Kukla Fran and Ollie are fondly remembered

A popular children's program

KUKLA FRAN and OLLIE was a popular children's television show starring comedian Fran Allison. It was initially broadcast from Chicago between 1947-1957 but I recall watching it as a little girl during the mid-1960s. I assume this meant the show was in syndication. It has been reported that more than half of the viewing audience was made up of adults who watched with their young ones and enjoyed the innocence of the puppets. There was never a script and every single episode was 100% ad-libbed by Fran and her friends.

Kukla and Ollie were joined by one or more of 6 other puppets from time to time who also became endeared to the viewing audience. These puppets were portrayed as adults but they all had childlike qualities that touched the hearts of those who watched the show. Children's television programming has changed drastically over the decades. Many who grew up in the "age of innocence" long for the shows that they used to enjoy.

The Facts

The lone puppeteer of KUKLA FRAN and OLLIE was the show's creator Burt Tillstrom. The program originated as an hour-long Junior Jamboree in October 1947 on local Chicago station WBKB. The name was later changed to KUKLA FRAN and OLLIE and one year later in November 1948, the children's show was transferred to another local station WNBQ. Two months after that in January 1949, NBC began broadcasting the programs.

KUKLA FRAN and OLLIE was one of the first television shows to be broadcast in color on NBC. It was also one of the first programs to go into syndication. Ollie and Kukla and their friends spoke and moved slowly which is something that children today might consider to be boring. Ollie often lay his head down very slowly and deliberately whenever he was trying to make a point.

Kukla, Ollie, and friends

Fran Allison had been a singer and radio comedian was the lone human on the KUKLA FRAN and OLLIE program. Fran was the voice of reason for the two puppets and with only one camera she had to do quite a bit of maneuvering. Ollie was a dragon and Kukla was a marionette who resembled a clown.

They had a host of other beloved puppets that fans fondly remember. There was Delores Dragon who was Ollie's cousin, Beulah Witch, Fletcher Rabbit who was the mailman, Madame Oglepuss a retired opera singer, Colonel Crackie who was a southern gentleman, and Cecil Bill a stagehand.

Angry fans

The Kukla FRAN and OLLIE show reflected the times in which it was created and the humor came from the relationships that developed between the characters. Viewers became invested in the show and the puppets and were very loyal. In November 1951 after NBC cut the time of the show to only 15 minutes the network received many letters from outraged fans. Those who loved the show also bombarded THE NEW YORK TIMES with correspondence expressing their anger.

FRAN

Fran Allison was appreciated for her contributions to children's television and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (at 6763 Hollywood Boulevard). She was also inducted into the Chicago Television Academy's Silver Circle in 2002. On August 11, 2009, Fran appeared with her puppets Kukla and Ollie on a 44¢ US commemorative postage stamp that was included in the "Early TV Memories" series.

She was married to music publisher Archie Levington but the couple had no children. The woman who entertained millions of boys and girls never had one child of her own. The same was true for Theodore Giesel AKA Dr. Suess. Millions of children over many decades and generations enjoyed Giesel's work but he and his wife never had children of their own.

Fran Allison died in Sherman Oaks, California on June 13, 1989, from myelodysplasia which is a form of cancer. Episodes of the KUKLA FRAN and OLLIE show can be purchased online in DVD form. Sadly there are no networks or streaming services currently running this show but perhaps one day soon they will memory lane please leave a ❤️ and a tip.