flexitoon

"LET'S HAVE FUN" POSTER

2012-01-26T06:41:00.000-08:00

Hey! My birthday present arrived! It's the large colorful beautiful autographed LET'S HAVE FUN POSTER! If I were a kid I woulda died, so I'm glad I didn't get it as a kid so I could be here now to show it to you! Joy unbounded.

JJ SILVERS

2011-11-10T07:23:00.000-08:00

When we did the Shining Time Station Home Videos, I floated the idea of giving the band a loud- mouthed manager. Executive Producer Rick Sigglekow liked it so I created JJ SILVERS. I based him on two of my favorite character actors: Phil Silvers & Walter Matthau.

BLOOD DRIVE

2011-06-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

Several too many years ago we were asked to create a puppet video for the MET LIFE BLOOD DRIVE.
We came up with "THE GIFT OF LIFE - - THE ADVENTURES OF RUBY AND RED".

Olga (below) played RUBY and was my face RED!
We were assisted on the shoot by popular Cabaret singer
MOLLY SKATES (below RIGHT).

(I'm the Puppeteer In The Hood.)
The film ran for a year on monitors in the lobby and throughout the
Met Life Building in Manhattan.
I'll see if I can post it one day soon :O)

COMIC CON INTERVIEW May 21, 2001

2011-05-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

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)

2011-05-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

FLEXITOON TRIBUTE TO SOUPY SALES 2007

2011-04-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

The Laurel & Hardy "Sons of the Desert" founding tent in New York City held a Soupy Sales Appreciation night in November 2007 at The Players Club. Grand Sheik and MC Jack Roth surprises the crowd with a special guest appearance by the one and only 'HEEEEY BOOBIE" POOKIE (built and performed by Puppeteer Craig Marin). Along with other luminaries (listen for the JOE FRANKLIN quip at about 4:10) SOUPY and his wife Trudy were in the front row for the program!!!

Looky here!
http://youtu.be/qU3MNQgIDwA

PASSOVER 2011

2011-04-19T05:37:00.001-07:00

PUPPETS THROUGH THE LENS

2011-04-11T05:58:00.001-07:00

FLEXITOON participated in a cool exhibit at the University of CT School of Puppetry

It was called PUPPETS THROUGH THE LENS.

We displayed the PINWHEEL PUPPETS from Nickelodeon

(below, with Olga and me)

As well as the Juke Box Band puppets and marionettes from

SHINING TIME STATION

The exhibit took place in April '08 and it was great fun.

Many thanks to BART ROCCOBERTON and his terriffic team

for creating such a memorable memory.

RARE LAUREL & HARDY & CHUCK CLIP

2011-04-07T08:06:00.001-07:00

Rick Sapphire just posted a rare clip, shot-off-the-TV, of him doing magic on the LAUREL & HARDY & CHUCK Show, 1962. A wonderful opportunity to see the great "Puppets by Ashley" and feel the warmth-through-the-tube that Chuck shared with us lucky lucky kids. Thanks, Rick for this treasure!

FLEXITOON @ HOME

2011-03-15T05:43:00.001-07:00

Here's a mini-doc interview we did on 3/11/11 for NYCity News Service.

JUKE BOX BAND: "ABILINE"

2011-03-09T05:11:00.000-08:00

Here are the Juke Box Band from Shining Time Station performing ABILINE. And thanks to Brian Blumenreich - - the Official Juke Box Band Historian - - we know it's from episode #107 called "AGREE TO DISAGREE".

ADVENTURES IN HOBBYVILLE

2011-03-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

"Nutso Productions Present: ADVENTURES IN HOBBYVILLE with your host Dexter Dimbulb"
Just found this: While puppeteering DJ KAT, I also portrayed many live-action characters like the villainous ventriloquist BRACKISH SWAMPWATER and PHYSICAL ED the Out-Of-Work Work-Out Guy. Here I am as DEXTER DIMBULB, hobbyist extra-ordinary. . .

Shining Time Station LULLABY

2011-02-28T13:55:00.000-08:00

MISS PEACH OF THE KELLY SCHOOL

2011-02-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

One of our first television jobs together was working with Emmy-winning, former Muppeteer *Danny Seagren on adapting the Mel Lazarus comic strip MISS PEACH OF THE KELLY SCHOOL into puppet form. Advertising giant J Walter Thompson got behind it and it was syndicated through METROMEDIA.
First class production all the way. We shot 4, 1/2 hr holiday-themed specials in Toronto. A fella named MARTY SHORT was one of the voices - - debuting his Ed Grimley character voice as an intellectual turkey who's song and dance skills ultimately save him from the Thanksgiving table.
Debbie Grover played the live on-camera Miss Peach herself, and Second City veterans (Robin Duke, Mary Long, Ben Gordon) portrayed several other voices live-in-studio while we puppeteered. We of course did many of the voices live as well. Sammy Cahn wrote the theme song and Ed Sharlack (Mork & Mindy) co-wrote the specials.

Eren Ozker, Canadian content stand-in puppeteer, Olga Felgemacher, Danny Seagren, and Craig Marin

We loved doing these specials. Went on to do a one hour NBC After School Special. And I really enjoyed bringing MEL's amazing character's to life. I asked him if he would sign my script, and he said, "uh, yeah. . ." and walked away. When we wrapped, he came up to me and said "here you go." And on the cover he drew Arthur saying "Without Craig's hand, I'd have that empty feeling." It's one of my treasures, framed, and hanging on the wall. Thanks, Mel!!

*Danny Seagren has remained a dear friend to this day. Not only is he our son Gabriel's Godfoddah, but, he was also SPIDERMAN on Electric Company.
I'll see if I can post some PEACHY excerpts in the near future.

FLEXITOON TITLES from 1993

2011-02-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

RANGER SMITH, and WOBBLES

2011-02-02T13:08:00.000-08:00

Via the GREAT, Chuck McCann. . .

ROARING DOUGHNUTS!!!!

2011-01-31T13:52:00.000-08:00

Our first TV show came soon after we started working together in 1979. It was called ROARING DOUGHNUTS, and was about a Van Race/Scavenger Hunt (the wheels were "doughnuts"). The pilot was produced by rock concert maestro DON KIRSCHNER(!!!) and it starred the wonderful Marryin' Sam hisself STUBBY KAYE!
OLga and I made the puppets and marionettes, and along with puppeteering, I played the on-camera knuckleheaded bad guy VINNIE THE VANDAL opposite Olga's tuff punk GOONEY BIRD.

