Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:42:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Jim Gamble <jimsan777-AT-yahoo.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Walking Rod Puppets EASY



Dear Pixie,

I'm returning to Puptcrit after a year's absence!  and  from Falling head first over front handle bars of a bicycle, coma for 5 days, 2 weeks in and out of consciousness, two more months of intensive care, and a year of therapy for Congitive, physical and every kind of therapy you can think of....but I got through my Christmas season and now recovered my passwords and back online...with over 2000 messages on puptcrit, etc.  Jim Gamble

Ok, here goes. I have a rod puppet production of "Peter and the Wolf" in which one puppeteer makes all rod puppets walk, gesture, and play the parts.  We've even performed P-W live with orchestras.  If you want to view the whole production, get a copy of my DVDs from my web site:    jimgamble.com   ...the easiest way.  Hobey Ford helped us withe the first set of rod puppets.  Story was written by Roger Mara, but the puppets have been re-constructed by yours truly.  We made a handle extending from the back of the puppet with interlocking rod to the head, so that I can hold a single puppet with one hand.  By tilting the handle the legs of the puppet swing to and fro giving a nice gentle walk.  Same goes for Grand father, Peter, etc.  When I wish Peter to sit and watch the other action, I set him next to the tree, which conveniently holds the handle.  The cat has four legs (of course) but the action is somewhat to and fro, for the cat the scamper up the
 tree.  When I wish for the puppet to gesture, I pull on a rotating levers which pulls strings connected to the arms to point, etc.

Does this help?  Best to see the video or DVD of the entire program.  Call my office: 800-540-1921 to order. My web site shows eight DVDs, and even has some video from the production to see by clicking on the preview button....which is free.  I have other DVD's from various International Puppet Festivals, which I persoanlly shot, while in Japan, Korea, Israel, Serbia, Belarus, Russia, Bolivia, and many other locations for which I have performed in the past 10 years....Jim Gamble



----- Original Message ----
From: Alan Cook <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Sent: Thursday, February 5, 2009 8:12:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppets With Legs ??

Some WPA Museum Project hand puppets made in Philadelphia/Pittsburgh had legs that sort of "walked" by strings. A string was attached to the knee or foot, went upward, then over some device and back down to a dowel below the puppet foot. When yu teeter-tottered the down from below you "got the walk." 


-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Greenspan
Sent: Thursday, February 5, 2009 8:06 PM
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppets With Legs ??

Pixie, I can't help with rod-puppet, but I believe there are  
directions in Glynn Edward's Punch & Judy book for a hand puppet. I  
use this in one of my Punch puppets. The pants legs are hollow and  
accessable from inside his skirt with wood boots that are also  
hollowed on top. With my right hand controlling Head and arms, my  
left hand is below the right hand with my left index and middle  
finger inserted in the legs, this way Punch can dance, walk, kick up  
his legs, etc.

Fred Greenspan - Traditional Puppeteer
Ossining, New York
http://www.traditionalpuppetry.com
Punch & Judy, Italian marionettes, flea circus

On Feb 5, 2009, at 10:49 PM, Pixie Moss wrote:


> I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a way to make a puppet  
> with
> moving legs and arms, that preferably can be controlled by one  
> person  ? I
> am thinking rod puppet style.
>
> Tall order ?
>
> I want to make a puppet with legs that can sort of walk across the  
> stage and
> is not a marionette.
>
>  Any info, advice and links to examples of such puppets would be
> appreciated.
>
> ~ Pixie
>
>
>
> -- 
> Enchanted Gypsy ~ Travel Diaries
> http://www.enchantedgypsy.blogspot.com/
> _______________________________________________
> List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit
> Archives: http://www.driftline.org

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