Sid and Marty Krofft
Encyclopedia
Sid Krofft and Marty Krofft (b. April 9, 1937), are a sibling team of television producers who were influential in children's television and variety show programs in the USA, particularly throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
They are largely known for a unique brand of ambitious fantasy programs, often featuring large-headed puppets, high-concept plots, and extensive use of low-budget special effects. The team also dominated the arena of celebrity music/variety programs during the period.
. For many years, they claimed to have been born to a family of fifth-generation puppeteers, but they revealed in 2008 that this story was invented by a publicist in the 1940s. Their father was, in fact, a clock salesman who moved from Canada to Providence, R.I., and then to New York City. Sid Krofft became a noted puppeteer
who worked in vaudeville
and was a featured player with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
. In the 1940s, Sid created a one-man puppet show, "The Unusual Artistry of Sid Krofft," and performed it throughout the world. His father joined him on tour in Paris while Marty stayed in New York, where he started using his older brother's puppets to earn money by staging performances. By the 1950s, the Krofft brothers were working together, and in 1957, they developed Les Poupées de Paris
, a puppet show with more mature themes.
's Banana Splits series, the Kroffts' producing career began in 1969 with the landmark children's television series H.R. Pufnstuf
. The series introduced the team's trademark style of large scale, colorful design, puppetry, and special effects. Featuring a boy who has been lured into an alternate fantasy world and can never escape, the team also established a storytelling formula they would often return to.
Some people suggested that the Krofft brothers were influenced by marijuana
and LSD
, although they have always denied these claims. In a 2005 interview with USA Today
, Marty Krofft said, "No drugs involved. You can't do drugs when you're making shows. Maybe after, but not during. We're bizarre, that's all." Referring to the alleged LSD use, Marty said in another interview, "That was our look, those were the colors, everything we did had vivid colors, but there was no acid involved. That scared me. I'm no goody two-shoes, but you can't create this stuff stoned."
The Kroffts also favored quirky superhero stories, often with children involved as the heroes or part of a hero team. Particularly visionary and popular Krofft productions have included The Bugaloos
(1970), Lidsville
(1971), Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
(1973), Land of the Lost
(1974), The Lost Saucer
(1975), Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
(1976), and Wonderbug
(1976).
when the site was converted to the present CNN headquarters.
The Kroffts were also responsible for a large number of prime time music/variety programs. These shows also tended to employ a reliable formula, in this case featuring a celebrity host or team of hosts, weekly celebrity guest performers, flashy and colorful sets, and frequent interludes of scripted banter and gag-driven, "corny," good-natured sketch comedy.
The Kroffts have occasionally departed from their successful formula, notably a new version of Family Affair (2002), and the political puppet satire D.C. Follies
(1987). The team has recently attempted to update some of their most popular series for a younger generation, including new versions of Land of the Lost
, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
, and H.R. Pufnstuf.
The Kroffts are often acknowledged for the ambitious vision and creativity of their projects. In addition to their recognizably colorful and hyper-kinetic programs, they often created children's shows with complex stories, unusual protagonists, uniquely modern sensibilities, or with darker or more action-themed tones than most children's shows.
The Kroffts' "camp" popularity stems largely from their shows' low-budget production values, the often surrealistic feel of many of the programs, and the uniquely "'70s" style of music and design.
They are largely known for a unique brand of ambitious fantasy programs, often featuring large-headed puppets, high-concept plots, and extensive use of low-budget special effects. The team also dominated the arena of celebrity music/variety programs during the period.
