KUKLA FRAN AND OLLIE

Burr Tillstrom was the creator and only puppeteer on the show, when this show premiered in 1947, the same year I was born. The show was called Junior Jamboree from Chicago. Fran was brought into the picture and the show was changed to KFO. Kukla was the leader of the gang, who looked like a clown, but he wasn't, then Ollie who was a one tooth dragon whose full name was Oliver J Dragon, there was Buelah Witch who was way ahead of her time, very liberated, Madame Ooglepuss an opera diva, Fletcher Rabbit the groups mailman and resident pain in the butt, as well as other characters like Colonel Crackie a southern gentlemen, This was a show that many kids like myself became very attached to because of the funny stuff that happened on that tiny stage. I add this show because it brought such fine memories to me as a pre anything age-it ran till 1957 when i reached the ripe old age of 10 and I found myself still watching, must have been contagious, yes but lots of fun in kuklapolitan. What memories do you have? Maybe memories of the adult members, what ever your memories are they are bound to exite those who enjoyed this show. njay254@aol.com

Leslie said...
Jay

My memories of Kukla, Fran and Ollie are mostly from the CBS Children's Film Festival in the late '60s and early '70s, but I also got the book, "Ollie Bakes a Cake," when I was a little girl. I forgot about them until I rediscovered them online at the Unofficial Kuklapolitan Site: http://kukla.tv/ Needless to say, I fell in love all over again! I did a MySpace page devoted to KFO: http://www.myspace.com/kuklafranollie I'm always glad to see when someone remembers the great talent of Tillstrom and Allison!