Photo Flash: Bob Baker Marionette Theater Presents IT’S A MUSICAL WORLD, 4/19-7/11

In honor of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater's 50th anniversary, the theater continues its special 50th anniversary season with "It's A Musical World," opening April 19 and playing through July 11. 2010. This special season features five of the theater's most beloved productions: "Fiesta," (which opened January 19 and plays through April 11),"It's A Musical World," "Bob Baker's Circus," "Bob Baker's Halloween Hoop-De-Do," and just in time for the holidays, "Bob Baker's Nutcracker". This is the first time the Bob Baker Marionette Theater has ever presented this many productions at the theater in one calendar year.

"It's A Musical World," is a marionette revue that first opened at the theater in 1978. With a stop at an Enchanted Toy Shop, and even the arrival of spring (at the teddy bear's picnic of course), "It's A Musical World" even includes a red, white and blue finale!

The Bob Baker Marionette Theater in downtown Los Angeles is the oldest of its kind in the United States and has been entertaining children of all ages since its inception in 1960. At that time, Bob Baker and his business partner Alton Wood turned a scene shop in Los Angeles into the family entertainment landmark that it is today.

Jennifer Steinhauer of The New York Times has described Baker's shows as "a staple of a Los Angeleno childhood. It is the cultural equivalent of the annual march by the nation's third graders to the neighborhood firehouse." On June 3, 2009, The Bob Baker Marionette Theater was declared an historic cultural monument by the city of Los Angeles.

" We have had fifty amazing years right here on First Street, and here's to fifty more!" says Bob Baker, commenting on the occasion of the theater's Golden Anniversary.

The 50th Anniversary season  kicked off on January 19 with "Fiesta," one of Bob Baker's most requested productions that was first presented at the theater in 1964, becoming an instant favorite.

Following the run of "It's A Musical World," the 50th Anniversary season will continue with "Bob Baker's Circus," opening July 19 and playing through September 26, 2010. This is one of Bob's earliest productions at the theater, and was first introduced in 1961, the theater's second year of operation.

"Bob Baker's Halloween Hoop-De-Do" will arrive in time for Halloween 2010, and play October 1 through October 31. Another one of the theater's perennial favorites, "Bob Baker's Halloween Hoop-De-Do" first played the theater in 1963.

The season will come to a close with the holiday favorite, "Bob Baker's Nutcracker," playing November 6 through January 16, 2011. This marionette version of the ballet classic has been one of Bob's most requested holiday productions since it was first presented in 1965.

More About Bob Baker

Bob Baker first became interested in puppetry at the age of five, and has since become an innovator, artist, puppet master, and top-notch animator with credits in television and film.

His marionettes have entertained thousands of children and adults worldwide over the years. Mr. Baker has a current inventory of over three thousand puppets, with just about everything from robots that light up, to dancing frogs, to egg laying chickens.

Bob began to learn the magic of puppetry at the early age of eight. He trained with several different local companies and put his skills to work with his first professional performance for director Mervyn LeRoy.

While attending Hollywood High School, Bob began manufacturing toy marionettes that sold both in Europe and the United States. Fifty of the finest department stores in the country carried his line including Bullocks Wilshire, Saks Fifth Avenue, Niemen Marcus, FAO Schwarz, and Marshall Fields. After graduation at the age of eighteen, he began his extensive career in animation at the George Pal Studios. He began as an apprentice and soon became a head animator of "Puppetoons" a year later.

After WWII, Bob served as an animation advisor at many film studios including Walt Disney.

As a puppeteer his prestigious credits include the films: "A Star Is Born", "G.I. Blues," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Escape to Witch Mountain," and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", as well as work on countless television series and projects. Baker has performed with the likes of Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, and Angela Lansbury.

Aside from running the theater, Baker maintains an active role in the company's traveling shows. Bob has taken his marionettes to countless fairs, puppet festivals, and of course, birthday parties. The Bob Baker Marionettes have entertained audiences in Las Vegas, Toronto, New York, Germany, and have even performed on Navy ships and submarines.

Mr. Baker is the former president of the Los Angeles Puppet Guild and Governor of the Television Arts & Sciences Animation Branch and currently sits on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His dream of establishing a school began with the formation of the non-profit group "The Academy of Puppetry and Allied Arts." Although his goal of a refurbished theater complex complete with training facilities is still a long way off, Bob Hopes with the aid of civic leaders and corporate sponsors, his academy will one day be a reality.

BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER

Venue: The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is located at 1345 West First Street, Los Angeles, 90026

Performance Schedule: Tuesdays through Fridays at 10:30am; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm

Tickets: Children and Adults $20.00 Seniors $15.00. Children under Age 2 Free

Call the Box Office For Required Reservations

In Person: The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 West First Street, Los Angeles, 90026.

Online: www.bobbakermarionettes.com
Phone: (213) 250-9995
Groups: Group Rates Available

For more information: www.bobbakermarionettes.com

Photo Credit: Bob Baker Marionette Theater

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