“H.R. Pufnstuf” heading to DVD for 40th Anniversary
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) ñ To mark the 40th anniversary of H. R. Pufnstuf, Vivendi Entertainment is releasing the entire trailblazing Saturday morning cartoon series on DVD.
“H.R. Pufnstuf: The Complete Series” will be released April 12 in both a regular three-disc set and a special collector’s edition, which comes with an exclusive H.R. Pufnstuf bobblehead.
Both sets feature all 17 episodes of the iconic Sid and Marty Krofft program, which was originally broadcast between 1969 and 1971 — and which still is seen in syndication, including on KCET in Los Angeles, the largest independent public television station in the country.
The DVD sets also come with downloadable coloring sheets and the rare series episode “Horror Hotel,” which has never before been available on disc.
“We’ve had at least 100 reruns of each episode since it first aired on NBC,” said Marty Krofft. “‘Pufnstuf’ was our first series ever and we’re so happy to be celebrating 40 years.”
“I am so thrilled that people still love Pufnstuf, Jimmy, Freddy the Flute and Witchiepoo,” added Sid Krofft. “All these years later, people still come up to me on the street and sing the theme song. Everyone also seems to remember and love ‘oranges smoranges, nothing rhymes with oranges,’ one of the big musical numbers we did in the show.”
“H.R. Pufnstuf: The Complete Series” is the latest release to stem from the partnership the Krofft brothers and Vivendi Entertainment formed last year. The ongoing collaboration will yield several more DVD sets and compilations that will spotlight the puppeteer brothers’ catalog of children’s television shows.
One of those programs, “Lidsville,” is heading to the big screen courtesy of DreamWorks Animation. The Krofft brothers will serve as executive producers for the project, which marks the first animated feature film adaptation of their work.
In addition, a live-action movie version of “H.R. Pufnstuf” is now in development at Sony Pictures.
The Krofft brothers rose to prominence in the 1970s with a series of fanciful programs. “H.R. Pufnstuf” was the first; subsequent shows include “The Bugaloos,” “Land Of The Lost,” “Sigmund & the Sea Monsters” and “The Krofft Supershow.”
The Kroffts also produced various prime-time series and specials, including “The Brady Bunch Hour,” “The Donny & Marie Show” and “Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters.”
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