From: Angusson-AT-aol.com
Date: Fri, 2 Jul 1999 16:53:19 EDT
Subject: Re: PUPT: Sad News



Dear Steve,

You wrote:

>You mentioned that he was a docent for the Dwight Wiggins display at
>the Boston Public Library.  I was wondering where the Wiggins collection
>is now, and are they on display?  

That would be the W.A. Dwiggins' Marionette Collection still at the Boston 
Public Library as far as I know.  His stage, marionettes and other 
paraphernalia are housed there with a goodly amount on display.  Bill 
Dwiggins was a calligrapher and typographer by profession and had a small 
marionette theater in his lower studio. He and a few friends staged puppet 
entertainments for the locals in Massachusetts. The marionettes were between 
8" and 10" tall and fashioned using a method he developed called the 
"Puterschein Authority."   The marionettes were played during the mid 
thirties. The modeling of these wonderful figures shows an economy of line 
without sacrificing essential character image. His construction approaches 
were (are) used by many puppeteers using marionettes.  

The Dwiggins Marionettes by Dorothy Abbe, published 1969 by Harry N Abrams, 
Inc. New York.   Lib. of Congress # 70-86956  is still available from the  
PofA Puppetry Store,  and well worth the price. Full of detailed photos and 
drawings including those published by Paul McPharlin in his puppetry Imprints 
series called Marionette in Motion. A great Resource!

Hope this helps.

Fred Thompson.  



  --- Personal replies to: Angusson-AT-aol.com
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu