Marty Krofft, the television producer who co-created some of the weirdest, most psychedelic kids shows of the ’60s and ’70s including H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of The Lost, died at his home in Los Angeles from kidney failure. He was 86. His brother and producing partner, Sid Krofft, wrote on Instagram, “I’m heartbroken over the loss of my baby brother. I really know that all of you meant the world to him. It’s YOU that made this all happen. Thank you for being there with us all these years.”
The Krofft Brothers were born in Montreal, Quebec — Sid in 1929 and Marty in 1937 — before their family moved to the US and NYC. Sid was a talented puppeteer and Marty later followed suit, though his talent was as a businessman. Together, they broke into television in the ’50s where their puppetry and artistic skills was perfect for kids shows. Designing characters and sets on Hanna Barbera’s The Banana Splits, which starred a giant animal rock band, led the Kroffts to start their own independent production company.
In 1969, NBC hired them to create a fantasy series which resulted in H.R. Pufnstuf, a series about a boy (Jack Wild) who finds himself in a strange magical world that is menaced by the evil Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes). The storylines usually took a back seat to songs and the extremely psychedelic world the Kroffts had built. They only made one season but it was popular enough that NBC continued to air it through 1971 and was shown in syndication where it gained a cult audience in college students.
After H.R. Puffinstuff, Sid & Marty Krofft created a string of memorably out-there, often trippy live action kids shows, including Lidsville, Land of the Lost, The Bugaloos, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Electra Woman & Dyna Girl, and more. The also produced a few prime time series, mostly variety shows, including Donnie & Marie, The Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters, and another cult show, Pink Lady & Jeff.
The Krofft Brothers parlayed their shows’ success into The World of Sid & Marty Krofft, an indoor theme park in Atlanta’s Omni Building, which was only open for six months in 1976 but ended up working on the Six Flags theme parks after that.
Thanks for the memories, Marty. Rest in peace.
