From: "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com> To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 18:52:37 GMT Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] puptcrit Digest, Vol 14, Mark makes a valid point, that teaching kids the art of puppetry is important for the future of the art. Kids' classes can be informal, simple drop-in events at art fairs, more formal presentations in libraries, schools, churches & synagogues, cultural centers, museums, youth group meetings (scouts, etc). I've taught all the above, but the most effective was two-week sessions, 2 hours a day Monday-Friday for recreation departments and private schools, or private classes. In 1949, set up at a backyard picnic table, I taught my first class-- the number of students limited by the seating around the table. For that one we used tennis balls with a hole cut for the neck finger. The hand puppet body had a cloth neck which covered the index finger, and was poked into the hole. The holes were individually sized for a good fit. While paint dried, or the papier mache covering the tennis ball dried, we'd talk about the puppet show story--by then, each kid had decided what character he or she would make. 1949, TV was still making its initial impact on American families. School teachers in particular, and pediatricians could tell who had TV at home and who did not, by whether kids had bags under their eyes from lack of sleep, attributed to excess TV. When we first began choosing what puppet characters to make, they wanted to do Howdy Doody hand puppets, which I vetoed. Pick something NOT on TV, I requested. The class looked blank. NOT ONE IDEA! So I made a list of 60 or 75 possibilities: dogs, cats, clowns (these go way back in puppetry), old people, young ones, pirates, explorers, Punch & Judy--whatever related to something interesting to the budding puppeteers. Half the kids made something not on the list, after being told not to write anything down, but just listen to different character possibilities---but they THOUGHT they picked from the list. Early TV tended to limit the imagination of the first generation of young TV watchers, whose eyes were GLUED to the TV screens--they looked hypnotized. You don't get that widespread reaction now--but Howdy Doody did. At the end of 20 hours, we performed on my family's badminton court at night. The plot was sketched out, scene-by-scene, but NO MEMORIZED SCRIPT, so all the puppets spoke naturally, not in the stilted manner of "oh mother, look! Look!" which was the bane of my elementary school's plays when I was little. After all, kids are the BEST improvizers, given half a chance to unleash that natural talent. Then it gets "educated out of them" and as adults, a lot of actors have to take improv classes to regain what they once already had. I'm not sure just WHO the EDUCATION AUTHORITIES are who are responsible, but the phenomena has gone on for many decades. The show plots could be totally original stories, or hybrids like "The Three Bears and the Pirates" in which Pirates hide stolen loot in the Bears' home while the sheriff pursues the pirates, and the Bears are taking their stroll until the porridge cools off. Kids' improv'd dialogue can have elements of a stock car race---fragments of a family breakfast conversation can sneak in to the dialogue: "porridge, porridge, porridge! Why do we always have to have porridge?" Kids DO listen to conversation around them, which is why many teachers become involuntarily informed about little family secrets. Baby sitters experience the same thing---well, it is all grist for the show. We paint, write, perform what we know. Kids are still in process of learning, but they have enough material to improvise with. Once in awhile a show would be repeated, and to my surprise the dialogue was almost the same, word for word--not because it was WRITTEN IN STONE as in a script, but because it was easiest and most natural to the kids. But it did not have that stilted, MEMORIZED quality of bad kid shows Early in December, I went to a funeral for a local cultural phenomena, Marne Laidig, a good friend of my mother, Marne spoke at my mom's memorial, and had played on my mom's grand pianos, headed PTAs, music groups, hosted foreign exchange sudents year after year, and successfully shared classical music with the community. Well, her eldest of five kids was in my 1949 puppet class;He told me he still has his puppet. Not all pupils will become puppeteers, but they do maintain an interest, and future audiences benefit from that. I applaud puppeteers who do take time out from professional performances to teach puppetry to today's kids. I took puppet class (marionettes, all summer long) when I was 8. Only 2 of us stayed in touch with Lora