Do you know who today’s Birthday Boy is? Does the name Cydas Yolas ring any bells? If it does, we’re impressed. That means you’re quite the fan. The rest of you are probably pretty confused, so we’ll clear it up for you: Cydas Yolas is actually Sid Krofft. As in Sid and Marty Krofft. As in the brains behind hit TV shows like H.R. Pufnstuf and The Bugaloos. You probably grew up with these shows, and even if you didn’t, you probably recognize the name just because of their popularity back in the day. Well, anyway, it’s Sid Krofft‘s birthday, and, in order to celebrate properly, we’re taking a trip down memory lane.
Sid Krofft was born on July 30, 1929 in Montreal, but he and his family eventually ended up in New York. As Marty and Sid began to gain publicity due to the success of their puppeteering skills, the two brothers claimed that they had come from five generations of puppeteers, but the truth is that their father was a clock salesmen. Nonetheless, their lack of family in the puppeteering business didn’t stop these two from achieving a wildly successful career in television.
The brothers’ true breakthrough came about in 1969 when they were asked to design the sets and costumes for Hanna Barbera’s series The Banana Splits. The show was a success, and NBC approached the undeniably talented brothers about starting their own television series. Of course, Sid and Marty agreed, and H.R. Pufnstuf was born. Honestly, if you haven’t seen the show, it’s pretty hard to describe — kind of like trying to describe colors to a blind person. So, for your benefit — and so we don’t have to try — we’ve provided a full-length episode (courtesy of YouTube) below.
The Krofft brothers are well know for the eccentricity and creativity when it comes to television, and the two found success beyond H.R. Pufnstuf, gaining a following with other shows, such as Land of the Lost and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. Of course, as time went on, the shows started losing popularity, but there remains quite a devoted Krofft-brothers following.
So, happy 84th birthday, Sid Krofft! Be sure to check out his talent for the extraordinary below!
