Bil Baird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bil Baird
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Baird and Charlemane, 1963
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| Born | August 15, 1904 Grand Island, Nebraska, U.S.
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| Died | March 18, 1987 (aged 82) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Puppeteer, Actor |
| Years active | 1934–1987 |
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| Children | Peter Baird |
William Britton "Bil" Baird (born August 15, 1904 – died March 18, 1987) was a famous American puppeteer. He created amazing puppets and shows for over 60 years. Millions of kids and adults enjoyed his performances.
One of his most famous puppets was Charlemane the lion. Bil and his wife, Cora Eisenberg Baird, made the puppet scene for "The Lonely Goatherd" in The Sound of Music. His son, Peter Baird, also became a puppeteer. Bil Baird also wrote a book called The Art of the Puppet (1965). He even made the nose for Pinocchio in a 1968 TV musical!
Contents
Bil Baird's Early Life
Bil Baird was born in Grand Island, Nebraska. He grew up in Mason City, Iowa. He loved puppets from a young age. His dad made him a simple string puppet when he was eight.
In 1921, he saw a puppet show called Rip Van Winkle. This show made him even more interested in puppets. By age 14, Bil was making his own puppets. He even put on shows in his parents' attic!
Starting a Puppet Career
Bil Baird went to the University of Iowa. He also studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. In 1928, he started working with Tony Sarg in New York City. Sarg was a famous puppeteer whom Bil admired.
A few years later, Bil started his own group. It was called the Baird Marionettes. They first performed at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933.
In 1950, Bil Baird worked with producer Yul Brynner. They created a show called Life With Snarky Parker. It was a funny show about American Westerns. In 1951, Baird's Marionettes performed in a Broadway musical. It was called Flahooley.
In 1956, two of Baird's puppets, "Gargle" and "Snarky," appeared on TV. They were in a show called Adventures in Numbers and Space. This show helped kids learn about math.
Puppets in the 1950s and 1960s
From 1958 to 1963, Baird's puppets were on an educational show. It was called Parlons Français (Let's Talk French). This show taught young children how to speak French. Bil made three new hand puppets for the show. Their names were "Patapouf," "Lady Graybangs," and "Cliquot." They helped teach French lessons.
Bil Baird's play The Magic Onion was published in 1961. People still perform it today. The play has a princess, a dog, a magician, and a dragon!
In 1959, Baird helped create Schultz & Dooley. These puppets appeared in commercials for Utica Club Beer.
Bil Baird's puppets traveled to many countries. They visited Russia, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Turkey. They were also in the movie The Sound of Music (1965). His puppets appeared in TV specials too. They were in commercials for many products. They also took part in five Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades!
During the 1964/65 World's Fair in New York City, Baird's puppets hosted a show. It was called "The Show-Go-Round."
In 1967, the Bil Baird Marionette Theater opened. It was in Greenwich Village, New York City. The theater showed plays for over ten years. Some of the plays included Ali Baba, The Wizard of Oz, and Pinocchio.
Later Years: 1970s and 1980s
In 1972, Bil Baird made a short film called Cartonella. It taught about the importance of milk. The main character, Cartonella, was a fortune-telling cow. She became one of Baird's most popular characters. She even had her own float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades in 1974 and 1975.
In 1974, Bil Baird married actress Josie Lloyd. They were together until he passed away.
In 1977, Baird created a new show. It was for Busch Gardens: The Old Country. The show was called Once Upon a Dragon. Many famous puppeteers started their careers working on this show. These included Martin P. Robinson from Sesame Street. Also, Jonathan Freeman, who voiced Jafar in Disney's Aladdin.
After Once Upon a Dragon, Baird continued making puppets. He created characters for many commercials. He also appeared in an HBO special. It was called "I've Got The World on a String: The First Annual All-Star Puppet Spectacular."
In 1983, Baird performed a puppet version of a musical piece. It was Igor Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat. This was his last big performance before he retired. He had severe arthritis. In 1985, he made a brief return. He performed one of his own plays, "The Dragon and The Dentist."
Bil Baird's Passing
Bil Baird passed away on March 18, 1987. He was 82 years old. He died at his home in Manhattan.
Six months after he passed, his children, Laura and Peter, sold most of his puppets. The sale happened in New York City. Many famous puppets were sold. These included Elsie the Cow and her family. Also, puppets of U.S. presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. A puppet named "Olly Oilcan" sold for $11,000.
Awards and Lasting Impact
Bil Baird received many awards during his career. He got the Medal of Achievement from the Lotos Club of New York. He also received an award from the University of Iowa. In 1980, he was honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
In December 1988, Bil Baird's Marionettes performed again. They put on the play Pinocchio in New York. His son, Peter B. Baird, was one of the puppeteers.
See also
In Spanish: Bil Baird para niños
