"H.R. Pufnstuf" (1969) TV series

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Creators:

Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 September 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Who's your friend when things get rough?

Plot:

A young boy named Jimmy has in his possession a magic flute named Freddie that can talk and play tunes on its own...

Plot Keywords:

Flute | Puppet | Witchcraft | Character Name In Title

Cast

Jack Wild	...	Jimmy (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Billie Hayes	...	Witchiepoo (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Lennie Weinrib	...	H.R. Pufnstuf / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Joan Gerber	...	Additional Voices / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Walker Edmiston	...	Additional Voices / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Sharon Baird	...	Lady Boyd / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Roberto Gamonet	...	H.R. Pufnstuf (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Joy Campbell	...	Cling / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Angelo Rossitto	...	Clang / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Johnny Silver	...	Ludicrous Lion / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Harry Monty	...	Various Characters / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Jon Linton	...	Various Characters / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Andy Ratoucheff	...	Various Characters / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Scutter McKay	...	Various Characters / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Robin Roper	...	Various Characters / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Jerry Landon	...	Living Island tree / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Felix Silla	...	Polka Dotted Horse / ... (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Buddy Douglas	...	Living Island tree / ... (4 episodes, 1969)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (including commercials) (17 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions

Trivia:

The Krofft's sued McDonalds for copyright infringement because the characters of Mayor McCheese and Big Mac bore a strong resemblance to the Pufnstuf character. They also noted similarities between the living trees and the apple pie trees.

Quotes:

Witchiepoo: Stop eating your popcorn and be quiet!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Quest of the Delta Knights (#10.13)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

H.R. Pufnstuf

Under Witchiepoo's Spell, I Am

Attention: If her charms are completely lost on you, read no further!

As someone who's never smoked the wacky tobacky, I do my best to ignore the alleged reference in H(appy).R(elaxing). Pufnstuf. Anyway, my story...

I was just a little too young to watch the show when it first aired. Today, having first seen it on TV Land quite recently, I would easily dismiss it as silly crap if it weren't for one thing: Witchiepoo, the resident villain. This little witch, as played by Billie Hayes, is irresistibly cute and utterly entertaining. She more than makes up for everything the show may lack. Kudos, though, to the rest of the cast, mostly puppeteers.

True, Witchiepoo may seem like a total rip-off of the Wicked Witches in "The Wizard of Oz", but I have yet to fall madly in love with Margaret Hamilton's green-faced ghoul, as excellent as she was in that role. It is a testament to Billie Hayes' talent that, through all the ugly make-up, she can be so wonderfully charming and adorable. Witchiepoo proves that a witch need not be pretty (Samantha, Sabrina) to be lovable. And I defy you to hear that sweet laugh of hers and not instantly fall under her spell!

Witchiepoo is the antithesis of so much sleazy TV programming today, and that's why I don't feel as silly as I could've about proclaiming my deep affection for this sweet and enchanting character. Thirty-five years since Witchiepoo first arrived, and it'll be a long time before I fall for another fictional character the way I've fallen for Witchiepoo. I am truly bewitched.