SKETCH BOOK SKETCHES 3

2011-01-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

These were done during the first three weeks of January 2011.

==========================================================================================

================================

======================================================================================================

=================================================

=================================

ONCE AND FUTURE FLEXITOON PUPPETS!

(I should live so long. So long!)

PETER PAN RECORDS via THE BAIRD'S

2011-01-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

THE BAIRD'S OF BARROW STREET

2011-01-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

Just watched

ART CARNEY MEETS PETER AND THE WOLF

again. . .

And really had a case of missing

The BAIRD'S OF BARROW STREET

So here are a whole buncha rare items I want to share with you.
"THE BUNNY HUGGERS"
Two dancers performed in tandem by the great
Frank SULLY Sullivan.

Yeah! That's Bil and his Horse!
Bil Baird & Gabriel Marin (our son.)
In India (when it was exotic and over there).
CHARLEMAGNE the LION
Probably as close as Bil got to an altered ego
(except for maybe Snarky Parker. . .)
"THE STRANGE CASE OF THE COSMIC RAYS"

Directed By
FRANK CAPRA

BILL TOST, OLGA FELGEMACHER & PETER BAIRD

SEEK REVENGE ON THE STAGE MANAGER (CARL HARMS)
WITH THE HELP OF THE WOLF.

What a GREAT cartoonist he was!

Everyone starts out somewhere. . .

Thank you,
Baird's Of Barrow Street!

DUCK!

2011-01-06T05:43:00.001-08:00

TOON IN NEXT TIME WHEN WE FLIP THE BIRD

HAPPY NOW YEAR!!

2011-01-03T08:04:00.001-08:00

2011 - THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT!!!

By this time next year, I SWEAR the picture below will be in full color.
mark me.

PAUL RUBIN R.I.P.

2010-12-29T13:14:00.000-08:00

My oldest friend PAUL RUBIN passed away on Christmas Eve morning.

He was my running buddy back in the days of early teenage hood when I was young and innocent and Paul was a whole lot more sophisticated about the ways of the world; how to get around New York City and find the cool stuff (like THE MEMORY SHOP movie memorabilia joint) and girls. And most importantly, puppets!!!

(Me, Rowlf, Jim Henson, and Paul on the set of A SUMMER PLACE on CBS circa back in the day)

As everybody knows, I'm a puppeteer and have been since I could stick my hand over the crib. Paul was once a puppeteer too. That's how we met.
To New York City people of my generation there were a few truly magical names. Names like Sandy Becker, Soupy Sales and especially Chuck McCann. These guys had local TV shows with puppets and cartoons and they were on everyday and we all watched them. Some of us were adventurous enough to leave our living rooms and head to the TV studios where these heroes did their shows. I did. And so did Paul.

(That's Paul working the Paul Ashley puppets during a break at Chuck's WPIX-TV11 show LET'S HAVE FUN)

One day, at Chuck McCann's LAUREL & HARDY FIX-IT SHOPPE SHOW, our paths crossed. I went to Channel 5 and saw Chuck, who said I had to sit in the viewers booth today. So I climbed the lonely stairs and there behind the glass window sat a handsome boy about my own age with nicely-combed hair, wearing a well-tailored blue suit, with a pretty girl friend on his arm. When I walked in he turned and said to me "what the hell were you doing down there?" Well, I liked Laurel and Hardy and since I was Chubby I assumed the role of Ollie and said "Well never you mind!" Then skinny Paul began to cry like Stanley. And right at that moment we became life-long friends. We put together a Laurel and Hardy act. . . . . . and eventually performed on The Joe Franklin MEMORY LANE TV Show!

We built puppets, did shows at schools, and met the greats.

We learned "Who's On First" and did it for anyone who would listen.
(with JOEY FAYE in the hallway of WOR-TV9 prior to a JOE FRANKLIN appearance)

We traveled around the city, started a company RUMAR ENTERPRISES. . .

(with Jack Burns from Burns & Schrieber)

. . . met celebrities and even put out a magazine called Celebrity Post!

For almost 4 years we were inseparable.
New friends came into our lives and we went our several ways. Sometimes losing touch for years as craziness kicked in and yet? We never left each others hearts.
We reconnected in a more or less permanent way these past 10 years, talking a couple of times a month, a week, sometimes a day. The last few months were rough when Paul got sick, and then when I received an email from his sister Amy that he was taken to the hospital, I knew I had to visit him. But not just me. Remember earlier when I mentioned the name of kid show host Sandy Becker? When Sandy passed away Olga and I inherited his puppets, and one of Paul's and my favorite was a feisty little German named GEEBA GEEBA. When I walked into his hospital room, he was not alert. Amy rubbed his chest and brought him to consciousness and told him I was there. He struggled to open his eyes and when I caught his attention, I told him I brought someone to see him, and pulled Geeba Geeba from my black bag, put him on my hand and had him say:
"Hello dere Paul! Remember me? I remember you ven you used to be black und vite."
And he smiled. And they talked. And through Geeba, Paul and I reminisced about the highlights of our life together. He held Geeba's little hand and hugged him. When it was time to pack Geeba away, Paul struggled with his hand and signaled us closer. Geeba and I leaned down and Paul smiled and whispered to us "Thanks for the memories."

Paul, I want to say thank YOU, for the memories. You will always be part of my story.

http://flexitoon.blogspot.com/2010/04/for-love-of-laurel-and-hardy.html

MERRIE CHRISTMAS 2010

2010-12-25T06:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas - - childhood.Dreams.Puppets.Sandy Becker's Christmas Carol.Chuck McCann's Christmas Specials.Jerry Mahoney dummies. Jingle Dingle Dolls. Family. Love.

IT'S PAUL WINCHELL'S BIRTHDAY!!!

2010-12-21T08:45:00.001-08:00

Paul was - - in my opinion - - the GREATEST VENTRILOQUIST of the 20th Century!

The characters he created - - JERRY MAHONEY, KNUCKLEHEAD SMIFF, and his own PAUL WINCHELL persona, were vividly alive and magically manipulated.

