Reviews & Ratings for
"Kukla, Fran and Ollie" More at IMDbPro »

3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
The first great TV puppet show!, 18 May 1999

Author: marknyc from New York

"Kukla, Fran and Ollie" premiered on October 13, 1947 and had a continuous run until 1957. The Kuklapolitans continued to appear on television in various shows: "Kukla and Ollie" in the early 60s, and as hosts of The CBS Children's Film Festival from 1967 to 1984. They also had a show on PBS in the early 70s, and appeared in specials in the 70s and 80s. Burr Tillstrom created and performed all the characters and they still seem real to me today!

4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
A valuable part of TV history; fun for all ages!, 29 December 2003
Author: OKCRay from United States

I remember the Kuklapolitans when they were on PBS and when they hosted the CBS Childrens Theatre back in the 70s, and my aunts and uncles watched them frequently when they were growing up. This was clearly one of the best TV puppet theatres (although I also enjoyed Garfield Goose when I was a kid... anyone growing up in Chicago during the 60s and early 70s remembers this local favorite!), and Fran Allison was an absolutely charming hostess. I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of a Christmas special they performed in 1979(!!!) called "'Tis the Season to be Ollie", where the Kuklapolitans try to come up with a new idea for a holiday show. Ollie's idea of making it a glitzy production, complete with sequined disco outfits, mirror ball and strobe lights, is priceless! For television history buffs, the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago has this available on a wonderful DVD-R, which also includes classic 1950s holiday cartoons "Hardrock, Coco and Joe" (a/k/a "The Three Little Dwarfs"), "Suzie Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman".

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
KFO hosted CBS Children's Film Festival (1967), 31 May 2007
Author: corazondesea from New York

I used to watch this on Saturday mornings and enjoyed the dialogue between Fran and the puppets, as well as their comments in regards to the film being watched. Ollie, who was a dragon, would often get flustered or frustrated with the suspense in the film and collapse his long neck onto the "stage". This show was fantastic!

When I first read that this show was filmed in the '40s & '50s I too was shocked. Yet, when I continued to search for further info I discovered the following on Wikipedia.

"In 1967, KFO began hosting CBS Children's Film Festival. In this context, their conversations were restricted to a brief introduction, commercial segues and a summary of the film, and could only provide a hint of what had made KFO so popular. Many people know the troupe only from this filmed show and their later taped series for PBS."

I would have loved to have seen the original show.

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Kukla and the gang are Wonderful!, 9 February 2006
Author: from United States

I love this show. What a trip to find some video clips.

I found some websites with video clips searching with google.com.

It has been almost 50 years since I have seen this show. Suddenly I am a little boy again, laughing at this simple fun program. God bless you Fran and the gang for adding a bright spot to this boy's life so long ago.

I am trying to get one of grandsons-to-be named Kukla but our daughter just tells me I am out of control. Imagine that!

One of the video clips was them doing Three Little Maids. Funny stuff.

Reminds me a little bit of Soupy Sales and White Fang and Black Tooth. Funny stuff there too.

Well, enjoy!

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Loved the Kuklapolitans, 6 July 2001
Author: mikeschiffrin from Winter Park, Florida

This was more than a kid show. If I remember correctly some of the sponsors were Ford, RCA Victor and Life Magazine. I can remember most of the Kuklapokitan Players. Kukla, Ollie (The Dragon), Beulah (The Witch), Mercedes, Fletcher Rabbit, Madame Oglepuss and Cecil Bill (The Sailor who only said "Tooey, Ta Tooey"). I think Ollie had a sister named Olivia. Does anyone remember any others?

2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
What a wonderful show this was, 8 November 1998
Author: Varlaam from Toronto, Canada

If this show really ceased production in 1957, then you can knock me over with a feather. When I used to watch it in the late '60's or early '70's, I thought it was contemporary, as did everyone.

We all enjoyed Fran's lively banter with her puppets, Kukla the Clown, and Ollie the Alligator, but we really loved the short films Fran would show, usually with an international flavour. As I recall, the favourite of young boys was the series of Fatty and Skinny comedies, about two aptly-named Japanese boys. The plot always involved Fatty rolling/falling/toppling onto Skinny, but we loved them anyway.

Amazing Program, 11 August 2010

Author: richard.fuller1

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Many of these shows aren't re-aired because they advertise products within the show.

I ordered a set of 1950s Saturday morning programs and the episode of KFO has Kukla reading Life magazine, we see a Reader's Digest and then Fran and Kukla talk about the RCA stereo system.

Other than that the very idea that the shows were unrehearsed and unscripted is phenomenal to say the least. For some reason it seems to go beyond Allison and Tillstrom understanding each other, it seems to offer up the talent and capabilities of both of them.

Fran and Ollie also sing the Alphabet song, very well too. (A, you're adorable, B, you are beautiful, . . . )

This episode seems to show many of the puppets; a rabbit, the witch, the society matron, the tooey sailor fellow, who appears at the end with Tillstrom.

Still, it was amazing to sit there for nearly thirty minutes with no interruptions. I wonder what kids did, sat there staring at the stereo promotion, or was that the bathroom break?

3 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
This show did NOT cease production in 1957, 22 May 2003
Author: Jim Buttram from Culpeper, VA

It was in color, and the movies I remember seeing on it often included some "groovy" 60's-70's psychedelia. I just wish there was a list somewhere of the movies that were hosted back then ... I consider this show to be my introduction to foreign films, it really broadened my tastes and interested me in other cultures. Sometimes the movies were a little boring to me (sorry, but try to get a hyperactive 8-year-old to watch a movie about rugby... ), but there were a few that I'd love to track down and see again.

Add another review

Related Links