While at the edge of the river Jimmy climbs aboard a boat that beckons to him. As it drifts out to sea, an evil witch named Witchiepoo, seeking Freddie to add to her collection of magical possessions, casts a spell and makes the boat turn into an evil boat which attacks Jimmy (who then jumps overboard to save himself).
Swimming to the shore of Living Island, Jimmy is rescued by its mayor, H R Pufnstuf and his Rescue Ranger crew (Kling and Klang) before Witchiepoo can get her hands on the boy or the magic flute.
They befriend Jimmy sheltering and protecting him from the kooky old witch.
Everything on Living Island is alive. Books have faces, houses sneeze and trees can talk, not to mention the regular citizens who all look like an animal of some sort. Dr Blinky is an Owl, Ludicrous a Lion and Judy Frog.
And then there is the evil Witchiepoo (played by the great Billie Hayes). She continually tries to satisfy her obsession for the talking flute with the aid of her goofy henchmen Orson, Seymore, Dumb and Stupid and her motorized broomstick, called the Vroom Broom. Each episode involves Jimmy attempting to escape from the island with the help of Puffnstuf and his friends, with flute intact of course.
H.R. Pufnstuf was created by Sid and Marty Krofft
Beginning with the premiere of "H.R. Pufnstuf" on Saturday mornings in the 60's and running throughout the '80s, Sid and Marty Krofft mesmerized an entire generation with their extraordinary "living cartoons." This show captured the imagination of a generation for these surreal stories, hypnotic colors, and a maddening mix of real life and master puppetry. This story of a boy, his magic flute, a witch, and the giant Pufnstuf, the friendly Mayor of Living Island. Stories usually revolved around Witchiepoo (Billy Hayes) and her henchman hatching nefarious plots against the young Jimmy (Jack Wild) in an effort to steal his Magical Flute Freddy (voice of Joan Gerber) as Pufnstuf and friends help foil her attempts.
Listen to the original PuffnStuff theme tune HERE!
Here's the lyrics so you can sing along.
H.R. Pufnstuf,
He's your friend when things get rough.
H.R. Pufnstuf
Can't do a little cause he can't do enough.
- Once upon a summertime
- 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."
-
- But the boat belonged to a kooky old witch
- Who had in mind the flute to snitch
- From her broom broom in the sky
- She watched her plans materialize
- She waved her wand
- The beautiful boat was gone
- The skies grew dark
- The sea grew rough
- And the boat sailed on and on and on and on and on and on.
-
- But Pufnstuf was watching too
- And knew exactly what to do
- He saw the witch's boat attack
- And as the boy was fighting back
- He called his rescue racer crew
- As often they'd rehearsed
- And off to save the boy they flew
- But who would get there first...
-
- But now the boy had washed ashore
- Puf arrived to save the day
- Which made the witch so mad and sore
- She shook her first and screamed away.
-
- H.R. Pufnstuf,
- Who's your friend when things get rough
- H.R. Pufnstuf
- Can't do a little cause he can't do enough.
-
- H.R. Pufnstuf,
- Who's your friend when things get rough
- H.R. Pufnstuf
- Can't do a little cause he can't do enough.