This book is STILL the best written tome on the subject. When I was a kid I would take it out of the library, return it, wait until they restocked it on the shelf and then took it out again. As my birthday approached my dad & mom wanted to get me the book, but they couldn't find one. So he wrote to Paul at the Little Little Theater off Times Square (currently the Helen Hayes) where he did his HARTZ MOUNTAIN SHOW and a few days later the copy above arrived in the mail. Autographed! What a way to encourage a young boy with stars in his eyes (and dummies on his knees).
This picture is from his first TV series for kids "WINCHELL/MAHONEY TIME". He would begin the show coming down on a slide with Jerry by his side. I was 3 years old and remember thinking that the kid is make believe, but he's also alive! Something kicked into my consciousness because right then I said to myself "I want to make other kids feel the way he makes me feel right now."
Paul was also profoundly inventive - - adding moving arms and things to his dummies. He also invented an upside-down chin face he called OSWALD.
Now get this: he was working Jerry, performing his voice without moving his lips while lying upside down on an inverted camera/split screen shot in extreme close-up on national television.
This shot is from his KTTV-11 series. The little girl is his feisty daughter APRIL WINCHELL (today a very funny, biting, voice-over artist.)
How did Paul bring the dummies arms to life? With the help of two talented "PUPPET COORDINATORS" JAY LLOYD (l) & SKIP LUDWIG, pictured below in this ultra rare shot with Paul's wife and April's mother NINA RUSSELL.
Along the way, Paul invented the artificial heart and did the voice of GARGAMEL on the Smurfs and TIGGER in Disney's Winnie The Pooh. But the dummies would continue to make furtive appearances in his life.

The last time we saw Paul was at a party thrown for him by his friend and confidant, producer Burt Dubrow. As he was giving a speech, Burt (an avid puppet collector) reached around the corner with a Jerry Mahoney replica. Winch went "Ohhhhh" like he was seeing an old friend, took him from Burt and launched into an hysterical, impromtu act. Unbelieveable and unforgettable.

Right after this picture was taken of Olga and me giving Winch the hug he deserves, I put my hands on his shoulders and we looked each other in the eyes. I say "Paul, you're the reason." And he said "Craig, you're the result."

JINGLE DINGLE: PART DEUX

2010-12-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

The first puppet I ever remember seeing was JINGLE DINGLE on "SANDY BECKER'S FUNHOUSE."
I wrote about that encounter here:
http://flexitoon.blogspot.com/2009/10/jingle-dingle.html
Leon Jason (Jingle's creator) gave me the films of Jingle Dingle on the roof singing about the weather (which is nothing like humming the scenery.) The vocals were by folk singer OSCAR BRAND. These were used to transition from Sandy the on-camera host to the puppet stage.
Here is a SUNNY DAY!

FUN & GAMES

2010-12-13T07:58:00.000-08:00

In the very early 80's, at the same time we were performing on Nickelodeon's PINWHEEL, Olga & I were hired to teach puppet making on a (then) new home entertainment format called a VIDEO DISC. It was released as "FUN & GAMES" and was the first interactive product on the market. Along with us, BILL MURRAY taught Tongue Twisters and MEADOWLARK LEMON showed how to dribble a basketball. I just found the clip.

Online interview re: JUKE BOX BAND

2010-12-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

This is from the "ISLE OF SODOR" website.
=================================
An Interview with Flexitoon Puppets and Marionettes creator

Craig Marin

Interview compiled and submitted by Orion Anderson with our thanks

For those unfamiliar with his relation to Thomas, the Juke-Box Band were a part of the Shining Time Station series in America - Thomas's launchpad in the States.

How did you become involved with Shining Time Station?
We were working with eccentric National Lampoon writer Sean Kelly on various projects, and he called us up and said he was over at WNET-THIRTEEN (Public Broadcasting Station) and that "the producers were working on a show that needed puppets, and they need the Flexitoon puppets but they just don't know it yet." So we packed up some of the puppets and marionettes from our Nickelodeon series PINWHEEL, and went over to meet the producers. This was on a Friday. They called Monday and said that "the other puppeteers said they could bring something different to the party, and we were the only ones who proved it." So Flexitoon was hired to build and perform the Juke Box Band on Shining Time Station.

What was a typical day like working on the set of Shining Time Station?
We shot the first 20 episodes in New York City (where we're stationed), and all the rest in Toronto. The Juke Box Band were usually the first segments shot for the series. I'd get the scripts earlier and "puppetize" them. I'd also draw storyboards and work closely with a co-director on integrating the scenes and musical numbers within the context of the rest of the show. We'd shoot all the two or three camera-stuff first to get it out of the way. Then we'd go to single-camera film-style and the fun would begin. We'd redress the puppets and marionettes, add custom props and sets to the juke box, or move to one of the other sets (the dressing room or Tito's vault, for instance.) Many of the props, hats and set-pieces were constructed before, during and after hours. The six of us puppeteers were always busy behind-the-scenes: Olga Felgemacher (Didi the Drummer) and Jonathan Freeman (Tito Swing) were making the costumes and hats. The late Peter Baird (Grace the Bass) restrung the marionettes. Alan Semok (Tex) constructed intricate mechanisms; Ken Miele (Grace's assistant) did woodwork; and I (Rex)designed/painted/ constructed/ supervised and co-directed. One time a business person came back into our magical enclave and declared "Oh, just like elves" to which Peter Baird - - looking up from his newly minted Finnigin Pin declared "More like trolls!"

Did you control the jukebox as well?
I'm not sure what you mean by CONTROL, but we were very "instrumental" in all things Juke Box. The six of us performed and voiced all the characters (Grace's voice was dubbed in later by Vaneese Thomas

In the special " One of the Family" , Mr. Conductor goes inside the jukebox; how did you get the puppets to interact with Mr. Conductor?
That required a lot of preplanning and careful storyboarding. After lining up the individual shots, we had the stage manager read Mister C's lines from off screen. We kept strict eye focus as to where he would eventually be integrated. And the results were quite believable. Our only regret was that we never had Ringo appear in the Juke Box to drum with Didi. A tap-dance on the tom-tom would've been one for the ages!

