From: "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:34:30 GMT
Subject: [Puptcrit] WPA puppets-for Carolyn Roark
In 1980 during the World Puppetry Festival of Puppeteers of America/Unima-USA, there was an WPA puppet exhibit at George Mason University in Northern Virginia. Lynnie Raybuck was then working with/at the campus---she is a long-time member of the National Capital Puppetry Guild. Maybe you can reach her through
http://www.dcpuppetguild.org
In 1980, George Mason University had the bulk of WPA Federal Theatre Files which had been rescued from obscure storage (there had been attempts by the usual reactionary forces {ironically in Stalinist style] to obliterate the history of WPA).
At GMU there were reports from various Federal Theatre groups on shelves. GMU also tried to get oral reports before and after 1980 from many who had been involved---unfortunately sometimes the staff failed to truly connect with the puppet community, so they did not always know what questions to ask. Lorraine Brown had the opportunity, but chose to ignore it.
As part of the 1980 Festival, there was a symposium on WPA puppets with Molka Reiche (Spelling?) who was with the Florida WPA, and others. Molka later gave the bulk of the marionettes to GMU, I donated a WPA Recreation Project clown marionette to GMU from South Pasadena CA (Oneonta Grammar School which I attended) taught by Lora Knight Pattison who had earlier trained with the Pasadena CA Recreation puppet project.
WPA mimeographed 'how-to" puppet construction sheets, and probably scripts too.
I have the bulk of surviving South Pasadena string puppets (except for many which kids took home---some may yet turn up in attics and rare yard sales)? ? ?
When the Tony Sarg Marionettes performed at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in the 1930s, a member of that troupe visited the South Pasadena puppet workshop
(If Tony Sarg was with the troupe at the time, it was he who visited.)
At any rate I stiil have a small cardboard Sarg poster from the Pasadena booking.
I also have a group of marionettes from a Los Angeles WPA mariontte project which had been stored in an L.A. garage for decades, still wrapped in newspapers from the late 1930s. That treasure was expedited to me by Bob Baker who worked as a teenager with Theatre of the Magic Strings (WPA, Los Angeles) which at various times had connections with prominent puppeteers such as Ralph Chesse (also connected to San Francisco & Oakland projects) and Bob Bromley (who in 1930 had also worked with The Yale Puppeteers on L.A.'s Olvera Street and later on that street with The Olvera Puppeteers.
Bob Baker has a few programs from the Los Angeles Magic Strings project, and is well worth contacting at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 West First St, Los Angeles (they have a nice web page).. Bob's theater has the record for the longest running Puppet Theater in Los Angeles, over twice as long as the previous record-holder (Turnabout Theater) (Many Turnabout photos online through Los Angeles Public Library's web pages).
Carol Fijan would be an important contact for New York WPA shows. The Conservatory of Puppetry Arts has "Joe Worker" and other hand puppets shown in a new CD (with other legendary puppets) we HOPE to have ready for next week's National Puppetry Festival (Puppetry Store) at Concordia University in St Paul MN. We hope to get a DVD version later. WWW.COPA-puppets.com
Nick Coppola in NYC did a re-creation of the WPA script for Pinocchio--another good contact.
I am told that the Library of Congess has taken over much of the WPA archive which had been at George Mason U, but GMU was allowed to retain any duplicate copies.
Lynnie could verify.
In Pennsylvaia, both in Philadelphia & Pittsburgh the WPA "Museum Project" created both hand puppets and marionettes in papier mache/cloth for use by schools and museums. COPA has some examples, and many have filtered thru antique stores and e-bay to collectors. Michael Malkin did a magazine article fo a now-defunct antique magazine, and has examples in his book, TRADITIONAL & FOLK PUPPETS OF THE WORLD pub'd by Barnes.
The Museum Project made SETS of puppets, for shows on nutrition and hygiene (puppet tomatoes, carrots and pupper-tooth brush characters for example), as well as for Alladin (with a definite Chinese rather than Arabic look), Red Riding Hood, and other standard tales etc., etc.
