Nostalgic Toys - Marionettes

  Opening in 1967, the Bil Baird Marionette Theater at 59 Barrow Street in Greenwich Village presented plays for more than a decade. 

Marionettes were used in performance theatre in Egypt as early as 2000 BC when string-operated figures of wood were manipulated to perform the action of kneading bread, and other string controlled objects. Wire controlled, articulated puppets made of clay and ivory have been found in Egyptian tombs.

Ancient Egyptian Marionettes

With the rise in popularity of television and film, marionettes found a rise in popularity especially in children's programming. The story of Pinocchio and its Disney adaptation (Pinocchio), which was released in 1940, is a story about a marionette. In 1947, Howdy Doody introduced marionettes to children's television, with Howdy Doody (the main character) being a marionette, as well as some other characters.

Children of New York City watching a Marionette Show in the 1930'

Popular Howdy Doody Marionette

One of the hidden treasures in Central Park is the Swedish Cottage MarionetteTheater.   For more information go here http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/arts/swedish-cottage-marionette-theatre/

The Swedish Cottage is home to one of the last public marionette companies in the United States. Puppeteers have worked there since 1947. The cottage was originally constructed as a model pre-fabricated schoolhouse, and became Sweden's entry in the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. After the exhibit, Park co-designer Frederick Law Olmsted chose the rustic building for Central Park. After a string of diverse uses, the nature study center for children and an entomological lab, for examples, the cottage became headquarters in 1939 for the Parks Department's Marionette Theater. The marionette company has long been known for its whimsical productions of classics like Peter Pan and Cinderella.
The Swedish Cottage is home to one of the last public marionette companies in the United States. Puppeteers have worked there since 1947. The cottage was originally constructed as a model pre-fabricated schoolhouse, and became Sweden's entry in the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. After the exhibit, Park co-designer Frederick Law Olmsted chose the rustic building for Central Park. After a string of diverse uses, the nature study center for children and an entomological lab, for examples, the cottage became headquarters in 1939 for the Parks Department's Marionette Theater. The marionette company has long been known for its whimsical productions of classics like Peter Pan and Cinderella.

Mad Tea Party and Where Bloggers Create

If you are looking for my post for 

Where Bloggers Create for 2016 click here.  

(I somehow made a mistake when entering and placed the link for the 2014 post...sorry for the confusion).

2014 post is below..................

Today is finally the day for two annual online party events!  

First is my post for the 7th Annual Mad Tea Party hosted by Vanessa Valencia.  

Second is my post for Where Bloggers Create hosted by  Karen Valentine.

Read further for my posts in participation.

These sweet siblings and best friends share a delicious cup of tea.  The tiny pair measure just 2 1/4" tall and the teacup measures 1 3/4" tall.  Everything (except the glass cloche) is made of paper.  A removable banner hangs from the top of the cloche that reads "You, me and a cup of tea."  With care, the dolls can be posed and re-positioned.  The "tea" and two sugar cubes can be removed as well.

And here is where I create....

Not much has changed since last year except that I've taken over empty spaces on the walls and ceiling.  I use chunky frames as shelves and a drawer organizer as a place to display a collection of little things.  Paper dolls are taped or nailed to the wall and one hook holds more than one thing.

A garbage find magazine rack holds jars of buttons and sea shells and artwork from favorite artists and a vintage suitcase keeps sheets of crepe paper flat and safe.

My apron serves more often as a a pretty chair cover than as clothing protection...I never want to bother putting it on...besides, I wear junk clothes when I create anyway.

I removed a broken drawer from a vintage chest and use it to store crates of paper.

Wow!...now that I look at this picture, it looks like a lot of cluttered junk, but it's not.  I have everything I need and use most at hand.  And when I am stumped for ideas I can ponder over this "junk" for inspiration.

Thanks for taking the tour of my small workspace!