Was the idea that the Jukebox Puppet Band would be in Thomas and the Magic Railroad ever proposed to you?
Certainly, given the cross-over popularity of the characters. (Newsday said "the best American part of the show is a cast of crazy musical puppets known as The Flexitoons") But I guess the producers thought it's be "hipper" to have a girl pop group instead. A real faux pas on their part. Oh we had big plans for them. The preliminary discussion was to have the juke box knocked over and all the characters would scatter and get lost. They'd be out in the world! Alone. There would be a song that each of them sings, and by the end, they'd all hear the others song and reunite once again, singing joyful five-part harmony.

In closing, did you enjoy working on Shining Time Station?
Absolutely and without a doubt. The people, the producers, the finished product touched and continues to touch millions of families. On behalf of all the puppeteers, FLEXITOON is proud to be part of a such great series.

I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS

2010-12-03T10:08:00.001-08:00

Some wags say that when someone says "HAPPY HOLIDAY!" you should snap "What Holiday?" I say, if anyone wants to wish me a Happy ANYTHING, I'll take it!

Santa Claus & Me in San Rafael, CA. circa '72.

He hasn't aged a day. . .

SKETCH BOOK SKETCHES 2

2010-11-27T07:32:00.001-08:00

When we're working on a show or production, everything I do informs that project. In between times I draw and draw. I usually turn off my conscious mind and let my pen explore the boundaries of what I think I see into what I really see. Imagination in line form - - without erasing. The following were all drawn during the first three weeks of November 2010. (click on pictures to enlarge)

If these were from my subconscious, I also try to draw things I see in my head.

. . .or copy from a picture in a newspaper or magazine. . .

. . .or try to draw some one from memory (like Arthur Godfrey.)

Or I try to draw real to life - - with no mistakes or going over it again.

I love drawing. If I wasn't a puppeteer (which is drawing in three dimensions) I would have been an animator.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2010

2010-11-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

BEHIND THE SCENES @ KIDS-TV

2010-11-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask us what it looks like behind-the-scenes doing puppets on TV. I recently unearthed the Official Showtime-produced documentary about our series KIDS-TV featuring lots of backstage scenes. We shot in a studio in Manhattan called MOTHERS that was actually haunted by an Hungarian ghost named Henry. But that's another story. . .

The Flexitoon Puppets were brought to life by Craig Marin, Olga Felgemacher, Jonathan Freeman and Alan Semok with Ken Miele and Sal Denaro.

A FAVORITE DRAWING

2010-11-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid recovering from a foot operation, my dad bought me the Bible Of Puppetry: BIL BAIRD'S ART OF THE PUPPET. It was packed with great shots, fabulous information, and cool behind-the-scenes stuff. One of the drawings I loved the most was a backstage look at the Josserand Guignol Theater in 19th Century Lyons. The picture - - dated 1871 - - shows the Josserand family (holding puppets) greeting friends.

I'd always imagine that's what it would be like backstage when friends and family would come backstage to visit my shows (one day one day!) And - - it really does feel like that.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 10/31/2010!!!

2010-10-31T06:29:00.000-07:00

NEW ZOO SHOTS

2010-10-26T08:36:00.001-07:00

10/24/10

Grouchy & Me

WALTER CRONKITE and his new best pal, JOE BEVILAQUA

LORIE & BREE & OLGA (OH, YEAH!)

PHOTOS BY LORIE KELLOGG

LOOPY SLOOP IN ORLANDO FILM FEST

2010-10-20T05:35:00.001-07:00

Our film short LOOPY SLOOP was just selected to be in the ORLANDO FILM FESTIVAL. It opens in November. We are very pleased!

"THE DARK PART" LIVE 10/10/10

2010-10-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

Before the show begins. . . Every age engaged.
A perfect day.

all photos by Mike Campbell

BOO AT THE ZOO!

2010-09-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

We're opening our new production - - THE DARK PART - - at the Bronx Zoo on Saturday October 2nd with performances 1:30 & 3:30 every weekend throughout October. The Zoo is going to be packed with seasonal events like a HAUNTED HAYRIDE and HALLOWEEN PARADE led by cast members of Broadway's THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Hope you all can come out and then stop backstage and say hi.

WELCOME TO THE FLEXIBLOG.

2010-09-22T07:22:00.001-07:00

love,

Olga Felgemacher & Craig Marin

and

THE FLEXITOON PUPPETS

BRONX ZOO PUPPET STAGE

2010-09-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

We finally completed construction of the PUPPET/MARIONETTE STAGE, and we're painting it today. Here's the sketch of what it might look like. .

THE MARX BROTHERS

2010-09-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

From that time I slept over at my friend Joey Lawler's house and stayed up and watched "The Coconuts" on the Late Show, I've been in love with the MARX BROTHERS. And for me, "love" always means becoming the artists I adore. I started as HARPO because my friend Paul Rubin (below, who also played Stannie to my Ollie) had the GROUCHO thing down pat (we recruited neighborhood hood Gary Krantz to play CHICO.)

Soon after, I dropped some poundage, discovered sarcasm, and became GROUCHO. My dear hippie pals and I formed THE COCONUTS TRIBE and recreated Marx Madness in the Shacker Family's attic - - I mean -- make-shift theatre. Puppets being my true calling it was only a matter of time before giving birth to THE MARX BROTHERS as puppets.
I built these for THE MARKO PUPPET THEATRE. We recreated THE COCONUTS in miniature and performed it at colleges on the West Coast. It was really fun!!!

That's Holly Smith (above) portraying Mdm. Pheffenusiance in a Marx Brothers Christmas skit.

Now, our dear friend and famous writing personage SANDY KRINSKI (ALICE, DONNY & MARIE and - - yes! - - THE NEW ZOO REVIEW) wrote to tell us that his very good friend BILL MARX (Harpo's very son) has put a website jam packed with ALL THINGS HARPO!!!

http://www.harposplace.com/

When you get the time, take a look. You'll need the time because there is so much to see! Thanks for doing this Bill!!!