Early years
The Krofft brothers, Sid and Marty, were born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. For many years, they claimed to have been born to a family of fifth-generation puppeteers, but they revealed in 2008 that this story was invented by a publicist in the 1940s. Their father was, in fact, a clock salesman who moved from Canada to Providence, R.I., and then to New York City. Sid Krofft became a noted puppeteer
Puppeteer
A puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object, such as a puppet, in real time to create the illusion of life. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the audience. A puppeteer can operate a puppet indirectly by the use of strings, rods, wires, electronics or directly by his or...
who worked in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
and was a featured player with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
. In the 1940s, Sid created a one-man puppet show, "The Unusual Artistry of Sid Krofft," and performed it throughout the world. His father joined him on tour in Paris while Marty stayed in New York, where he started using his older brother's puppets to earn money by staging performances. By the 1950s, the Krofft brothers were working together, and in 1957, they developed Les Poupées de Paris
Les Poupées de Paris
Les Poupées de Paris was a musical puppet show created, produced and directed by Sid and Marty Krofft, that toured the United States throughout the 1960s.-History:...
, a puppet show with more mature themes.
Television productions
After designing the characters and sets for Hanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
's Banana Splits series, the Kroffts' producing career began in 1969 with the landmark children's television series H.R. Pufnstuf
H.R. Pufnstuf
H.R. Pufnstuf was a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. It was the first Krofft live-action, life-size puppet program. The seventeen episodes were originally broadcast September 6, 1969 to September 4, 1971...
. The series introduced the team's trademark style of large scale, colorful design, puppetry, and special effects. Featuring a boy who has been lured into an alternate fantasy world and can never escape, the team also established a storytelling formula they would often return to.
Some people suggested that the Krofft brothers were influenced by marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
and LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
, although they have always denied these claims. In a 2005 interview with USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, Marty Krofft said, "No drugs involved. You can't do drugs when you're making shows. Maybe after, but not during. We're bizarre, that's all." Referring to the alleged LSD use, Marty said in another interview, "That was our look, those were the colors, everything we did had vivid colors, but there was no acid involved. That scared me. I'm no goody two-shoes, but you can't create this stuff stoned."
The Kroffts also favored quirky superhero stories, often with children involved as the heroes or part of a hero team. Particularly visionary and popular Krofft productions have included The Bugaloos
The Bugaloos
The Bugaloos is an American children's television series produced by brothers Sid and Marty Krofft, airing on NBC on Saturday mornings from 1970 to 1972. The show featured a musical group composed of four British-accented teenagers, who lived in fictional Tranquility Forest...
(1970), Lidsville
Lidsville
Lidsville was Sid and Marty Krofft's third television show following H.R. Pufnstuf and The Bugaloos . As did its predecessors, the series combined two types of characters: conventional actors in makeup filmed alongside performers in full mascot costumes, whose voices were dubbed in post-production...
(1971), Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters was an American children's television series that ran from 1973 to 1975, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft and aired on Saturday mornings...
(1973), Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost (1974 TV series)
Land of the Lost is a children's television series co-created and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. During its original run, it was broadcast on the NBC television network....
(1974), The Lost Saucer
The Lost Saucer
The Lost Saucer is an ABC network television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. It first aired September 6, 1975.-Premise:The Lost Saucer was about two time-travelling futuristic androids named Fi and Fum who land their flying saucer on present day Earth...
(1975), Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl is a Sid and Marty Krofft live action children's television series from 1976. The series lasted 16 weeks as part of the umbrella series The Krofft Supershow. During the second season, it was dropped along with Dr. Shrinker...
(1976), and Wonderbug
Wonderbug (TV series)
Wonderbug is a segment of the first and second season of the American television series The Krofft Supershow, from 1976 to 1978. It was shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.The show was rerun as part of ABC's Sunday morning series.-Plot:...
(1976).
The World of Sid and Marty Krofft
In 1976, a developer asked the Kroffts to develop an amusement park for the new Omni International complex in downtown Atlanta. The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was the world's first indoor amusement park, but due to poor attendance it was closed after just six months. The Omni International building that contained the amusement park was renamed the CNN CenterCNN Center
The CNN Center is the world headquarters of the Cable News Network . The main newsrooms and studios for several of CNN's news channels are located in the building...
when the site was converted to the present CNN headquarters.
