Kukla Fran & Ollie fans?

[doctort13]

Are there any Burr Tillstrom/KFO fans on the boards?

When I was very young (mid-60's) I seem to remember watching KFO on TV. I may have seen them before Sesame Street introduced me to the Muppets.

[matleo]

I'm not too familiar with Kukla Fran and Ollie but I haeve seen soe clips and have seen some of Burr's other work. fro mwhat I undertsand he was a marvelous improvier and usually liked to keep tihngs loose that's whay so many of the KFO episodes seem to go off on a few tangents. Anyway, if you've ever seen his hand pantoimes though they are amazing. He used to do a piece about the Berlin wall which was absolutly beatiful. just the amount of emotion that he would get out of his two hands andthe way he would use them to represent different things. It would send a tingle down your spine. I know KFO is available on vidoe and DVD and one of these days I really shuld try to lay my hands on some.


--Matt

[doctort13]

I have not seen Burr's Berlin Wall piece, although I have always heard great things about it.

Where have you seen KFO on DVD? I know there are many VHS available, yet I am holding out for DVD.

Here are a few links:
http://www.ultinet.net/~kfo/The Unofficial Kuklapolitan (http://www.ultinet.net/~kfo/)

New Kid Home Video KFO page (http://newkidhomevideo.com/KFO.html)

[puppetguy]

Burr Tilstrom was an improvisational genius. He was also a master at creating remarkable characters with tremendous depth. Perhaps that is what is truly great about his work on television: it was so simple-very minimal sets and props, the puppets themselves were simple. The show relied solely on the characters to direct its course. While the mechanics of his puppeteering were not awe inspiring, somehow the characters transcended. I think this is what Jim learned from Burr: how to create characters that you cared about, something that is truly lacking in much of what is seen today. Thank heavens for video tape so that those of us who were not around when these shows were seen originally can learn from one of the "masters."

[Drtooth]

I have not seen this, but I REALLY want to! I read all about it in a few books, and I think that this was a great show for both kids and adults. Unfortunately, my exposure to them is REALLY limited to one short clip at the Emmy awards, in which Fran mispronounces, "A Charlie Bown Christmas." We have everything and it's mother on DVD, exept for this and Fraggle Rock!

[doctort13]

Here is an email I just received:

Terry,

Thanks for your interest in Kukla, Fran and Ollie. As a matter of fact, we have recently licensed the first five programs to Koch Entertainment for DVD release so keep your eyes on the lookout for them.

We have also licensed the images to a merchandising firm so may see some products carrying KFO images in the future.

Thanks for contacting us.

Michael Vodde
New Kid Home Video

[Phillip Chapman]

doctort13,

Thanks for sharing this with us. What a nice treat to look forward to! It will be interesting to see what merchandise will be released in the future.

[doctort13]

Here is an idea...

I am sure that there are a few KFO fans floating about the MC boards. Why don't we take the time and let Koch Entertainment know what we want on the new KFO DVDs.

I agree that just to have the shows is 110% cool, but why stop there? Some really cool extras would be grand. I'd love to have a documentary, some interviews with present day puppeteers, behind the scenes with Burr, and more!

Email Koch at: videosales@kochent.com

[JaniceFerSure]

I remember KFO in syndication,early 70s.I got a Kukla puppet when I was 4.That show started my love for puppets,Muppets,etc...Thanks for the thread! :excited: :zany:

[Buck-Beaver]

Burr Tillstrom really was a genius. His work is especially remarkable when you remember most of it was pre-Muppet and he of course was always cited by Jim Henson as a major early influence.

[doctort13]

Burr was doing smart/funny puppetry on national TV before The Muppets hit the big time. The thing that really makes me say WOWs that he performed Kukla & Ollie all by himself.

[Beulah Witch]

Anyway, I'm a Kukla Fran and Ollie fan (could you tell?) As for the DVDs, apparently they are being held up because the person who owns the rights lost money on the videos, and doesn't want to do the same by releasing DVDs. There are old shows like "Mr. Peepers" being released on DVD, but not Kukla, Fran and Ollie. Apparently the Wally Cox contingent is more vocal than the we are...

