H.R. Pufnstuf was a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. There were seventeen episodes of the show, which ran from September 6, 1969 to September 4, 1971, but it was so successful that NBC kept it on the Saturday morning schedule for a full three seasons. ABC carried repeats of the series for two more seasons from September 16, 1972 to September 1, 1974.
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, who was voiced by the show's writer, Lennie Weinrib. Jimmy had been lured to the island with his friend, a talking flute named Freddie, by a magic boat which promised adventures across the sea. The boat was actually owned and controlled by their nemesis, a wicked witch named Witchiepoo, played by Billie Hayes, who rode on a broomstick with a steering wheel 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—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".
The show's popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s led to the release of a movie based on the show, called Pufnstuf, in 1970. The film featured guest appearances by Mama Cass Elliott and Martha Raye. The show and the movie were both notable for bright colors, fast edits, sped-up film, musical segments and pop culture in-jokes, and appealed to young adults almost as much as children.
The complete series was released as a DVD box set in the United States in February 2004. The film has also been offered on VHS, now out of print.
2006-10-01 10:21:35
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answer #1
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answered by Scott Johnson 3
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That was a great show!!!! The boy named Jimmy got lost at sea and landed on this magical island. He had a magic flute. I don't think the sea was made of chocolate. But Sigmund the Sea Monster was a spin off from the show. Ah, good memories!!!!
2006-10-01 18:49:11
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answer #2
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answered by slanteyedkat 4
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Yea I remember that one. About a boy called Jimmy who had a magic flute that could talk. Jack Wild (the artful dodger from Oliver) was the main character
2006-10-01 18:07:11
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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OMG HR Puffnstuff!!!! I was madly in love with Jack Wild, who sadly died this year. To be honest I had absolutely NO IDEA what the programme was about. We only watched it for the theme tune and of course Jack Wild-every girl's heartthrob at the time. Nostalgic or what???
2006-10-01 20:07:49
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answer #4
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answered by nodplod 2
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Heck yes, he rocked in his time. It was about a boy who was lost, who had a magic flute and a lot of weird friends. The witch wanted the flute for some reason, I can not remember why.
2006-10-01 17:28:00
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answer #5
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answered by cfoxwell99 5
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When I was a kid, I loved that show. As for what it was about, I remember Witchypoo after Jimmy and something about a magic flute.
2006-10-02 00:09:43
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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I don't know.
But I remember watching it as a child, it was Jack Wilds big break after appearing in Oliver
2006-10-01 17:49:00
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answer #7
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answered by The Man 4
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I can remember the theme song, and that is about it...I was a bit too young, to catch that one.
2006-10-01 17:27:12
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answer #8
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answered by Rowan 7
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Yeah, I remember it. It was my little sister's favorite show. I hated it with a passion.
2006-10-01 17:31:38
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answer #9
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answered by Thomas S 3
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I do remember part of the song: "HR Puffnstuff, who's your friend when thing get rough . . "
2006-10-01 17:21:55
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answer #10
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answered by stef555stef 4
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