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

Creators:

Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft
(more)

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)

Series Directed by
Hollingsworth Morse		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Writing credits
Paul Harrison		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Marty Krofft		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Sid Krofft		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Lennie Weinrib		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Produced by
Malcolm Alper	....	associate producer (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Marty Krofft	....	producer (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Sid Krofft	....	producer (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Si Rose	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Original Music by
Gene Page		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Cinematography by
Kenneth Peach		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Art Direction by
William Martin		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Costume Design by
Evenda Leeper		(17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Makeup Department
Beau Hickman	....	makeup artist (17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Production Management
Chuck Colean	....	unit manager (17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chuck Colean	....	assistant director (17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Art Department
Nicky Nadeau	....	creative designer (17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Sound Department
Harold Lewis	....	sound recordist / sound recording (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
James Nelson	....	supervising sound editor (16 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Special Effects by
Tim Baar	....	special effects (17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt coordinator (16 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Earl C. Williman	....	best boy electric (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Anthony Pistone	....	gaffer (15 episodes, 1969-1970)
George Rader	....	head grip (15 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Animation Department
Coral Kerr	....	character designer (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Oda Broulard	....	costumer (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Ronnie Ross	....	costumer (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Ken Harvey	....	costumer (15 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Editorial Department
Gene Ruggiero	....	supervising editor (17 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Music Department
Harold Belfer	....	stager: musical numbers (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Les Szarvas	....	composer: special material (5 episodes, 1969)

Series Other crew
Trudy Bennett	....	assistant to producers (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Donald A. Ramsey	....	production coordinator (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Dell Ross	....	script supervisor (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Robert Waugh	....	supervision (17 episodes, 1969-1970)
Rolf Roediger	....	puppet fabricator (14 episodes, 1969-1970)
Marty Krofft	....	presenter (4 episodes, 1969)
Sid Krofft	....	presenter (4 episodes, 1969)

Production Companies

• Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions

Distributors

• Fabulous Films (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Gold Key Entertainment
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1969-1971) (USA) (TV)
• Nederlandse Omroepstichting (NOS) (1970) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Rhino Entertainment Company (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures

Runtime:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company:

Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions

Trivia:

After Sid Kroft watched a rough cut of "Oliver" upon a request from his friend Lionel Bart, he immediately decided to ask Jack Wild for the lead role in this show.

Quotes:

Witchiepoo:With friends like you two, who needs enemies?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Muppets Tonight: Episode #2.7" (1997)

Soundtrack:

H.R. Pufnstuf

You had to be there!

Anyone who didn't grow up in the 70's who sees this show just sits there in stunned amazement. But, if you saw this show back in its heyday, you probably loved it.

The Kroft shows were a surreal breed. They were puppeteers, but the puppets in these shows were, generally, people in elaborate costumes. The colors were bright and psychedelic. The names were a mixture of puns and silly jokes. There were plenty of songs and hijinxs galore. The stories were silly and lame, but they had a spirit and warmth to them. Loyalty and honesty were always at the heart of the characters and good values always triumphed.

Jack Wild made a name for himself in Oliver and stared as Jimmy. He is marooned on the Living Island by Witchipoo, who covets his Magic Flute. Jimmy is rescued by the mayor of Living Island, H.R. Pufnstuf. Each week, Witchiepoo would concoct another wild scheme to steal Magic Flute; and, each week, her scheme would backfire, thanks to her inept henchmen and her own stupidity.

The one thing that cemented a love of this show, for me, was Billie Hayes as Witchiepoo. Billie was a great comedian and gave her all to Witchiepoo. I was easily scared as a kid, but she was never frightening. Witchiepoo was too much of a screw-up to pose a real threat. She had a charm that made you want to come back. Plus, she had a cool, souped-up broom! And, from all accounts, she was a heck of a nice lady.

I've heard the drug jokes about this and other shows (i.e. H.R. Pufnstuf Hand Rolled Pufnstuf) from the Krofts. Yeah, they're weird and look like the product of a demented or medicated mind, but the writers weren't that young and were pretty straight-laced. Maybe it was just something in the air back then.