At the very least, he was known as the “Hi Guy” guy in those “Right Guard” commercials. Very typical of his style, he made something potentially obnoxious very lovable. I mean, WHO wants to SHARE a bathroom cabinet with the jerk next door? Especially when he’s obsessed with deodorant?
For those in the NYC area, Chuck was a beloved kiddie show host on WPIX. Unlike “Officer Joe” Bolton and “Fireman” Todd Russell and “Captain” Jack McCarthy, Chuck McCann was simply…CHUCK MCCANN. He danced down the hallways of WPIX to the tune of “Put on a Happy Face,” and then put on a show. One hell of a show, for that low budget and that audience of kids.
He might dress up as Little Orphan Annie and read the Sunday comics. He might be Dick Tracy. His monkeying around was the missing link between the old style silent film comics he loved, like Oliver Hardy, and the new breed of friendly and realistic children’s show hosts like Sandy Becker. He was himself, he was a normal looking guy, but he was happily wacky and childlike.
Something about that “childlike” streak in him won him the best dramatic role of his career, in the film “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.” He also got a chance to mix humor and pathos as the star of “The Projectionist.” Meanwhile, he continued doing voiceovers, commercials, sitcom work, and just about everything else. Some remember him working opposite Bob Denver, or Dick Van Dyke (doing Ollie to Dick's Stan) or playing second banana to any number of people. He was also first banana to thousands of fans on his Facebook page, and he made special little movies for them, including some glimpses into his love for Laurel and Hardy.
In one video, he turned up at the scene of a Laurel & Hardy comedy, interviewing passersby. The first (and only time) I met Chuck was at a “Sons of the Desert” banquet. Running out of L&H co-stars even then, the guest of honor was Margaret Hamilton. Will Jordan was a featured performer. Well, I was so excited and nervous to actually say hello to Chuck McCann!
I had written a fan letter to Chuck years earlier, and he sent an 8x10 autographed photo.
The banquet hall was just that, with a lot of tables and a dais up front. There was an informal lobby area, the hotel equivalent to a “living room” in ambience, with some over-stuffed chairs, sofas, and some tables with lamps. Chuck was standing near a table that had a lamp on it, and the cord ran across the floor. Naturally, I tripped over it.
Not a big thing. Just a brief little stumble. But Chuck saw it and quipped, “Light on your feet!” Lamp. Light. That’s a joke, son! And coming from Chuck McCann, I knew it was meant “just in fun,” which was pretty close to the name of his kiddie show, "Let's Have Fun."
It's nice when someone you looked up to in childhood is not only nice to you, but turns out to be a truly nice guy. "Officer Joe" Bolton was a nice guy. And I got to know Soupy Sales, who was a nice guy. And Chuck McCann...radiated NICE.
Chuck published a book "Let's Have Fun." You can Google and find a lot about him, and loads of pictures. Here's a vintage one:
Chuck McCann was the ONLY guy who could successfully imitate BOTH Stan and Ollie.
You liked Abbott & Costello. You loved Laurel and Hardy. You liked a lot of celebrities. You loved Chuck McCann.
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