Sunday, October 7, 2018
Kukla, Fran and Ollie − Fran and Ollie + Buelah Witch = Halloween
There was more to the Kukla, Fran and Ollie TV series than those titular three. The Kulkaopolitan Players included other harming if less often seen characters, including Buelah Witch (This character—created and performed by Burr Tillstrom, as were all the Kulkaopolitan puppets—was named after producer Beulah Zachary, with the misspelling of “Buelah” for the witch intentional.) There's an entire website devoted to Kukla, Buelah and Ollie (and Fran). Click here to visit the site and read Buelah Witch's article about her special Halloween. And be sure and come back here to Tulgey Wood every day in October as 2018's Countdown to Halloween continues.
I grew up watching Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. She was so convincing that the puppets were real. She believed in them, and so we all did. Even well into middle age she continued the act, hosting parades, TV specials, even a revival of their own show on PBS. They maintained a level of sophistication despite their simplicity--never talked down to kids. Often the humor skewed gently toward the adults who were watching.
ReplyDeleteI haven't thought of them for years! Thanks for reviving a fond childhood memory.
Hi, scarecrow33, long time no see, ha, from the Yowp blog and other sites.
ReplyDeleteAs for your comment..Me,too! Post-1950s show, at elasty as I saw them on that CBS Playhouse they did,:)
Agreed with everything.
...Steve