If this show really ceased production in 1957, then you can knock me over with a feather. When I used to watch it in the late '60's or early '70's, I thought it was contemporary, as did everyone.
We all enjoyed Fran's lively banter with her puppets, Kukla the Clown, and Ollie the Alligator, but we really loved the short films Fran would show, usually with an international flavour. As I recall, the favourite of young boys was the series of Fatty and Skinny comedies, about two aptly-named Japanese boys. The plot always involved Fatty rolling/falling/toppling onto Skinny, but we loved them anyway.
We all enjoyed Fran's lively banter with her puppets, Kukla the Clown, and Ollie the Alligator, but we really loved the short films Fran would show, usually with an international flavour. As I recall, the favourite of young boys was the series of Fatty and Skinny comedies, about two aptly-named Japanese boys. The plot always involved Fatty rolling/falling/toppling onto Skinny, but we loved them anyway.