Any info you can track on Hattie Flannigan including her book on Federal Theater may have BRIEF mention of puppets.
The references offered by John Bell are important to start with.
Ralph Chesse's important book was first published by George Mason U Press (Jean Reges Burn made the important contact so that could happen---I know because I went with her to the campus, and Lettie Connell Schubert did the intro for the book because we knew she was mentored by Ralph for 14 years and the logical choice).
Personally I think Ralph's book belongs on every puppet book shelf.
I hope we get to hear about the results of Carolyn's research!
ALAN COOK
-----Original Message-----
From: puptcrit-request-AT-puptcrit.org
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:00 AM
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: puptcrit Digest, Vol 33, Issue 16
Send puptcrit mailing list submissions to
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of puptcrit digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Re: weddings (Emmy Bean)
2. Re: weddings (Mathieu Ren?)
3. See what I've been up to (Mathieu Ren?)
4. changed my email address (Deborah Hunt)
5. Unusual supplies and Methods (Mathieu Ren?)
6. Re: Federal Theatre Question (Bruce Chesse)
7. show and tell (Yvette Edery)
8. Re: Federal Theatre Question (Bell, John)
9. Re: Federal Theatre Question (Bell, John)
10. Manteo Family documentary film available on dvd!! (Bell, John)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:40:49 -0700
From: "Emmy Bean" <beansome-AT-gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] weddings
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Message-ID:
<c6efe1950707111240u6ab67d20tb816b4d78d0447f0-AT-mail.gmail.com>
I recently performed with puppets at a wedding of some friends in the
Berkshires.
I played one scene as a small tabletop puppet re-enactment of the story of
how the couple met; it was simple and fun to do, two puppets with a little
signage and proppage. I also came armed with a larger bird puppet that I
played with and handed around during the outdoor reception while guests ate
and drank.
Meaning, I played with the bird puppet while the guests drank, and handed
it around while I drank.
And then performed the tabletop scene after the bird got too drunk to fly
anymore.
Good times.
Emmy Bean
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:16:47 -0400
From: Mathieu Ren? <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] weddings
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Message-ID: <002501c7c3f8$69683050$4001a8c0-AT-critter1>
reply-type=original
> Meaning, I played with the bird puppet while the guests drank, and handed
> it around while I drank.
-------------
Wow, you let people play with your puppet, unsupervised?
yikes!
How did you manage to get that amount of trust in people?
Is the puppet made of armored spacesuit material?
Or do you have a cloning machine to make more puppets at the flip of a
switch?
I get nervous lending my puppets for puppet improv nights, even though the
performers are semi-pro at least.
I wouldn't lend them to non-pupepteers anymore. Last time was two montsh
ago, and the damage on some puppets told of real bad manipulating and
storing practices.
With pros, I do get some damage once in a while, but it's normal wear and
tear, and easy to fix.
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:47:08 -0400
From: Mathieu Ren? <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca>
Subject: [Puptcrit] See what I've been up to
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>, <PaperMacheArt-AT-yahoogroups.com>
Message-ID: <000801c7c3fc$a8ebf780$4001a8c0-AT-critter1>
This monday if all goes well, you will finally get to see two of the 8 latex puppets I've been working on.
They are going to be on a humoristic videoclip.
I'll give the adress once it's confirmed and works.
It will be a rap "song" in french. It will make no real sense (that's the point) as it is a bad rap mix of songs from a children's tv show that was hot when I was a kid (in the 80s).
It's great fun to make wild puppets with radio hosts who aren't affraid of the ridiculous, of themselves or anyone.
These two first puppets are the most tame, the others are more wild, cariactures of local celebrities, including a zebra.
Trivia: We don't have that many zebras in Quebec.
