McDonald's entered into discussions with brothers
Sid Krofft and
Marty Krofft to develop concepts for McDonaldland and its characters based on the merits of their popular Saturday morning show
H.R. Pufnstuf (1969). Executives for the fast-food giant told the Kroffts that the campaign had been canceled, but then they used their concepts, wrangled former employees to create costumes and sets, and got H.R. Pufnstuf's head writer/voice artist
Lennie Weinrib to provide voices for several characters. The brothers were initially prepared to turn a blind eye until their Pufnstuf characters were suddenly dropped from The Ice Capades in favor of those from McDonaldland. The Kroffts spent years battling McDonald's in court, and they were eventually awarded a million dollars in damages.
