"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."

    About This Interview

    In the half-hour solo portion of his interview, Sid Krofft talks about his childhood and his early interest in puppets. He discusses getting involved in puppetry and touring with the Ringling Bros. Circus. He also details his television appearances, including The Kate Smith Hour and The Ed Sullivan Show

    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.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Sid Krofft

    Sid Krofft on touring with The Ringling Bros. Circus

    01:05
    Thumbnail of Sid Krofft

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

    02:08
    Thumbnail of Sid Krofft

    Sid and Marty Krofft on creating Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

    01:37
    Thumbnail of Sid Krofft

    Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney

    02:05
    Thumbnail of Sid Krofft

    Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers

    00:49
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his childhood and early influences; on how he got involved in puppetry; on his father's puppetry

    10:33

    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

    13:36

    On appearing on The Kate Smith Hour and The Ed Sullivan Show; on how he'd like to be remembered

    03:04

    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

    16:32

    On performing in Europe and their puppets in Six Flags taking off

    02:49

    On working on Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits Adventure Hour

    04:33

    On creating H.R. Pufnsuf

    04:43

    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

    08:37

    On the (false) drug lore surrounding the show; on the premise and cast of H.R. Pufnstuf

    12:20

    On production on the show; on the music of H.R. Pufnstuf; on the educational value and look of H.R. Pufnstuf

    07:20

    Chapter 4

    On the end of H.R. Pufnstuf and the movie; on their favorite episodes of the show

    02:28

    On their lawsuit with McDonalds

    02:06

    On creating The Bugaloos and the success of the show; on the music on the program

    10:24

    On creating Lidsville and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters; on creating Land of the Lost

    13:40

    Chapter 5

    On the concept and production of Land of the Lost; on the show's writers and the program's success

    05:42

    On creating Far Out Space Nuts and The Lost Saucer

    02:13

    On producing Donny & Marie; on working with the Osmond family

    04:16

    On creating The Krofft Supershow; on their creative partnership

    05:17

    On working on The Brady Bunch Hour; on the premise of Pink Lady; on their theme park, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft

    11:16

    Chapter 6

    On producing Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters; on creating the syndicated show D.C. Follies

    05:30

    On their then-current projects; on advice to aspiring puppeteers

    04:28

    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

    11:44

    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

    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

    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

    TV Theme Songs

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

    00:35

    Performers

    Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers

    00:49

    Puppeteer

    Sid and Marty Krofft on advice to aspiring puppeteers

    00:49

    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

    Joseph Barbera

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

    04:33

    Jimmy Carter

    Marty Krofft on President Carter watching one of their puppet shows

    00:41

    Cyd Charisse

    Marty Krofft on a photo of him with Cyd Charisse

    00:36

    Walt Disney

    Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney

    02:05

    Michael Eisner

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

    00:31

    Judy Garland

    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

    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

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

    00:29

    Liberace

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

    01:07

    Penny Marshall

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

    00:26

    Dean Martin

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

    02:40

    Mike Nichols

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

    00:25

    Fred Silverman

    Sid and Marty Krofft on the premise of Pink Lady

    05:01

    Ed Sullivan

    Sid Krofft on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show

    00:52

    Larry White

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

    03:48

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