The Kroffts' achievements
The Kroffts' memorable children's programs have developed a wide and enduring following, largely among adults who watched the shows as children.The Kroffts were also responsible for a large number of prime time music/variety programs. These shows also tended to employ a reliable formula, in this case featuring a celebrity host or team of hosts, weekly celebrity guest performers, flashy and colorful sets, and frequent interludes of scripted banter and gag-driven, "corny," good-natured sketch comedy.
The Kroffts have occasionally departed from their successful formula, notably a new version of Family Affair (2002), and the political puppet satire D.C. Follies
D.C. Follies
D.C. Follies is a syndicated sitcom which aired from 1987–1989 and was set in a Washington, D.C. bar, where bartender Fred Willard would welcome puppet caricatures of that day's politicians and celebrities. The humor tended to be on the satirical side, often taking potshots at politicians and the...
(1987). The team has recently attempted to update some of their most popular series for a younger generation, including new versions of Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost (1991 TV series)
Land of the Lost is a half-hour Saturday-morning children's series that debuted on ABC in the fall of 1991. The series was very popular, ranking #1 on Saturday Mornings during its first season, and ran for an additional season. Re-runs were later picked up by Nickelodeon...
, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl is a Sid and Marty Krofft live action children's television series from 1976. The series lasted 16 weeks as part of the umbrella series The Krofft Supershow. During the second season, it was dropped along with Dr. Shrinker...
, and H.R. Pufnstuf.
The Kroffts are often acknowledged for the ambitious vision and creativity of their projects. In addition to their recognizably colorful and hyper-kinetic programs, they often created children's shows with complex stories, unusual protagonists, uniquely modern sensibilities, or with darker or more action-themed tones than most children's shows.
The Kroffts' "camp" popularity stems largely from their shows' low-budget production values, the often surrealistic feel of many of the programs, and the uniquely "'70s" style of music and design.
TV Series
- Family Affair (2002)
- Land of the LostLand of the Lost (1991 TV series)Land of the Lost is a half-hour Saturday-morning children's series that debuted on ABC in the fall of 1991. The series was very popular, ranking #1 on Saturday Mornings during its first season, and ran for an additional season. Re-runs were later picked up by Nickelodeon...
(1991) - D.C. FolliesD.C. FolliesD.C. Follies is a syndicated sitcom which aired from 1987–1989 and was set in a Washington, D.C. bar, where bartender Fred Willard would welcome puppet caricatures of that day's politicians and celebrities. The humor tended to be on the satirical side, often taking potshots at politicians and the...
(1987) - Pryor's PlacePryor's PlacePryor's Place is a short-lived children's television series that aired on CBS. The live-action series starred comedian, Richard Pryor as himself.-Overview:Despite a reputation for profanity from Richard Pryor, Pryor's Place was aimed at children...
(1984) - Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980)
- Pink Lady and JeffPink Lady and JeffPink Lady is an American variety show that aired for five weeks on NBC in 1980, starring the musical duo of the same name. The show is most commonly referred to by the title Pink Lady and Jeff, which refers to co-star Jeff Altman...
(1980) - 'The Krofft Superstar HourThe Krofft Superstar HourThe Krofft Superstar Hour is a Saturday morning children's variety show, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. After eight episodes, the show was renamed The Bay City Rollers Show. It aired for one season from September 9, 1978 to November 28, 1979 on NBC.-Background:The show is essentially a...
(1978; aka The Bay City RollersBay City RollersThe Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
Show)- Horror Hotel
- The Lost Island
- The Brady Bunch HourThe Brady Bunch HourThe Brady Bunch Hour is an American variety television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in association with CBS Television Distribution, which aired on ABC between 1976 to 1977....
(1977) - The Krofft SupershowThe Krofft SupershowThe Krofft Supershow is a Saturday morning children's variety show, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. It aired for two seasons from September 11, 1976 to September 2, 1978 on ABC.-Background:...
(1976)- Dr. ShrinkerDr. ShrinkerDr. Shrinker was a segment during the first season of the ABC network's The Krofft Supershow in 1976.-Plot:Dr. Shrinker is a mad scientist who creates a shrink ray that can miniaturize anything. Three young adults named Brad Fulton , B.J. Masterson and her brother Gordie Masterson , crash land...
