Kukla, Fran, and Ollie (TV)
"Kukla, Fran, and Ollie" is a pioneering television program that debuted in Chicago before becoming a national sensation. The show first aired on NBC on January 12, 1949, and featured a half-hour format that captivated audiences with its unique blend of puppetry and live performance. The puppets, Kukla—a clown-like character—and Ollie, a lively dragon, were created and operated by Burr Tillstrom, who worked alongside the show's host, comedian Fran Allison. Together, they engaged with a colorful cast of supporting puppet characters, including Fletcher Rabbit and Madame Oglepuss, in spontaneous and unscripted interactions that appealed to both children and adults.
Throughout its run, the show experienced various changes in broadcast times and networks, transitioning to ABC in 1954. Despite these adjustments, it maintained a strong fanbase, evidenced by viewer protests when its format was shortened. "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie" received critical acclaim, winning several awards, including a Peabody Award for outstanding children's programming in 1949. Burr Tillstrom's innovative contributions to puppetry on television have had a lasting impact, influencing future creators like Jim Henson and Shari Lewis. The show's legacy remains a significant part of television history, celebrated for its creativity and charm.
Kukla, Fran, and Ollie (TV)
Identification Children’s television show
Date Aired from October 13, 1947, to August 30, 1957
This early children’s television, consisting of performances by puppeteer Burr Tillstrom’s ensemble of childlike puppets in playful conversation with their loving companion, actor Fran Allison, was one of the first children’s shows to become successful with adult audiences and paved the way for future puppet-based shows.
Beginning broadcast on local Chicago television WBKB, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie soon became a national phenomenon. The first NBC network broadcast of the show was on January 12, 1949, and the half-hour show aired each weekday. The show changed time slots, broadcast days, and networks (shifting to ABC in 1954), and viewers protested when it was cut to fifteen minutes in November, 1951. It later returned to the half-hour format but was cut back again when ABC picked up the show.
The two title puppets, created and exclusively manned by Burr Tillstrom, were Kukla, who looked like a clown, and Ollie, a rambunctious dragon. A diverse ensemble cast of puppets included such supporting players as lonely mailman Fletcher Rabbit, diva Madame Oglepuss, spry Beulah witch, and baffling stagehand Cecil Bill. Each puppet developed a personal relationship with comedian and singer Fran Allison, who acted as a normalizing intermediary between the magical world of the puppets and the viewers watching at home.
Although the show featured musical numbers, much of the interplay was spontaneous and unrehearsed, dependent on the mood of the day and the natural chemistry between the inventive puppeteer and his quick-witted costar. Both simple and sophisticated, the show became a favorite of both children and adults.
Impact
Kukla, Fran, and Ollie was among the most popular shows of its day and won numerous awards, including a Peabody as the outstanding children’s program of 1949. Burr Tillstrom was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1986. He had paved the way for future puppeteers on television, including Shari Lewis, with costar Lamb Chop, and Jim Henson and his Muppets.
Bibliography
Baughman, James L. Same Time, Same Station: Creating American Television, 1948-1961. Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007.
Davis, Michael. Street Gang: The Complete History of “Sesame Street.” New York: Viking, 2008.
Okuda, Ted, and Jack Mulqueen. The Golden Age of Chicago Children’s Television. Chicago: Lake Claremont Press, 2004.