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Photo by Omar Omar via Flickr
Since 1961, Bob Baker has devoted his time to enchanting audiences of all ages with his timeless puppet performances from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in downtown LA. Now the longest-running children's company in our city, the theater is threatened with foreclosure and dwindling audiences have brought the cultural institution into very hard times. A fundraiser previously scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed to Jan. 24th, 2009. That gives Angelenos an extra month to attend shows and witness an inspired production of The Nutcracker using over 100 handmade marionettes (there are over 3000 in inventory). During a typical performance, audiences are encouraged to sit on the carpeted floor and black-clad puppeteers waltz around the room, masterfully weaving the merry, lifelike marionettes up to the viewer in a truly engaging show.
The theater has also served as an extremely rare training ground for the art of puppetry under the tutelage of Baker’s imaginative heart and steady hand. After generations of inspiring performances, Baker and his puppets could use a little help. Tax deductible donations are also being accepted and can be made to The Academy of Puppetry and Allied Arts. Come out and support this true gem of a place.
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OMG! The Bob Baker Marionettes used to come to the Merced County Fair every year when I was a kid back in the mid '60s! Including Bob Baker himself! I remember so well their performances to a lot of novelty songs like 'Lonely Little Petunia In An Onion Patch' and 'One-Eyed One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater'. Funny how kids obsess on certain things - I wanted shoes like the puppeteers wore when back-to-school time came around.
Gotta get over there, an pronto. Thanks for the post!