JOE'S CRAB SHACK

2010-09-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we were hired to create an "authentic" looking crab puppet for a new commercial for "Joe's Crab Shack." We were told to go right up to that cartoon line, but not to cross it.
This was a very challenging and exciting assignment. By the time we got to the set (on location at a beach house in Westhampton), we had animated it so all eight legs moved, the arms folded and opened, and the claws snapped. We also animated the EYES! The crab had to grab a pair of tongs from the live-action guy, turn the tables and threaten him. All in real time. It took Olga and me to do the precise, coordinated puppetry.
All very surreal, and ably handled by a talented director named Christopher Bean. Here then is PINCHY THE CRAB:

BRONX ZOO

2010-08-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's official!

Flexitoon has been commissioned to create a new work for THE BRONX ZOO. We'll perform 2 shows a day every weekend in October.

Just begun writing the 20:00 show and have put out the call to the Flexitoon Repertory Company of animal puppets. As of now there are over 20 puppets (that's a puppet-a-minute!) We're also combining puppets with marionettes so have to design and construct a new stage.

We "R" Stoked.

Here are a few of the puppets on the short list to employment. . .

UNDERWAY ON A NEW PROJECT. . .

2010-08-19T05:31:00.000-07:00

And all I can say right now is that it involves animals. . .

THURBER'S CARNIVAL

2010-08-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

HOLY MACK'EL!

My old assistant Hal just contacted me and sent along some pictures from when I did THURBER'S CARNIVAL in 1975. . .

It was a wonderful production at the Foothills Theater Company in Worcester, MA. We mixed the puppets in with the actors. Here OTTO D. BUMM (c) tries to get Paul Mayberry and Kristen (sorry, don't remember her last name!) drunk.

I'd just discovered INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU, so I put him in the show. I hope Thurber would've approved - - the audience did. (note: it's a rehearsal shot - - the character on the left doesn't have his jacket yet!

Here's the same shot taken from backstage. . .

HAL PEDERSON (L) and me.

How GROUCHO MARX made it into Thurber's Carnival is the secret woid.

Here's how he came to life!

I was a very happy puppeteer doing Thurber. Great audiences, wonderful production, and I fell for a beautiful actress named Janet. . .

STRANGE BUT TRUE. . .

2010-07-31T13:34:00.001-07:00

I'm working.

(circa 1974)

IT'S OBAZ's 17TH BIRTHDAY!!!

2010-07-26T14:05:00.001-07:00

OBAZ is our family dog. He's a Cairn Terrier, like Toto, only twice as big. 27 pounds. I never wanted a dog. I was raised in a housing project where dogs weren't allowed. So if I felt like I needed an animal, I made one (the only cleaning up was done by mother after I made a mess making the puppet!) But when Gabriel and Olga made me take a look at this guy, that was it. It was as if I always knew him.

Gabriel (L) and Obaz, his first morning home.

Here are a bunch of pictures, from the most recent (below, stuck between his "ice floe" and the couch) to little bitty Obaz from long ago. How did the 17 years get here so quickly?

Here's sniffin' at YOU, pup.

BAIRD SHOT IN COLOR

2010-07-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

I'm heading out to an editing session for the next couple of days, and wanted to leave y'all with this great BIL & CORA BAIRD shot (probably from Life magazine.) Love this one. Got it from my friend, author and historian Rick Goldschmidt. He's da man on all things Rankin/Bass. So if you love ANIMAGIC (and historic kids TV shows) as much as me, his blog is a treat!

http://www.enchantedworldofrankinbass.blogspot.com/

MARKO PUPPET THEATRE PICTURE 'n POSTER

2010-07-12T12:25:00.001-07:00

1968 - - the earliest MARKO PUPPET THEATRE photo.

Some of the puppets crossed over from when I was younger, but the rectangle headed guy DING BOSLEY, along with the psychedelic guy under the logo, HAL LEWIS NATION, augered the light fantastic I was about to trip into.
Our very first poster that we displayed at colleges across the Yoo Ess of Ay!

CARICATURES

2010-07-07T14:25:00.001-07:00

Ed Sullivan by Bil Baird (from the Doug Preis Collection)

I always thought 'CARICATURE" puppets were special. To be able to capture the essence of a person and exaggerate it so that you still recognize who's being captured without being slave to the specifics, is a real art. Especially when sculpting and animating. It's more than putting glasses on Guy Smiley and saying "Look! Stephen Colbert."

BIL BAIRD

Leonard Bernstein

(Thanx to Bairdophile extrordinaire DOUG PREIS for the above description)

Ed Sullivan & Jack Paar

F.D.R

PAUL ASHLEY
Norton & Kramden
(WOW!!!)

Jimmy Carter & Walter Mondale

FLEXITOON

Inspector Clouseau (l), John McEnroe (rear) Walter Cronkite (r)

Julius Marx

Ray Charles, Pookie, Soupy Sales
John McEnroe

Julius, Leonard and Adolph nee Arthur
Jimmy Durante

TOY PUPPETS

2010-07-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

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

21-25

2010-07-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

HOP-SCOTCHING THROUGH A WINDOW IN TIME

and what a time.

STUFF THAT MAKES ME SMILE

2010-06-26T10:33:00.001-07:00

"It's all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago. . ."

Lesh/Hunter

The SHINING TIME STATION team

THE HAT SQUAD!

(Peter Baird, Alan Semok, Jonathan Freeman, Olga, Ken Miele, me)

Smiles with GABRIEL one Summers Day

Marionette Show in Forest Park, Queens

DAD and me, up on our roof, circa '71.

SVAARTA KATTAN (you heard me)

JIMMY STEWART showing puppets he made as a kid.

Kid show host, voice over guy, nice fella, HANK STOHL.

Young, free and easy one Spring day in Brockton, MA.

Art and Mrs Clokey. And a GUMBY storyboard.

Up and coming ventriloquist ALAN SEMOK. I predict big things for him.

Me working on the set of WGBH 21" Classroom Series "ALL ABOUT YOU"

During a break from shooting Shining Time Station, we went to Niagara Falls. Slowly I turned, and there she was. With OLGA on the deck of the MAID OF THE MIST.

SHINING TIME STATION on DVD

2010-06-22T06:57:00.001-07:00

We were just told that there is a petition circulating to get SHINING TIME STATION released on DVD. STS was the series that introduced Thomas The Tank Engine to North American audiences. We played the Juke Box Band on the series, and it'd be great if new generation of kids could see it.

