"Lidsville" (1971) TV series 1971-1973

Creators:

Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft
(more)

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Family | Comedy | Fantasy

Plot:

A boy finds himself trapped in a land populated by living hat-people which is ruled by a crotchety magician.

Plot Keywords:

Hat | Magic | Genie | Cult TV

Cast

Charles Nelson Reilly	...	Horatio J. Hoodoo / ... (17 episodes, 1971)
Billie Hayes	...	Weenie the Genie / ... (17 episodes, 1971)
Butch Patrick	...	Mark (17 episodes, 1971)
Sharon Baird	...	Raunchy Rabbit (17 episodes, 1971)
Joy Campbell	...	Nursie / ... (17 episodes, 1971)
Jerry Maren	...	Boris / ... (17 episodes, 1971)
Angelo Rossitto	...	Mr. Big / ... (17 episodes, 1971)
Hommy Stewart	...	Various characters (17 episodes, 1971)
Van Snowden	...	Tonsolini the Opera Hat / ... (17 episodes, 1971)
Felix Silla	...	Colonel Poom (17 episodes, 1971)
Buddy Douglas	...	Various characters (17 episodes, 1971)
Lennie Weinrib	...	Various characters (17 episodes, 1971)
Joan Gerber	...	Mrs. Ring-a-Ding / ... (17 episodes, 1971)
Walker Edmiston	...	Various characters (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Directed by
Tony Charmoli		(17 episodes, 1971)

Series Writing credits
Marty Krofft		(17 episodes, 1971)
Sid Krofft		(17 episodes, 1971)
John Fenton Murray		(7 episodes, 1971)
Warren S. Murray		(3 episodes, 1971)
Jack Raymond		(2 episodes, 1971)
Rita Sedran Rose		(2 episodes, 1971)

Series Produced by
Malcolm Alper	....	associate producer (17 episodes, 1971)
Marty Krofft	....	producer (17 episodes, 1971)
Sid Krofft	....	producer (17 episodes, 1971)
Si Rose	....	executive producer (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Original Music by
Charles Fox		(unknown episodes, 1971)

Series Art Direction by
William Smith		(17 episodes, 1971)

Series Set Decoration by
Ralph Sylos		(17 episodes, 1971)

Series Makeup Department
Beau Hickman	....	makeup artist (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Art Department
Earl Gawthorpe	....	head property man (17 episodes, 1971)
Nicky Nadeau	....	creative designer (17 episodes, 1971)
Robert A. Woolfe	....	scenic artist (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Sound Department
Marshall King	....	audio (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Special Effects by
Luke Tillman	....	special effects (17 episodes, 1971)
Lee Vasque	....	special effects (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Warren Hoag	....	head electrician (17 episodes, 1971)
George La Fountaine Sr.	....	lighting director (17 episodes, 1971)
George Rader	....	head grip (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Animation Department
Bill Hilton	....	character designer (17 episodes, 1971)
Martin Strudler	....	character designer (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dorothy Barkley	....	wardrobe (17 episodes, 1971)
Andy Matyasi	....	wardrobe (17 episodes, 1971)
Janet Strong	....	wardrobe (17 episodes, 1971)
Kirk Templeman	....	wardrobe (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Editorial Department
Bill Breshears	....	editor: video tape (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Music Department
Charles Fox	....	musical director (17 episodes, 1971)

Series Other crew
Peter Barth	....	stage manager (17 episodes, 1971)
Trudy Bennett	....	assistant to producers (17 episodes, 1971)
Tony Csiki	....	associate director (17 episodes, 1971)
Howard Duhamel	....	video (17 episodes, 1971)
Harry Krofft	....	business affairs (17 episodes, 1971)
Evenda Leeper	....	puppet fabricator (17 episodes, 1971)
Robert Masters	....	technical director (17 episodes, 1971)
Donald A. Ramsey	....	associate director (17 episodes, 1971)
Rolf Roediger	....	puppet fabricator (17 episodes, 1971)
Dell Ross	....	script supervisor (17 episodes, 1971)
Robert Waugh	....	supervision (17 episodes, 1971)

Production Companies

• Krofft Entertainment

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1971) (USA) (TV)
• Rhino Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Six Flags Over Texas - 2201 Road to Six Flags Street E., Arlington, Texas, USA

Company:

Krofft Entertainment

Trivia:

The Hermine Midgets also played several of the costumed characters.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in God Is in the T.V. (1999) (V)

Stranger in Strange Land Theme Hampered by Bad Writing

I remember watching Lidsville in the early 70s. It was another of the "Stranger in a Strange Land" themed shows from the team of Sid and Marty Krofft as Mark, who fell into a magician's hat and ended up in a land of hats called Lidsville, was captured by the show's villain, Hoo Doo the Magician and he tried to leave and head home but he ended up staying.

Butch Patrick, in his first series since The Munsters was canceled in 1966 was outstanding as Mark. Charles Nelson Reilly, in his role between The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Match Game was really campy as Hoo Doo, all the way to his green makeup. Let's not forget krofft stalwart Billie Hayes as Weenie the Genie. She even reprises her Witchiepoo role in one episode.

There were also a lot of life-sized puppet characters, including a number that were played by The Hermine Midgets. It was the only series they did and to my knowledge, they were never heard from again.

What I liked about the show were the puppets and psychedelic setting. What i didn't like was the writing. It was full of puns and clichés. Whoever wrote those shows didn't have a lot of TV writing experience.

Aside from the writing, Lidsville was a joy to watch. It was a show that really flipped your lid.