H.R. Pufnstuf
H.R. Pufnstuf was the name of a children's
television series produced by
Sid and Marty Krofft, which ran from
1969 to
1977. The show introduced the Krofft's most-used plot scenario, revolving around a boy ("Jimmy", played by Jack Wild) who had accidentally stumbled into an alternate fantasy world. The leader of the community of this world was a friendly dragon named H.R. Pufnstuf (played by Van Snowden and voiced by Lennie Weinrib, who also wrote the episodes). Jimmy had been lured to the island by Freddy the "magic flute," which was another of the main characters. Their nemesis was a wicked witch named Witchipoo who rode on a broomstick with a steering wheel.
The show's popularity in the psychedelic era of the 1960s led to the release of a movie based on the show, called Pufnstuf, in 1970. Both show and movie were notable for bright colors, talking mushrooms, and disjointed storylines. Cameo appearances were also a common feature.