File puptcrit/puptcrit.0508, message 425


From: Stephen Kaplin <skactw-AT-tiac.net>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppets hall of fame/smithsonian
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 22:53:49 -0400
To: puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org


A national puppetry museum would truly be of inestimable value to the 
field. Not only as a repository for retired and/or puppets of 
historical importance, but also for scripts, videos, ephemera, etc, 
etc. While BIMP and CPA are fine institutions, they can't begin to deal 
with the amount of stuff out there, and the new stuff being made every 
day.

Well, let's dream on it.  That's the first step towards any reality.

Stephen

The practicality of it is daunting.

On Aug 22, 2005, at 12:13 PM, Alan Cook wrote:

> We may not have a Puppet Hall of Fame, but by virtue of important 
> examples being in various collections and museums, there is a sort of 
> informal PHOF. (Oh no! Another acronym!).
>
> The Bil Baird collection at the MacNider Art Museum, the outstanding 
> items at Detroit Institute of Arts built around items collected by 
> Paul McPharlin and others, neat stuff in Atlanta's Center of Puppetry 
> Arts, at UCONN, Brander Matthews collection stored at Columbia 
> University, and so on. Some have permanent homes. COPA and I are still 
> working on a permanent berth for an important collection, which as a 
> permanent museum could be a tremendous resource for students, 
> teachers, puppeteers, tourists and such. The HARDEST PART is getting 
> the attention of movers and shakers in a community.
>
> The Smithsonian collections are immense, and puppets  and tons of 
> other items are mostly hidden away amongst warehouses, and I'd 
> estimate that 90% of their stuff won't be seen in an average 
> life-time: Hawaiian puppets, 100 year old Sri Lankan (Ceylon, when 
> they were made) marionettes, animated Hopi kachinas, Winchell's Jerry 
> Mahoney & sidekick, Bergen's Charlie and lots of stuff--Howdy Doody & 
> Kermit too. That is treasure---mostly buried treasure.
>
> That is one reason I hope I can live long enough to see my own 
> collection housed in a place of its own, preferably on the West Coast 
> which can boast of two important hubs of  puppetry: San Francisco & 
> Los Angeles areas. We don't have that yet, but COPA volunteers are 
> working toward that goal
>
> I am convinced from many positive experiences that such permanent 
> homes for puppets will show the Public the amazing variety of puppet 
> history, and help future puppeteers survive.---ALAN COOK
>
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