Is there any connection between Ventriloquist Paul Winchell and Actor John Mahoney?

Answer 1

Okay, here are the facts as I know and remember them. Winchell-Mahoney Time was the name of the program on TV. It used ventriloquist"s dummies and also live characters, as did Howdy Doody- but seemed to be angled at an older audience. Jerry Mahoney ( dummy voiced by Mr. Winchell) was the president of a Club that met in the clubhouse- set indoors, the obvious handicaps of puppets were somewhat toned down. Knucklehead Smith, a football player with a crew-cut was his right-hand Man and the other main character. Somewhat oddly I don"t recall any girls in the club but they were in the studio audience. The show had differing entrance and recessional Themes songs- the fadeout one was the slow-paced Friendship song- which would immediately segue into the opening but abbreviated- Hurray, Hurrah, opening theme song as the show went off. Many Tv shows did this, such as the Mickey Mouse club. A more mature item than Howdy Doody, it did not go around making fun of people on looks- and had some intelligent content. It almost could have worked with in toto- Live actors who would be the hosts of the clubhouse,. I cannot remember the name of the Club, but do recall the password of either Scotty-Watty- Doo Doo- or Doddy- Waddy, Doo Doo,. so it goes.