Actually, Howard the Ant didn't physically exist. To give the impression that there really was an ant on stage, Ernie Kovacs would bend down to talk to a tabletop where Howard supposedly sat. Ernie's wife, Edie Adam's supplied the teeny, tiny voice of Howard.

Howard became very popular and received lots of tiny gifts from his fans, including false teeth, paint brushes, playing cards, space suits, tuxedoes, cars, champagne, gymnasium equipment, a stagecoach, a locomotive, a yacht and even a mink-lined swimming pool.

An amorous fan sent Howard a female ant named Henrietta, who came complete with wardrobe.