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:21:59 -0300
From: "Deborah Hunt" <dhunt-AT-caribe.net>
Subject: [Puptcrit] changed my email address
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Message-ID: <006601c7c412$48a0ed70$b4d206cc-AT-userwhx1menigu>
Hello Malgosia
My new email address is maskhunt-AT-gmail.com
Thankyou for making the change
Deborah
Deborah Hunt
Teatro de M?scaras y T?teres
MASKHUNT
http://www.myspace.com/maskhunt
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:07:47 -0400
From: Mathieu Ren? <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca>
Subject: [Puptcrit] Unusual supplies and Methods
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Message-ID: <000601c7c418$af3c1cc0$4001a8c0-AT-critter1>
Hi all.
I am suddenly wondering what sort of unusual supplies or methods people use to solve artistic or technical problems.
I'm interested in anything you migth want to share, you never know when it might come in handy.
We don't always think in the same way, and your obvious solutions might not be so obvious to us. So let's share the wealth!
For instance:
-White Vinegar is a great cleaner, deodorizer, etcetera. Check the Internet to find hundreds of uses.
-White Vinegar is also a great substitute for water when conditioning waterbased clays. A ceramist told me the clay won't crack as it dries on the surface, contrary to what happens when using water.
-Instead of buying aluminum wire sold for making armatures, get the same thing for much less by dealing directly with electrical supply places. I,m told they sell it as a "ground wire". I get mine for free in a container behind a cable provider. The kind I get there requires a little work, I have to separate that finer wire from the main cable (too soft, mostly plastic with some copper inside).
-I just have to share this one, although it's not directly artistic (saves my sanity, so it does help):
Listerine Cool mint (a mouthwash with alcohol and menthol) is a great reliever of itchiness when applied and rubbed on a mosquito bite. The bite starts receding within minutes (compared to days if left alone), and the itch is almost gone within 5 minutes. Nothing else i tried (even the commercial relievers) comes even close. I found out about it one night when I had nothing left in the medecine cabinet that could possibly relieve a huge bite that was driving me nuts. I figured, if this mouthwash is strong enough to dull my mouth sensation for minutes, it might do the same for a skin lesion...
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:02:19 -0700
From: Bruce Chesse <bchesse-AT-imagina.com>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Federal Theatre Question
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Message-ID: <p06240812c2bb2d49fab1-AT-[198.107.16.194]>
Call me:
Bruce Chess? 503 236-4034
My father was head of the Federal Theater
Marionette Project in California for the WPA. I
have scripts photos and anecdotes. Also read
Ralph Chess?'s bookThe Marionette Actor
(available from Amazon.com.
>Hi All:
>
>Forgive the research shortcut. I'm at the Harry
>Ransom Center and up to my eyeballs in
>marionette scripts from the 1930s. Does anyone
>know of a source that would provide further
>information about puppet performances sponsored
>by the Federal Theatre Project? Did they have a
>stable of puppeteers, or train local folks for
>regional performances?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Carolyn
>
>
>"Courage in Women is often mistaken for insanity."
>
>---------------------------------
>Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast
> with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut.
>_______________________________________________
>List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
>Admin interface:
>http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
>Archives: http://www.driftline.org
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:35:21 -0400
From: Yvette Edery <art_goo-AT-yahoo.com>
Subject: [Puptcrit] show and tell
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Message-ID: <p06240800c2bb50a9c98b-AT-[192.168.111.16]>
Hi Friends,
I haven't had much time to share my work and since I
am putting a lot of it into storage, I am taking
pictures. I wanted to share. Hope you like them. This
is what I have been making while at home and abroad.
Here is some show, I will be writing an article (on
the 2nd draft now), look forward to telling you more
then.
