "reading" from a huge, thick book with "Smilin'Ed's Stories" printed on it.
Then after another quickie commercial, it was time for Squeakie and Midnight. They were puppet mouse and cat, respectively. This had some musical interlude, with Midnight (a female cat)would keep meowing "Nice",while Squeakie would squeak and shake his whiskers, while turning a herdie gertie handle, or some such.
Another brief commercial, ending with Buster Brown & his dog, Tige shown from inside a shoe. Buster always proclaiming ,"That's my dog, Tige! He lives in a shoe! I'm Buister Brown!**** Look for me in there too!" Then as the finale, we would be treated to a guest lecture,delivered by the visitor (guest star). Usually this part was taken by Rolf Sedan, Vito Scotti or Billy Gilbert.Of course the lecture was sabotaged by the big Star of the Show, Froggy the Gremlin.
Froggy was a children's rubber squeeze toy. He was summoned to his place on the stage, which was on top of a sort of large clock. Smilin Ed would announce, "Plunk your Magic Twanger, Froggy!" Then a sort of elongated 'boing' sound. A puff of smoke and there he was, always stating, "Hiya kids, hiya, hiya!" The audience's recorded response being, "Hi Froggy!" This was the high spot of the show in which Froggy, in spite of loudly proclaiming, "I'll be good! I'll be good!",always proceeded to ruin the lecture, either from verbal interference to actually pulling some pranks. He would then disappear in the same manner he arrived, with the twang and another puff of smoke.
All of this has to be seen to be appreciated, and with the view of a kid, not as a sophisticated cynical adult. Whatever gifts that were possessed by Ed McConnell, they made him into a national phenomena! As old fashioned and corny all this would seem, they were responsible for creating a merchandising/advertising giant.
I just read that the Brown Shoe Company of St.Louis allotted its entire advertising budget to this kids' half hour. And, by the way, they grew their company many times over during their 13 or so years in Smilin' Ed's corner.
* Andy co-starred with Guy Madison in THE WILD BILL HICOCK Series.
**Like so many series then, a heavy laugh track was employed.
*** The 2 stories were 1 set in India with Nino Marcel and Vito Scotti as 2 young elephant boys.The 2nd was set in the old west, featuring the life of American Indians. I believe it had a lot of the same cast.
**** The'in the shoe' messages were effective resulting in highly increased sales!
Having had its start on the Radio,this 1/2 hour kiddie fest proved to be no less popular than it had been on radio.The format was consistent went something lika thisa: The opening credits exploded on to the screen, accompanied by music and Ed McConnell's powerful voice belting out that "Smilin' Ed's Gang is on the Air!" The series, as I remember it,opened with M.C.Ed on a stage alone. It was edited to show an audience of kids. The same group was shown in every show. It looked as if it was filmed in a theatre,be it a movie or legitimate.**There was always a surplus of applause and laughter.
After doing a brief commercial for Buster Brown Shoes, very neatly woven into his monologue;then he went to one of 2 filmed story lines**,which have been called serials. They featured one of two series. But they were not of 'the continued next week' variety.*** As a segue-way into the story, Smilin Ed would do the introduction by "reading" from a huge, thick book with "Smilin'Ed's Stories" printed on it.
Then after another quickie commercial, it was time for Squeakie and Midnight. They were puppet mouse and cat, respectively. This had some musical interlude, with Midnight (a female cat)would keep meowing "Nice",while Squeakie would squeak and shake his whiskers, while turning a herdie gertie handle, or some such.
Another brief commercial, ending with Buster Brown & his dog, Tige shown from inside a shoe. Buster always proclaiming ,"That's my dog, Tige! He lives in a shoe! I'm Buister Brown!**** Look for me in there too!" Then as the finale, we would be treated to a guest lecture,delivered by the visitor (guest star). Usually this part was taken by Rolf Sedan, Vito Scotti or Billy Gilbert.Of course the lecture was sabotaged by the big Star of the Show, Froggy the Gremlin.
Froggy was a children's rubber squeeze toy. He was summoned to his place on the stage, which was on top of a sort of large clock. Smilin Ed would announce, "Plunk your Magic Twanger, Froggy!" Then a sort of elongated 'boing' sound. A puff of smoke and there he was, always stating, "Hiya kids, hiya, hiya!" The audience's recorded response being, "Hi Froggy!" This was the high spot of the show in which Froggy, in spite of loudly proclaiming, "I'll be good! I'll be good!",always proceeded to ruin the lecture, either from verbal interference to actually pulling some pranks. He would then disappear in the same manner he arrived, with the twang and another puff of smoke.
All of this has to be seen to be appreciated, and with the view of a kid, not as a sophisticated cynical adult. Whatever gifts that were possessed by Ed McConnell, they made him into a national phenomena! As old fashioned and corny all this would seem, they were responsible for creating a merchandising/advertising giant.
I just read that the Brown Shoe Company of St.Louis allotted its entire advertising budget to this kids' half hour. And, by the way, they grew their company many times over during their 13 or so years in Smilin' Ed's corner.
* Andy co-starred with Guy Madison in THE WILD BILL HICOCK Series.
**Like so many series then, a heavy laugh track was employed.
*** The 2 stories were 1 set in India with Nino Marcel and Vito Scotti as 2 young elephant boys.The 2nd was set in the old west, featuring the life of American Indians. I believe it had a lot of the same cast.
**** The'in the shoe' messages were effective resulting in highly increased sales!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
