Josh Semiosis

Dr. Blinky

Image for Dr. Blinky

One in a series of posts dedicated to pop-culture depictions of owls — as stand-ins for educated, highbrow humans — from 1924–1983. The series derives its title from Owl’s home in A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

Dr. Blinky is a character from the 1969 Sid and Marty Krofft live-sized puppet TV show H.R. Pufnstuf.

Voiced by Walker Edmiston (doing an Ed Wynn and/or Frank Morgan impersonation), Dr. Blinky is an owl doctor and scientist — and head of the Anti-Smog, Pollution, and Witch Committee. In his laboratory — which must have been an influence on Gary Panter’s design for Pee-wee’s Playhouse — every single object is animated.

Dr. Blinky seems to be a genius, but he’s also something of a crackpot; his experiments have a tendency to explode.

He’s something of a Wizard of Oz figure — he sends others off to battle the witch, he never seems to quite have a grasp on the situation….

Tags: Owls