[1] This was a popular format for children's television at the time, with three similar series then in circulation (Chuckle Heads, Mischief Makers, and Comedy Capers).
There were 130 black-and-white, nine-minute episodes of The Funny Manns produced for syndication by California National Productions, a subsidiary of NBC.
The show was co-produced by Bobby Nicholson, formerly of NBC's Howdy Doody program.
Then the silent footage would begin, followed by Norton returning in character to offer a short epilogue.
The silent stars appearing on the show included Snub Pollard, Poodles Hanneford, Billy Bevan, Oliver Hardy (minus his partner, Stan Laurel), Harry Langdon, The Three Fatties, and a young Mickey Rooney, introduced by Norton as "Mickey (Himself) McGuire".