COMIC CON INTERVIEW May 21, 2001

We met so many great fans this past weekend. Gary M. Kenny, CC2K Comics Editor, just sent us this video he made. It really captures the vibe of the event.

BIG APPLE COMIC CON

It was May 21, 2011 and we had a rapturous time. May 22nd too.
IT WAS WIZARD WORLD/BIG APPLE COMIC CON!
We were surrounded by Superheroes in Spandex and Comic-book Artists in their element, yet there we were with our television puppets from so many childhoods.
And the response was ecstatic!
So (so) many people would spot us - - look away -- look back and go OH MY GOD!!! as the memories of long ago flash-flooded to the forefront of their present.
(click on the pictures)

See TITO SWING on my right? I had him positioned so that as folks would notice him he would wink at them. You should've seen the double takes!
Some people were crazy for the Juke Box Band from SHINING TIME STATION. DJ KAT pulled a strong response too. Others went weepy for PINWHEEL. Bobby Moynihan from Saturday Night Live stopped by to say hello to the Hobo Bugs he watched as a kid. (He took a picture with the puppets. I asked him to e it to me and if he does I'll post it. Bobby was terrific!)

We were also visited by fellow puppeteer James Wojtal. . .
A great experience. To have planted our imaginations into so many young minds and to have had it take root was a wonderful confirmation. The puppets (who have aged far less than the rest of us!) could not have been happier!
We are so looking forward to launching our next puppet project. Stay tooned.

Here is the official website:

http://www.wizardworld.com/home-newyork.html

http://www.wizardworld.com/craigmarin.html

ONE OF MY FIRST NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

I was rummaging through our storehouse today looking for slides from PINWHEEL and out fell a copy of THE MACY STAR - - MACY's very own in-house news magazine. After my dad retired from show-business he worked at the Herald Square store; they were putting on an event and dad got me hired. Well, me and my dummy, "Ravenal Valpole" (it's really Jerry Mahoney in glasses -- but shhhhh.) I found out years later that Ravenal Valpole was the name of one of my mother's brothers! Sorry Uncle Boots :o)
Here I am in 1964 with my co-stars:

click on pic to enlarge

I was so happy. Then I noticed they spelled my name wrong!!!! ARGGHH! Dad said not to worry 'cause it will happen again. It has.
(Hey! For the first time since this was taken I just noticed where the dummy is looking. And check out his expression! Good boy.)

SKETCH BOOK SKETCHES 4 (4/11)

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)