File puptcrit/puptcrit.0808, message 289


Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:12:26 -0400
From: "Steve Abrams" <sapuppets-AT-gmail.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppet Book for Beginners


Charles
Thanks so much for that marvelous story. Sounds like a truly memorable
afternoon for all of you. I prize my copy of Small Wonder and have read it
many times. After I read Forman Brown's novel "A Better Angel" I sent Forman
a fan letter and he sent me back of lovely reply which I keep between the
pages of Small Wonder (not quite an autograph, but almost)

Another notable book is George Latshaw's book originally titled "Puppetry
the Ultimate Disguise" and reissued by Dover as "The Complete Book of
Puppetry." George was not happy the with new title but of course delighted
to be back in print.

The books gives a way of thinking about puppetry that might be just as
important or more important than technical craft tips

Steve


On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 5:53 PM, Charles Taylor <cecetaylor-AT-verizon.net>wrote:

>
> Mathieu, I went to a book store this morning, Acres of Books, and found
> a perfect book for your question.
>
> Is there such a thing  as a book for beginner puppeteers, with an aim
> at giving them the best tools to become actual functioning
> professionals?
>
> Well, I think I found a good one: Helen Fling Marionettes How to Make
> and Work them, Illustrated by Charles Forbell.
>
> Copyright 1973 Manufactured in the United States of America,by Dover
> Publishing Inc.. 180 Varick ST, N.Y., New York, 10014
> International book # 0-486-22909-2 Library of Congress catalog library
> card Number 72-95675.
>
> Published in Canada by General Publishing  Company, Ltd 50 Lessmill
> Road, Don Mills, Toronto, Ontario.
>
> The illustrations are excellent and clear showing each step, The
> directions are numbered and simpler than a recipe.  I found      many
> instances of traditional puppet making that I had been taught by Harry
> Burnett, from sculpting, casting in plaster, filling with plastic wood,
> making hands, feet, bodies and on through the puppet spectrum.
>
> I have had a copy on my bookshelf for years and never really paid
> attention to it until today.
>
> I was lucky to find a new copy and get it for sixty five percent off.
> This wonderful book store is going out of business after over 70 years
> in business because of blight redevelopment in downtown Long Beach.  In
> other words some developer is making millions of dollars.   Ray Bradbury
> has valiantly come to the book stores defense to no avail.
>
> Ray Bradbury was not only the great science fiction writer of Fahrenheit
> 451 and Martian Chronicles.  He also was a Turnabout Theater enthusiast
> and wrote the introduction for Small Wonders by Forman Brown. Small
> Wonder chronicles the Yale Puppeteers adventures including Punch's
> Progress, the part up to Olvera Street puppet theater and creative
> place=82 of many great puppeteers from Los Angeles such as Frank Paris,
> Bob Bromley, Virginia Austin Curtis, Ralph Chese, Bob Johnson, Wayne
> Barlow and an eight year old Bob Baker and so many  more. The last half
> of Small Wonder includes the Yale Puppeteer years at Turnabout Theater
> on Los Cienega. Turnabout created a need for Restaurant Row and
> showcased many actors and actresses trying to reinvigorate their
> careers.
>
> Each semester, while I taught puppetry at the California State
> University at Long Beach, I took my students to the Turnabout House for
> Harry Burnett to give lessons.  This gave Harry a small income in his
> elder years and an opportunity for my students to meet a famous
> puppeteer and roam a fascinating house filled with autographed movie
> star photos A collection that was valued at over a million dollars.
> They got to work in a puppeteer's studio and make something with
> papier-mache.
>
> It was on one of these occasions, I was invited to stay for lunch after
> the students left.  It just so happened as we sat down, Ray Bradbury had
> his chauffeur bring him to the Turnabout House.  He too was invited to
> stay for lunch as the limousine double parked outside on El Centro Ave
> for nearly two hours.  I got to sit next to this very intelligent
> gentleman and he kindly autographed my copy of Small Wonders.  In the
> book I have the signatures of Ray Bradbury, Elsa Lanchester, Forman
> Brown, Roddy (Richard Brandon), Woozle (Harry Burnett).  I prize my copy
> and have read it cover to cover many times. I reccomend
> this wonderful book to everyone that enjoys reading about the bohemium
> life of puppeteers.  It is a doozy!
>
> In looking at past post I came across this remark:
>
>  be serendipity_puppets-AT-yahoo.co.uk
> It's " work " by the way....I know you're a sensitive lot so I thought
> I'd clear things up!!! :-) lol
> Charles
>
>
> Since I do not  recall writing that remark, I realize there must be
> another Charles so I will use more clarity by signing Charles, Tinker
> Taylor and by the way, my website is
>
> tinkertaylorpuppets.info <http://tinkertaylorpuppets.info>
>
> We are new and constantly changing on a daily basis to iron out the
> kinks.
>
> Charles,  Tinker Taylor
> _______________________________________________
> 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

   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005