If you get a minute, ...would you please... sign the petition? http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stsdvd

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 2010

2010-06-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADDIOS.

Here's my Dad (and Mom) in a publicity picture for their Cartooning act.

And here's a 100th Anniversary of Father's Day tribute to Dad's everywhere.

WINCHELL WONDERMENT

2010-06-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

Now THAT's joyful!

Winch had a spooky life, bless his spirit.

(Innovating on the Perry Como Show 1950's)

IT'S STAN LAUREL's 120th BIRTHDAY!

2010-06-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

OUR TRIBUTE TO HALF OF THE GREATEST COMEDY TEAM OF ALL TIME!

By the Great AL KILGORE
My Portrait Puppet 1974

Courtesy the Faiola Chelsea Rialto Collection
by Paul Ashley
Paul Rubin & Me as boys playing The Boys
Chuck McCann - - the Bringer of The Love

Paul Ashley and Flexitoon Puppeteer (the Hirsuited) Alan Semok

Paul Ashley STANIFYING in his workshop
(foto the Captain Kevin Kollection)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STAN (This is how you looked when first we met!)

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR(s)

2010-06-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

A big THANK YOU! to all our clients through the years.

NIXON PUPPET

2010-06-04T06:52:00.001-07:00

During the first Oil Crises in the 70's, we were hired by ABC-TV NEWS to perform our President Nixon puppet for people waiting on gas lines. Nixon would tell them "there is no gas shortage. Go home!"

FAVORITE BAIRD TV PRODUCTION

2010-06-02T09:41:00.001-07:00

ART CARNEY

meets

PETER and the WOLF

STARRING
Art Carney

and

The Bil & Cora Baird Marionettes

MUSIC BY
Prokofiev

STORY ADAPTED BY

OGDEN NASH

Originally broadcast 30 Nov 1958 on ABC

Total Run-Time is 50 Minutes
Black + White

THE HAMPTOONS @ TRIBECCA

2010-05-31T13:34:00.001-07:00

Postcard to invited guests at the premiere of THE HAMPTOONS.

PUPPET FUN FOR EVERYONE

2010-05-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

all images c 2010 flexit00n

BIL AND CORA BAIRD MARIONETTES

2010-05-25T06:24:00.000-07:00

THE OLYMPUS OF PUPPETRY

HOBO BUGS THE MINUTE THEY WERE BORN

2010-05-15T14:20:00.001-07:00

Hi Lulu. Hi Herbert. Now get to work!

MAKING THE WORLD SAFE FOR VENTRILOQUISTS

2010-05-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

One dummy at a time. . .

SQUEAKY'S CIRCUS

2010-05-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

Odd. So odd. . .

FELIX THE CAT PUPPET PROJECT

2010-05-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

A ONCE AND FUTURE PRODUCTION. . .

FOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE MILK

2010-04-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

First came Mutual Media's own CAPTAIN KEVIN plugging the original "chocolate milk amplifier" ROY'S BROWN STUFF ("If it doesn't say ROY, it must be real chocolate.")

Then came JIMMY NELSON, DANNY O'DAY & FARFEL singing: "N-E-S-T-L-E-S. . ."

Not to be outdone, BOSCO came up with BOSCO BEAR. . .

FLEXITOON CHARACTER CUT-OUTS

2010-04-26T14:04:00.001-07:00

ALL PUPPETS & MARIONETTES by FLEXITOON

FOR THE LOVE OF LAUREL AND HARDY

2010-04-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

It all began with

LAUREL & HARDY & CHUCK on WPIX 11

The show would open on these nifty caricatures by AL KILGORE on the front of the puppet stage as DANCE OF THE COOCOOS played.
The camera would ped-up to reveal. . .

. . . the PAUL ASHLEY PUPPETS with "Voices and Animation by Chuck McCann." These amazing puppets (one on each hand!) would do funny bits and introduce the Laurel & Hardy films with tons of interesting background info.

So thanks to Chuck I discovered these life-long, derby wearing friends.

And thanks to Chuck I also became friends with a buddy I'm friends with to this day: PAUL RUBIN.
I met him on Chuck's WNEW-TV 5 show - - THE LAUREL & HARDY FIX-IT SHOP. They'd screen the larry harmon Laurel & Hardy cartoons.

Paul and I discovered we had much in common, not only our love for puppets but also for Laurel & Hardy. I was chubby and he was a bone, so we went into full-on L&H mode, wrote an act or two and began performing in schools and Community Centers and the like.
We even had our own Billy Gilbert!
Our career as LAUREL & HARDY Jr. reached it's apex with several guest appearances on JOE FRANKLIN'S MEMORY LANE!
As the years past (and I lost weight!) I kept up my love for the boys by building my own Laurel & Hardy Puppets (circa 1974) and introducing new audiences to their antics:
Another of the wonderful things I owe to the inspiration I received from Chuck & Paul!
In 1965, Chuck - - along with Dr. John McCabe, Orson Bean, cartoonist Al Kilgore, and John Municino formed a small group in New York City to honor the legacy of Laurel & Hardy. They called it the SONS OF THE DESERT (after the Boys 1933 film). The Sons have grown to an International organization, and it is still going strong! They're everywheres I tells ya, so you can join, too!

http://home.earthlink.net/~sons_secretary/

BUNCHES OF PICTURES OF PUPPETS

2010-04-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

ME (r) backstage @ THURBER'S CARNIVAL 1975

Howard K. Lobster & Gil Fish 1970
Jimmy D. Schnozz '74

FLEXITOON Home Office 1999

OLGA & OZ THE FIRST

Shadow Scene from HAMLIN 2007

Underground TV Studio from THE HAMPTOONS '04

JIMMY THE IDIOT BOY 2008

HERBERT & LULU'S FIRST FOTO 1979

SOUND TRAK

2010-04-10T13:29:00.001-07:00

While we were shooting the first season of PINWHEEL on that little up-start start-up network called, uh, oh yeah, Nickelodeon (whatever heppened to them?) our friend ALLYNN GOOEN (who was just beginning his way up) told Olga (whom he met when he ran the box office at Bil Baird's Marionette Theater) he was working with two Caldecott-winning authors on developing a property for television about listening skills. (Boy, how precient was that idea What OMG I wasn't listening WTF) Mister G. said they'd love us to create and perform the puppets. The basic idea sounded sound, so we all figured out the show around it and called the thing SOUND TRAK!