(1976) - Electra Woman and Dyna GirlElectra Woman and Dyna GirlElectra Woman and Dyna Girl is a Sid and Marty Krofft live action children's television series from 1976. The series lasted 16 weeks as part of the umbrella series The Krofft Supershow. During the second season, it was dropped along with Dr. Shrinker...
(1976) - Kaptain Kool and the Kongs (1976)
- Wonderbug (1976)
- Bigfoot and WildboyBigfoot and WildboyBigfoot and Wildboy was a Sid and Marty Krofft live action children's television series on ABC. It began in 1976 as a part of The Krofft Supershow on Saturday mornings. Each episode was 15 minutes long, with cliffhanger endings resolved the following week. It became its own series in 1979 with...
(1977) - Magic Mongo (1977)
- Dr. Shrinker
- Donny & MarieDonny & Marie (1976 TV series)Donny & Marie was an American variety show which aired on ABC from January 1976 to January 1979. The show stars brother and sister pop duo Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond...
(1976; aka The Osmond Family Show) - The Lost SaucerThe Lost SaucerThe Lost Saucer is an ABC network television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. It first aired September 6, 1975.-Premise:The Lost Saucer was about two time-travelling futuristic androids named Fi and Fum who land their flying saucer on present day Earth...
(1975) - Far Out Space NutsFar Out Space NutsFar Out Space Nuts is a Sid and Marty Krofft children's television series starring Bob Denver as Junior, a seemingly dim-witted but uniquely clever maintenance worker employed by NASA, and Chuck McCann as Barney, his grumpy, short-tempered co-worker. Patty Maloney played Honk, their furry friend...
(1975) - Land of the LostLand of the Lost (1974 TV series)Land of the Lost is a children's television series co-created and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. During its original run, it was broadcast on the NBC television network....
(1974) - Sigmund and the Sea MonstersSigmund and the Sea MonstersSigmund and the Sea Monsters was an American children's television series that ran from 1973 to 1975, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft and aired on Saturday mornings...
(1973) - LidsvilleLidsvilleLidsville was Sid and Marty Krofft's third television show following H.R. Pufnstuf and The Bugaloos . As did its predecessors, the series combined two types of characters: conventional actors in makeup filmed alongside performers in full mascot costumes, whose voices were dubbed in post-production...
(1971) - The BugaloosThe BugaloosThe Bugaloos is an American children's television series produced by brothers Sid and Marty Krofft, airing on NBC on Saturday mornings from 1970 to 1972. The show featured a musical group composed of four British-accented teenagers, who lived in fictional Tranquility Forest...
(1970) - H.R. PufnstufH.R. PufnstufH.R. Pufnstuf was a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. It was the first Krofft live-action, life-size puppet program. The seventeen episodes were originally broadcast September 6, 1969 to September 4, 1971...
(1969) - The Banana Splits Adventure HourBanana SplitsThe Banana Splits were four comedic animal characters who featured in a late 1960s children's variety show made for television. The costumed hosts of the show were Fleegle , Bingo , Drooper and Snork .The Banana Splits Adventure Hour was an hour-long, packaged television program that featured both...
(1968) - Created the costumes for the stars, but did not produce the show - The Dean Martin ShowThe Dean Martin ShowThe Dean Martin Show is a TV variety-comedy series that ran from 1965 to 1974 for 264 episodes. It was broadcast by NBC and hosted by crooner Dean Martin...
(1965) - The Krofft puppets had a brief, semi-regular stint on the show.
TV Specials/Pilots
- Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2001, unaired pilot)
- Krofft Late Night (1991)
- Sid & Marty Krofft's Red Eye ExpressSid & Marty Krofft's Red Eye ExpressSid and Marty Krofft's Red Eye Express was a late-night variety special that aired on CBS on March 9, 1988.-Plot:Ron Reagan stars as the owner of The Red Eye Express, a nightclub frequented by celebrities...
