 Andy Devine - The kiddie show host of
ANDY'S GANG/NBC/1955-58. Andy
Devine was popular at the time for his role as Jingles B. Jones, the
frontier sidekick on the western adventure WILD BILL HICKOK/SYN/1951.
He replaced the original host Smilin' Ed McConnell who died in 1954.
McConnell had hosted SMILIN' ED'S GANG/NBC/ABC/CBS/1950-55 (originally titled
SMILIN' ED McCONNELL AND HIS BUSTER BROWN GANG).
Both McConnell and Devine appeared with Grandie the talking piano, Froggy the Gremlin, a
mischievous frog puppet dressed in a tuxedo, ("Plunk your magic
twanger, Froggie!") and animal co-hosts Midnight the Cat and a
hamster named Squeaky the Mouse.
Devine began his show saying "Hiya,
kids, it's ANDY'S GANG. [Audience sings] "I got a gang, you got a
gang, everybody's got a gang; but there's only one gang for me-good
old ANDY'S GANG."
At the program's close, Andy Devine said "Yes, sir,
we're pals and pals stick together. And now, don't forget church or
Sunday school. And remember, ANDY'S GANG will get together right
here at this same time next week. So long, fellows and gals."
Born
October 7, 1905 in Flagstaff, Arizona, Andy Devine died of leukemia
on February 18, 1977 in Orange County, California. He was 72 years
old. See also - Smilin' Ed McConnell
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