Original title
H.R. Pufnstuf
Released
9/6/1969
Origin country
US
Genre
Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Production companies
Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
1
Number of episodes
17
H.R. Pufnstuf is a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. It was the first Krofft live-action, life-size puppet program. The seventeen episodes were originally broadcast from September 6, 1969 to December 27, 1969. The broadcasts were successful enough that NBC kept it on the Saturday morning schedule until August 1972. The show was shot in Paramount Studios and its opening was shot in Big Bear Lake, California. Reruns of the show aired on ABC Saturday morning from September 2, 1972 to September 8, 1973 and on Sunday mornings in some markets from September 16, 1973 to September 8, 1974. It was syndicated by itself from 1974 to 1978 and in a package with six other Kroft series under the banner Kroft Superstars from 1978 to 1985. In 2004 and 2007, H.R. Pufnstuf was ranked #22 and #27 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever.
Here's Irving is a 1957 color television pilot produced by Sid and Marty Krofft featuring a wide array of their marionettes. The pilot never aired on television, but it was released in 2003 as a special feature on the H.R. Pufnstuf DVD boxed set
Jimmy and his magic flute Freddy are lured to Living Island by Witchiepoo's boat. Suddenly, the skies grow dark, and with a wave of Witchiepoo's wand....the boat...attacks. Jimmy fights for his life clutching his magical friend Freddy. Jimmy and Freddy, wash up on shore and are saved by H.R. Pufnstuf and Cling and Clang on the Rescue Racer. H.R. Pufnstuf, the Mayor of living island, helps Jimmy find the Magic Path off the island...but the witch foils the plan.
Freddy the flute gives himself up to Witchiepoo, in order to save Jimmy from harm. Pufnstuf and Jimmy build a bird on wheels, much like a ""Trojan Horse"" to get into Witchiepoo's castle and save Freddy.
Pufnstuf and Jimmy visit Ludicrous Lion to find a way off the island. Ludicrous suggests a supersonic pogo stick. But, they don't have enough buttons to pay for it. To raise buttons(buttons are legal tender on Living Island), the gang puts on a talent show. Witchiepoo and her two sidekicks pretend to be an act called ""The Three Oranges""
Jimmy tries to steal Witchiepoo's boat. Whitchiepoo turns him into a mechanical boy, programmed to steal Freddy for her. Pufnstuf brings Jimmy to the Clock People to erase the time spell. While at the Clock People, Whitchiepoo steals Freddy from Dr Blinky's house. Jimmy makes the house sneeze and Freddy is flown safely into his arms...as Whitchiepoo loses her clothes.
Pufnstuf's movie star sister arrives to make a movie. This gives Puf the idea of keeping the witch busy by making her a stand in so Jimmy and Freddy can sneak into the castle and escape on the witches vroom broom. The witch figures out what's going on and races back to the castle. Having trouble figuring out how to work the vroom broom Jimmy is delaied long enough for the witch to find him and stop his escape on the broom.
Pufnstuf buys a map that gives clues where to find the 3 pieces of a key to the Magic Golden Escape Door. Witchiepoo see them on her viewer and plants fake direction signs that lead them to her dungeon door trapping Pufnstuf in the dungeon. Jimmy uses a sound effect machine to help save Pufnstuf.
Its Jimmy's birthday and Pufnstuf throw's him a party. The witch and her two henchmen arrive disguised as the music group The Three Lemons and blow laughing gas making everyone laugh themselves uncurious then the witch takes Freddy back to the castle. Orson accidentally gases himself and falls face first into a plate of candy making him look like he has Spotidious. The gang use this ploy to gain entrance to the castle and rescue Freddy.
Ludicrous Lion has a kite-flying contest for whoever on Living Island can fly a kite the highest. The grand prize:100 gold buttons (which is the Living Island currency). Jimmy and Freddy want to enter the contest, giving Pufnstuf the idea to build a great big box kite for Jimmy and Freddy to fly home in. Dr. Blinkey helps build the kite by using a special glue of his that sticks things together instantly (even Cling and Clang). Witchiepoo sees this happening and she disguises herself as a Campfire Granny giving away free samples of candy that contains knockout drops. Fortunately Freddy and Cling weren't able to eat any and they escaped the witch, but after she left, the kite was destroyed. Freddy and Cling wake up everyone and they start to rebuild the kite. Later Jimmy and Freddy are on their way home via the box kite, unfortunately, Witchiepoo, Orson, and Seymour fly by on the vroom-broom, destorying the kite again. Jimmy and Freddy make back down safe, but the West Wind blows grusom
Witchiepoo uses a giant cake in an effort to catch Jimmy.
When a horse accidentally eats Freddy they rush him to Dr. Bleenky's to find a way to get Freedy out of the horse's stomach. Dr. Bleenky is unsure how to get Freddy out. meanwhile the witch has her henchman fake being sick so she can get into the doctors house. when Dr. Bleenky goes out side to see what's wrong, the chimney tells his idea of how to get Freddy out by filling up the house with smoke and making the horse cough Freddy up. this works but the horse coughs so hard Freddy flies right out the window and int the witches hands but all that smoke in the house makes the house sneeze and saves the day.
An attempt to use a time machine to escape from the island goes awry.
Freddy gets turned into a mushroom.
Dr. Blinky plots to use a love potion on mean old Witchiepoo.
Witchiepoo plans an evil act in honor of Boss Witch's visit.
Witchiepoo challenges incumbent Pufnstuf in a mayoralty election.
A movie is being made on Living Island, and Witchiepoo wants a movie of her own.
While running from the witch, Jimmy trips and falls getting knocked out. When he comes too he can't remember anything not even his own name. The rest of this story is a series of flash back as first Pufnstuf and the good guys try to jog his memories. When Jimmy wanders off and meets up with the evil trees, they bring him to Witchiepoo who then gives it a shot. Jimmy finally remembers when pieces of the castle ceiling hit him on the head
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