#73 Center for Puppetry Arts

#73 Center for Puppetry Arts

Thursday Oct. 24, 2019

Keeping in mind that I am a kindred spirit with any 6-year old, ( I spent 18 years with them in the classroom) we are off to see some puppets.

Big Bird’s nest sits in the lobby of the center.

The museum tells about the creation of the Muppets and shows Jim Henson (and friend’s) talents.

Here are some of the friends that brought the characters to life.

Jim started with a production called Sam and Friends.

Jim and his wife Jane met in a puppetry class.  She joined him on Sam and Friends and their journey took off.  They married and had 5 children.

Jim’s office.

Bert and Ernie with their puppeteers.  Here Jim and Frank Oz are the puppeteers.

Henson’s team developed puppets for films and advertising.  For example, Rowlf, started out selling Purina Dog Chow.  The film clips on the monitor entertained us for quite a while.

The workroom showed some of the materials used to create the puppets.

The Mechanics board

The puppets appeared on many major TV shows.

Jim and his mentor Don Sahlin experimented with a wide range of materials and techniques. Originally founded in London, Jim Henson’s Creature Shops are now also in New York and Los Angeles.

Meet Boni-ta and her puppeteer who docents here.

Meet the Muppets!  We did!

The whole aura here was happiness and acceptance.

In 1968, producer Joan Cooney envisioned an educational show that would sell numbers and letters like other TV ads do.  She invited Henson to join in.  In 1969 Sesame Street was an instant hit. It won 159 Emmy awards in its first four decades.  

 Side note:  I began teaching first grade in 1968.  We taught the numbers, counting, and the names of colors.  We read Sally, Dick and Jane.  Our curriculum them would probably be found with 3 or 4 year olds today. Kindergarten was a socialization year with some basics.  After Sesame Street hit the country, we had to change our curriculum. The kids came in already knowing their numbers, letters, colors, etc.  It was remarkable to see!

Next we got to play with some Muppets and see how the team used monitors to watch what the puppet above their head was doing.

Candid shots.  It was interesting that Jim made a headband to hold is mic.  I was surprised to see that the puppeteers hold their Muppet over their heads.  Sometimes one puppeteer will work the right arm while another puppeteer works the left arm.

This guy is a body puppet, worn by the puppeteer.

Dr. Teeth  and friends.

Hello Kermit!

The show…..  I hadn’t heard of “Faz” Fazakas and his contributions to the mechanical movement of the puppets.

Miss Piggy

Fraggle Rock

Jim passed away in 1990 at the age of 53 from toxic poisoning, possibly from pneumonia.  Jane, his wife started the Jim Henson Legacy in 1992 and produced numerous exhibitions and events celebrating Jim’s life.  Part of that was to partner with The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.

A second section of the museum focused on Global Puppetry.

Political puppets provide a platform for people to express their views. This one greeted us as we entered this section.

Those of us in the NW may already be familiar with the Native American Puppets and Masks.  This wooden mask or puppet opens to reveal the character inside.

Some of you may know Madame, an integral part of Wayland Flowers comedy team.

Interesting puppets of Carol Channing and Mae West.

This stage allowed visitors to try their hand at moving these marionettes.

Punch and Judy

These puppets are Principe Gris and Princesa Primorosa made in 1980 in Spain.

These masks of Scar and Mufasa  were prototypes for the Broadway production of the Lion King. 1977

Puppets from Mali.

I found these water puppets of Vietnam interesting.

Shadow puppets are common in Asia.

Southern China has many puppet troupes, some of which are the most technically sophisticated in the world.

There were many puppet in this part of the museum, I only highlighted a few.

Another part of the museum highlight Jim’s work with The Dark Crystal and the Labyrinth.

Characters clothes and mechanics from the Dark Crystal

Another full body puppet.

Jen the hero of The Dark Crystal and others.

We said goodbye to Kermit and Friends, paused at Big Bird’s nest and left for the day.  I really enjoyed this museum!

Tomorrow the Coke Museum.