Monday, July 20, 2009

A POTPOUREE OF POWERFUL PUPPETS

"LET'S HAVE FUN"
with
CHUCK McCANN
(my former partner) Holly Smith, Me, Steve Stegman and
PAUL ASHLEY
Backstage in Warwick, R.I. 1974

PAUL ASHLEY'S VARIETY SHOW PUPPETS


BIL BAIRD & SLUGGER RYAN


BIL & CORA
On The Bridge


DISHONEST JOHN & CECIL
from
"TIME FOR BEANY"
(1949)


BOB CLAMPETT & CECIL


GEORGE PAL
He of the
PUPPETOONS


WINCHELL/MAHONEY TIME


SHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Secret shot. . .


KUKLA FRAN & OLLIE & JERRY & PAUL


BURR'S EYE VIEW
(Burr Tillstrom)


POOKIE THE LION . . .

. . . courtesy of
FRANK NASTASI

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7 comments:

  1. MovietimeMon Jul 20, 02:29:00 PM

    Dear Craig,

    Great Shots of tv puppetry's most creative,talented and

    caring masters.

    I love those rare shots of Mr.Tillstrom and Ms.Allison

    behind the scenes of their show.

    And the color photo of you with Paul Ashley,Ms.Holly and

    Mr.Stegman during a show in Warwick,Rhode Island in the

    early 1970's.


    Paul was still doing Pa's at that time.

    I just wish that I could have seen him do another pesonal

    appearance stage show back then(I did see him and Chuck

    perform at The Jamica,Queens,NYC Jewish Center back in

    the spring of 1965)..but..I didn't get another chance to

    see him perform.


    I also enjoyed the photos of Paul Winchell and his

    puppets,Bil Baird and Frank Nastasi with"Pookie The

    Lion" and "Hippie The Hippo"puppets backstage on the

    set of Soupy's WNEW TV Ch.5 NYC version of"The Soupy Sales

    Show".


    Thanks For sharing these rare pieces of NYC kids tv

    puppetry history,


    Mr.KTV.

    P.S.The name of the puppetoon character that Mr.George

    Pal is rehershing in that scene is called"Mr.Strauss".

    ReplyDelete
  2. nickbachmanSat Jul 25, 02:04:00 PM

    A good Bil Baird photo is always a welcome treat. I grew up near the same town that Baird did (Mason City, IA) and had the pleasure of visiting the Baird puppet exhibit at the MacNider Art Muesem (in Mason City). It's home to dozens of Baird's puppets, housed in glass cases. Next time I'm in town, I'll go take some pictures and blog about it. It's really amazing stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  3. MovietimeWed Jul 29, 03:19:00 PM

    Dear Craig,

    Mason City,IW was also the hometown of the creator

    of"The Music Man!"..Mr.Meredeth Wilson.


    And Mason City also has a museum dedicated to this

    beloved and creative musical showman.


    Mr.KTV.

    ReplyDelete
  4. David SyrotiakSun May 30, 08:12:00 PM

    Craig,
    Thanks for posting some fantastic photos!

    ReplyDelete
  5. HeatherFri Jul 23, 02:00:00 PM

    Craig,
    That is a BEAUTIFUL picture of Burr Tillstrum in front of the scrim! Where do you find all of your pictures?
    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  6. CraigFri Jul 23, 04:10:00 PM

    I've loved puppets and puppetry all my life, and so even as a youngster I filled files with pictures that fascinated me. That was one. Magic, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  7. jayrandallSat Sep 15, 10:28:00 PM

    Where are Paul Ashleys puppets today? Anyone know?

    ReplyDelete

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