Fran Allison


Allison in 1953

Born: Frances Helen Allison; November 20, 1907; La Porte City, Iowa, U.S.
Died: June 13, 1989 (aged 81); Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Years active: 1937–1980s
Spouse: Archie Levington (June 8, 1940 – April 25, 1978; his death)

Frances Helen Allison (November 20, 1907 – June 13, 1989), known as Fran Allison, was an American television and radio comedienne, personality, and singer.

She is best known for her starring role on the weekday NBC-TV puppet show Kukla, Fran and Ollie, which ran from 1947 to 1957, occasionally returning to the air until the mid-1980s. The trio also hosted The CBS Children's Film Festival, introducing international children's films, from 1967 to 1977.

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Kukla, Fran and Ollie
Main article: Kukla, Fran and Ollie

In 1947, the director of WBKB-TV in Chicago asked Burr Tillstrom if he could put together a puppet show for children, and he asked Allison, whom he had met during a World War II war bond tour, to join the show.

The show was an early American television show using puppets. It was created for children, but was soon watched by more adults than children. It did not have a script and was entirely ad-libbed. It was broadcast from Chicago between October 13, 1947, and August 30, 1957. Comedienne Fran Allison starred, interacting with hand puppets Kukla and Ollie (and sometimes other puppets) whose puppeteer was the show's creator, Burr Tillstrom.

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Kukla, Fran and Ollie - Bell, Book and Candle #2 / Folk Songs - March 7, 1952

Kukla, Fran and Ollie https://www.youtube.com/@kuklafranandollie
2.54K subscribers

315 views Premiered Jun 10, 2024
Buelah and Fran talk about the play starring Rosalind Russell, which Fran saw the night before. Fran talks about her upcoming trip to Nashville to appear with Eddy Arnold, Roy Acuff, and Minnie Pearl on a tornado benefit. Ollie considers traveling to the Palace Theater in NYC to see Jose Greco’s troupe. Fran sings “If I Had a Ribbon Bow” (Traditional). Kukla sings “The Turtledove” (Traditional). Fran and Buelah sing “The Ballad of the Colonel and Ophelia” (Fascinato, Tillstrom).

The Burr Tillstrom Copyright Trust, the Jane Henson Foundation, and KFO fans around the world have funded the transfer of over 700 episodes of this television classic. Special thanks to the Chicago History Museum for its invaluable help, The Puppeteers of America, and to Global Video Chicago for the transfers themselves.

Kukla, Fran and Ollie https://www.youtube.com/@kuklafranandollie

"Kukla, Fran and Ollie" clips
3,329 views • 2 years ago

Welcome to the official YouTube channel for the best puppet show ever on TV! Join us online every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday at 7 pm ET to live chat with other fans as we watch the premiere of an episode not seen in 70 years. We will be uploading every existing program - over 700! Please subscribe to be notified when we do.