Kukla, Fran and Ollie

It was in color, and the movies I remember seeing on it often included some "groovy" 60's-70's psychedelia. I just wish there was a list somewhere of the movies that were hosted back then ... I consider this show to be my introduction to foreign films, it really broadened my tastes and interested me in other cultures. Sometimes the movies were a little boring to me (sorry, but try to get a hyperactive 8-year-old to watch a movie about rugby... ), but there were a few that I'd love to track down and see again.

"Kukla, Fran and Ollie" premiered on October 13, 1947 and had a continuous run until 1957. The Kuklapolitans continued to appear on television in various shows: "Kukla and Ollie" in the early 60s, and as hosts of The CBS Children's Film Festival from 1967 to 1984. They also had a show on PBS in the early 70s, and appeared in specials in the 70s and 80s. Burr Tillstrom created and performed all the characters and they still seem real to me today!

I am longing to see the shows reissued. Years ago, the Kuklapolitan website carried a number of the shows -- and I'd give anything to see Buela's Spanish Fantasy again -- this was great theatre -- not just kid's puppet theatre. Buelah, the ugly witch dances the flamenco believably, with no feet. She reminisces. The melancholy is palpable. Well the site has withdrawn this video. It's nowhere to be found. Why is the copyright holder punishing us? Let us see these great works of art again!

If this show really ceased production in 1957, then you can knock me over with a feather. When I used to watch it in the late '60's or early '70's, I thought it was contemporary, as did everyone.

We all enjoyed Fran's lively banter with her puppets, Kukla the Clown, and Ollie the Alligator, but we really loved the short films Fran would show, usually with an international flavour. As I recall, the favourite of young boys was the series of Fatty and Skinny comedies, about two aptly-named Japanese boys. The plot always involved Fatty rolling/falling/toppling onto Skinny, but we loved them anyway.

I remember them on the CBS Children's Film Festival. They made weekends great. It would be awesome for children to have shows that truly teach instead of shows that encourage foolishness and pandemonium