Pattison, the WPA Recreation Project instructor, and that lack of feedback is not unusual. But some of it filters back, YEARS later! And because I benefitted from puppet class, it is an impulse to give back, and teach. How many critters are also teaching the next generation? What are some of the funny experiences, the succsses, the crises? ALAN COOK -----Original Message----- From: puptcrit-request-AT-lists.driftline.org Sent: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 05:46:11 -0800 To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Subject: puptcrit Digest, Vol 14, Issue 16 Send puptcrit mailing list submissions to puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to puptcrit-request-AT-lists.driftline.org You can reach the person managing the list at puptcrit-owner-AT-lists.driftline.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of puptcrit digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Hey Jim Gamble (Ron Glasgow) 2. Re: Hey Jim Gamble (Fred Greenspan) 3. Re: Hey Jim Gamble (Cahebay-AT-aol.com) 4. Re: Hey Jim Gamble (Cahebay-AT-aol.com) 5. Re: Hey Jim Gamble (Cahebay-AT-aol.com) 6. Re: Hey Jim Gamble (Steve Axtell) 7. Re: Hey Jim Gamble (Steve Axtell) 8. Re: Hey Jim Gamble (Ron Glasgow) 9. Hey Jim Gamble from Jim Gamble (Jimsan777-AT-aol.com) 10. Holiday Greetings! (JIMPUP-AT-aol.com) 11. GREAT news for Moi! (Mathieu Ren?) 12. Re: Anyone know? (Mark S. Segal) 13. Re: Verna Finley videos (Les Lamborn) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 15:19:42 -0500 From: Ron Glasgow <sockdoll-AT-gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <43A9B8DE.60102-AT-gmail.com> Mark, I'm not Jim Gamble, but I do own and enjoy four or five of his tapes. Maybe you've already tried this, but I've noticed with VHS tapes having the exact same problem that you describe, (including brand new tapes), that you can pop the tape in and out of the machine a couple of times and the problem just goes away. I don't know what causes that to work, but it always does the trick for us, now that machines no longer have a manual tracking adjustment. It might have something to do with the way the tape is lining up or making contact with the heads, but the auto-tracking kicks in and the tapes play fine. If that doesn't fix the problem then you may have gotten ahold of a truly bad tape, and should take it back to the retailer. Hope that helps, Ron Glasgow Cumming GA USA Cahebay-AT-aol.com wrote: >Jim: I picked up one of your Videos on Puppet making, for the local Children's Library VHS -Bogner Entertainment Inc. / Laser light 1996 Delta Music Inc. Brand new factory sealed when played I notice the tracking is bad, the image jumps like a Mexican jumping bean, and there is no tracking control like the old machines, also every 15 seconds +/- there is a signal loss, <snip> > ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 17:29:11 -0500 From: Fred Greenspan <greenspan-AT-earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <7ed9751ed560fa30336b39b38f478ff0-AT-earthlink.net> Mark & Ron, I've also found that when a tape doesn't track well in one vcr, it will work just fine in another. If Ron's method of popping it in and out doesn't work, you might try it in another vcr. Sometimes it's the vcr that's being finicky and not entirely the tape's fault. Just my 2 cents. Fred Greenspan - Traditional Puppeteer http://www.traditionalpuppetry.com On Dec 21, 2005, at 3:19 PM, Ron Glasgow wrote: > Mark, > > I'm not Jim Gamble, but I do own and enjoy four or five of his tapes. > Maybe you've already tried this, but I've noticed with VHS tapes having > the exact same problem that you describe, (including brand new tapes), > that you can pop the tape in and out of the machine a couple of times > and the problem just goes away. I don't know what causes that to work, > but it always does the trick for us, now that machines no longer have a > manual tracking adjustment. It might have something to do with the way > the tape is lining up or making contact with the heads, but the > auto-tracking kicks in and the tapes play fine. If that doesn't fix the > problem then you may have gotten ahold of a truly bad tape, and should > take it back to the retailer. > > Hope that helps, > > Ron Glasgow > Cumming GA > USA > > > Cahebay-AT-aol.com wrote: > >> Jim: I picked up one of your Videos on Puppet making, for the local >> Children's Library VHS -Bogner Entertainment Inc. / Laser light 1996 >> Delta Music Inc. Brand new factory sealed when played I notice the >> tracking is bad, the image jumps like a Mexican jumping bean, and >> there is no tracking control like the old machines, also every 15 >> seconds +/- there is a signal loss, <snip> >> > _______________________________________________ > List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org > Admin interface: > http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org > Archives: http://www.driftline.org > ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 18:49:38 EST From: Cahebay-AT-aol.com Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <36.91af17.30db4412-AT-aol.com> In a message dated 12/21/2005 6:31:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, greenspan-AT-earthlink.net writes: > Mark, > > I'm not Jim Gamble, but I do own and enjoy four or five of his tapes. > Maybe you've already tried this, but I've noticed with VHS tapes having > the exact same problem that you describe, (including brand new tapes), > that you can pop the tape in and out of the machine a couple of times > and the problem just goes away. I don't know what causes that to work, > but it always does the trick for us, now that machines no longer have a > manual tracking adjustment. It might have something to do with the way > the tape is lining up or making contact with the heads, but the > auto-tracking kicks in and the tapes play fine. If that doesn't fix the > problem then you may have gotten ahold of a truly bad tape, and should > take it back to the retailer. > > Hope that helps, > > Ron Glasgow Will give that a try, none of my other tapes ever had that problem, only this one but will pop it in and see Regards Mark _ChristianPuppeteer ? Christian Puppeteers International Group_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianPuppeteer/) MERRY CHRISTMAS ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 18:53:54 EST From: Cahebay-AT-aol.com Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <60.63ef219e.30db4512-AT-aol.com> In a message dated 12/21/2005 6:31:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, greenspan-AT-earthlink.net writes: Mark & Ron, I've also found that when a tape doesn't track well in one vcr, it will work just fine in another. If Ron's method of popping it in and out doesn't work, you might try it in another vcr. Sometimes it's the vcr that's being finicky and not entirely the tape's fault. Just my 2 cents. Fred Greenspan - Traditional Puppeteer Will try the pop in and out method, I plan to show it at a children's library I/e 30 minutes with several separate hour long classes in puppet making and performance I believe EVERYONE should do this at their local libraries year round to create great interest in youth in the art of puppetry and to preserve the art , otherwise we will end up just a handful of old men and women talking of the good old days before puppetry died out. Regards Mark _ChristianPuppeteer ? Christian Puppeteers International Group_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianPuppeteer/) MERRY CHRISTMAS ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 19:20:50 EST From: Cahebay-AT-aol.com Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <27c.2d6d6f2.30db4b62-AT-aol.com> In a message dated 12/21/2005 6:53:54 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Cahebay writes: Mark & Ron, I've also found that when a tape doesn't track well in one vcr, it will work just fine in another. If Ron's method of popping it in and out doesn't work, you might try it in another vcr. Sometimes it's the vcr that's being finicky and not entirely the tape's fault. Just my 2 cents. Fred Greenspan - Traditional Puppeteer I tried the pop in and out and no good still will not work right, tried other tapes before and after and they work fine. So must be a defective tape, which is a shame, he has some wonderful puppets I would like to see! Regards Mark _ChristianPuppeteer ? Christian Puppeteers International Group_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianPuppeteer/) MERRY CHRISTMAS ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 16:38:21 -0800 From: Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org, puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20051221163736.04490300-AT-mail.axtell.com> They are wonderful videos...Jim did a great job. I hope you get to see it. Ax At 12/21/2005 09:58 AM, Cahebay-AT-aol.com wrote: >Jim: > I picked up one of your Videos on Puppet making, for the local Children's >Library > VHS -Bogner Entertainment Inc. / Laser light > 1996 Delta Music Inc. Brand new > factory sealed when played I notice the tracking is bad, the image jumps >like a > Mexican jumping bean, and there is no tracking control like the old >machines, > also every 15 seconds +/- there is a signal loss, I must have grabbed one >of the > bad copies (I'm lucky like that), Have you ever heard of this problem? >Bogner has no address on it to obtain a replacement, maybe you can provide >advice, or do you have this on DVD? > which might be a better choice > Regards > Mark > > >_ChristianPuppeteer ? Christian Puppeteers International Group_ >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianPuppeteer/) > > >MERRY CHRISTMAS >_______________________________________________ >List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org >Admin interface: >http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org >Archives: http://www.driftline.org > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.3/209 - Release Date: 12/21/2005 Steve Axtell / Axtell Expressions, Inc. Website - http://www.axtell.com New on DVD "AxTelevision"! - http://www.axtelevision.com International Performer's Directory - http://www.axtell.com/ipd.html Original contents ? 