(1988) - The Patti LaBelle Show (1985)
- Rock 'n' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular (1985)
- The Cracker Brothers (1985)
- Saturday's the Place (1984)
- Anson & Lorrie (1981)
- Bobby Vinton's Rock 'n' Rollers (1978)
- The Krofft Komedy Hour (1978)
- The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (1978)
- Kaptain Kool and the Kongs Present ABC All-Star Saturday (1977)
- The Brady Bunch Variety HourThe Brady Bunch HourThe Brady Bunch Hour is an American variety television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in association with CBS Television Distribution, which aired on ABC between 1976 to 1977....
(1976) - The Paul Lynde Halloween SpecialThe Paul Lynde Halloween SpecialThe Paul Lynde Halloween Special was a Halloween-themed television special starring Paul Lynde broadcast October 29, 1976 on ABC. It featured guest stars Margaret Hamilton in her first reprisal of her role as The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. Also guest starring are Billie Hayes...
(1976) - Did not produce, but includes Witchiepoo & other Krofft regulars - Jimmy Osmond Presents ABC's Saturday Sneak Peek (1976)
- Really RaquelReally RaquelReally Raquel was a prime-time variety show adapted from Raquel Welch's 1973 live night club show. The special showcased Welch's talents as a singer, dancer and comedienne, pitting her in a variety of skits with the Krofft Puppets, who were the only guest stars...
(1974) - The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood BowlThe World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood BowlThe World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl was a live show at The Hollywood Bowl on July 29, 1973 that was filmed and aired as a television special, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. It originally aired in syndication on Thanksgiving weekend, 1973...
(1973) - Fol-de-RolFol-de-RolFol-de-Rol was a prime-time family variety special that was set at a medieval fair, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft and based on their 1968 live puppet show. It aired on ABC on February 27, 1972.-Plot:...
(1972) - Here's IrvingHere's IrvingHere's Irving is a 1957 color television pilot produced by Sid and Marty Krofft featuring a wide array of their marionettes. The pilot never aired on television, but it was released in 2003 as a special feature on the H.R...
(1957, unaired pilot)
Films
- Land of the LostLand of the Lost (film)Land of the Lost is a 2009 American science-fiction comedy film directed by Brad Silberling and starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Anna Friel, based on the 1974 Sid and Marty Krofft TV series of the same name.-Plot:...
(2009) - Side Show (1981)
- Middle Age Crazy (1980)
- PufnstufPufnstuf (film)Pufnstuf is a 1970 feature film based on the television series H.R. Pufnstuf.-Plot:Jimmy ventures to Living Island with his magical, talking flute, Freddy...
(1970)
Live Shows
- Comedy Kings (1988)
- A Broadway Baby (1984)
- Fol-de-Rol (1968)
- Kaleidescope (1968)
- Circus (1966)
- Funny World (1966)
- Les Poupées de ParisLes Poupées de ParisLes Poupées de Paris was a musical puppet show created, produced and directed by Sid and Marty Krofft, that toured the United States throughout the 1960s.-History:...
(1961)
External links
- The World of Sid and Marty Krofft
- Rhino Entertainment - Krofft productions
- Krofft.net - The Krofft Fan Network
Interviews
- Google Video - Archive of American television interview (Parts 1-7) (July 27, 2000) (Flash)
- USA Today: 'The World of Sid and Marty Krofft' - Transcript of Reader Questions & Answers to Marty Krofft (January 21, 2005)
- Tavis Smiley interview (transcript and RealPlayer audio) (May 25, 2005)
- Marty Krofft Interview at SuicideGirls (May 23, 2006)
- Marty Krofft on the Time Travel Radio Show (November 17, 2006)
- Dave Itzkoff, "Mr. Pufnstuf, Your Table Is Ready" at New York Times (December 3, 2006)
- Marty Krofft Interview on public radio program The Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young America is a public radio program and podcast based in Los Angeles, California and distributed by Public Radio International...
(May 22, 2007)