Marty Krofft

Children's Show Creator


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In the half-hour solo portion of his interview, Marty Krofft (1937-2023) discusses his early involvement in puppetry and his father’s puppeteering. He talks about his relationship with his brother, Sid Krofft, and their puppet act together. He also describes the business aspects of puppeteering and reflects on his achievements, regrets, and how he’d like to be remembered. 

In the two-and-a-half-hour joint portion of their interview, brothers Sid and Marty Krofft recount their early years in a puppeteering family. They discuss working with Judy Garland and appearing on The Dean Martin Show. They describe creating their first television series, H.R. Pufnstuf, after achieving success in designing the live-action costumes for Banana Splits, which launched them into children's television. They also talk about the origin of their other cult-favorite programs including Lidsville, The Bugaloos, Lost Saucer, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, and Land of the Lost. They recount their involvement with amusement parks and also speak of their lawsuit over McDonaldland. Karen Herman conducted the interviews on July 27, 2000 in Sherman Oaks, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I think we made more happen on a Saturday morning than anybody else. Saturday morning was the drudges of television. You put your kids in front of the set and then it was goodbye. You didn't watch anything. We got the adults to watch."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Marty Krofft on his and brother Sid Krofft's puppeteering style
00:36
Sid and Marty Krofft on their relationship with Six Flags amusement parks and the birth of "H. R. Pufnstuf"
01:19
Sid and Marty Krofft on the laugh track on H.R. Pufnstuf
01:57
Sid and Marty Krofft on their theme park, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft
02:54
Marty Krofft on his greatest achievement
01:21
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on his father's puppeteering and how he became involved with puppets; on childhood hobbies
On attending college and then moving to California; on his puppet act with brother Sid Krofft; on how his style differed from earlier puppeteering
On the business aspects of puppeteering; on his relationship with his brother, Sid Krofft; on his greatest achievement, career regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered

Chapter 2

START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH SID KROFFT: On their collaboration; on putting together "Les Poupee de Paris" show; on their relationship with Six Flags and their appearances on The Dean Martin Show
On performing in Europe and their puppets in Six Flags taking off
On working on Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits Adventure Hour
On creating H.R. Pufnsuf

Chapter 3

On the early days of H.R. Pufnstuf, pitching the show and gaining a solid reputation, but losing money; on problems with Standards & Practices on H.R. Pufnstuf
On the (false) drug lore surrounding the show; on the premise and cast of H.R. Pufnstuf
On production on the show; on the music of H.R. Pufnstuf; on the educational value and look of H.R. Pufnstuf

Chapter 4

On the end of H.R. Pufnstuf and the movie; on their favorite episodes of the show
On their lawsuit with McDonalds
On creating The Bugaloos and the success of the show; on the music on the program
On creating Lidsville and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters; on creating Land of the Lost

Chapter 5

On the concept and production of Land of the Lost; on the show's writers and the program's success
On creating Far Out Space Nuts and The Lost Saucer
On producing Donny & Marie; on working with the Osmond family
On creating The Krofft Supershow; on their creative partnership
On working on The Brady Bunch Hour; on the premise of Pink Lady; on their theme park, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft

Chapter 6

On producing Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters; on creating the syndicated show D.C. Follies
On their then-current projects; on advice to aspiring puppeteers
On B-roll of photos from their career: from Pink Lady, Land of the Lost, H.R. Pufnstuf, and from Sid Krofft's pre-television puppet shows; on the puppet versions of themselves
Shows

All in the Family

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and some characters being partly based on the British (original) version of All in the Family, ('Til Death Do Us Part)
01:39

Banana Splits Adventure Hour, The

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on working on Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits Adventure Hour
04:33

Brady Bunch Hour, The

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on working on The Brady Bunch Hour
03:20

Bugaloos, The

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating The Bugaloos
03:39
Sid and Marty Krofft on their responsibilities on The Bugaloos
02:05
Sid and Marty Krofft on the success of The Bugaloos
01:14
Sid and Marty Krofft on the music of The Bugaloos and not casting solely for musical talent
02:36
Sid and Marty Krofft on the adult audience of The Bugaloos and on child fans from the '70s still remaining fans
01:43
Sid and Marty Krofft on casting British talent for The Bugaloos
01:13
Sid and Marty Krofft on re-vamping The Bugaloos for a movie
00:20
Marty Krofft on photos from The Bugaloos
01:00

Dean Martin Show, The

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on their appearances on The Dean Martin Show
00:48
Sid and Marty Krofft on their act on The Dean Martin Show and why they got fired from the show
02:40

Donny & Marie

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on producing on Donny & Marie
02:43
Sid and Marty Krofft on working with the Osmond family on Donny & Marie
01:33

