70's Saturday Morning: the World of Sid and Marty Krofft

If you were a kid between 1968 and 1977 then you were part of a generation that were lucky enough to grow up with Saturday Morning Television, and if that was the case, you would recognize the logo above and you would know that it was associated with everything groovy that was a Sid and Marty Krofft Production

Who are the Kroffts?

The Kroffts ruled the airwaves during the 70's, not only did they give us the coolest shows on Saturday morning, but they were responsible for many of the "variety" shows that were prominent during the 70's... but who were these two people? where did they come from? Sid and Marty Krofft were born in Canada, the family eventually moved to New York where Sid became a puppeteer and worked on Vaudeville and with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily Circus.

In the 1940s, Sid created a one-man puppet show, "The Unusual Artistry of Sid Krofft", and performed it throughout the world. His father joined him on tour in Paris while Marty stayed in New York, where he started using his older brother's puppets to earn money by staging performances. By the 1950s, the Krofft brothers were working together, and in 1957, they developed "Le Poupees de Paris" a puppet show that was more adult oriented.

Attack of the Brothers Krofft

The Kroffts first appearance on television was with their set designs for "The Banana Splits show" in 1968, immediately after that, the Kroffts entered into their producing careers, and it all started with the landmark series "H.R. Pufnstuf".. The series introduced the team's trademark style of large scale, colorful 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 they would often return to in future shows... Many people claimed over the years that their shows, weather in content or title were drug themed/inspired, however in the early 90's when asked about this "rumor" Marty Krofft said, "No drugs were involved in the producing of these shows. You can't do drugs when you're making shows. Maybe after, but not during. We're bizarre, that's all."

The Kroffts did many shows throughout the 70's and into the 80's, and the list of memorable shows is long. however they had several landmark shows that will forever stay in the minds of those that witnessed them back in the day, here is a list of their achievements for Saturday Morning:

H.R. Pufnstuff (1969)
The Bugaloos (1970)
Lidsville (1971)
Sigmund & The Sea Monsters (1973)
Land of the Lost (1974)
Far out Space Nuts (1975)
Lost Saucer (1975)
Krofft Super Show (1976)
Magic Mongo (1976)
Electra Woman & Dyna Girl (1976)
Dr Shrinker (1976)
Wonderbug (1976)
Magic Mongo (1977)
Bigfoot & Wildboy (1977)

After Saturday Morning
Once the 80's came around, things changed for Saturday morning, the generation that loved the shows for the previous 10 years had grown up, the shows were replaced with other things to do, and newer updated shows, however nothing ever returned to the airs as cool as a Sid and Marty Krofft production.

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Full list of Krofft Productions:

TV series
Family Affair (2002)
Land of the Lost (1991)
D.C. Follies (1987)
Pryor's Place (1984)
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980)
Pink Lady and Jeff (1980)
The Krofft Superstar Hour (1978; aka The Bay City Rollers Show)
- Horror Hotel
- The Lost Island
The Brady Bunch Hour (1977)
The Krofft Supershow (1976)
- Dr. Shrinker (1976)
- Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976)
- Kaptain Kool and the Kongs (1976)
- Wonderbug (1976)
- Bigfoot and Wildboy (1977)
- Magic Mongo (1977)
Donny & Marie (1976; aka The Osmond Family Show)
The Lost Saucer (1975)
Far Out Space Nuts (1975)
Land of the Lost (1974)
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973)
Lidsville (1971)
The Bugaloos (1970)
H.R. Pufnstuf (1969)
The Banana Splits (1968) - Created the costumes for the stars, but did not produce the show
The Dean Martin Show (1965) - The Krofft puppets had a brief, semi-regular stint on the show.

TV specials/pilots

Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2001, unaired pilot)
Krofft Late Night (1991)
Sid & Marty Krofft's Red Eye Express (1988)
The Patti LaBelle Show (1985)
Rock 'n' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular (1985)
The Cracker Brothers (1985)
Saturday's the Place (1984)
Anson & Lorrie (1981)
Bobby Vinton's Rock 'n' Rollers (1978)
The Krofft Komedy Hour (1978)
The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (1978)
Kaptain Kool and the Kongs Present ABC All-Star Saturday (1977)
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976)
The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) - Did not produce, but includes Witchiepoo & other Krofft regulars
Jimmy Osmond Presents ABC's Saturday Sneak Peek (1976)
Really Raquel (1974)
The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl (1973)
Fol-de-Rol (1972)