Kukla, Fran and Ollie

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 love this show. What a trip to find some video clips.

I found some websites with video clips searching with google.com.

It has been almost 50 years since I have seen this show. Suddenly I am a little boy again, laughing at this simple fun program. God bless you Fran and the gang for adding a bright spot to this boy's life so long ago.

I am trying to get one of grandsons-to-be named Kukla but our daughter just tells me I am out of control. Imagine that!

One of the video clips was them doing Three Little Maids. Funny stuff.

Reminds me a little bit of Soupy Sales and White Fang and Black Tooth. Funny stuff there too.

Well, enjoy!

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.

I remember the Kuklapolitans when they were on PBS and when they hosted the CBS Childrens Theatre back in the 70s, and my aunts and uncles watched them frequently when they were growing up. This was clearly one of the best TV puppet theatres (although I also enjoyed Garfield Goose when I was a kid... anyone growing up in Chicago during the 60s and early 70s remembers this local favorite!), and Fran Allison was an absolutely charming hostess. I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of a Christmas special they performed in 1979(!!!) called "'Tis the Season to be Ollie", where the Kuklapolitans try to come up with a new idea for a holiday show. Ollie's idea of making it a glitzy production, complete with sequined disco outfits, mirror ball and strobe lights, is priceless! For television history buffs, the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago has this available on a wonderful DVD-R, which also includes classic 1950s holiday cartoons "Hardrock, Coco and Joe" (a/k/a "The Three Little Dwarfs"), "Suzie Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman".

This was more than a kid show. If I remember correctly some of the sponsors were Ford, RCA Victor and Life Magazine. I can remember most of the Kuklapokitan Players. Kukla, Ollie (The Dragon), Beulah (The Witch), Mercedes, Fletcher Rabbit, Madame Oglepuss and Cecil Bill (The Sailor who only said "Tooey, Ta Tooey"). I think Ollie had a sister named Olivia. Does anyone remember any others?