Sunday, July 4, 2010

TOY PUPPETS

Any reader of this FlexiBlog knows that I was greatly influenced by PAUL ASHLEY and his hand puppets. To assuage my hand-puppet needs, dad and mom would buy me the (mostly) GUND-made character puppets (IF - - I did well in school). The cartoony heads had real sculptural integrity, and were usually pretty true to the essence of the cartoons on which they were based (as opposed to nowadays where toys look a lot like lumpy arts ands crafts projects. Which is what lots of puppets also look like nowadays, but that's a rant for another post.) Here are a bunch of cool old-time cartoon puppets!

POPEYE'S PAL WIMPY

FRED GWYNNE as OFFICER MULDOON (Car 54 Where Are You?)

BOB CLAMPETT'S DISHONEST JOHN (Time For Beany. And Cecil)


The Mysterious CHUBS. Anyone know what he's from?


BARNEY GOOGLE


CAPTAIN KANGAROO


Edgar Bergen's CHARLIE McCARTHY: Dummy as Puppet


BILLY DeWOLF Premium by BIL BAIRD

ZORRO (I mean Don Diego. Shhhh. . .)


EMMETT KELLY as WEARY WILLIE


DICK TRACY

MARGARET from DENNIS THE MENACE

SOOP!

Jimmy Durante's pal MR. UMBRIAGO
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3 comments:

  1. MovietimeMon Jul 05, 06:47:00 AM

    Dear Craig,

    I remember seeing those Gund"Popeye"hand puppets at W.T.Grant's Store in Westchester,New York back in the 1960's.I always wanted one of those..but.my parents wouldn't buy me one.

    I also remember "The DJ Talking hand puppet" and the other talking hand puppets that The Matel Toy Co. created..including"Herman Munster","Woody Woodpecker" and "Mr.Ed".

    Those were the days..when the toys were creative,simple and fun..something that today's kids..will never really experience.

    Thanks For sharing these rare memories of the toy puppet versions of

    our tv heroes,

    Mr.KTV.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MovietimeMon Jul 05, 10:14:00 AM

    Dear Craig,

    I also remember the hand puppets that Oscar Meyer Weiners gave away inside of every package of those hot dogs.

    The puppets and the cardboard stage were promoted on tv by Mr.& Mrs.Jim Stewart(Not the stage and screen acting legend..but the local Chicago,Ill. kids tv host/performer and his puppeteer wife).Mr.& Mrs.Stewart hosted the nationally syndicated filmed religious kids tv show"It's Light Time".

    Those promos were taped..but I don't know if those tapes still exsist?
    Hopefully,those tapes can be found and salvaged and preserved by a tv museum.

    Mr.KTV.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Frank CaliMon Jul 05, 10:37:00 PM

    Hello Craig:

    I had alot of those puppets. They bring back great thoughts of the good old days for sure.

    Best wishes,
    Frank

    ReplyDelete

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