There is a popular belief that Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, is populated by a race of powerful witches. These witches are said to possess immense magical abilities, making them not only formidable adversaries but also sources of great wisdom and knowledge. Legend has it that these witches are able to manipulate time and space, as well as harness the energy of the stars themselves. One of the most intriguing aspects of these Mercury witches is their unique ending tune. When a witch from Mercury completes a spell or ritual, they emit a melodic sound that is said to be both enchanting and haunting. This ending tune serves as a signal that their magic has reached its full potential and that they have accomplished their desired outcome.

Magic twanger

John Bryan

Signed, numbered, limited-edition print on fine, archival, acid-free paper

This exquisite signed, limited, and numbered print is made from a 26” x 32” watercolor painting that was featured during a 12-exhibition philanthropic tour, after which it was donated to the Gary L. Rhodes Art Collection of Reynolds Community College. The print’s remarkable color fidelity and extra fine detail result from one of the nation’s few TTI Digital Repropgraphics Workstations with Phase One’s FX scanning with resolutions up to 10,500 x 12,600 pixels – the system used by the U.S. Library of Congress.

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Remember This? I Had One, Who Else Had One?

I watched “Andy’s Gang” on NBC, which ran from August 20, 1955, to December 31, 1960. It was hosted by actor Andy Devine and was the successor to the radio and television programs “Smilin’ Ed McConnell And His Buster Brown Gang”, later shortened to “Smilin’ Ed’s Gang”. Devine took over the television program when Ed McConnell died suddenly from a heart attack in 1954. McConnell took it to TV in 1951. Devine inherited a number of the characters on the show and the sponsor, Buster Brown shoes.

When Devine took over, some episodes of the show began to be shot in color at The Nassour Studios in Los Angeles, which later became Metromedia Square. This was the first television job for a lady that would become one of the top cartoon voices in the business…June Foray (voice of Rocky on “Rocky & Bullwinkle”, among many others).

Thanks to Barry Mitchell for sending this picture of Froggy, which is in the window at Antiques & Collectibles at 40 West 25th Street, New York, in case you need another. Froggy squeaks and sticks his tongue out when you squeeze him…much like Arch Presby, the show’s announcer and voice of Froggy. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee

9 Comments

My mother has had one of these since the day i was born. I was told the sisters at the hospital(Cuneo in Chicago) gave it to her. I never knew anymore about it but I saw it in a box at her house a couple of months ago.

Froggy was the only TV character that ever totally creeped me out as a child. Clowns, monsters, whatever? No problem.
Froggy came on and I was out of the room.

I saw them as a kid onstage at the Decatur (GA) Theater between double features! Of course, plugging Buster Brown Shoes.

Plunk Your Magic Twanger Froggy

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Plunk Your Magic Twanger Froggy

Like most kids in the 1950’s, I was fond of Saturday morning TV. I tuned in to everything, but my favorites were Andy’s Gang, Sky King, Captain Midnight, and Superman.

I’ll never understand why I recall certain events and have no memory of others. I’ve already accepted the fact that if I live to be really old, my memories are going to be all over the place -- if I’m lucky enough to keep them intact at all. I have no expectations.

Except for one brother, my dad’s siblings all lived in Port Townsend when I was growing up. George and Lorraine, Lyall and Elva, Jim and Lillian, and Aunt Velna on Walker Street. I recall being at George and Lorraine’s house on Franklin Street near the courthouse one Saturday morning. We enjoyed visiting our cousins as they were around our age and we felt their neighborhood was more fun to play in than our own. This particular Saturday, however, my cousin, Denny, insisted we sit by their large wood console radio so we could find out what happened on Flash Gordon and Captain Midnight. This was something new to me and I was intrigued at how intently he listened.

Sometime later, Captain Midnight was a regular program on television. It became a show that I just had to watch. I recently saw a 1990 interview on YouTube with Richard Webb, who played Captain Midnight. He had a long list of movie credits under his belt, and had written a few books too. One about Captain Midnight, and another about ghosts in the old west as he believed in the supernatural. He discussed the secret decoder ring kids could send for if they mailed in labels from Ovaltine -- that chocolate mix in the brown jar that you stirred in milk. He said he never cared for the stuff.

The Smithsonian Museum called him to see if he would donate his Captain Midnight memorabilia and he was happy to do so. Unfortunately, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound three years after this interview. His wife said he suffered for years from COPD.

Sky King starred Kirby Grant. One year he and Gloria Winters, who played his niece, Penny, performed as a song-and-dance team as headliners on the state fair circuit. When they were in Dallas at a Texas State Fair to sign autographs, waiting for their signatures were astronauts Gus Grissom, Pete Conrad, Alan Shepard, and Wally Schirra, all standing in line with their children.

Kirby, who was not wearing a seat belt, died in a car accident when he was ejected from the car. He was on his way to watch the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger at Cape Canaveral. He was to be seated in the VIP section because he was to have been honored by the astronauts for encouraging aviation and space flight.

