You've got to pick a pocket or two...

Sad news today as one of my favorite 70's screen hero's died; Jack Wild.
Any child of the 70's knows that Jack played on one of the oddest morning kiddie shows; H.R.Pufnstuf. You could tell that people did ALOT of drugs back then because the show was full of talking trees and mushrooms and the houses talked and sneezed. Did I even mention the gold talking flute?
I admit, I had a crush on Jack on that show. Could've been the accent, the Beatles-esque bowl haircut or that wicked yellow shirt and those groovey brown bell-bottom pants. (a yellow shirt and brown pants..who was the stylist?!?!) Any guy who could outsmart a dim-witted witch and her cast of idiots and make friends with a dragon with a southern accent who wore cowboy boots had to be a cool dude. But even better yet; he could sing, dance and be cute all at the same time and somehow not come off looking too light in his loafers.
Jack was also in a great movie called Oliver! It's basically a musical adaptation of the Dicken's story with a great cast of characters, especially his Artful Dodger. He was a perfect pick-pocketing tramp. And talk again about style; high-waters and a top hat...Jack was the MAN!
Unfortunately as all 70's icons seemed to do, Jack had a battle with the bottle throughout his life and smoked like a chimney stack. He even lost part of his tongue and his vocal cords to cancer. Can you imagine? Being a singer and not being able to even TALK?! And from what I can tell by recent pictures I saw of him, although he was only 53 he looked about 20 years older. It's not the years folks, it's the miles.
Somewhere he's singing now; RIP Jack.