The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, founded by Bob Baker and Alton Wood in 1963, is the oldest children's theater company in Los Angeles. In June 2009, the theater was designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.[2] In early 2019, the theater moved to a new permanent home on York Boulevard.
Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Stage at the original location of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater
In 1961, Baker and Alton Wood opened a live puppet theater and permanent showcase for their hand-crafted marionettes. Originally built as a scene shop for special effects artist M.B. Paul, the theater was located on 1st Street in downtown Los Angeles. The theater remained in this location until 2019.[2]
In June 2009, the Los Angeles City Council designated the theater as an historic monument. The Los Angeles Times described the scene:[5]
A parade of puppets strung along Los Angeles City Council members today long enough to persuade them to designate a West 1st Street marionette theater a historic cultural landmark. The puppets danced and pranced around the City Council’s ornate horseshoe-shaped desk in the City Hall chambers before officials voted 14–0 to place the Bob Baker Marionette Theater on the city’s landmark list.
Baker died on November 28, 2014, at the age of 90 from natural causes.[4]
In 2019, The Bob Baker Marionette Theater gained 501(c)3 non-profit status, and relocated into a 1920's silent movie theater in Highland Park. Inspired by Bob Baker's original renderings, the new space has been transformed into "The Place Where Imagination Dwells".
In addition to hosting their BBMT productions, Bob Baker Marionette Theater houses El Cine,[6] a non-profit promoting Latinx culture through film. BBMT and El Cine frequently collaborate with local, mobile movie screening clubs, including La Collectionneuse[7](franco-centric club).[8] These events will often include a marionette show and movie screening. Sometimes they will include speakers, musicians, and receptions with drinks and discourse after.
baker, marionette, theater, founded, baker, alton, wood, 1963, oldest, children, theater, company, angeles, june, 2009, theater, designated, angeles, historic, cultural, monument, early, 2019, theater, moved, permanent, home, york, boulevard, stage, original, . The Bob Baker Marionette Theater founded by Bob Baker and Alton Wood in 1963 is the oldest children s theater company in Los Angeles In June 2009 the theater was designated as a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument 2 In early 2019 the theater moved to a new permanent home on York Boulevard Bob Baker Marionette TheaterStage at the original location of the Bob Baker Marionette TheaterLocation4949 York Blvd Los AngelesBuilt1923Architectural style s Vernacular architectureLos Angeles Historic Cultural MonumentDesignated2009 1 Reference no 958Location of Bob Baker Marionette Theater in California Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Sources 4 External linksHistory editWhile attending Hollywood High School Bob Baker began manufacturing toy marionettes that sold both in Europe and the United States After graduation he became an apprentice at the George Pal Animation Studios A year later he was promoted to head animator of Puppetoons After World War II Baker served as an animation advisor at many film studios including Disney His puppetry was featured on TV in Bewitched Star Trek Land of the Giants and NCIS and on film in Bluebeard A Star Is Born G I Blues Disney s Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Close Encounters of the Third Kind 3 4 In 1961 Baker and Alton Wood opened a live puppet theater and permanent showcase for their hand crafted marionettes Originally built as a scene shop for special effects artist M B Paul the theater was located on 1st Street in downtown Los Angeles The theater remained in this location until 2019 2 In June 2009 the Los Angeles City Council designated the theater as an historic monument The Los Angeles Times described the scene 5 A parade of puppets strung along Los Angeles City Council members today long enough to persuade them to designate a West 1st Street marionette theater a historic cultural landmark The puppets danced and pranced around the City Council s ornate horseshoe shaped desk in the City Hall chambers before officials voted 14 0 to place the Bob Baker Marionette Theater on the city s landmark list Baker died on November 28 2014 at the age of 90 from natural causes 4 In 2019 The Bob Baker Marionette Theater gained 501 c 3 non profit status and relocated into a 1920 s silent movie theater in Highland Park Inspired by Bob Baker s original renderings the new space has been transformed into The Place Where Imagination Dwells In addition to hosting their BBMT productions Bob Baker Marionette Theater houses El Cine 6 a non profit promoting Latinx culture through film BBMT and El Cine frequently collaborate with local mobile movie screening clubs including La Collectionneuse 7 franco centric club 8 These events will often include a marionette show and movie screening Sometimes they will include speakers musicians and receptions with drinks and discourse after See also editList of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monuments in the Wilshire and Westlake areas Le Theatre de MarionetteReferences edit Department of City Planning Designated Historic Cultural Monuments City of Los Angeles Archived from the original on 2010 06 09 Retrieved 2010 06 08 a b Recommendation report PDF cityplanning lacity org Retrieved 2020 01 11 Bob Baker legendary Los Angeles puppeteer dies at 90 Daily News 2014 11 28 Retrieved 2023 09 21 a b Variety Staff 2014 11 28 Bob Baker Puppeteer Whose Theater Was L A Institution Dies at 90 Variety Variety com Retrieved 2020 01 11 L A marionette theater granted landmark status Los Angeles Times June 3 2009 connect El Cine Retrieved 2020 05 12 The Science of Sleep at Bob Baker Marionette Theater frenchculture org Retrieved 2020 05 12 Strange Soiree 2 La Collectionneuse Retrieved 2020 05 12 Sources edit The New York Times bio on Bob Baker Mal Sharpe and Jennifer Sharpe 2005 07 05 Photo Walls Bob Baker s Marionette Theater Day to Day NPR Listen Real Audio Player required External links editBob Baker Marionette Theater Bob Baker Marionette Theater at IMDb Article on Bob Baker Marionette Theatre at Atlas Obscura 3 D Scan of the Original Bob Baker Marionette Theater 34 07 18 N 118 12 26 W 34 121748 N 118 207231 W 34 121748 118 207231 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bob Baker Marionette Theater amp oldid 1220302526, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
