Properties of certain q-orthogonal polynomials are connected to the
q-oscillator algebra. The Wall and q-Laguerre polynomials are shown to
arise as matrix elements of q-exponentials of the generators in a
representation of this algebra. A realization is presented where the continuous
q-Hermite polynomials form a basis of the representation space. Various
identities are interpreted within this model. In particular, the connection
formula between the continuous big q-Hermite polynomials and the continuous
q-Hermite polynomials is thus obtained, and two generating functions for
these last polynomials are algebraically derived