MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: THE WORLD OF SID AND MARTY KROFFT {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. Held in Los Angeles and moderated by Los Angeles Museum director Steven A. Bell, this seminar features a conversation with puppeteers and producers Sid and Marty Krofft, plus four actors who have appeared on their various shows. After introductory remarks, Bell presents a highlight reel of clips from the following Krofft programs: "H. R. Pufnstuf" (1969); "Lidsville" (1971); "The Bugaloos" (1970); "The Lost Saucer" (1975); "Land of the Lost" (1974); "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" (1973); "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour" (1976); "Donny and Marie" (1977); "Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters" (1980); and "D. C. Follies" (1987). Bell then introduces the following panelists, providing a brief overview of their credits: Johnny Whitaker, Billie Hayes, Fred Willard, Ruth Buzzi, Sid Krofft, and Marty Krofft. The program begins as Sid Krofft gives a history of his family and career in show business, beginning with a 1939 hurricane in Naragansett, Rhode Island, that destroyed his family's home and killed 2000 people. He then touches on his first puppet show in 1941; his move to New York City in 1943; his traveling days with the Ringling Brothers' Circus from 1944 to 1945; his appearance in 1946 on "The Glass Hour"; his initial encounter with Liberace in 1950; and his work on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in the 1950s. At this point, Marty Krofft stops his brother and propels the discussion forward to 1967, when the two helped Hanna-Barbera create "The Banana Splits." The panelists continue with a discussion of the following subjects, among others: the importance of body language when playing costume characters; the Kroffts' use of "little people" in both their stage and television shows; the difficulty for an actor of keeping his or her attention focused on a puppet character when the voice is coming from somewhere else; the influence of art director Nicky Noto on the Kroffts' unique set designs and artistic style; the importance of choosing the right team in creating works of art; the Kroffts' move to creating prime-time programming like "Donny and Marie" and "D. C. Follies"; and the Kroffts' desire to create shows that both parents and children could watch together. Next, the panel takes questions from the audience, leading to a discussion of the following subjects: the casting of "The Bugaloos"; Billie Hayes' audition for Witchiepoo on "H. R. Pufnstuf"; "The World of Sid and Marty Krofft" amusement park; the imminent release of a compilation compact disc of the various Krofft show theme songs; the rumors that drug use influenced the design of the shows; current Krofft movie projects, including "The Bugaloos," starring the pop group Hanson; the brothers' new web site, krofftville.com; the autobiography on which Sid Krofft is working; and the Kroffts' other siblings. The seminar concludes as Sid Krofft tells a story about the first time he met Judy Garland, explaining how he was hired to open her show in Las Vegas.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: December 1, 1999 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:21
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:58868
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven A. Bell … Moderator
- Ruth Buzzi … Panelist
- Billie Hayes … Panelist
- Marty Krofft … Panelist
- Sid Krofft … Panelist
- Johnny Whitaker … Panelist
- Fred Willard … Panelist
- Judy Garland
- Hanson
- Liberace
- Barbara Mandrell
- Mandrell Sisters, The
- Noto, Nicky (audio i.d. only)
- Donny Osmond
- Marie Osmond
- Ed Sullivan