Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quirky '70s costume series has bizarre appeal decades later.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lidsville
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
At a magic show, Mark (Butch Patrick) is so amazed at Merlo the Magician's (Charles Nelson Reilly) tricks that he sneaks backstage later to check out his hat, which swells in size and swallows up Mark when he tries to peek inside. Suddenly he finds himself in Lidsville, a land populated by hats of all different kinds who befriend him and try to help him figure out how to get home. At the same time, he bands together with the hats to resist oppression by the town's leader, Horatio J. HooDoo (Reilly again), who uses his magical powers to keep the residents in line.
Is It Any Good?
Bizarre yet somehow engrossing, this short-lived costumed comedy series from Sid and Marty Krofft takes some getting used to, especially in contrast with modern offerings for kids. It's safe to say today's kids probably haven't seen anything like it, and unless parents happened to catch its brief run in their childhood, it's probably new to them as well. LIDSVILLE's strength lies in its character variety; every hat's speech pattern and personality matches its look, so the party hat really is the life of the party, a cowboy hat talks with a drawl, and so on. And then there's HooDoo, the bumbling villain with a quick temper and countless schemes against the good hats of his town, who still manages to be a sympathetic character in spots.
Lidsville is trippy to watch (it's not surprising that rumors of drug use accompanied the creators' production success), ever silly, and always unpredictable. Viewers who are looking for something different from modern CGI's ability to blur fantasy and reality may want to check this out, as the separation is very clear here. There's enough adult-geared humor to keep grown-ups' interest, but most of it will go over kids' heads. And, in an age where there's pressure to make every moment of screen time count for something, it is nice to appreciate a show solely on its ability to entertain.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of decades-old shows such as Lidsville. With such vastly different effects and objectives, how does this series compare to what you find on TV now? Can you relate to the comedy style? What do you make of the costumed cast?
Does entertainment have to impart messages or knowledge to be worth your time? What are some of your favorite noneducational shows or movies? What can entertainment teach you about the different eras from which it originates?
How has the Internet introduced you to entertainment (and entertainers) you otherwise might not have found? What limits exist for content on sites such as YouTube? Should there be stricter rules, or are they adequate to keep young viewers away from inappropriate content?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 11, 1971
- Cast : Charles Nelson Reilly , Butch Patrick , Billie Hayes
- Network : Syndicated
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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