Major Mudd

Factual Questions
1

I have this photo of myself as a child posing with a a man in a jump suit. A guy by the name of Major Mudd (or so I’m told) Apparently I was a big fan of his TV show as a kid, growing up in South Shore Massachusetts during the early 70’s.
My parents differ in opinion on what became of him. Dad seems to remember that he killed himself, mom says he died of natural causes.
I can remember nothing of him or his show, let alone his untimely demise. Does anyone remember him? I’ve tried in vain to find any web pages that make any sort of mention of him.

2

Is or was he the IBBY guy?

If yes, my older brothers worshiped him and might know what happened to him.

3

found this while surfing to answer your question. It can be found at:

http://members.aol.com/jeff1070/tv7.html

towards the bottom of a long page of articles about TV broadcast history. It is in the history of Channel 7 (WHDH-TV) in Boston.

I did some cursory searching for biographical information on Ed McDonnell, but didn’t turn up much (surprising, I didn’t fidn anything on a minor TV personality from a Local boston TV show in the 1970’s) But now that you have his real name, you can possibly find more info yourself…

4

I’m afraid I don’t know anything more about him than what I originally posted. So, yeah, I suppose he could very well be the “IBBY guy”…

5

Yup, that’s Major Mudd. He and Rex Trailer formed the core of Boston youth TV.

6

Wow, At last I have a little info. This has been plaguing me for years. My mother has had this picture of me and the guy in the space-suit hanging in their house for as long as I can remember.
Spent my lunch hour trying to find out any more info about Ed Mc Donnell to no avail.
I’m curious what became of him. Does anyone how he passed away, naturally or otherwise?

7

Still waiting for older bros. to reply - IBBY wasn’t the only expression (?) he coined was it? Wasn’t there one more, some other odd little “________________” of his?

8

Try a search of Major Mudd on Google - there might even be video for sale! Jois

9

I’ll still take Captain Noah, Sally Starr and Gene London from Philly.

10

I read in a few places on the internet that diabetes took Major Mudd’s life. One article saying it was kidney failure caused by diabetes.

11

cantsayit, thanks for your contribution. Just so you know, this thread discussion originally occurred almost 15 years ago so there’s little chance any of the participants will see what you posted.

12

Ed McDonnell died in 1979 of complications from diabetes.

He was a native of Philadelphia, his first role on national television had been as the chauffeur Cheddar on the Ernie Kovacs Show.

–From the Boston Globe

13

OP was last active back in August… well almost a year ago, but we are into a more stable time, in terms of ISP’s , email addresses, and relationship with the internet…

Also, here’s where he is, unfortunately, in the mudd look.

14

??
I read his last post as being 4/03/2005. No?

15

Last post was in 2005, but last “activity” (login) was in January 2014.