Kukla, Fran and Ollie - Yuletide Greetings - Kuklapolitan Christmas Carol Medley

Check out the new KFO DVD! http://kukla.tv/dvd.html

"Yuletide Greetings" was an experiment in multi-tracking by the creator of "Kukla, Fran and Ollie," Burr Tillstrom, shortly after Les Paul pioneered such recordings. As the only puppeteer on the live show, Burr had obviously never been able to do any choral work with the troupe, but instead used a skillful blend of movement and phrasing to distract viewers from the fact that only one character spoke at a time (many viewers were convinced they heard duets during the show's musical numbers).

So, to finally hear all of the "Kuklapolitan Strolling Carollers" performing at once, Burr recorded "Yuletide Greetings" (most likely in 1953), backed up by a small combo that included the show's music director and composer-in-residence, Jack Fascinato. A handful of copies of a 12" single-sided 78 rpm disc (XPC-7109) were pressed under the Columbia label - surprising, since RCA Victor had always been his main sponsor.

It was clearly intended as a private gift for Fran Allison, the show's only onscreen human performer. Ollie can be heard saying, "C'mon, Doloras, sing for Frannie," and the entire troupe warmly shouts Christmas greetings to her at the end. Kukla, Burr's alter-ego and the leader of the troupe, patiently waits until everyone has finished and poignantly adds, "Merry Christmas, Frannie."

Apparently it was felt to be a success and the medley was soon released commercially, as the last track on side one of an LP, under the title "Kuklapolitan Christmas Carol Medley." It features several well-known carols and begins with one written by Fascinato, known alternately as "Yuletide Greetings" or "The Kuklapolitan Christmas Song."

The clip at the end comes from the 1977 "Carpenters at Christmas" special, in which the troupe performed to this recording.
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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kukla
• Fran
• and
• Ollie
• Yuletide
• Greetings
• Kuklapolitan
• Christmas
• Carol
• Medley
• yt:quality=high

[arfies]

I love the Carpenters special at the end- and great quality here, too! Someone posted a (worse) version of the whole special, but left out the end (including this finale- and there was also a very cute part when Karen kissed the puppets that isn't here.) Would you upload that last part of the special, pretty please?? :)

[boinx1234]

@arfies

Go to kukla.tv/carpenters.ram

You'll need RealPlayer to play it.

[boinx1234]

sr633

Loved the show --so gentile and worth watching - -saw it many times on a 10 inch Admiral TV

KuklaFranAndOllie

Wow. Excellent job! There are some photo's in here I've never seen. Keep KFO alive! Check out my color clips from the last 39 episodes shot in color between 69-71.

supercinema4me

YAAAAY!!!! Aw, Doloras is sooooo sweet!!!!!!!!!

[boinx1234]

ghostgal30e

Thanks I'm lovn' it.

stewballmax2

I just love it when Ollie has little Doloras sing!!! She was,is and will always remain a part of my childhood....along with

Kukla,Fran,Ollie,Beulah and all of the rest of the Kuklapolitan players. Many thanks for sharing this rare and festive offering.:)

Peace,

Max

lae21

Thanks for posting this, it really picked up my spirits!

[arfies]

@boinx1234 Adorable! Thanks!