10 Far Out Kid's TV Shows From The 1970's
By Zeon
Santos • Wednesday, March 25, 2015
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In
the 1970s kids shows became totally far out in both style and subject matter,
full of psychedelic characters and imagery that must've felt just right to the
offspring of the Flower Power generation.
Here's
a collection of ten kid oriented TV shows from the 70s, which is nowhere near
exhaustive and is purposely lacking obvious shows like Sesame Street and The
Elecric Company.
As
you peruse the list you’ll see the name of two siblings come up on this list
many times with good reason - Sid & Marty Krofft have cornered the market on
strange kid’s TV shows ever since they brought their own brand of psychedelic
TV magic to the small screen with H.R. Pufnstuf (1969).
1. The Bugaloos (1970-72)
The
Bugaloos flew right into the hearts of kids who loved fantasy when they made
their television debut in 1970. Starring a cast of British teens (who were also
conveniently a four piece band) the Bugaloos were able to fly in their stylish
insectoid outfits, and constantly avoided being captured by the evil Benita
Bizarre.
2. The Wombles (1973-75)
The
Wombles are the original puppet environmentalists, little pointy nosed critters
who collected and recycled trash dumped by humans in order to help keep the
environment clean.
This
British oddity is based on a series of novels by Elisabeth Beresford, and the
Wombles encouraged kids to be more environmentally friendly, thereby becoming
the original spokespuppets for going green!
3. The Secrets Of Isis
(1975-77)
Before
Linda Carter brought Wonder Woman to life on the small screen there was a
mighty cool show called The Secrets Of Isis, about a science teacher turned
superhero.
Using
the power of the Isiac Amulet mild mannered teacher Andrea Thomas transformed
into the Egyptian goddess Isis, giving her "the powers of the animals and
the elements".
The
Secrets Of Isis brought superheroic action into the lives of young girls, and
the show also brought them a line of action figures so they could battle their
brothers!
4. Sigmund and the Sea
Monsters (1973-75)
Sigmund
and the Sea Monsters is another Krofft show that brought a cast of surreal
costumed characters to the small screen on Saturday morning, but unlike
previous Krofft shows Sigmund is set in the real world.
Sigmund
was played by Billy Barty (don'tcha recognize him under all those tentacles?!)
and a cast of silly looking monsters that make kids squeal with delight at the
sight of 'em to this day!
5. Hot Fudge (1976-80)
There
have been many puppet bands in TV land, but few can hold a torch to the smokin’
grooves played by Electric Fuzz on The Hot Fudge Show, as voiced by the show's
creator Larry Santos (no relation).
Larry
was trying to add some adult appeal to the show by parodying popular TV game
shows of the day, and the show's music was so good The Electric Fuzz actually
released an album in the early 80s.
6. The Krofft Supershow
(1976-78)
Saturday
mornings became totally surreal when The Krofft Supershow brought the duo’s
brand of kiddie psychedelia to the masses in hour long doses. The Krofft
Supershow was like six shows in one- "Wonderbug," about a dune buggy
brought to life by a magic horn:
"Kaptain Kool and the
Kongs," the Supershow's super cool band:
"Magic
Mongo," the story of teens who discover a magic bottle containing the
wacky genie Mongo, who tries to fit in with the human world by dressing like a
tourist:
"Dr. Shrinker," an evil scientist who
shrinks a group of innocent teens down to micro size.
"Bigfoot and
Wildboy," the orphan raised by Bigfoot who helps his adoptive father battle
those who threaten the forests in the Pacific Northwest:
And
last, but certainly not least, "Electra
Woman and Dyna Girl," a show about two intrepid reporters who
become crime fighting superheroines:
7. Lancelot Link, Secret
Chimp (1970-71)
Animal
acting reached its peak in the 1970s thanks to Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp, a
campy comedy show with an all chimp cast. Lancelot is a private detective who
speaks with a Bogart inspired drawl and works for A.P.E., the Agency to Prevent
Evil.
The
show was heavily inspired by Get Smart, and if you love animals and stupid
funny shows you'll absolutely go bananas for Lancelot Link!
8. Lidsville (1971-73)
Kids
truly must have flipped their lids when the surreal Krofft show Lidsville
landed on the air in 1971, and even though it was predated by The Bugaloos,
Lidsville is the true successor to the H.R. Pufnstuf throne.
Lidsville
is about a boy named Mark (played by Butch Patrick) who is trapped in a surreal
world trying to battle the evil magician HooDoo (played by Charles Nelson
Reilly) who zaps the world’s surreal denizens and forces them to pay him their
Hat Checks.
9. Here Come The Double
Deckers (1970-71)
With
an all kid cast and far out themes like invading Martians and hovercrafts, Here
Come The Double Deckers was a jointly American and British show about a group
of kids who live in an old double decker bus in the junk yard.
10. Vegetable Soup (1975-78)
The
public broadcasting show Vegetable Soup was heavily laced with psychedelic
strangeness, and just watching the totally mind blowing cartoons will make you
feel like you're on drugs! The show was produced in Detroit, and featured
messages of racial harmony and togetherness, with Bette Midler as the voice of
Woody The Spoon and James Earl Jones as the voice of Long John Spoilsport.
The
puppets definitely reside in the uncanny valley, and would probably scare the
short pants off kids these days, but kids in the 70s thought of them as
friends, featureless, expressionless friends...
I
hope you've enjoyed this long, strange trip back to the psychedelic wonderland
that awaited kids on their TV sets in the 1970s.
For
some readers this list will bring back memories, while others will watch these
oddball shows with fresh eyeballs, and yet all will surely agree- these shows
are about as far out as they come!