I did all the art work for the sales kit on animation cels with ink, paint, photo-montage and collage. Worked my brains off on it, too. Ultimately the series didn't achieve lift-off - - though GOOWINS BALLOOWINS did! (http://bugsandballoons.com/).

Sometimes getting there is half the fun.

Sometimes.

Just stumbled upon the art, posted below. Each scene represents a different function of listening and hearing.

Double-U Tee Eff? EL-OH-EL!

Here are Allynn's memories of THE ORIGIN OF SOUND TRAK - - or - - We Worked On A TV Series Together And All I Got Was These Drawings.

###

After doing my cable tv show for a few seasons, I figured it would be good to have a message... and since I studied (and believed in) Speech... hey why not a tv series on it. At that point I thought about Annie Siedler... she had been my main Speech teacher in college (Montclair State College - now "University", in NJ). For my final exam rather than write the information about Speech correction... I had an inspiration and wrote a Fairy Tale using the Speech Problems and corrections as good Knights and monsters. She gave me an "A"... it turned out (I didn't know at the time) she had written a successful children's speech correction book - "The Hungry Thing". We've been friends ever since.

I mentioned the idea of this tv series to her and she wanted to work on it with me. After we worked on an outline, she felt it was a good time to bring in her writing partner... Jan Slepian. Ann and Jan wrote a couple books together and jan has written a number of books on her own. We met a few times before i said we should bring you guys aboard ... since they had the book writing experience and you had the puppetry and tv background (where did I fit in?).Then we all worked on it for some good time/s....

We submitted the project to several places... Jan had a friendship with Maurice Sendak... I had met some tv producers in classes I had taken... you had your connections.....My memory was that the best reaction was that they liked the proposal, but they were looking for minority shows.

That's my memory.Allynn

THE CRAIG MARIN PUPPETS

2010-04-08T12:43:00.001-07:00

Between THE PUPPETEERS and THE PUPPETEERZ, I worked solo. Below is the brochure from then.

Luckily, it's more yellow that I am.

VEGETABLE SOUP & OUTERSCOPE 2

2010-04-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

"Vegetable Soup was an American educational children's television program produced by the New York State Education Department that originally ran on PBS from September 22, 1975 to December 14, 1978. The purpose of the program was to be a television series for children to help counter the negative, destructive effects of racial prejudice and racial isolation and to reinforce and dramatize the positive, life-enhancing value of human diversity in entertaining and affective presentations that children could understand and relate to."

OK, that's the Wikipedia version. However, it left out one of the creepiest puppet segments on television. Ever.

OUTERSCOPE II.

PADY BLACKWOOD's company was in charge of the puppets. DORRIS DOWLING sculpted and painted them, and OLGA FELGEMACHER did the animations, and was in charge of the puppetry. Olga also played EDGAR (shudder) and HENRY. Edgar's voice was redubbed by a kid, but Henry's sports O's Bil Baird coined "toy-voice".

Olga called them the "Village Of The Damned Puppets." Below is a scene - - you can see for yourself. Good night, children. Sleep welllll. . .

(that's Olga as Henry on the left)

SUNDAY

2010-04-04T07:24:00.001-07:00

(and from Lucky Jack Rabbit & Quackerbox, too!)

ADVENTURE IN TELEZONIA

2010-04-02T06:04:00.000-07:00

The BIL BAIRD MARIONETTES teach all about that new-fangled item called a - - what's that again? Oh yeah, the telio-fone. This was State-Of-The-Puppet-Arts back then!

Adventure in Telezonia (1947) was the second film produced for Bell Telephone.

A Couple Of Three April Fools

2010-04-01T05:52:00.001-07:00

HAMBONE HAMBONE HAVE YOU HEARD?

2010-03-31T08:41:00.001-07:00

Our marionette version of Sandy Becker's HAMBONE.

(you can see his carved arms & hands, legs & feet in post below)

PUPPETS ENROUTE TO PUPPETS

2010-03-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

SAMMY DAVIS Jr. IN CLAY

Thought it'd be fun to post pictures of the puppets and marionettes in various states of almost there.

HAMBONE'S CARVED WOODEN PARTS

ROUGHED-IN, CLAY-HEADED, BOWL-WEARING MOE HOWARD

OFFICIOUS GATE-KEEPER LESTER PERSON

JOE BLOW, MODERN ROCKER/EGOCENTRIC JERK

THE PLVNIKS

(Back right is the body we made for SOUPY SALES)

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE ROOTIE KAZOOTIE?

2010-03-25T19:02:00.001-07:00

And BEHIND-THE-SCENES, too. That's my puppet-makin' mentor, PAUL ASHLEY, in the bow-toe on the right.

HEY MICHAEL SPORN!

2010-03-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

A big THANK YOU! to top animator MICHAEL SPORN for giving the "Sandy Becker Reimagining" such a great shout out on his blog (which is a smart and vital site featuring the art, animation, and work of the artists working at Michael Sporn Animation. Check it out.)
And we're in good company, too. Along with exciting info about a new POPEYE film, and an update on the latest TIM BURTON project, Michael also remembers Sandy.
Read all about it here:
http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=2190

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (Carol)

2010-03-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
As you know, we're trying to launch a labor-of-love by reimagining. . .

. . . as a DVD for the 21st Century.

We hope that you will pass this info onto everyone you know, and come and join the PUPPET PARTY.

Here is a link to the website:
http://bit.ly/c3HeYf

We just had a big boost with this cool PRESS RELEASE:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/sandy/becker/prweb3758634.htm

And lest we forget, there's the Sandy Becker Christmas Carol FaceBook page:
http://www.facebook.com/CraigMarin#!/pages/Flexitoon-Presents-Sandy-Beckers-Christmas-Carol/331001101212?ref=ts

The more eyes that learn about this project, the greater it's chance of success. The DVD will have something for everyone: heart, style, nostalgia and lot's of laughs. We hope that you will pass this info to friends and family, and mucho thank youse for being part of making it happen!

