Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:48:32 -0700 To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org From: Bruce Chesse <bchesse-AT-imagina.com> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] WPA puppets-for Carolyn Roark Hey Alan, George Mason also did and oral history of Ralph and a video one was done as well. Alkl in the archives. Bruce Chesse >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 > puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org > >To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > puptcrit-request-AT-puptcrit.org > >You can reach the person managing the list at > puptcrit-owner-AT-puptcrit.org > >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> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >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$4001a8c0-AT-critter1> >Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > >> Meaning, I played with the bird puppet while the guests drank, and handed >> it around while I drank. >------------- > >Wow, you let people play with your puppet, unsupervised? >yikes! > >How did you manage to get that amount of trust in people? >Is the puppet made of armored spacesuit material? >Or do you have a cloning machine to make more puppets at the flip of a >switch? > >I get nervous lending my puppets for puppet improv nights, even though the >performers are semi-pro at least. >I wouldn't lend them to non-pupepteers anymore. Last time was two montsh >ago, and the damage on some puppets told of real bad manipulating and >storing practices. > >With pros, I do get some damage once in a while, but it's normal wear and >tear, and easy to fix. > > > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 3 >Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:47:08 -0400 >From: Mathieu Ren? <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca> >Subject: [Puptcrit] See what I've been up to >To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>, <PaperMacheArt-AT-yahoogroups.com> >Message-ID: <000801c7c3fc$a8ebf780$4001a8c0-AT-critter1> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > >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> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > >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> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > >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]> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ; format="flowed" > >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]> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >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> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > >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> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > >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> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > >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 >Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit >Archives: http://www.driftline.org > >End of puptcrit Digest, Vol 33, Issue 16 >**************************************** > > >_______________________________________________ >List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org >Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit >Archives: http://www.driftline.org _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005