2005 all rights reserved. ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 16:38:21 -0800 From: Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org, puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20051221163736.04490300-AT-mail.axtell.com> They are wonderful videos...Jim did a great job. I hope you get to see it. Ax At 12/21/2005 09:58 AM, Cahebay-AT-aol.com wrote: >Jim: > I picked up one of your Videos on Puppet making, for the local Children's >Library > VHS -Bogner Entertainment Inc. / Laser light > 1996 Delta Music Inc. Brand new > factory sealed when played I notice the tracking is bad, the image jumps >like a > Mexican jumping bean, and there is no tracking control like the old >machines, > also every 15 seconds +/- there is a signal loss, I must have grabbed one >of the > bad copies (I'm lucky like that), Have you ever heard of this problem? >Bogner has no address on it to obtain a replacement, maybe you can provide >advice, or do you have this on DVD? > which might be a better choice > Regards > Mark > > >_ChristianPuppeteer ? Christian Puppeteers International Group_ >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianPuppeteer/) > > >MERRY CHRISTMAS >_______________________________________________ >List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org >Admin interface: >http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org >Archives: http://www.driftline.org > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.3/209 - Release Date: 12/21/2005 Steve Axtell / Axtell Expressions, Inc. Website - http://www.axtell.com New on DVD "AxTelevision"! - http://www.axtelevision.com International Performer's Directory - http://www.axtell.com/ipd.html Original contents ? 2005 all rights reserved. ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 22:04:36 -0500 From: Ron Glasgow <sockdoll-AT-gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <43AA17C4.1020909-AT-gmail.com> Cahebay-AT-aol.com wrote: >I tried the pop in and out and no good still will not work right, tried other tapes before and after and they work fine. So must be a defective tape, which is a shame, he has some wonderful puppets I would like to see! > Darn it Mark, I've got two copies of Jim's introduction to puppet making tape *somewhere* - but they're both buried deep in storage and I can't even get near them right now. I know that the title shows up periodically on eBay, but they are getting harder and harder to find. I don't even know if Jim stocks it himself anymore - his web site just lists a phone number to call for information. I think that teaching puppet making courses to children is an awesome undertaking, and one that youngsters will love. (It's always a hoot to watch the kids' puppet building classes at the Center for Puppetry Arts, and I've even joined in with my son there a time or two.) Of course you can teach classes without using Jim's tape, but it is such a great resource. Ron Glasgow Cumming GA USA ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 03:57:22 EST From: Jimsan777-AT-aol.com Subject: [Puptcrit] Hey Jim Gamble from Jim Gamble To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <197.4d6dede6.30dbc472-AT-aol.com> Dear All, I'm sorry about those old "Bogner" tapes not playing well. Bogner was my original partner, but after some major disagreements over financial accounting and my subsequent lawsuit, B. settled out of court and returned all rights to me. I've since removed Bogner's name from my videos and have them duplicated elsewhere. I wish I could replace tapes that might be defective, but they are now at least 10 years old and I was not paid adequately for them. I have several dozen wholesalers who now distribute my tapes via catalogs, etc. AND we sell them directly from our office. My daughter, Wendy (an MBA, CFA and CPA) handles our video business (in addition to my Grandson.) We had some problems with online orders, so we reverted to toll free number for small orders: 800-540-1921 and we take credit cards over the phone. www.jimgamble.com We are intending to reformat the product on to DVD, adding