emmytvlegends.org

Marty Krofft

️Thu Aug 22 2024

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In the half-hour solo portion of his interview, Marty Krofft (1937-2023) discusses his early involvement in puppetry and his father’s puppeteering. He talks about his relationship with his brother, Sid Krofft, and their puppet act together. He also describes the business aspects of puppeteering and reflects on his achievements, regrets, and how he’d like to be remembered.

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.

"I think we made more happen on a Saturday morning than anybody else. Saturday morning was the drudges of television. You put your kids in front of the set and then it was goodbye. You didn't watch anything. We got the adults to watch."

Highlights

Marty Krofft on his and brother Sid Krofft's puppeteering style

00:36

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 the laugh track on H.R. Pufnstuf

01:57

Sid and Marty Krofft on their theme park, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft

02:54

Marty Krofft on his greatest achievement

01:21

Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on his father's puppeteering and how he became involved with puppets; on childhood hobbies

On attending college and then moving to California; on his puppet act with brother Sid Krofft; on how his style differed from earlier puppeteering

On the business aspects of puppeteering; on his relationship with his brother, Sid Krofft; on his greatest achievement, career regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered

Chapter 2

START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH SID 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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 4

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

On their lawsuit with McDonalds

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

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

Chapter 5

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

On creating Far Out Space Nuts and The Lost Saucer

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

On creating The Krofft Supershow; on their creative partnership

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

Chapter 6

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

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

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

Shows

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

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

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

Topics

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

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

TV Theme Songs

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

Genres

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

People

Billy Graham

View Person Page

Sid and Marty Krofft on Billy Graham not approving of their "Les Poupee de Paris" show and the publicity surrounding it

02:41

Cyd Charisse

View Interview Page

Marty Krofft on a photo of him with Cyd Charisse

00:36

Dean Martin

View Person Page

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

02:40

Fred Silverman

View Interview Page

Sid and Marty Krofft on the premise of Pink Lady

05:01

Jerry Lewis

View Interview Page

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

00:29

Jim Henson

View Person Page

Marty Krofft on meeting Jim Henson's daughter, Lisa Henson

00:25

Jimmy Carter

View Person Page

Marty Krofft on President Carter watching one of their puppet shows

00:41

Joseph Barbera

View Interview Page

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

04:33

Judy Garland

View Person Page

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

Larry White

View Person Page

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

03:48

Liberace

View Person Page

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

01:07

Michael Eisner

View Interview Page

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

00:31

Mike Nichols

View Person Page

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

00:25

Penny Marshall

View Interview Page

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

00:26

Sid Krofft

View Interview Page

Marty Krofft on starting to work in puppetry with his brother, Sid Krofft

01:08

Marty Krofft on his relationship with his brother, Sid Krofft

01:40

Walt Disney

View Person Page

Sid and Marty Krofft on sage advice from Walt Disney

02:05