Superman, played by George Reeves, can still be seen in reruns. A couple weeks ago I came across it and stopped to watch. I chuckled through the entire show. Especially one scene where Superman was going to go to Africa because Lois and Jimmy had been kidnapped by this evil fellow. A printed placard showed up on the screen indicating where the action was next going to take place. The sign, however said TIBET. While I couldn’t recall for sure exactly where Tibet was, I knew it wasn’t in Africa.

Before beginning his Superman career, George appeared in several other productions. One was in ‘Gone With the Wind’ where he played one of the red-haired Tarleton twins who were suitors of Scarlett O’Hara. Some controversy continues on whether George was murdered, but most believe he shot himself after a night of drinking at a party.

Smilin’ Ed McConnell was the original host of the Buster Brown Show. He was a beloved and jolly fat man, six feet tall and weighing over 250 pounds. Buster Brown and Smilin' Ed were joined together in 1944, with "Smilin' Ed's Buster Brown Gang" taking to the airwaves on September 2, 1950. The show continued on NBC radio every Saturday morning through April 11, 1953. There was an adventure story to open the show, plugs for Buster Brown shoes, and Froggy the Gremlin (Plunk you Magic Twanger Froggy) would sing a song or annoy a guest. The adventure show featured "Gunga, the East India Boy," a serial set in India. Led by The Maharajah, Gunga Ram and his pal Rama, they set out on great adventures around the village of Bakore in filmed segments. I LOVED these episodes!

When Smilin’ Ed died of a heart attack, Andy Devine picked up the reins and the show was called Andy’s Gang. This program began with Andy and his audience of kids singing:

"I got shoes, you got shoes, everybody's got to have shoes, but there's only one kind of shoe for me--good old Buster Brown shoes!"

It was considered cool if your parents bought you shoes with Buster Brown and his dog, Tige, inside. I can’t remember if I ever got one of those pairs or not, but we immediately named our dog Buster Brown. We thought that sounded better than Tige. I also remember getting a Froggy the Gremlin toy one Christmas. Or was that a toy for my baby brother? Anyhow, he was in our house for years.

The Red Goose Store at 831 Water was right next to Olberg’s at 837 Water. I think dad may have taken us to both places looking for the best price, but Olberg’s got our business most of the time. We also bought shoes at J.C. Penney’s at 929 Water next door to Guptill’s Sporting Goods at 925 Water. These are the businesses I remember when I walk along the main street today. I love going inside the businesses of today just to soak in the memories.

This ending tune serves as a signal that their magic has reached its full potential and that they have accomplished their desired outcome. The ending tune of the witches from Mercury is known to have a mesmerizing effect on those who hear it. It is often described as a beautiful melody that sends shivers down the spines of listeners.

Some even claim that the tune has the power to heal and provide solace to troubled souls. However, the ending tune isn't simply a random collection of notes. It is believed to contain secret codes and messages that only those well-versed in Mercury witchcraft can decipher. These messages are said to hold valuable information and insights into the mysteries of the universe. Mercury witches are known to guard their ending tune closely, as it is considered a sacred aspect of their craft. It is also believed that the tune can only be heard by those who are in tune with the spiritual world and have a deep understanding of magic and the occult. In conclusion, the ending tune of a witch from Mercury is a powerful and mystical aspect of their magical abilities. It is a mesmerizing melody that holds secrets and messages for those who are wise enough to interpret them. The enchanting sound serves as both a signal of accomplishment and a source of healing and knowledge..

Reviews for "An In-Depth Look at the Witch from Mercury's Ending Tune"

1. - John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the ending tune of "Witch from Mercury". It felt repetitive and lacked any real impact. The melody was forgettable, and the lyrics were unimpressive. It didn't do justice to the powerful story the show had built up throughout its episodes. I expected a memorable and emotionally charged ending, but instead, I got a lackluster tune that left me feeling unsatisfied. I wish the creators had put more effort into creating an ending song that would do justice to the amazing series.

2. - Emily - 2/5 - The ending tune of "Witch from Mercury" was a letdown for me. It felt disconnected from the overall tone and themes of the show. The music and lyrics didn't evoke any emotions or create a fitting atmosphere. It felt like a generic pop song that could have been used for any other show. The lack of uniqueness and creativity in the ending tune was a missed opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the viewers. I wish they had chosen a more thoughtful and impactful tune that would have resonated with the audience and enhanced the overall experience of watching the series.

3. - Alex - 3/5 - While "Witch from Mercury" was an enjoyable series, I have mixed feelings about the ending tune. It was catchy and had a nice beat, but it didn't quite match the depth and complexity of the show. The lyrics felt shallow and didn't provide a satisfying conclusion to the story. I was hoping for a more impactful and meaningful ending tune that would have stayed with me long after the series ended. Overall, it was an okay choice, but it could have been better given the potential of the show.

4. - Sarah - 2/5 - The ending tune of "Witch from Mercury" was a disappointment. It lacked originality and felt generic. The melody was forgettable, and I had a hard time connecting with the song. It didn't capture the essence of the show or resonate with the emotions it evoked. I was expecting a powerful and memorable ending tune that would leave a lasting impression, but what I got was a forgettable tune that didn't contribute much to the overall experience. It was a missed opportunity to create an impactful ending for a show with so much potential.

Connecting With the Witch from Mercury's Ending Tune