supplementary footage from the studio (already shot) and more new footage as I show various methods of construction. These projects take time, lots of time (and also money) which is only partly the reason for the delay. For those who might have missed earlier posts: By Dec. 31st, we will have performed 200 times at Disneyland during this 2005 Christmas season (Nov-Dec), 40-50 times for the LA Zoo, and for another 200 venues in Northern and Southern California and a week in Colorado (Beaver Creek, Grand Junction and Steamboat Springs.) Eight performing puppeteers and 3 workshop artists (who have conducted daily workshops in addition to our performances) have stretched our resources fairly thin, BUT we have even greater plans for next year! Thank God we have not had a transit strike, inclement weather, nor terrorist activities with which to contend. OUR business model seems to work well. We shared many "secrets" during our master class a couple of years ago. Hopefully, I can conduct another in 2006. Meanwhile if you want the tapes call: 800-540-1921 and give the info to Carol, our officer manager and event coordinator...And have a Happy Holiday season, yourselves. Sincerely, Jim Gamble ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:52:37 EST From: JIMPUP-AT-aol.com Subject: [Puptcrit] Holiday Greetings! To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Message-ID: <9d.6e373fc4.30dc33d5-AT-aol.com> Happy Holidays to each of you! Best wishes for a prosperous New Year! Jim ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 13:46:43 -0500 From: Mathieu Ren? <creaturiste-AT-magma.ca> Subject: [Puptcrit] GREAT news for Moi! To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>, <PuppetCafe-AT-yahoogroups.com>, <PaperMacheArt-AT-yahoogroups.com> Message-ID: <000601c60728$0f0f1210$8034f3c7-AT-critter1> Hi all! I just received a very welcome phone call this morning! Just as I was having a panic attack, (cold cold sweats and fast-beating heart) caused by many financial-related phone calls within the hour, this good call came and calmed me down almost immediately. What is it about? PUPPET ART! Money! Mix the two together, and you get great relief! The Director called me. We got the first (and biggest) grant of the batch of grants we were applying for! That's 30, 000$ (thirty thousand!) in the bank!!!!! For the project. If we get full funding (waiting on answers in mid January), the puppet department budget will be around 18 thousand. That's for our puppet movie, with a cast of three puppets and exquisitely detailed sets and accessories! With a reduced team, we will be able to get paid fairly! We'll probably start in January-February! I can't wait! I had a strong feeling I'd be VERY busy come 2006. So far, I've got this and another pupet show production coming at the same time, plus a part-time job. Keep em coming. I'll keep you posted. Mathieu Ren? Cr?aturiste Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera... Puppets, Masks, Etcetera... creaturiste-AT-magma.ca www.creaturiste.com (514) 274-8027 ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:37:41 -0500 From: "Mark S. Segal" <segalpuppets-AT-comcast.net> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Anyone know? To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org> Message-ID: <000801c60759$15b14260$0302a8c0-AT-MARK01> reply-type=original Was talking to a friend (someone I met at the MN festival) and think he would benefit greatly from Verna Finley's tapes...does anyone know how to or if it is posiible to still get them???? Thanks Mark ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 08:46:08 -0500 From: "Les Lamborn" <llamborn-AT-rbc.org> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Verna Finley videos To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org> Message-ID: <18E8BC0EFC86FF45A84F601F18B9626E79715A-AT-rbcmail.rbc.org> Hi Mark Bill Scott in West Chester, PA. has the original video tapes. You can order them from him. Check the PofA membership for William Scott in West Chester, PA. Les -----Original Message----- From: puptcrit-bounces-AT-lists.driftline.org [mailto:puptcrit-bounces-AT-lists.driftline.org] On Behalf Of Mark S. Segal Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 7:38 PM To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Anyone know? Was talking to a friend (someone I met at the MN festival) and think he would benefit greatly from Verna Finley's tapes...does anyone know how to or if it is posiible to still get them???? Thanks Mark _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org End of puptcrit Digest, Vol 14, Issue 16 **************************************** _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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