"Kukla, Fran and Ollie" (1947) TV series 1947-1957

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Lewis Gomavitz

Seasons:

unknown

Release Date:

13 October 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Puppetry | Puppet | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Fran Allison

...

Fran (1 episode, 1953)

(more)

Series Directed by
Lewis Gomavitz		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Beulah Zachary	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Billy Goldenberg		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Ted Drake		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Joseph Lockwood		(unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Bruce Berquist	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Jack Fascinato	....	musical director (unknown episodes, 1948-1954)
Billy Goldenberg	....	musical director (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Russ Mayberry	....	floor manager (unknown episodes)
John Natale	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Jack Snow	....	publicist (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1954-1957)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1948-1954)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1948-1954) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1954-1957) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (season 6-)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1960-1962) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (afternoon version)
• Peter Rodgers Organization (USA)
• Shout! Factory (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

15 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

Gene Rayburn made his first network television appearance on one episode. Kukla & Ollie would later make a guest appearance on a few episodes of _"Match Game '79" (1979)_(hosted by Rayburn).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Munsters: Herman the Rookie (#1.29)" (1965)

A valuable part of TV history; fun for all ages!

I remember the Kuklapolitans when they were on PBS and when they hosted the CBS Childrens Theatre back in the 70s, and my aunts and uncles watched them frequently when they were growing up. This was clearly one of the best TV puppet theatres (although I also enjoyed Garfield Goose when I was a kid... anyone growing up in Chicago during the 60s and early 70s remembers this local favorite!), and Fran Allison was an absolutely charming hostess. I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of a Christmas special they performed in 1979(!!!) called "'Tis the Season to be Ollie", where the Kuklapolitans try to come up with a new idea for a holiday show. Ollie's idea of making it a glitzy production, complete with sequined disco outfits, mirror ball and strobe lights, is priceless! For television history buffs, the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago has this available on a wonderful DVD-R, which also includes classic 1950s holiday cartoons "Hardrock, Coco and Joe" (a/k/a "The Three Little Dwarfs"), "Suzie Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman".