Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Captain Kevin Show Part 4
It's Part 4 of the Captain Kevin Show Trilogy. Please stick around for the epilog - - it's the long lost (In Color!) farewell moment when the good Captain signs off after 34 years on the air. Historically it's right up there with Clarabelle talking, Bill Jackson's clip-trip down memory lane, and making the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, please take it, Captain Kevin (there won't be a dry seat in the house.)
Friday, May 29, 2009
CK4
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
A Little Pady Story by Olga
Monday, May 25, 2009
The incomparable PADY BLACKWOOD
(pictured: Carby Carburator, more often than not manipulated by Rod Young)
Then one day I discovered there was another puppet show on the Fair grounds - - LES POUPEE de PARIS (pronounced Paree)
The show was an extravaganza - - filled with celebrity puppets and spectacle and glitz. It was really pretty great. After the show they would let us go backstage! You'd enter an auditorium door SR, they'd lead you across the backstage area, then out you'd go into the Fair SL. But not me. I was backstage and I wasn't leaving. I saw an artistic-looking fellow in black, and I caught his eye and blurted out "I'm a puppeteer too." He said "I bet you are." "I even make my own puppets" I said. "That's what a real puppeteer does" he replied in a way that I never forgot (no, duh.)
Then he asked if I "would you like to watch the next performance from back. . ." "YES!!!!!" ". . stage?" He showed me where to sit (if I remember correctly through these rosy bifocals) it was on a raised platform off-stage left. Ocassionally during this amazing production, he would come over to make sure I was alright, that I could see OK, etc. It was thrilling. After the show, this puppet artist who made such a great impression on me, shook my hand at the stage door - - (once the audience had filled past yet again) - - and said "My name is PADY BLACKWOOD" and off I went, walking on Air-Thru-The-Fair, thinking about Pady Blackwood. Somehow - - I found myself on line once again at the Show-Go-Round.
Next post, Olga reminices about many a Pady shenanagin at Baird's theater. . .
Saturday, May 23, 2009
THE CAPTAIN KEVIN SHOW Part 3
Now without any adieu of any kind, here it be, gang. Part 3 of the CAPTAIN KEVIN SHOW, brought to you by Roy's Brown Stuff, and, as you'll discover, The Captain Kevin Dress-Up Kit (please leave a COMMENT if you had one.) BTW? If anyone knows the wearabouts of that kid from the commercial, let him know that film archivist and Mutual Media historian Howard Bacaaazeo would like to interview him. You're also going to see a promo for THE COACH KENNY SHOW ("With the taste kid's love.")
So "Ahoy, for God's Sake!" Click below, and enjoy. . .
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
HIGH DEF RADIO
PS: The dancing blobbing flashback-inducing florps are actual artifacts performed and filmed back in the day by the man himself - - my friend Josh White and the JOSHUA LIGHT SHOW!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
OLGA and BAIRD
Baird's was a very exciting place to work. Of course all the puppets and marionettes were the product of the idiocyncratic vision and genius of Bil Baird himself, whom I call THE OLYMPUS OF PUPPETRY. Olga said if you were skilled, though, the puppeteers could also have a hand in the building process (there never really was a "shop foreman.") Sully would one day be making molds while Olga was sewing costumes and Bil was painting faces and Pady was laying celastic (they were very close.)
Pinocchio, being the rousing success it was, prompted Bil to tackle another classic. This time, ALICE IN WONDERLAND (see earlier post.) It opened at the theater to rave reviews, and soon, Olga was on the road again, touring Alice across America. Olga played ALICE (live on stage and as the puppet,) the RED QUEEN, and TIGER LILY. All the marionettes were wonderful to work. Of course - - they were BAIRDS!
OLGA ON THE BRIDGE BETWEEN SHOWS
A child loved the show, saw it several times, and came back once to meet Olga - - dressed as Alice!
Olga wanted Bil to sign her copy of his book, THE ART OF THE PUPPET. He said OK but held onto it for several years. Whenever she'd ask about it, he would shine her on. Then one day in 1975, Bil, smiling impishly, handed her the book. Olga ran and hid, and in the privacy of under the stage, she sloo-o-o-wly opened the book and cried. She could not have been happier with what she discovered!Saturday, May 9, 2009
THE CAPTAIN KEVIN SHOW (Part 2)
Friday, May 8, 2009
Craig & Olga THE PUPPETEERZ
Our first TV job was a pilot for a series called "ROARING DONUTS."
Me 'n O with one of the stars, GOONEY BIRD (center).
ROARING DONUTS starred STUBBY KAYE (Marryin' Sam in the film Lil' Abner) and was produced by DON KIRSCHNER (Yes, the Don Kirschner of Don Kirshner's Rock Concert fame. He liked us and was very supportive.)
Then we got a call from a fledgling network that wanted marionettes for a new series. Some of you might have heard of the network? It was called NICKELODEON, and the series was PINWHEEL! This was very exciting because there really was no one else doing marionettes on TV at that time, so it was opportunity to introduce our things-on-strings to a whole new generation of viewers.
Hello to all you Pinwheelers - - we loved doing the show for you!! Here are a few seminal moments . . .
A just born LULU THE HOBO BUG meets her twin brother HERBERT when he is alas, just a head.
Me, stringing a newly hatched ADMIRAL BIRD.
Olga, dolling up LULU in Ebeneezer's basement set.
And now, one moment and two seconds of PINWHEEL.
Check back this weekend for the second exciting installment of the Captain Kevin Show.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
THE PAUL ASHLEY PUPPETS
He designed and built the ROOTIE KAZOOTIE cast. . .
Paul created the first puppet musical version of HMS PINAFORE for the Dumont Network. . .
And his sense of caricature is beautiful!
Me and the Rootie Crew
Saturday, May 2, 2009
"THE CAPTAIN KEVIN SHOW" Part 1
Mutual Media was known as "Your Kids Other Home." And boy, they weren't kidding!