“Lidsville”

Created by Sid & Marty Krofft, “Lidsville” is another show I remember vividly from my childhood.

It revolved around a teenager named Mark (played by Butch Patrick, formerly Eddie Munster on “The Munsters”). One day, Mark’s at an amusement park, taking in a magic show. He’s so enthralled by the magician’s act, that he stays behind after the show when everybody leaves. (Let this be a lesson: ALWAYS leave with the crowd). He finds the magician’s hat, and when he sets it down, it begins to magically grow into a huge top hat. Mark climbs up to look inside the hat, and suddenly, the hat shakes and rocks and tosses Mark inside. But, as you’ve probably already surmised, this is not just a run-of-the-mill magic growing hat. When Mark falls inside, he’s transported to … you guessed it … Lidsville.

Mark finds that Lidsville is inhabited by talking hats. But, there’s also the evil Horatio J. Hoodoo (commonly referred to as Hoodoo), played by “Match Game” staple, Charles Nelson Reilly. And, then there’s Weenie the Genie, portrayed by Billie Hayes (better known to “H.R. Pufnstuf” fans as Witchiepoo.)

Several years ago, I did find some of the episodes on video. (Those were the things before DVDs, remember?) Although I was a hands-down Pufnstuf fan growing up, I also enjoyed “Lidsville.” Especially when Hoodoo threw his hat up in the air and it came down as a flying hat-mobile. (Don’t try this with your own hats at home. The only thing you’ll accomplish is getting it stuck in a tree.)

You can check out the opening and closing parts of “Lidsville” on YouTube.com here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOyG9WN9udI

For more details on “Lidsville,” you can go to:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066679/