"Anyone who's been laboring under the impression that a dash of American folk music and a hymn or two is strictly for farm listeners is apparently off the beam, because here's a series of 48 shorties that two metropolitan stations - Chicago's NBC flagship, WMAQ and Minneapolis' WCCO-CBS have latched on to for a 16 week ride. While his Buster Brown show was running, McConnell presided over a five-minute show sponsored by the American Poultry Journal. Even though McConnell became famous as "Smilin' Ed," he continued to host programs for religious adults. McConnell grabbed children's attention when he created the character Froggy the Gremlin, performing with Irma Allen on the organ or Del Owen on the piano. Variety noted that aside from such hymns as "God Understands," he "unloads a hokey hodgepodge of songs and you-know-me-I wouldn't-steer-you-wrong-blather." For a while, he was heard at 10:30 am doing a 15-minute program sponsored by the Air Conditioning Training Corporation of Youngstown, Ohio. McConnell's time-slot and sponsors also changed. McConnell became known in New York City when he was heard over WJZ, though the show was broadcast from Chicago and he lived in Elk Rapids, Michigan. The Sunday afternoon program was sponsored by Acme White Lead and Color Works. In 1936, McConnell was featured in Acme Sunshine Melodies on WMAQ in Chicago. Guests included the Doring Trio, The Four Grenadiers, The Campus Choir and the Rhythmaires.
McConnell’s blend of "songs, humor and philosophy" aired over network affiliates at 5:30pm. In 1937, he moved to NBC as their "Sunshine Melody Man", offering hymns and uplifting messages. He married in 1928, and four years later joined the CBS network. He entered radio in Atlanta in 1922 as a substitute when a scheduled performer failed to arrive.
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