Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 10:46:55 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
From: Steve Williford <stevets-AT-macatawa.org>
Subject: [Puptcrit] Mr Bingle


I'm not sure/aware of Mr. Bingle's domain of influence
but growing up (50s-60s) in Memphis, we had such Mr. Bingle TV spots (yes 
it was a puppet show) - even a decorated touring area at one of the 
downtown department stores (I think it might have been Goldsmith's). I 
wasn't sure of Mr. Bingle's origins, I always thought he was only a Memphis 
phenomenon - pardon my ignorance - my mistake (whoops, darn! - now I'll 
never get to be a master puppeteer!). Maybe Mr. Bingle came up from New 
Orleans on a steamboat.
But I always liked the show. I even have a Mr Bingle (type) puppet I found 
once at a thrift store - but its more like one that a family member would 
have knitted to entertain the small ones.
I can remember the tune of the Mr. Bingle song - but only a vague 
smattering of the lyrics. I'll call home and see what others remember (I 
just hope someone will accept the charges)
-Steve in Saugatuck.

At 05:56 AM 1/16/06 -0800, you wrote:
>Message: 4
>Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 01:19:55 GMT
>From: "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>
>Subject: [Puptcrit] Mr Bingle in New Orleans
>To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
>Message-ID: <BAY113-DAV12C5322A0E229CF578BDD4BC1B0-AT-phx.gbl>
>Content-Type: text/plain
>
>I'm still catching up going through paper stuff, and just read the Los 
>Angeles Times for Dec. 25, with an article about Mr Bingle, a cone-hatted 
>snowman with hollyleaf wings. A huge (2-story) version decorated the front 
>of Maison Blanche Department Store on Canal Street during the holidays, 
>beginning in 1948.
>Smaller versions of Mr Bingle were animated in the many display windows on 
>Canal Street, and body-suit versions walked about inside the store. THERE 
>WERE MR BINGLE PUPPET SHOWS and short appearances of Mr Bingle before 
>evening TV news (not sure if that was with. puppets, but could be).
>I was in New Orleans during Christmas 1967, and high tech had invaded 
>those display windows. I don't remember if Mr Bingle was involved, but 
>most-likely he was.
>Puppeteers from the Bourbon Street troupe of Les Poupees took notice that 
>animatronic puppetry had replaced live-action puppets or cam-operated 
>figures in the display windows that yea.
>I made countless trips to see the window displays, always to find the same 
>damn window sign: OUT OF ORDER.
>It would have been cheaper, more efficient and far more satisfying if LIVE 
>PUPPETEERS had replaced technology.
>I assume the MISTAKES were corrected in following years, and that Mr 
>Bingle reigned every holiday season until Maison Blanche closed in 1998 
>and the building became a hotel.
>Dillard's Dept. Stores tried transferring a large Mr Dingle to a suburban 
>mall, but the Times says it was not the same. So into storage he went. It 
>would have cost $45,000 to restore him to a condition of glory.
>In 2004, Sean P. Doles had his book published, "SAVING MR BINGLE"---a work 
>of fiction about Mr Bingle being returned by popular acclaim.
>While doll versions of Mr Bingle had continued to be available, the big 
>display version was buried in a warehouse.
>Katrina lashed out at the warehouse district, but the building survived 
>where Mr Bingle was entombed.
>The Azby Fund rounded up big money in support of an annual light show in 
>City Park, New Orleans (the light show staff was cut from 260 to 23) and 
>Phoenix-Bird-like, Mr Bingle showed up in the display. Through much 
>volunteer work, both the lights and Mr Bingle were back through Dec 30th. 
>Granted, the scale of the light show was trimmed from previous years, but 
>in the dark, candlelight can be seen at some distance.
>Organizers rounded up old  recordings from the puppet shows & TV spots: 
>"Jingle Jingle Jingle---Here comes Mr Bingle".
>OK so what about the puppeteer, a former street performer named Isentrout, 
>who died in 1985 and was buried  in an unmarked grave (shades of Mozart, 
>another sometime puppeteer)?
>Sean P. Doles donated money from his book sales for a gravestone with a 
>picture of Mr Bingle on it, at Hebrew's Rest Cemetary #3. L.A. Times 
>writer Scott Gold notes that the New Orleans Christmas voice was Jewish.
>"I like that" said Sean Doles, "It creates a nice bridge between faiths 
>during the holiday season."
>And in December, puptcrit was discussing contemporary problems doing 
>Christmas/winter holiday puppet shows.
>Maybe the rest of our country can learn something from Mr Bingle.
>ALAN COOK


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