Episode 346: Kukla, Fran and Ollie – “Getting Ready for Minneapolis” (November 24, 1950)
We missed Thanksgiving, but we're just in time for another road trip
What I watched: An episode of the early children's show Kukla, Fran and Ollie. The series starred the titular Fran Allison, with all other roles being played by series creator and puppeteer Burr Tilstrom. "Getting Ready for Minneapolis" was directed by Lewis Gomavitz and aired on Friday, November 24, 1950 at 7:00 PM on NBC. Video is available on the official KFO YouTube channel.
What happened: Kukla starts writing a letter to Santa Claus, with help from Beulah. He sings about how he’s on his best behaviour to impress Santa. They say that they want to get their Christmas presents wrapped by the time the show gets to the West Coast. Fletcher comes in with a telegram to explain that they’ll be shown live in Minneapolis, as opposed to the usual Kinescope. This is to commemorate that they’ll be visiting the Twin Cities this weekend.
An excited Ollie pops up, asking what’s going on. Fran tells him that Cecil Bill is going to be the official package inspector for the holiday season, which upsets Ollie, who had the job last year and messed up. Ollie is also worried about getting enough television sets for his family house, so that everyone can watch their shows during the holidays. RCA Victor had really stumbled upon the idea of selling people multiple sets. Linwood shows off the latest RCA model.
Fran sings a sweet song about Christmas, with an affectionate Kukla and Ollie looking on. After the song, Ollie has a new ambition: being crowned king of Minneapolis’s winter carnival, which will allow him to kiss a lot of girls. Madame Oglepuss chats with Fran, and Beulah Witch pops up to confirm that she’s also prepared. She has the Do-All attached to her hat to allow her to take dictation from the absent Kukla. Fran is a little disbelieving about this whole idea but lets her go ahead with it.
Ollie is still mad that he’s been deposed from his position as package inspector. Cecil Bill doesn’t take this lightly, and shows up to pummel Ollie. (They’re all okay in the end.) The main trio reunites to once again sing about the holidays, before signing off.
What I thought: It was late on a Sunday night, and Donnie Jacobs was tired. The 8-year-old boy had spent the Thanksgiving weekends with his mother’s family in Minnesota, a long four days of noisy conversations, strange smells, and overly tight hugs. He had barely slept at night, laying on a stone-like cot as his Uncle Horace snored away on the couch. Tonight he would finally sleep in his own bed and get back to school, if only this darn train would start moving.
They had stopped ten minutes ago. Dad said it was because of the snow, but Mom said it was to let another train past. Either way, it bothered Donnie, who had almost let the train’s gentle rocking lull him to sleep. He scratched his knee and tried to fight the boredom.
It was then when he heard it. That small, high-pitched, vaguely fancy voice. And then another one, lower and kind of dazed-sounding. And a female voice he would recognize anywhere.
Donnie jabbed his mother’s thigh. “Mom! It’s Kukla, Fran, and Ollie!”
She didn’t look up from her issue of LIFE magazine. “Don’t be silly, sweetheart. There’s no television here.”
Donnie wiggled out of his seat and looked around. His parents didn’t really seem too bothered. He could hear the voices from just further on down in the call. He rushed down, and there they were. Sitting in four seats facing each other, two to a seat, were Kukla, Oliver J. Dragon, Beulah Witch, Madame Oglepuss, Cecil Bill and Fletcher Rabbit, with Fran Allison towering over them. They were all talking animatedly.
Fran noticed Donnie and turned to look at him. “Are you lost, little boy?”
Donnie couldn’t speak. He only shook his head.
“Well, is there something we can help you with?”
“I—” He cleared his throat, and tried to think of something to say. “I really like your guys’ show!”
“Well thanks a lot,” Kukla said. “You know, we’re just headed back from Minneapolis. We had a great time!”
Donnie looked down. “I always knew your legs would look like that.”
“Do you want to sit with us?” said Ollie. “I was just talking about how I’m going to become a ballet dancer.”
Donnie smiled. “I’d like that.”
Coming up next: Magnavox Theater throws its hat in the dramatic anthology ring.