SANDY BECKERS CHRISTMAS CAROL PROMO

2010-03-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jeffpickens/flexitoon-presents-sandy-beckers-christmas-carol?pos=1

GEEBA GEEBA und ME

2010-03-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

The Exciting GeebaGeeba Rebirth Continues!
Look here and join the party:
http://flexitoon.blogspot.com/search/label/Sandy%20Becker%27s%20Christmas%20Carol
And come back this week-end for the launch of a new trailer!

ABANDONED PUPPET

2010-03-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a head I sculpted from clay, destroyed before casting, presently lamenting.

FIRST BROCHURE

2010-03-13T05:17:00.000-08:00

Right after the Psychedelic Madness of the MARKO PUPPET THEATRE jaunt, my (then) partner Holly Smith and I moved from Northern California to New England.We now dedicated ourselves to Children audiences, and began a heavy but wonderful touring schedule of schools and theatres, while also breaking into commercials and making guest appearances on local television shows.
We called ourselves THE PUPPETEERS and by the time we did puppets on the WGBH series "ALL ABOUT YOU". . .

. . . we had accumulated quite a large puppet family. This is our first brochure.
For more on THE PUPPETEERS, clicketh here:

http://flexitoon.blogspot.com/2009/08/puppeteers-on-parade.html

PUPPETS AT A FLEXHIBITION

2010-03-10T05:59:00.001-08:00

From the gallery installation "ART THAT MOVES - - THE WORLD OF FLEXITOON"

Bendheim Gallery/Greenwich Arts Council

CARTOONY VISION

2010-03-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

VENTRILOQUIST UNCOVERED!

2010-03-05T09:32:00.001-08:00

PAUL WINCHELL was the first artist to get me to fall in love with puppetry. I learned to talk without moving my mouth when I learned to talk.
There have been ventriloquists since the beginning of time. It was vents who were the SHAMANS that made the STONE IDOLS talk. Great trick that.
My friend and legendary Kids-TV Producer CHET DOWLING (Chuck McCann Show, Let's Have Fun, Zacherle) has recently sent me some WOW from his collection of memorablilia. Below is a ventriloquist I never heard of. . .

Here's CHET:
(This is) a very rare Vaudeville ad from around 1900. It is for a Vent named Ver Valin. His specialty was Animatrons. His Father was a Clock Maker and built these life-size characters that were used in the Act. The pictures are amazing when you zoom in on them. I understand they actually got wound up and walked onstage. It must have been incredible back at the turn of the (last) Century to have a five foot four figure walk out on stage with one leg and a pair of crutches. I've been checking to see if any other collector has further info on old Ver Valin.

If anyone has any fill-in-the-blank stuff, please let us know.

Chet sent some other great "ventamabilia" which I'll post soon.

Want to help make this happen?

2010-03-02T14:01:00.000-08:00

it's easy!

All you gotta do is click here:

http://bit.ly/c3HeYf

AND NOW A WORD(?) FROM NORTON NORK

2010-02-28T08:45:00.001-08:00

ON THE THRESHOLD OF REALITY

2010-02-25T09:53:00.001-08:00

It's in the planning stages. . .

IT'S A NEW WEEK, SO. . .

2010-02-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

(title card from Chuck McCann's show)

HOWDY, DOODY

2010-02-20T06:51:00.000-08:00

One of the final on-camera performances by the legendary team of HOWDY DOODY & BUFFALO BOB SMITH happened on the Sally Jessy Rafael Show, December 7, 1990 ("a day that will live in infancy"). Howdy's usual puppeteer, PADY BLACKWOOD, was engaged out-of-town, so legendary producer BURT DUBROW (The Jerry Springer Show) called us. Marionettist OLGA FELGEMACHER pulled the strings for this medley of Howdy Doody's Greatest Hits.

For more about the HOWDY/FLEX connection, go here:http://flexitoon.blogspot.com/search/label/Howdy%20Doody

THE PROJECTIONIST

2010-02-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

Before CHUCK McCANN left for Hollywood to co-star alongside ALAN ARKIN in THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, he made an amazing film here in New York City called THE PROJECTIONIST. Chuck played a lonely fella who literally escapes into the films he unspools. The incorporation of Chuck into different, pre-existing period films was way ahead of it's time (at least since Buster Keaton!) Filmed in the late 60's but released in 1971, it co-starred INA BALIN, and also marked RODNEY DANGERFIELD's film debut.
Try and find a copy of THE PROJECTIONIST, and you'll enjoy a remarkable film by a remarkable talent.
Here are three scenes:

CAPTAIN FLASH TO THE RESCUE!

Chuck, working the projection booth, does dead-on impressions of his filmic heroes, back when stars had faces with voices to go along with them. . .

A legend in his own mind, the Projectionist imagines himself arriving at his own movie premiere, where he has to cut-out, in order to roll the film.
My friend Paul Rubin and I were with Chuck for several days, and one night they were going to shoot the "premiere" scene. The director, Harry Hurwitz, wanted "Chucks people" all around him, so he positioned me in front and said "be in awe when you see him." So, if you watch the left side of your screen at about :31, you'll see 15 year old . . .me.

Here's a really good write-up about the film: http://www.qwipster.net/projectionist.htm

BUBBLE YOUR FUN

2010-02-15T06:35:00.000-08:00

From THE HAMPTOONS. . .

love, Love, LOVE!

2010-02-14T11:57:00.001-08:00

KIDS-TV on SHOWTIME

2010-02-08T16:14:00.000-08:00

THE FLEXITOON PUPPETS starred in KIDS-TV on SHOWTIME. The series was based upon the perennial classroom news mag WEEKLY READER. Here the puppets run an after-school video club where they go out in the field and report the news.

DJ McCAW (top left: Jonathan Freeman) QUACKER (Olga Felgemacher) BANANA MONKEY (Craig Marin)

OPENING TITLES

In the episode called "HOMELESS", a formerly callous ROBBIE RACOON (Craig) pictured below left with BUDDY BEAR (Alan Semok) discovers what it means to be without a roof over his head. It all takes place during a Dickensian nightmare with the Ghost of a Homeless Child . . .The clip below shows a behind-the-scenes first rehearsal of the song "We're Pretty Lucky," followed by the buy take. Directed by Flexitoon fave Steve Feldman (DJ Kat Show, Shining Time Station).