Early TV on Stamps
Posted on August 19, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I’m thrilled with the wonderful new postage stamps saluting the early days of television. They bring back some very happy memories.
I love all those old shows, especially “Burns & Allen,” “The Twilight Zone,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” and of course “I Love Lucy.” But my most precious memories are about “Kukla, Fran & Ollie,” which was broadcast from my then-home town of Chicago, Illinois. My father was the lawyer for Burr Tillstrom, the man behind the puppets, so when I was a little girl I was able to watch some of the broadcasts live from the studio audience. I wanted so much to be Fran, and to get to talk to Kukla, Ollie, Madame Oglepuss, and Beulah Witch. Still do! I miss our dear friend Burr, and I will use his stamp only on my most meaningful letters.
O my envy is showing again. My love of all things whimsical began with Kukla, Fran, and Ollie! That is my earliest memory of kids TV! From there I watched Tom Terrific and Captain Kangaroo. But nothing was close to the charm and fun that Fran had with Kukla and Ollie. That you got to actually know them is beyond comprehension. I have a good friend who got to meet the Muppets once – they were taping in a local warehouse near his office. This is as good as that!!!
Totally Too Kule!
I’m thrilled you share my love of the Kuklapolitans! Burr was enchanting, a wonderful grown-up friend for little girls. Did you ever see his “hand ballets” on “That Was the Week That Was?” The show was a cross between “The Daily Show” and “Saturday Night Live’s” “Weekend Update” — skits and comedy about the week’s news. And his hand ballets, especially the one about the Berlin Wall, were brilliant.
“That Was the Week That Was” remains one of the most brilliant programs EVER seen on TV. As much as I enjoy the Daily Show and SNL’s weekend updates, nothing was as wild and wonderful as TW3. According to something I read about the show (long ago), so few were produced because it was exhausting to create. But the genius, wit, and sting of those few shows will always be a hallmark for news parody and humor!!
To answer your question, I have only a vague memory of the “hand ballets”. But they were part of an overall amazing video experience. I will try to track down a VHS or DVD of the show to see these again.
Kukla, Fran, and Ollie was one of the first TV shows I ever watched (and loved) – I can hardly wait to get these stamps. These old classic shows were great. Thanks for blogging on this, Nell.