This past weekend, one of televisions greatest creators has signed off for the very last time with the passing of Sid Krofft at the age of 96. Sid along with his brother Marty and their production company Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures created some of best TV programming for kids who grew up during the 1970’s The brothers created a slew of imaginative characters and concepts and fantasy programs which often featured large-headed puppets, plots, and extensive use of low-budget special effects. Shows like H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of The Lost, Sigmund and The Sea Monsters, Banana Splits and Land of The Lost amongst others were in daily viewing rotation.
Born in Montreal Quebec (but made his home in Los Angeles California), Sid Krofft became a popular puppeteer who worked in vaudville and was a featured player with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. In the 1940s, Sid created a one-man puppet show regularly performed at burlesque shows as a teenager. After designing the characters and sets for Hanna-Barbera’s The Banana Splits (1968-170), 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, colourful 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 to which they would often return. Some people suggested that the Krofft brothers were influenced by marijuana and LSD (the portmanteau in the title H.R Pufnstuf being considered by some to be a dead giveaway), although they 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 colours, everything we did had vivid colours, but there was no acid involved. That scared me. I’m no goody two-shoes, but you can’t create this stuff stoned.”
During covid and until recent times, Sid would go on IG Live on Sunday to tell stories and would also feature guests from Hollywood’s yesteryear that he’s worked with, built relationships with or have been a fan of throughout the years which turned out to be a great way to spend the afternoons.