70's Mash-Up: Pufnstuf's Witchie-Poo meets Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

mykel · 02-09-2006, 01:42 AM

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Paul Lynde was a one-of-a-kind character whose flaws have been amply documented by tell-alls like the "E! True Hollywood Story". What shows like that neglect to mention is that besides being a troubled man, Lynde was also an outrageously funny and willfully campy entertainer who never had a dull TV moment. A milestone in TV history, Lynde's Halloween special is one of the best things ever committed to videotape.

The basic outline is that Lynde is magically conjured up by two of the most famous witches in TV and film history, "The Wizard Of Oz"'s great Margaret Hamilton--reprising her role nearly 40 years later--and "H.R. Pufinstuf"'s Witchiepoo, Billie Hayes. He's paid for his services in wishes, which leads to bizarre fantasy transformation sequences that involve everyone from an extremely accommodating Tim Conway to "Happy Days" supertramp Pinky Tuscadero (in character!) Florence Henderson appears in various kinky outfits, Billy Barty makes dinner and the triumphant pièce de résistance is an appearance by a band naturally associated with arch-camp homosexual comedy--KISS. No, seriously, this special was KISS's network television debut! You have not lived until you've seen Peter Criss sing "Beth" to a middle-aged gay man. KISS also plays "Detroit Rock City"and "King of The Night Time World" while an appreciative Lynde flirts shamelessly. It's a beautiful thing. Hollywood legend Hamilton's bizarre interaction with KISS will also add breathtaking new dimension to any "six degrees" game you care to play. And did I fail to mention the other musical guests--Donny and Marie?

This special aired only once, in 1976. I was fortunate enough to see it then, although extremely poor quality bootlegs exist. Should the masters survive, this special should be released on DVD at once. Perhaps Gene Simmons has buried this the way George Lucas deep-sixed "The Star Wars Holiday Special"--but Lynde's Halloween special deserves a wide audience, both for its inimitable 1970s camp value and to introduce Lynde's riotously funny, uniquely gay sense of humor to a new generation. "Will and Grace" is "The Waltons" by comparison. No assessment of the strides made by gays in the media can be complete without giving this special--and Lynde--significant attention. But you definitely don't have to be gay to laugh yourself silly here.

Anarchic, unhinged, showered in sequins and hypnotically immediate, "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special" will grab you from the first frame, beat you senseless and leave you begging for more. See this special at any cost.

To further twist your aging mind into a tight, tripped-out knot, consider that Billie Hays also appeared in everyone's favorite, "Bewitched," in the "Hansel and Gretel in Samanthaland" episode, as well as in the short lived spinoff, "Tabitha" in the "Mr. Nice Guy" episode.

How's THAT grab ya?

Mykel

Ireneparalegal · 02-09-2006, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykel

To further twist your aging mind into a tight, tripped-out knot, consider that Billie Hays also appeared in everyone's favorite, "Bewitched," in the "Hansel and Gretel in Samanthaland" episode, as well as in the short lived spinoff, "Tabitha" in the "Mr. Nice Guy" episode.

How's THAT grab ya?

Mykel

I remember watching Tabitha. I found it to be a cute sitcom. Too bad others didn't think so.

snl 70s show fan · 02-09-2006, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykel

To further twist your aging mind into a tight, tripped-out knot, consider that Billie Hays also appeared in everyone's favorite, "Bewitched," in the "Hansel and Gretel in Samanthaland" episode, as well as in the short lived spinoff, "Tabitha" in the "Mr. Nice Guy" episode.

How's THAT grab ya?

Mykel

this might be off topic but since you brought up the subject of paul lynde have you read the bio of him titled center square the paul lynde story its pretty good?

mykel · 02-10-2006, 02:42 AM

Oh.

My.

God.

I'm gonna buy it ASAP!

Thanks for the tip!

In the meantime, I leave you with a pic I took recently...

erin05 · 02-10-2006, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykel

Oh.

My.

God.

I'm gonna buy it ASAP!

Thanks for the tip!

In the meantime, I leave you with a pic I took recently...

hahaha nice one dude

was this staged or someting lol?

Rich3 · 02-10-2006, 06:42 AM

I love KISS and Billy Hayes. I was always kind of bored by Paul Lynde whenever I saw him on game shows or old reruns or whatever, as a kid. But after watching a biography about him recently, it seemed like he was truly a funny person.

mykel · 02-10-2006, 04:19 PM

Erin,
That's the Beatles' famous Abbey Road with me obviously superimposed 4 times.

It didn't come out as good as I'd hoped, but this digital retouching power I discovered I had here on the Brady forum has changed everything and is getting better by the day.

Rich,
In addition to my recent Partridge Family DVD purchases I made, I also bought the entire HR Pufnstuf series, as well as Tabitha and Laugh-In.

The Twilight Zone seasons one and two are on their way.

And yes, Billie Hayes still cracks me up.

I was thinking, too, that I want to buy a KISS greatest hits cd or something, now that I can, since, when I was a kid, my parents wouldn't let me listen.

Remember the spooky rumor that their name stood for "Kings in Satan's Service?"

Poppycock!

