Sid and Marty Krofft

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Sid and Marty Krofft are a sibling team of prolific television producers who were very influential in children's television and music/variety television, particularly throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. They are largely known for a unique brand of ambitious fantasy programs, often featuring large-headed puppets, high-concept plots, and extensive use of low-budget special effects. The team also dominated the arena of celebrity music/variety programs during the period.

The Kroffts' producing career began in 1969 with the landmark children's television series H.R. Pufnstuf. The series introduced the team's trademark style of large scale, colorful design, puppetry, and special effects. Featuring a boy who has been lured into an alternate fantasy world and can never escape, the team also established a storytelling formula they would often return to. The Kroffts also favored quirky superhero stories, often with children involved as the heroes or part of a hero team.

Particularly visionary and popular Krofft productions have included Land of the Lost (1974), Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976), Wonderbug (1976), The Bugaloos (1970), Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973), and Lidsville (1971).

In 1976, a developer asked the Kroffts to develop an amusement park for the Omni International complex in downtown Atlanta. The World of Sid and Marty Krofft was the world's first indoor amusement park, but due to poor attendance it was closed after just six months. Among other things, the lack of attendance was blamed on the fact that the Omni complex--the park's home--was not perceived as a safe place to visit at the time when the park was open. The complex has since undergone many different renovations and changes, most notably changing from a largely outdoor complex to a completely indoor one. The level of security is much higher today and the complex no longer has a reputation of being a dangerous place to visit. The amusement park occupied a section of the Omni which was several stories higher than the ground floor. The world's longest freestanding escalator was built for the park, and it was responsible for shuttling guests to the entrance of the park from the ground floor level of the Omni complex. It is still in operation today although now it used to shuttle guests of the CNN Center tour from one part of the tour to another. In keeping with the highly creative nature of the park's namesakes, the park featured elaborate attractions such as a large carousel adorned with crystals, and also a giant pinball machine themed ride in which the riders would sit inside large ball shaped pods and ricochet through the "machine" in a way similar to a ball inside a real pinball machine. The space the park occupied is now used for part of CNN's Atlanta operations. Some segments for the Krofft Saturday morning television show were filmed in the Omni complex. In the lobby of the Omni complex there still sits today a floor-standing scale model of the complex built at the time the amusement park was open. A close look at the model will show the park as it was in full color detail.

The Kroffts' memorable children's programs have developed a wide and enduring following, largely among adults who watched the shows as children. Krofft productions are also included prominently in an entertainment category known as camp (style).

The Kroffts were also responsible for a large number of prime time music/variety programs. These shows also tended to employ a reliable formula, in this case featuring a celebrity host or team of hosts, weekly celebrity guest performers, flashy and colorful sets, and frequent interludes of scripted banter and gag-driven, "corny," good-natured sketch comedy.

The Kroffts have occasionally departed from their successful formula, notably a new version of Family Affair (2002), and the political puppet satire DC Follies (1987). The team has recently attempted to update some of their most popular series for a younger generation, including new versions of Land Of The Lost, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, and H.R. Pufnstuf.

The Kroffts are often acknowledged for the ambitious vision and creativity of their projects. In addition to their recognizably colorful and hyper-kinetic programs, they often created children's shows with complex stories, unusual protagonists, uniquely modern sensibilities, or with darker or more action-themed tones than most children's shows.

The Kroffts' "camp" popularity stems largely from their shows' low-budget production values, the often surrealistic feel of many of the programs, the uniquely "'70s" style of music and design, and many intentional or unintentional references to psychotropic drug use.

Sid and Marty Krofft Productions 1969-2003

Family Affair (2002)
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2001; unsuccessful pilot)
Land of the Lost (1991)
D.C. Follies (1987)
The Patti Labelle Show (1985)
Pryor's Place (1984)
Harry Tracy, Desperado (1982)
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980)
Middle Age Crazy (1980)
The Bay City Rollers Show (1978)
The Krofft Supershow (1978)
Bigfoot and Wildboy (1977)
The Brady Bunch Hour (1977)
World of Sid and Marty Krofft amusement park (1976)
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976)
Dr. Shrinker (1976)
Donny and Marie (1976) aka The Osmond Family Show
The Lost Saucer (1975)
Far Out Space Nuts (1975)
Land of the Lost (1974)
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973)
Lidsville (1971)
The Bugaloos (1970)
Pufnstuf (1970)
H.R. Pufnstuf (1969)

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