H. R. Pufnstuf

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on their relationship with Six Flags amusement parks and the birth of "H. R. Pufnstuf"
01:19
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating H.R. Pufnsuf
03:48
Sid and Marty Krofft on the budget and production of H.R. Pufnsuf
00:55
Sid and Marty Krofft on the early days of H.R. Pufnstuf, pitching the show and gaining a solid reputation, but losing money
03:40
Sid and Marty Krofft on problems with Standards & Practices on H.R. Pufnstuf
04:31
Sid and Marty Krofft on the premise of H.R. Pufnstuf
01:58
Sid and Marty Krofft on the cast of H.R. Pufnstuf
06:52
Sid and Marty Krofft on some of the characters on H.R. Pufnstuf
02:03
Sid and Marty Krofft on production of H.R. Pufnstuf
04:22
Sid and Marty Krofft on the music and theme songs of H.R. Pufnstuf
01:20
Sid and Marty Krofft on the educational value and look of H.R. Pufnstuf
01:37
Sid and Marty Krofft on the end of H.R. Pufnstuf and the movie
01:10
Sid and Marty Krofft on their favorite episodes of H.R. Pufnstuf
01:19
Marty Krofft on a photo from H.R. Pufnstuf
00:30
Marty Krofft on a photo of the man who voiced H.R. Pufnstuf
00:46
Sid and Marty Krofft on a photo with a tree from H.R. Pufnstuf
00:28

Land of the Lost

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Land of the Lost
01:06
Sid and Marty Krofft on the concept and production of Land of the Lost
03:11
Sid and Marty Krofft on the writers on Land of the Lost coming from Star Trek
00:33
Sid and Marty Krofft on the success of Land of the Lost
00:51
Sid and Marty Krofft on their favorite episodes of Land of the Lost
01:07
Marty Krofft on photos from Land of the Lost
01:56

Lidsville

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating and pitching Lidsville
02:02
Sid and Marty Krofft on casting Lidsville
02:47
Sid and Marty Krofft on the hat characters on Lidsville
00:53

Star Trek

View Show Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on the writers on Land of the Lost coming from Star Trek
00:33
Topics

Advice

View Topic
Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney
02:05
Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers
00:49

Censorship / Standards & Practices

View Topic
Sid and Marty Krofft on problems with Standards & Practices on H.R. Pufnstuf
04:31

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Sid and Marty Krofft on Michael Eisner being a mentor and offering them opportunities
00:31

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Sid and Marty Krofft on Michael Eisner being a mentor and offering them opportunities
00:31

Pop Culture

View Topic
Sid and Marty Krofft on the theme songs to H.R. Pufnstuf
00:35

TV Theme Songs

View Topic
Sid and Marty Krofft on the theme songs to H.R. Pufnstuf
00:35

Television Industry

View Topic
Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney
02:05
Sid and Marty Krofft on problems with Standards & Practices on H.R. Pufnstuf
04:31
Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers
00:49
Professions

Performers

View Profession
Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers
00:49

Puppeteer

View Profession
Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers
00:49
Genres

Children's Programming

View Genre
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating H.R. Pufnsuf
23:23
Sid and Marty Krofft on the creation and production of H.R. Pufnstuf
28:17
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating The Bugaloos
10:24
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating, pitching, and casting Lidsville
05:41
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
06:53
Sid and Marty Krofft on the concept and production of Land of the Lost; on the show's writers and the program's success
05:42
People

Joseph Barbera

View Interview Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on working on Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits Adventure Hour
04:33

Jimmy Carter

View Person Page
Marty Krofft on President Carter watching one of their puppet shows
00:41

Cyd Charisse

View Interview Page
Marty Krofft on a photo of him with Cyd Charisse
00:36

Walt Disney

View Person Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney
02:05

Michael Eisner

View Interview Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on Michael Eisner being a mentor and offering them opportunities
00:31

Judy Garland

View Person Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on touring with Judy Garland and beginning their collaboration
01:06
Sid and Marty Krofft on the inspiration for "Judy the Frog" on H.R. Pufnstuf
00:44

Billy Graham

View Person Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on Billy Graham not approving of their "Les Poupee de Paris" show and the publicity surrounding it
02:41

Jim Henson

View Person Page
Marty Krofft on meeting Jim Henson's daughter, Lisa Henson
00:25

Sid Krofft

View Interview Page
Marty Krofft on starting to work in puppetry with his brother, Sid Krofft
01:08
Marty Krofft on his relationship with his brother, Sid Krofft
01:40

Jerry Lewis

View Interview Page
Marty Krofft on a photo of him with Jerry Lewis on Pink Lady
00:29

Liberace

View Person Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on touring with Liberace and why they got fired from The Dean Martin Show
01:07

Penny Marshall

View Interview Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on Penny Marshall auditioning for "Witchiepoo" on H.R. Pufnstuf
00:26

Dean Martin

View Person Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on their act on The Dean Martin Show and why they got fired from the show
02:40

Mike Nichols

View Person Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on Mike Nichols being a fan of H.R. Pufnsuf
00:25

Fred Silverman

View Interview Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on the premise of Pink Lady
05:01

Larry White

View Person Page
Sid and Marty Krofft on Larry White suggesting they create their own show, which became H.R. Pufnsuf
03:48

All Interviews

S