Bob Baker Marionette Theater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bob Baker Marionette Theater |
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Stage at the original location of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater
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| Location | 4949 York Blvd, Los Angeles |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architectural style(s) | Vernacular architecture |
| Designated | 2009 |
| Reference no. | 958 |
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The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is a super cool place in Los Angeles. It's the oldest children's theater company in the city! Bob Baker and Alton Wood started it way back in 1963. In June 2009, the theater became a special Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. In early 2019, the theater moved to a new, awesome home on York Boulevard.
Contents
The Story of the Theater
Bob Baker's Amazing Journey
Bob Baker loved puppets from a young age. He started making toy marionettes while still in Hollywood High School. These puppets were so popular they sold in Europe and the United States! After school, he worked at George Pal Animation Studios. He even became a head animator for "Puppetoons."
Later, Baker helped many film studios with animation, including Disney. His amazing puppetry was featured in lots of TV shows. You might have seen his puppets in Bewitched or Star Trek! They also appeared in movies like Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
Building a Puppet Dream
In 1961, Bob Baker and Alton Wood opened their own live puppet theater. It was a special place to show off their handmade marionettes. The theater was first located on 1st Street in downtown Los Angeles. It stayed there for many years, until 2019.
Becoming a Historic Place
In June 2009, the Los Angeles City Council gave the theater a special honor. They named it a historic monument! Imagine a parade of puppets dancing around the City Council members! That's what happened to help make it official. The council voted 14-0 to add the theater to the city's landmark list.
Bob Baker passed away in 2014 at 90 years old. But his dream lives on!
A New Home and New Adventures
In 2019, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater became a non-profit organization. This means it's dedicated to its mission, not making money. It also moved to a new home in Highland Park. The new theater used to be a silent movie theater from the 1920s. It's now called "The Place Where Imagination Dwells."
The theater doesn't just host its own puppet shows. It also shares its space with El Cine. El Cine is a group that promotes Latinx culture through movies. The theater and El Cine often work together. They host movie screenings that sometimes include a puppet show! These events can also feature speakers, musicians, and fun receptions.
See also
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in the Wilshire and Westlake areas
- Le Theatre de Marionette
Images for kids
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Stage at the original location of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater
