Froggie the Gremlin - (Anyone remember him?)

[BikeWriter]

Wide-eyed puppet frog on the children's program called SMILIN' ED'S GANG/NBC/CBS/ABC/1951-55. Froggie (voice of Ed McConnell, Arch Presby & Frank Ferrin) was a mischievous, wise-cracking little frog puppet who dressed in a tuxedo jacket and bow-tie. He delighted and perplexed the show's host Ed McConnell and later Andy Devine on ANDY'S GANG/NBC/1955. He appeared each week in a puff of smoke saying "Hi ya kids, hi ya, hi ya, hi ya!" after Smilin' Ed said "Now Froggie, you better become visible. Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie." On the later spin-off series, host Andy Devine summoned Froggie by saying "North or south, east or west, wherever you are, Froggie the Gremlin, we want you to become visible. Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie!"
http://www.tvacres.com/frogs_froggie.htm

[CBHagman]

1. You know, I only heard about him, never saw the show.

That Froggie is a legend. However, this baby boomer is the wrong age to have seen the show (I was born in 1958).

And of course I remember Andy Devine, but chiefly from his movie roles.

And I have fond memories of various kiddie shows, particularly all the local ones that used to air back in the '60s and '70s.

[BikeWriter]

2. The show was one of the first ever, so it does date...

those of us who remember it. Andy Devine was a superbly talented man. ;-)

[mykpart]

3. I DO!

They also had a mouse that rode a bicycle. And I think they ran a serial about Bomba, the Elephant Boy.

[BikeWriter]

5. Yep, I remember something about that Elephant Boy, too.

Damn, that was a long time ago!

[BikeWriter]

11. We need shoes....we all need shoes......

Everybody's gotta have shoes......but the only kind of shoes for me.......Buster Brown Shoes!

[mykpart]

4. Do you remember "Grandma's Magic Locket?"

[BikeWriter]

6. That one hasn't rung a bell yet.

[amitten]

7. What in the hell is a "magic twanger"?

Was this ever made apparent, or was it just said for no apparent reason to summon this frog?

[BikeWriter]

9. I think they had a special effect sound to simulate that...

Television was rather low tech in those days.

[amitten]

10. So he had a twanger, one that was never seen by anyone, and

it made a noise and he appeared?

He didn't show up holding the twanger?

Details like this cause me angst...

[BikeWriter]

12. I don't recall that they showed it, no.

[mykpart]

8. It was a different kid's show.

Don't think I made that clear in my other post.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie! Yeah, I remember.

I'm older than dirt.

[BikeWriter]

15. Hee hee hee! Don't feel lonesome, Ocelot. ;-)

[RebelOne]

14. I remember that show well.

Guess that gives away my age.

[BikeWriter]

16. Well, uh, you said it, I didn't. I'm working on my second childhood.

:-)

[CBHagman]

17. Hear, hear.

They say it's never too late to have a happy childhood. :hi:

[BikeWriter]

19. It's not been happy, yet, but it's not over, either. :-)

[LibertyLover]

18. Yeah, I do

from the Andy Devine show. I was very young, but I still remember the "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie!" and the puff of smoke.

[BikeWriter]

20. You got it, Pard. I thought the plot excellent! The adults...

got tricked every show! ;-)

[Metta]

21. Saturday morning tv. Remember Winky Dink?

You could draw on the tv to help him and his pals in their adventures.