I remember thinking it was a weird sort of Sesame Street and I thought the creatures and characters were odd and off putting and really rather pointless. I was a child of the seventies in America and saw this show on TV in syndication but remember dodging it. So glad to see there are some people who thought this show was creepy, too. It sort of reminds me of that Creepy Pasta about Candle Cove, currently being made into a show by the SyFy Channel as Channel Zero. When I saw the show online, I thought immediately about HR Pufnstuf. Especially with the talking skull and Witchy Poo. I guess it was supposed to appeal to the more "hippy" parent who wanted an alternative to the Sesame Street Urban setting. In retrospect, HR Pufnstuf looks like what Sesame Street would be like if one dropped acid.

I have tried to find the serious answer to what H.R. Pufnstuf's initials stand for. But i can't find it anywhere. Does ANYBODY have the answer to this? (aside from the "home rolled"). Also, does anyone know if Jimmy ever got home? I remember watching the show when i was a kid (born in 1962), i hated it, but for some reason i would always watch it. I'm not sure as to why i watched it, i just did. Some of the Sid and Marty Krofts later shows i really liked. Such as "ELECTROWOMAN AND DYNAGIRL" (probably because i was a early teen male and pretty women in tights definitely kept my attention), and the other was called "DR. SHRINKER". And there was one more called "LIDDSVILLE" (i think). Probably because i thought that Charles Nelson Riley was a riot. Does anyone else remember any of these along with of course H.R. Pufnstuf? I feel like a kid again just talking bout these shows. Thanks.

This show rates a solid 10 because I watched this when it first aired and I remember the impression that flute had in my brain at the age of 5. This was possibly my favorite show at that time, Captain Kangaroo was great also, as where Kookla, Fran, and Ollie when they did their foreign film show on CBS. HR Pufnstuf I cant believe was only a 17 episode long show, I guess thats all you really needed as the stories are pretty much all the same, bad witch wants to steal the flute, HR gets captured and it's up to Jimmy to save the day or vice versa. Hey, its a show for 5 year olds so if your an adult watching this for the first time take that into account. You've got to admit that compared to what todays kids have there is nothing like the stuff Sid and Marty put out. After HR went away, I would watch Sigmond and the Sea Monsters where the kids were surprisingly now my age (a pre teen), it's like Sid and Marty made TV shows specifically for my age whenever they first aired, you gotta like that. I also caught Liddsville on Nick at Night and you want to talk about a strange cool show, that was right up there with HR, just no magic talking flutes (but a funny Charles Nelson Reilly). I never had nightmares watching this show as a 5 year old, I thought it rocked! I did try to play the flute though (my mom forced me into music), man did I suck at that (piano too!)! I never caught the Pufnstuf name suggestion till today, you'll have to excuse me, I'm usually the last one to catch on. 10 of 10 for HR, Jimmy and his talking flute!

Jimmy has a talking flute. Witchiepoo wants the talking flute. There is the underlying premise for a camp romp for children and adults alike.Witchiepoo steals the show as she seeks to overcome all sorts of obstacles including her bumbling sidekicks to steal the talking flute. All sorts of supporting characters abound in this costume comedy - Kling and Klang (the policemen); HR Pufnstuf (the Mayor); the North and South Winds; and many more.It was a wonderful adventure and lots of fun when growing up; and still is. A timeless classic that defies the challenges of the hi-tech era. Definitely worth a look!