Sid Krofft

Children's Show Creator
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In their three-and-a-half hour Archive interview (a half-hour solo interview for each and two-and-a-half hours together), 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 interview on July 27, 2000 in Sherman Oaks, CA. 

"Wherever I go, when people get so excited and impressed by what my brother and myself have done... I don't see it that way. I'm just having a good time. I can't believe that I get paid for this nonsense that I come up with. It's amazing."

People Talking About ...
Sid Krofft
Highlights
Sid Krofft on touring with The Ringling Bros. Circus
Sid and Marty Krofft on their pitch for H.R. Pufnsuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney
Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on how he got involved in puppetry; on his father's puppetry
On his favorite movies; on getting an agent and being billed as "the world's youngest puppeteer"; on touring with The Ringling Bros. Circus and his first television appearance; on Sonja Henning being a fan of his act and suggesting they put it on ice
On appearing on The Kate Smith Hour and The Ed Sullivan Show; on how he'd like to be remembered

Chapter 2
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH MARTY 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

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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)

Banana Splits Adventure Hour, The

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Sid and Marty Krofft on working on Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits Adventure Hour

Brady Bunch Hour, The

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Sid and Marty Krofft on working on The Brady Bunch Hour

Bugaloos, The

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Sid and Marty Krofft on creating The Bugaloos
Sid and Marty Krofft on their responsibilities on The Bugaloos
Sid and Marty Krofft on the success of The Bugaloos
Sid and Marty Krofft on the music of The Bugaloos and not casting solely for musical talent
Sid and Marty Krofft on the adult audience of The Bugaloos and on child fans from the '70s still remaining fans
Sid and Marty Krofft on casting British talent for The Bugaloos
Sid and Marty Krofft on re-vamping The Bugaloos for a movie
Marty Krofft on photos from The Bugaloos

Dean Martin Show, The

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Sid and Marty Krofft on their appearances on The Dean Martin Show
Sid and Marty Krofft on their act on The Dean Martin Show and why they got fired from the show

Donny & Marie

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Sid and Marty Krofft on producing on Donny & Marie
Sid and Marty Krofft on working with the Osmond family on Donny & Marie

Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

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Sid Krofft on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show

H. R. Pufnstuf

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Sid and Marty Krofft on their relationship with Six Flags amusement parks and the birth of "H. R. Pufnstuf"
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating H.R. Pufnsuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on the budget and production of H.R. Pufnsuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on the early days of H.R. Pufnstuf, pitching the show and gaining a solid reputation, but losing money
Sid and Marty Krofft on problems with Standards & Practices on H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on the premise of H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on the cast of H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on some of the characters on H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on production of H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on the music and theme songs of H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on the educational value and look of H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on the end of H.R. Pufnstuf and the movie
Sid and Marty Krofft on their favorite episodes of H.R. Pufnstuf
Marty Krofft on a photo from H.R. Pufnstuf
Marty Krofft on a photo of the man who voiced H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on a photo with a tree from H.R. Pufnstuf

Kate Smith Hour

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Sid Krofft on appearing on The Kate Smith Hour

Land of the Lost

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Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Land of the Lost
Sid and Marty Krofft on the concept and production of Land of the Lost
Sid and Marty Krofft on the writers on Land of the Lost coming from Star Trek
Sid and Marty Krofft on the success of Land of the Lost
Sid and Marty Krofft on their favorite episodes of Land of the Lost
Marty Krofft on photos from Land of the Lost

Lidsville

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Sid and Marty Krofft on creating and pitching Lidsville
Sid and Marty Krofft on casting Lidsville
Sid and Marty Krofft on the hat characters on Lidsville

Star Trek

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Sid and Marty Krofft on the writers on Land of the Lost coming from Star Trek
Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

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Sid Krofft on the 1939 World's Fair

Advice

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Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney
Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Sid and Marty Krofft on problems with Standards & Practices on H.R. Pufnstuf

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Sid and Marty Krofft on Michael Eisner being a mentor and offering them opportunities

Historic Events and Social Change

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Sid Krofft on the 1939 World's Fair

Pivotal Career Moments

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Sid and Marty Krofft on Michael Eisner being a mentor and offering them opportunities

Pop Culture

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Sid and Marty Krofft on the theme songs to H.R. Pufnstuf

TV Theme Songs

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Sid and Marty Krofft on the theme songs to H.R. Pufnstuf

Television Industry

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Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney
Sid and Marty Krofft on problems with Standards & Practices on H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers
Professions

Performers

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Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers

Puppeteer

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Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers
Genres

Children's Programming

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Sid and Marty Krofft on creating H.R. Pufnsuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on the creation and production of H.R. Pufnstuf
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating The Bugaloos
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating, pitching, and casting Lidsville
Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
Sid and Marty Krofft on the concept and production of Land of the Lost; on the show's writers and the program's success
People

Joseph Barbera

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Sid and Marty Krofft on working on Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits Adventure Hour

Jimmy Carter

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Marty Krofft on President Carter watching one of their puppet shows

Cyd Charisse

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Marty Krofft on a photo of him with Cyd Charisse

Walt Disney

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Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney

Michael Eisner

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Sid and Marty Krofft on Michael Eisner being a mentor and offering them opportunities

Judy Garland

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Sid and Marty Krofft on touring with Judy Garland and beginning their collaboration
Sid and Marty Krofft on the inspiration for "Judy the Frog" on H.R. Pufnstuf

Billy Graham

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Sid and Marty Krofft on Billy Graham not approving of their "Les Poupee de Paris" show and the publicity surrounding it

Jerry Lewis

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Marty Krofft on a photo of him with Jerry Lewis on Pink Lady

Liberace

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Sid and Marty Krofft on touring with Liberace and why they got fired from The Dean Martin Show

Penny Marshall

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Sid and Marty Krofft on Penny Marshall auditioning for "Witchiepoo" on H.R. Pufnstuf

Dean Martin

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Sid and Marty Krofft on their act on The Dean Martin Show and why they got fired from the show

Mike Nichols

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Sid and Marty Krofft on Mike Nichols being a fan of H.R. Pufnsuf

Fred Silverman

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Sid and Marty Krofft on the premise of Pink Lady

Ed Sullivan

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Sid Krofft on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show

Larry White

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Sid and Marty Krofft on Larry White suggesting they create their own show, which became H.R. Pufnsuf

All Interviews

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