Sid Krofft

Children's Show Creator

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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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.

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

"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."

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Highlights

Sid Krofft on touring with The Ringling Bros. Circus

01:05

Sid and Marty Krofft on their pitch for H.R. Pufnsuf

02:08

Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

01:37

Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney

02:05

Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers

00:49

Full Interview

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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

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

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

04:33

Brady Bunch Hour, The

Sid and Marty Krofft on working on The Brady Bunch Hour

03:20

Bugaloos, The

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

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

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

Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

Sid Krofft on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show

00:52

H. R. Pufnstuf

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

Kate Smith Hour

Sid Krofft on appearing on The Kate Smith Hour

00:17

Land of the Lost

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

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

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

00:33

Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

Sid Krofft on the 1939 World's Fair

00:51

Advice

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

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

04:31

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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

00:31

Historic Events and Social Change

Sid Krofft on the 1939 World's Fair

00:51

Pivotal Career Moments

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

00:31

Pop Culture

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

00:35

TV Theme Songs

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

00:35

Television Industry

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

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Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers

00:49

Puppeteer

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Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers

00:49

Genres

Children's Programming

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

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

04:33

Jimmy Carter

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Marty Krofft on President Carter watching one of their puppet shows

00:41

Cyd Charisse

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Marty Krofft on a photo of him with Cyd Charisse

00:36

Walt Disney

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Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney

02:05

Michael Eisner

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

00:31

Judy Garland

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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

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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

02:41

Jerry Lewis

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

00:29

Liberace

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

01:07

Penny Marshall

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

00:26

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

02:40

Mike Nichols

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

00:25

Fred Silverman

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Sid and Marty Krofft on the premise of Pink Lady

05:01

Ed Sullivan

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Sid Krofft on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show

00:52

Larry White

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

03:48