[doctort13]

Here's a way that may help push a KFO DVD our way

http://users.ultinet.net/~kfo/dvd.html

[Was Once Ernie]

Burr Tilstrom was an improvisational genius... While the mechanics of his puppeteering were not awe inspiring, somehow the characters transcended.

This is very true. Ollie the Dragon was the only puppet with a mouth that opened and Burr did not really do "lip sync". Even as a kid, this always bothered me. But not enough not to be a fan. And I'm certain that's because of the characters.

As I recall, one of his characters talked in only funny sounds, making Beaker a direct descendant.

Unfortunately, I think the only shows that exist are color episodes that were done in the 70's, not the original series from the 50's. I recall them not being as good. Still, it would be nice to have something on DVD. The 70's shows are better than nothing.

:p

[Ziffel]

I never saw the shows but a few years ago on game show network I was watching The Match Game 79 and the Kukla and Ollie puppets occupied the top left seat (next to Brett Sommers). There were some amusing lines and at the end they were the ones who played "final match" with the contestant.

[Beulah Witch]

Unfortunately, I think the only shows that exist are color episodes that were done in the 70's, not the original series from the 50's. I recall them not being as good. Still, it would be nice to have something on DVD. The 70's shows are better than nothing.

:p

No, the black and white shows DO exist (at least 700 of them do), but Martin Tahse, who is the rights owner to all the shows, is reluctant to release them. Still there are about 7 or 8 bootlegs floating around that are usually available on eBay. Here's a list from Mark's site of the ones that exist on film:

http://users.ultinet.net/~kfo/films.html

The '70s shows aren't as good, true, but they have their moments. Every so often a glimmer of the old stuff comes out and it's hilarious.

[Was Once Ernie]

No, the black and white shows DO exist (at least 700 of them do)

Wow! That's great to know. Thanks for the info!

:p

[goshposh]

i love kukla, fran and ollie! i wish i was growing up when they were first on so i could see more than just the video tapes my library has

[Beulah Witch]

Here is a clip to the Burr's Berlin Wall hand ballet:

http://users.ultinet.net/~kfo/berlin.html

The Puppeteers of America has a show that Burr did at the UNIMA fest in 1980 with 2 1/2 more of his hand ballets (I say 2 1/2 becaue they cut off "Rachel Carson"). One of them features right hand trying to seduce left hand and it is really sexy (I know it sounds weird. You'd have to see it.)

This same tape has the Kuklapolitans doing some contemporary political banter as well (circa 1980).

Ah, I miss Burr! :sympathy:

[marknyc]

Glad to find other KFO fans! I run The Unofficial Kuklapolitan Webpage, and I finally got a domain name:

kukla.tv

Take a look - there are tons of video and audio clips, photos, magazines, interviews, etc. Everything you ever wanted to know about KFO!

(All the ultinet links mentioned in this thread will redirect to the new site for awhile, but that site is gone.)

Best,

Mark

[coco1]

Burr Tilstrom was my cousin. I saw Burr in Chicago when my brother, sister and mother went to visit him on the Kukla Fran and Ollie television set.
My grandmother loved Burr very much for he was her nephew.
His mother, Alice was alway kind to children so Burr had this same gentleness towards us. He came to visit us when we lived on Pearl Street in St Joseph, Michigan and also in Mesa, Arizona.
At Burr's death, a friend of his wrote my grandmother a letter telling her of Burr's death. That was hard on grandmother, for if one got to know Burr that is a special memory of his character. He was fun and the puppets came to life to the three of us. Grandmother watched Burr's show when it was on which always tooks her back to Michigan.
Burr's parents were good to us, Uncle Bert and Aunt Alice .
coco1

[Was Once Ernie]

Burr Tilstrom was my cousin.
coco1

Hi Coco,

Welcome to the board!

Do you know what's become of Burr's puppets? Are they in a museum or something?

Was Once Ernie

:p

[Teenager's]

Sorry to but in.........but they're at the Chicago Historical Society. They've had them since '98 or so.

http://www.chicagohistory.org/

[Was Once Ernie]

Sorry to but in.........but they're at the Chicago Historical Society. They've had them since '98 or so.

http://www.chicagohistory.org/

Very cool! That's great to know. Thanks!

:p