Will someone please convince Mr. ThirtyWhat that H.R. Pufnstuf was a running gag about weed? I mean ... H.R. puffing stuff?
This whole thing came up last night while we were watching a PBS documentary about Haight Ashbury and the summer of love. He thinks I'm reading way too much into a kid's show ... but ... common ...
At one point Witchiepoo offers one of her minions a "roach beef sandwich." Freddy the Flute gets turned into a magic mushroom. In one episode, Pufnstuf even tells Cling and Clang to "stop sniffing the magic smoke." And the song ... what about that song?
Who's your friend when things get rough?
H.R. Pufnstuf
Can't do a little, 'cause you can't do enough
Can't do a little ... 'cause you can't do enough. Ooooookay ... I'm pretty sure the "mayor" had a daily appointment at 4:20 p.m.
Back in 1995, America Online hosted a chat session with Sid & Marty Kroft that suggested that there may have been some "experimentation" going on back in the day.
In the chat, someone asked, "Your creations (characters, sets, songs..) are beautiful, psychedelic, and horrifying, often all at the same time. What were/are some of your influences? Be honest...did you guys take a lot of drugs in the late '60's?" Sid and Marty responded, "The question should be: Do we take drugs in the '90s?"
Whatever ... I'm not pro-weed. I'm just pointing out that the character's name was "puffing stuff" ... oh, and their next series? It was called "Lidsville."
Just a dream from yesterday
A boy and his magic golden flute
Heard a boat from off the bay
"Come and play with me, Jimmy
Come and play with me
And I will take you on a trip
Far across the sea"
H.R. Pufnstuf - Theme
Of course it was about weed.
ReplyDelete"Magic golden flute" = brass one-hitter.
When I was in college, there was a head shop in Carbondale called Puffin' Stuff.
Thank you! We've both drawn the same conclusion about that flute.
ReplyDeleteI think Mr. ThirtyWhat might've been on board ... until I told him Witchipoo represented the establishment trying to "take the golden flute" away ...
I'm young... what does roast beef sandwich have to do with drugs?
ReplyDelete~College One
A roach is the butt of a marijuana cigarette ...
ReplyDeleteAnd I must admit it's a bit comforting that you asked ... :)
Teacher, Teacher!! I have a question!!! *waves hand wildly*
ReplyDeleteWhat does 4:20 have to do with weed?? The only thing I know about that is that's when I had to start getting ready for work... is it some sort of "happy hour" or something???
but anyways... I always knew something was weird about HR Puffingsuff... even when I was a younger idiot. Seriously, a TALKING FLUTE!?
You know what? ALL 60s kids shows are weird. I'm going back to the 80s and 90s when things made more sense...
Oh sure, like I'm buying that one ...
ReplyDelete