Yvette
Yvette Edery
Director, ArtistrYE Productions
Puppetry for Film, Television, & Theater
http://www.artistrye.com
[ Attachments: http://www.puptcrit.org/attachments/Yvette/Yvette_Italy-1.JPG
http://www.puptcrit.org/attachments/Yvette/Yvette_germany.jpg
http://www.puptcrit.org/attachments/Yvette/Yvette_sexydevil.jpg
http://www.puptcrit.org/attachments/Yvette/Yvette_Prague.jpg
http://www.puptcrit.org/attachments/Yvette/Yvette_jangles2.jpg
http://www.puptcrit.org/attachments/Yvette/yvette_elephant.JPG ]
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:38:41 -0400
From: "Bell, John" <john.bell-AT-uconn.edu>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Federal Theatre Question
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Message-ID:
<5070C2A617D50748AA2F684A0D83F9970133484A-AT-EXCHANGEB.mgmt.ad.uconn.edu>
Dear Puptcrit Colleagues,
I am forwarding below Tony De Nonno's message about the availability of his great documentary of the Manteo family on dvd. It's One Family: Knock on Wood is a quite great film about Sicilian puppet traditions in the United States, and I would urge everyone to see it. It's cool!!
john bell
*************
Here is wonderful news-I finally completed transferring Its One Family: Knock on Wood to DVD. Please download and see this impressive DVD cover which we just competed for it -- see attached. The reviewer in -NEWSDAY at the time of it PBS Network Premier broadcast characterized my documentary as "... a charming portrait of a Sicilian family in Brooklyn whose life work is creating life-size marionettes in the style of the Middle Ages. Producer Tony De Nonno has created a gentle old-fashioned film, a look into lives rooted in the Italian Renaissance"--And oh, the caring, the tender respect for craft in this family."
More wonderful news-- Its One Family: Knock on Wood as well as my entire catalog of award-winning PBS/Educational documentary films, are now available on DVD for the Puppeteers of America Print/DVD Collection and for universities, colleges and puppet organizations across America for the incredible price of only $ 50.
That is a 50% discount off my current catalog price and it includes "Public Performance Rights." I will send you a copy for the very special price we discussed.
Please take special note of the multiple curriculum applications that this DVD's possesses. Many thanks for sharing/forwarding this wonderful offer and DVD Cover to other colleges and universities and puppet organizations you know across America and around the world.
Rest assured that this documentary which has been seen by millions of Americans and screened/acquired at hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide will be heartwarming to our present and future generation for years to come. More wonderful news- within the last two weeks Stony Brook University, Queens College, St. Johns, Memphis University to name a few, have purchased DVD of this documentary and several of my prized PBS Network films which have been enlightening and inspiring to students and people of all backgrounds and ages.
I am looking forward to receiving purchase orders from the Sandglass Theater which will insure that our future generation will be inspired by this award-winning PBS/educational documentary for many years to come.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks a million for your time, consideration and support of my filmmaking vision. If I can be there for you, rest assured you can call on me at any time...
Warmest wishes to you and everyone at the Sandglass Theater for a radiant, healthy and prosperous summer filled with many accomplishments and celebrations- as always,
Tony
Tony De Nonno
Producer-Writer-Director & President
De Nonno Productions, Inc.
7119 Shore Road Suite 6F
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Ph/Fax 1-718 745-3937
Cell 1-917 304 6610
DENONNOPRODINC-AT-AOL.COM
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:49:11 -0400
From: "Bell, John" <john.bell-AT-uconn.edu>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Federal Theatre Question
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Message-ID:
<5070C2A617D50748AA2F684A0D83F9970133484B-AT-EXCHANGEB.mgmt.ad.uconn.edu>
I don't know of one unified source for this; I don't think there is one. But certainly many great American puppeteers were part of the FTP marionette units across the country, including Remo Bufano, Donald Vestal and David Lano as well as Ralph Chesse. Alan Cook has information about Los Angeles puppeteers from the FTP.
Paul McPharlin headed the puppet element of the Michigan Arts and Crafts Project, which was a federal program in the 1930s, but not FTP specifically.
I just found a book chapter in The Arts Workshop of Rural America by Marjorie Patten which talks about puppet companies as part of 1930s Agricultural Extension Service projects.
Free, Adult, and Uncensored has some references to other puppet projects of the FTP.
