NOSTALGIA: BUSTER BROWN SHOE COMPANY

 

“Buster Brown was a mischievous youngster from the comic strip of the same name – the creation of Richard Fenton Outcault. The little blonde boy with the Dutch bang hair, wide sailor's cap and the big floppy bow collar became the mascot to kids feet when he lent his image to become the most famous children’s shoe company in the world, Buster Brown shoes.” [Wikipedia] 

Buster Brown & dog "Tige"

Founded in 1878 by George Warren Brown in the St. Louis, Missouri, it became the shoe manufacturing center of the world. In 1904, Mr. Brown took his shoes to the St. Louis World's Fair. He introduced a line of girl's shoes called Mary Jane. Mary Jane was a character created by Richard Felton Outcault, "Father of the Sunday Comic Strip", for his comic strip Buster Brown, which was first published in 1902. 

Mary Jane shoes

Buster Brown shoes, 1952

The Buster Brown Shoe Company publicity abounded when Buster Brown would travel to department stores for appearances sponsoring the 1950's kids show Smilin’ Ed McConnell and His Buster Brown Gang, later called Andy’s Gang. Boys and girls were big fans of Buster Brown and the company still exists today for children’s shoes. Television ads appeared on children's shows across America.

The TV show Smilin’ Ed’s Gang, sponsored by Buster Brown Shoe Company, changed its name when Ed McConnell, a white-haired host, died. The show featured storybook reading, Ed would play piano and sing and a collection of puppet animals were featured, introducing film segments like Ghanga Rama, the Elephant Boy.

Froggy the Gremlin

When Ed died in 1954, Andy Devine, a favored Western film sidekick, took over the show and thus its name changed to Andy’s Gang. Andy’s sidekick was a puppet named Froggy the Gremlin. Andy’s sidekick (who later became the voice of Fred Flintstone) Alan Reed and also featuring Billy Gilbert, veteran actor in Laurel and Hardy films. Puppet voices included June Foray, famous for her voice in cartoons and children’s television. Pictured to the left is the toy that became popular when I was a child and still is sold today.

I remember going to Buster Brown store as a child, my sister and I, being fitted for dress shoes for Easter [see photo]

My sister and I, Buster Brown shoes Easter 1950's

Buster Browns shoes for kids can still be bought today. Of course, the styles have changed. 

There are 67 stores across Canada and places like Target and Amazon, the main online source. It is an historical icon of our nation’s history, like Hershey’s chocolate that still continues today. 

My mother loved dressing me up - in this case with a Hopalong Cassidy outfit complete with cowboy boots and Rocking Horse I got for Christmas, 1952-53 - 

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, 1952-53