TGWTG User Blogs

"H.R. Pufnstuf, who's your friend when things get rough?"

Well, BARNEY!!! No, just kidding. But one has got to wonder since we have a big yellow talking lizard/dinosaur/dragon thing that has a head shaped like a hamburger. I mean, seriously???

Anyway, H.R. Pufnstuf is a children's television series made by Sid and Marty Krofft, this was their first creation and it came during the beginning of the 70's (1969). The show was short-lived, only running for three years (close enough) and only made three seasons until it was cancelled in 1972.

Amazingly, there is quite a lot of trivia for this short-lived but memorable show. Like H.R Pufnstuf (the character) was originally created for the HemisFair 68' world's fair in 1968, where the Kroffts produced a show called Kaleidescope for the Coca-Cola pavilion. The character's name was Luther and he became the symbol of the fair.

That's right, kids! H.R Pufnstuf was originally designed as a character for merchandising Coca-Cola (As if that was original)!

Here is the main plot as described on Wikipedia:

"H.R. Pufnstuf introduced the Kroffts' most-used plot scenario, revolving around a boy named Jimmy (played by Jack Wild) who had accidentally found Living Island, a magical place where everything was alive. The Mayor of Living Island was a friendly dragon named H.R. Pufnstuf (voiced by the show's writer Lennie Weinrib) and the costume was worn by Property Master Albert F. Bentley. Jimmy had been lured to the island with his friend, a talking flute named Freddy, by a magic boat which promised adventures across the sea. The boat was actually owned and controlled by a wicked witch named Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo (played by Billie Hayes) who rode on a broomstick-like vehicle called the Vroom Broom. Jimmy was taken in by Pufnstuf, who was able to protect him from Witchiepoo as the cave where he lived was the only place her magic had no effect. Apart from Witchiepoo, all of the characters on Living Island were realized via large, cumbersome costumes or puppetry. Since everything on Living Island was alive (namely houses, castles, boats, grandfather clocks, candles, books, trees, mushrooms), virtually any part of the Living Island sets could become a character, usually voiced in a parody of a famous film star, such as Mae West, Edward G. Robinson or most notably John Wayne as "The West Wind". A running gag is Witchiepoo always trying to steal Freddie-and always failing."

There is little to be desired, especially the talking magical golden (why is every magic talking character golden or jewel-encrusted?)  flute named Freddy, but thankfully he shuts up eventually. Since this was made in 1969, I have to suspect the makers were hopped up on mushrooms or something. Never the less, since Jack Wild is the only human in this, you have got to wonder why Jimmy would not be more freaked out by what is going on around him. Oh, a giant yellow dinosaur with a huge head and gaping mouth? RUN, JIMMY, RUN!! Oh, he's friendly...nevermind then. And just to show the idiotic gullibility of this show, HR Pufnstuf's two police/firemen members are short actors in costumes of two zany brothers called Kling and Klang (or is it Clang and Cling?) which provide the slapstick comic relief, but unlike The Three Stooges or The Marx Brothers are just not funny! In any case, you either have to hate this and question every little thing or just go with the silliness and love it. Personally, I'm a little bit of both but mostly just go along with it. Cause if you don't, you'll regret losing your sanity, believe me.

As for Witchiepoo, she is the only thing that seems to make sense in this, since Jimmy is too boring to be an ordinary child (Jack Wild is a good actor, but the script for Jimmy is terrible).

I mean, Witchiepoo is a witch, that is easy enough to follow. And she wants...a magic flute? Okay, that is plausible too. But how she able to be thwarted every time is beyond me! I mean, come on, she's a witch! Just zap them with your wand and get the flute already! And don't even get me started on her two minions...a vulture and a giant orange spider??? I believe she had a bat minion at one point but I think the spider replaced it or something. Been too long since I saw this show.

At any rate, those who remember this show and liked it, good for you! Those of you who remember and hate it...good for you too! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find a word that rhymes with "oranges".

SimonW