Bernice Silver wrote a wonderful article in Puppetry Journal a few years ago about activist puppet theater in upstate New York during the 1930s; it wasn't government funded, but quite parallel. Musician Pete Seeger was part of that project...
By the way, the work of Lola Cueto and others in Mexico (i.e., activist, community-focused puppet theater) was going on at the same time; another cool connection.
I look forward to reading about what you find; it's new territory in terms of puppet history; something really important about our past which no one has really written about!
jbell
________________________________
From: puptcrit-bounces-AT-lists.driftline.org on behalf of Carolyn Roark
Sent: Wed 7/11/2007 2:29 PM
To: Puppetry Listserv
Subject: [Puptcrit] Federal Theatre Question
Hi All:
Forgive the research shortcut. I'm at the Harry Ransom Center and up to my eyeballs in marionette scripts from the 1930s. Does anyone know of a source that would provide further information about puppet performances sponsored by the Federal Theatre Project? Did they have a stable of puppeteers, or train local folks for regional performances?
Thanks.
Carolyn
"Courage in Women is often mistaken for insanity."
---------------------------------
Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast
with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut.
_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org <http://www.driftline.org/>
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:50:10 -0400
From: "Bell, John" <john.bell-AT-uconn.edu>
Subject: [Puptcrit] Manteo Family documentary film available on dvd!!
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>, <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Message-ID:
<5070C2A617D50748AA2F684A0D83F9970133484C-AT-EXCHANGEB.mgmt.ad.uconn.edu>
Dear Puptcrit Colleagues,
I am forwarding below Tony De Nonno's message about the availability of his great documentary of the Manteo family on dvd. It's One Family: Knock on Wood is a quite great film about Sicilian puppet traditions in the United States, and I would urge everyone to see it. It's cool!!
john bell
*************
Here is wonderful news-I finally completed transferring Its One Family: Knock on Wood to DVD. Please download and see this impressive DVD cover which we just competed for it -- see attached. The reviewer in -NEWSDAY at the time of it PBS Network Premier broadcast characterized my documentary as "... a charming portrait of a Sicilian family in Brooklyn whose life work is creating life-size marionettes in the style of the Middle Ages. Producer Tony De Nonno has created a gentle old-fashioned film, a look into lives rooted in the Italian Renaissance"--And oh, the caring, the tender respect for craft in this family."
More wonderful news-- Its One Family: Knock on Wood as well as my entire catalog of award-winning PBS/Educational documentary films, are now available on DVD for the Puppeteers of America Print/DVD Collection and for universities, colleges and puppet organizations across America for the incredible price of only $ 50.
That is a 50% discount off my current catalog price and it includes "Public Performance Rights." I will send you a copy for the very special price we discussed.
Please take special note of the multiple curriculum applications that this DVD's possesses. Many thanks for sharing/forwarding this wonderful offer and DVD Cover to other colleges and universities and puppet organizations you know across America and around the world.
Rest assured that this documentary which has been seen by millions of Americans and screened/acquired at hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide will be heartwarming to our present and future generation for years to come. More wonderful news- within the last two weeks Stony Brook University, Queens College, St. Johns, Memphis University to name a few, have purchased DVD of this documentary and several of my prized PBS Network films which have been enlightening and inspiring to students and people of all backgrounds and ages.
I am looking forward to receiving purchase orders from the Sandglass Theater which will insure that our future generation will be inspired by this award-winning PBS/educational documentary for many years to come.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks a million for your time, consideration and support of my filmmaking vision. If I can be there for you, rest assured you can call on me at any time...
Warmest wishes to you and everyone at the Sandglass Theater for a radiant, healthy and prosperous summer filled with many accomplishments and celebrations- as always,
Tony
Tony De Nonno
Producer-Writer-Director & President
De Nonno Productions, Inc.
7119 Shore Road Suite 6F
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Ph/Fax 1-718 745-3937
Cell 1-917 304 6610
DENONNOPRODINC-AT-AOL.COM
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
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