17 Things You Don’t Know About ‘HR Pufnstuf’

Throughout the seventies, brothers Sid and Marty Krofft tapped directly into the glorious chaos of a child’s mind, and poured that inspiration directly onto the screen. In their time in the spotlight, the dynamic duo of kids TV created some of television history’s most celebrated shows like Land of the Lost, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, and The Bugaloos. Of course, these weird visionaries would have been nothing without their first (and probably most beloved) creation, a massive, silly dragon named HR Pufnstuf. The continuing adventures of the friendly mayor of Living Island and his attempts to thwart the dastardly deeds of Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo, were a fixture of a lot of kids’ Saturday mornings in the early seventies. Like all the best stuff, there’s more to this cracked kids show than meets the eye. Here are some things you might not know.

1. Sid and Marty Krofft Got Their Start on ‘The Banana Splits Adventure Hour’

The Saturday morning cartoon needed some people who could create imaginative costumes on a budget for a live-action segment. When the Krofft brothers delivered with gusto, NBC asked them to develop their own Saturday morning TV show.

2. HR Pufnstuf Wasn’t a New Idea For the Kroffts

The Kroffts had actually produced something for the 1968 World’s Fair (it was called HemisFair ’68, because, you know, hippies). Originally, the basic concept of HR Pufnstuf was done for the Coca Cola Pavilion at the Fair. It was originally called Kaleidascope . . . again, because, you know, hippies.

3. HR Pufnstuf Was Originally Called Luther the Dragon

Which almost certainly will go down in history as one of the coolest names for a gigantic anthropomorphic dragon ever.

4. As a kid, Sid Krofft Charged His Friends Buttons to Watch Puppet Shows in His Backyard

That’s why buttons are the chief form of currency on Living Island.

5. Judy the Frog is Based on Judy Garland

The Krofft brothers had toured with Judy Garland for a while as her opening act. The guys were so enamored by Garland, they made Judy the Frog, the resident entertainer of Living Island.

6. Jack Wild, the Actor Who Played Jimmy, Was Nominated for an Academy Award

Wild was wrapping his work as the Artful Dodger in the film adaptation of Oliver!, when Sid Krofft was invited by a buddy to view a rough cut of the film. Krofft knew immediately that Wild was meant to play Jimmy, while Wild himself went on to garner critical reviews in the musical.

7. Penny Marshall Auditioned to Play Withchiepoo

Along with Billie Hayes, who got the role, the then-unknown Marshall (who went on to a successful career as a TV star and then director) was one of only two women who auditioned for the part.

8. Marty Krofft Was Given Guardianship of Jack Wild While the Show Filmed

Krofft later said that taking care of the kid proved to be something of a headache, and described accepting Wild into his home as something of a mistake.

9. The Krofft Brothers Were Initially Against the Show’s Laugh Track, But Producer Si Rose insisted

Later, Marty Krofft conceded, “the bottom line—it’s sad—you gotta tell them when it’s funny. And the laugh track, (Si) was right.”

10. Paul Simon Once Sued the Kroffts Because the Singer Believed the ‘HR Pufnstuff’ Theme Song Too Closely Mirrored One His Own Works

The song Simon felt was stolen was “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).” The Kroffts agreed to the extent that Simon is actually credited as co-writer of the show’s theme.

11. Lennie Weinrib Did Double Duty as Both the Voice of HR Pufnstuf and One of the Show’s Writers

Weinrib used the acclaim from HR Pufnstuff to launch a successful voice acting career, in which he played Inch High, Private Eye, and Scrappy Doo.

12. Mama Cass Appears in the Film Adaptation ‘Pufnstuf’ as Witch Hazel

In 1970, the Kroffts were approached to adapt HR Pufnstuf into a film. Though most of the cast and crew remained the same, the Kroffts used the extra budget to bring in some big names to spice things up.

13. HR Pufnstuf Was Originally Sponsored By Kellogg’s

14. Though LOTS of People Said ‘HR Pufnstuf’ Had to Have Been Created While on Drugs, the Kroffts Refuted That Claim

They simply said that working on a television show was too taxing. It was impossible to get things done and be high at the same time. That said, the Kroffts never claimed they didn’t do drugs, they only said that HR Pufnstuf was shot while the brothers were sober.

15. HR Is Thought to Be a Direct Love Letter to Marijuana

Okay, first of all, his last name is “Puffing stuff.” Then, the titular dragon is green with red hair (like nice bud). The theme song refers to him as: “who’s your friend when things get rough?/H.R. Pufnstuf, can’t do a little, ’cause you can’t do enough!” No one knows what “HR” stands for, but most people think it means “Hand-rolled.”

16. Here Are a Few More Drug References For You

In an in-show movie, Jimmy plays Black Bart (a slang term for weed at the time). Witchiepoo once hits the good guys with “laughing gas” which makes them burst into fits of giggles and then pass out. Then, at one point, Jimmy’s pal Freddy the Flute is actually turned into a magic mushroom.

17. McDonald’s Famous Characters Mayor McCheese, Grimace, and the Hamburglar, Were Direct Rip-Offs Of HR Pufnstuff

The Kroffts actually sued the food giant and won. To this day they still get royalty checks from the burger maker.