His most famous television credit was as announcer, and the voice of "Froggy the Gremlin," on Smilin' Ed's Gang (he had also served in both capacities on the radio show) and its successor, Andy's Gang.
It was the most popular single from the band's 1994 album, Smilin' Buddha Cabaret.
For his work in radio, McConnell was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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While his Buster Brown show was running, McConnell presided over a five-minute show sponsored by the American Poultry Journal.
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McConnell grabbed children's attention when he created the character Froggy the Gremlin, performing with Irma Allen on the organ or Del Owen on the piano.
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There was an adventure story to open the show, plugs for Buster Brown shoes, and Froggy the Gremlin might sing a song or annoy a guest, such as Shortfellow the Poet or Alkali Pete the Cowboy.
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He was athletic as a teenager, and after attending William Jewell College, he became a professional boxer.
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Smilin’ Ed McConnell (1882 – July 23, 1954) was a radio personality, best known as the host of the children's radio and television series, Smilin' Ed's Gang, closely identified with its sponsor, Buster Brown shoes and also known as The Buster Brown Program.
In 1953, Smith briefly hosted the NBC game show Place the Face, only to be replaced by Jack Bailey, who in turn was followed by Bill Cullen.
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Following a guest appearance in the musical film Make Believe Ballroom (1949), Jack was offered the second lead in Warner Bros.' On Moonlight Bay (1951) opposite Doris Day.
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Buckner & Garcia paid tribute to Smilin' Ed McConnell and Froggy the Gremlin on a 1982 novelty song "Froggy's Lament" about the Sega arcade game Frogger from their album Pac-Man Fever with its lyrics "Hiya kids" and "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!".
Terris was originally chosen to play the dual roles of Moonyean Clare and her niece Kathleen in Through the Years, Vincent Youmans's 1932 musical version of Jane Cowl's once-popular play, Smilin' Through, but she was replaced at the last minute.
"Smilin' Jack" was influential in the expansion of NASCAR racing.
Several versions were recorded that charted in 1948 (mostly recorded that year, but at least one possibly in the previous year): by Al Trace (Clem Watts' real name; the biggest-selling version), Anne Vincent, Jack Smith, The Andrews Sisters, Jerry Wayne, and Jack Lathrop.
Zack's younger brother, Robert L. Mosley, flew World War II Air Force combat missions in the Pacific, and after the war, he became Zack's assistant on The Adventures of Smilin' Jack for five years while the two were living in Stuart, Florida.