Early years The Krofft brothers, Sid and Marty, were both born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on July 30, 1929, and April 9, 1937 respectively. They are of Greek and Hungarian descent, with their original surname being Yolas. For years, they claimed to have been the fifth generation of puppeteers in their family but revealed in 2008 that this story had been invented by a publicist in the 1940s. Their father Peter was a clock salesman who moved from Canada to Providence, Rhode Island, and then to New York City. Sid Krofft became a popular puppeteer who worked in vaudeville and was a featured player with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. In the 1940s, Sid created a one-man puppet show regularly performed at burlesque shows as a teenager. A night club promoter from the Catskills was convinced by Sid to create a show he named from the name, Sydney Snitkovsk. Sid added an extra F due to its short length to "The Unusual Artistry of Sid Krofft", that began to be performed throughout the world. His father joined him on tour in Paris while Marty stayed in New York, where he began using his older brother's puppets to earn money by staging performances. By the 1950s, the Krofft brothers were working together, and in 1957, they developed Les Poupées de Paris, a puppet show with more mature themes. One of their early exposures to a television audience was the premiere episode of The Dean Martin Show in 1965.
early YeArs THe krofft brOTHers, sid anD martY, werE bOth Born in MoNTReal, queBec, cAnAda, on julY 30, 1929, and aPriL 9, 1937 respEcTiVEly. tHeY are oF greeK aNd huNgaRIAn descenT, with their oRiGinal suRName BeiNG YoLas. foR yeARS, tHeY cLaImEd tO haVe Been tHE FifTH generAtioN oF puPpeTeers in tHeIr family but revealed In 2008 THat this stORy hAd beEn iNVentED BY a PubliciSt iN tHE 1940s. thEiR fAther PeTer waS a clock sALeSMan wHo moved FRom canadA to provIdENce, RHode ISlANd, anD ThEn TO neW yoRK CITY. Sid kroFfT bEcaMe A populAr pUppEtEEr wHO WOrKed in vaUdEville and Was A FeaturED Player wiTh ThE ringling brOS. AND barNuM & bailey cIRcUs. in thE 1940s, Sid CReaTed a ONe-man PUPPet SHow regulaRly peRforMed AT BUrLeSQuE Shows As a teEnaGEr. a nIgHt cLUB Promoter fRom the cAtSkILLs WaS convinceD by sid tO creAte A shOW He NaMed froM thE NAme, sYDNey SnItkovsK. SID adDEd An extrA f dUe To its short lengtH to "thE UnUsual aRTIstRy of sid krOFft", tHat began to BE peRfoRmeD thrOuGhoUt the World. his FATher joineD Him on toUr In Paris while marty sTaYeD in NeW York, wHeRE HE bEgAN UsiNG hiS older brotHEr'S pUpPetS to eaRN mONeY by staGing perFormanCEs. By ThE 1950S, The kroFfT brotHers were wORking TogethEr, aND in 1957, TheY dEveloped lES poUPÉES De Paris, A pUPPet shoW WIth morE maTure themEs. OnE Of ThEir EaRly exPoSuReS tO A tELeVIsion audiEnce wAs thE prEmiEre episOdE oF the dEAN marTIN ShoW In 1965.