One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Marionette Theatre Now a Cultural Landmark
Photo by Xurbie via Flickr
L.A.'s master of puppets officially became a part of history as the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre was declared an historic cultural monument by the city of Los Angeles yesterday. "At age 85, he’s still the star of his company," Steve Meltzer, president of the L.A. Guild of Puppetry, told the LA Times. "There are performances where his presence is requested.”
The Vernacular-style theatre, originally built in the early 1950s as a special effects workshop, was purchased by Bob Baker and Alton Wood in 1961 as a venue for live puppet shows and as a "permanent showcase for hand-crafted marionettes," according to the L.A. Dept. of City Planning's historical monument recommendation report. Their report concluded the "property successfully meets...criteria in reflecting 'the broad cultural, economic or social history...of puppeteering in Los Angeles."
There's nothing very notable about the architecture of the theater's cinder-block building that sits near Glendale Boulevard and First & Second Streets," writes EastsiderLA. "What matters is its association with Baker," a 65-year veteran of the puppetry industry. The theater, which has entertained many for almost 50 years and may be the longest-running venue of its kind, is home to over 3,000 hand-made marionettes and the non-profit organization, Academy of Puppetry and Allied Arts.
Post by Danielle Directo, Special to LAist
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
