Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:09:53 -0400 From: "Steve Abrams" <sapuppets-AT-gmail.com> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Helen Fling "how-to" puppet book HI Alan I knew the book was a reprint but wasnt sure from when Thanks for filling us in once again happy labor day to all Steve On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 3:01 PM, Alan Cook <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com> wrote: > The Helen Fling book published by Dover is actually a reprint from the > 1930s. The original version was printed in 4 sections with paper covers. > Occasionally copies have been offered on e-bay. Sometimes only one or two > sections may show up, since each section was sold individually. I think I > paid 15 cents for each section--60 cents for the whole thing. In today's > Bush Dollars that would be at least $6, but the e-bay prices so far have > been much higher. > The original copies are now rather rare. The paper is brittle, but can be > handled with care. The line illustrations are very 1930s, a bit cartoony, > and similar to some advertising illustrations of an earlier time. > > The Helen Fling books were part of a series of hobby-craft books. There > was also one on making Ventriloquist dummies. > > I bought the original version around 1947 at a dusty, old-fashioned > dimestore in Oceanside, California (north of San Diego) while on vacation > with next-door neighbors. The dimestore actually had had that 4-section > publication for about a decade---the place was like a time machine. Old > merchandise collecting dust since first placed on shelves. The primary > economic core was the nearby U.S. Marine Base and their families--who > obviously did not buy puppet books in quantity. > > You won't find many stores like that anymore. > > When Dover reprinted the book, they changed a drawing of a "Negro head" > which originally had something like steel wool hair, and what some people > would consider "racist" profile, but the text below the drawing was not > altered in keeping with the visual changes. Basaically an example of > changing perceptions. > > It is an odd little footnote to the book which inspired a lot of hobby > pupeteers at one time. > > ALAN COOK > > > _______________________________________________ > 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
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