Oh, yeah, and I didn't "get" Paul Lynde's humor, either, but clearly it's because I was too young. I did, however, sense that he was gay.

I mean, come on. Could he have BEEN any more flaming?

Mykel

snl 70s show fan · 02-10-2006, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykel

Oh.

My.

God.

I'm gonna buy it ASAP!

Thanks for the tip!

In the meantime, I leave you with a pic I took recently...

your welcome and i hope you enjoy the book by the way the authors of the book are steve wilson and joe florenski

Jack1000 · 02-12-2006, 03:05 AM

Guys,

Why is this on the Brady Bunch Board?

Jack

mykel · 02-12-2006, 04:25 AM

Lemme letchya in on a l'il secret of those of us who've been around since the 70's: at some point, in the near future---if it hasn't happened already---there will be a generation of young people born who won't know the 20th Century AT ALL, let alone be able to discern the difference between one tired, poorly-written sitcom and another.

By letting the tides of time wash over us, rather than fight it, tooth and nail, like a bunch of 19th Century Neo-Luddites afraid of airplanes and telephones, we should all embrace what the mid- to late-20th Century had to offer in the way of pop culture entertainment, so that we might have a shot at preserving it all, in its entirety, for those who come after us.

In the spirit of that, I offer a mish-mosh of 70's pop culture, so that you can begin to get a sense of the magnitude of it.

If you don't like it, by all means, go start your own thread.

In the meantime, you will find me here, chef-like, taking various seasonings, samples, textures and icons and blending them together for one, big, happy casserole.

Is that so wrong?

Mykel
PS Keep on truckin'!

erin05 · 02-14-2006, 03:38 AM

hahaha i love ur pic mike it cute

which one are u!?!? (im talkin bout ur avatar pic )

comedyfreak · 02-14-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I remember watching Tabitha. I found it to be a cute sitcom. Too bad others didn't think so.

Me too!!

I bought the Tabitha series to enjoy, if only for it's short season.

mykel · 02-16-2006, 04:25 PM

erin,

I'm the rockin' brown-haired dude, of course!

erin05 · 02-17-2006, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykel

erin,

I'm the rockin' brown-haired dude, of course!

DUDE! ur fuken hot!! LOL bugger ur gay lol

02-10-2006, 02:42 AM	#4
mykel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 177	Oh. My. God. I'm gonna buy it ASAP! Thanks for the tip! In the meantime, I leave you with a pic I took recently... Attached Images
	Last edited by mykel; 02-10-2006 at 04:23 PM.

02-10-2006, 04:19 PM	#7
mykel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 177	Erin, That's the Beatles' famous Abbey Road with me obviously superimposed 4 times. It didn't come out as good as I'd hoped, but this digital retouching power I discovered I had here on the Brady forum has changed everything and is getting better by the day. Rich, In addition to my recent Partridge Family DVD purchases I made, I also bought the entire HR Pufnstuf series, as well as Tabitha and Laugh-In. The Twilight Zone seasons one and two are on their way. And yes, Billie Hayes still cracks me up. I was thinking, too, that I want to buy a KISS greatest hits cd or something, now that I can, since, when I was a kid, my parents wouldn't let me listen. Remember the spooky rumor that their name stood for "Kings in Satan's Service?" Poppycock! Oh, yeah, and I didn't "get" Paul Lynde's humor, either, but clearly it's because I was too young. I did, however, sense that he was gay. I mean, come on. Could he have BEEN any more flaming? Mykel Attached Images

02-10-2006, 06:42 AM	#6
Rich3 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 689	I love KISS and Billy Hayes. I was always kind of bored by Paul Lynde whenever I saw him on game shows or old reruns or whatever, as a kid. But after watching a biography about him recently, it seemed like he was truly a funny person.

02-12-2006, 03:05 AM	#9
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	Guys, Why is this on the Brady Bunch Board? Jack

02-12-2006, 04:25 AM	#10
mykel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 177	Lemme letchya in on a l'il secret of those of us who've been around since the 70's: at some point, in the near future---if it hasn't happened already---there will be a generation of young people born who won't know the 20th Century AT ALL, let alone be able to discern the difference between one tired, poorly-written sitcom and another. By letting the tides of time wash over us, rather than fight it, tooth and nail, like a bunch of 19th Century Neo-Luddites afraid of airplanes and telephones, we should all embrace what the mid- to late-20th Century had to offer in the way of pop culture entertainment, so that we might have a shot at preserving it all, in its entirety, for those who come after us. In the spirit of that, I offer a mish-mosh of 70's pop culture, so that you can begin to get a sense of the magnitude of it. If you don't like it, by all means, go start your own thread. In the meantime, you will find me here, chef-like, taking various seasonings, samples, textures and icons and blending them together for one, big, happy casserole. Is that so wrong? Mykel PS Keep on truckin'!

02-14-2006, 03:38 AM	#11
erin05 I want a unicorn :) Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 18, 2005 Location: An abyss Posts: 291	hahaha i love ur pic mike it cute which one are u!?!? (im talkin bout ur avatar pic )

02-16-2006, 04:25 PM	#13
mykel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 177	erin, I'm the rockin' brown-haired dude, of course!