Date: 25 Nov 97 21:49:07 -0500
From: Christopher Piper <puppetco-AT-thepuppetco.org>
Subject: Re: Bob Brown Puppets


All this is probably more that Lyndell needs or even wants to know, but
I had to get my two cents in about Bob:

In 1953, when Bob was about 17, he saw my dad and mom, Len and Pat
Piper, do a show and started hanging around dad's studio in New Jersey
and eventually did a couple of shows with dad.  Bob was already an
accomplished illustrator and could create magic with a fine point felt
tip pen, and Dad showed him some of the basic casting techniques and
materials.

When my eye was injured in 1954, Bob would send me letters from my
imaginary friend "Goby," complete with illustratrations of Goby himself.
When dad became director of the University of Wisconsin puppet program,
Bob came with us and toured with Dad around the Great Lakes area.  Dad
tells the story of trying to teach Bob to carve on tour, with
disasterous results.  They performed their marionette show the next day
and the strings caught in Bob's cuts, opening them up.  This may have
lead to the day years later when Bob showed Dad the technique he was
developing with foam and felt. :)

Bob, Dad and Mom put together a television show in Madison, WI called
"Poochie's Playhouse."  Dad was "Mr. Len, kindly old puppet maker, Mom
was "Miss Pat" and Bob was "Poochie" a talking dog (puppet).  Mr. Len
taught a puppetmaking craft project, and Miss Pat was Poochie's foil.
The show came within inches of syndication, but the deal fell through
and eventually Bob went back to the East Coast.  The next time we saw
him he visited us in Hawaii, with his (relatively) new wife Judy, and
four year old son Peter.

When I came to Washington, DC, Bob hired me to tour for him, do voice
work on some show tapes, and later to perform in "Petrushca" with the
National Symphony Orchestra.  His generous support helped get me on my
feet while I was developing my own company.  I think he has seen every
show I have produced and is always generous with his praise.

He refers to his work as "jiggling the dummies", although his work has
delighted millions of people.  He has given many puppeteers their start,
though he would tell you he goes out on the street and says "Hey, kid!
Wanna play with my puppets?"  He has since sold his symphony shows,
several book shows and everything else except his favorite one-man
shows.  My personal opinion is that he is at his best alone in front of
a group of children doing his thing.  He is in his element, and can
create magic.

There's no telling how much longer Bob will choose to continue
performing, so if you have a chance to see him, by all means do so!

  ________________________________________________________________________
  * Christopher Piper }P-{>   ||||||||||||   The Puppet Co. Playhouse    *
  * *****   E-Mail    *****   ||||||||||||   Glen Echo Park, Maryland    *
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  *      TPC Web Site         P u p p|e|t|    puppet theater for the     *
  * _www.thepuppetco.org____________ C o ! _______Nation's Capital______ *



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