Date: 08 Aug 96 08:16:10 +0500
From: puppetco-AT-cais.cais.com (Christopher Piper)
Subject: Re: Closing ceremony puppets


>The closing ceremony puppets were constructed of fabric tubes kept inflated
>by large fans at the bottoms. Air filling the tubes ran out the tops of the
>hands and head scattering confetti but resulting in loss of air pressure
>and subsequent collapse of the tubes.

>Once collapsed, the fabric folded on top of itself, effectively closing off
>the tops of the tubes and allowing air pressure to once again build up
>inside. At various points equilibrium was established between the weight of
>the fabric and the air pressure inside, allowing the figures to stand
>upright, but when completely upright the open ends of the arms allowed more
>air to escape, causing the body to fall over, and the process recycled
>itself. You may remember that although the figures collapsed, the cylinders
>of which they were comprised never became flat and deflated as they would
>if an air supply was turning on and off (like an air compressor).

>The boxes to which the figures were attached had the characteristic shape
>of industrial strength commercial blowers, such as used by the heating and
>air conditioning industry, which are definitely not battery powered.

>All in all a wonderfully effective and simple device for animating an
>entire stadium.

Gee, sounds wonderful.  Sorry I missed it, but I burned out on NBC's
coverage of the Olympics days earlier.

>On this topic, for those in Australia: What's all the fuss about the
>inflatable kangaroos? Play to your strengths, I say, or you could end up
>with "Izzie" in Atlanta.

I think "It's another job for Super Kangaroo!"

Ohhhhhh, Super Kangaroo, Super Kangaroo,
You're a dinky-di, bonzo bloke and we love you.
Super Kangaroo, Super Kangaroo,
It's another job for Super Kangaroo!

'Nuff said.
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