H.R. Pufnstuf was the name of a children's
television series produced by
Sid and Marty Krofft, which ran from
1969 to
1977. The show introduced the Krofft's most-used plot scenario, revolving around a boy ("Jimmy", played by
Jack Wild[?]) who had accidentally stumbled into an alternate fantasy world. The leader of the community of this world was a friendly dragon named H.R. Pufnstuf (played by
Van Snowden[?] and voiced by
Lennie Weinrib[?], who also wrote the episodes). Jimmy had been lured to the island by Freddy the "magic flute," which was another of the main characters. Their nemesis was a wicked witch named Witchipoo.
The show's popularity in the psychedelic era of the 1960s led to the release of a movie based on the show, called Pufnstuf, in 1970. Both show and movie were notable for bright colors, talking mushrooms, and disjointed storylines. Cameo appearances were also a common feature.