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Bil Baird

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40: 324:. The show featured numerous characters who were previously created by Baird, including "Snarky Parker", the lion "Charlemane", "Flannel Mouse", "Slugger Ryan", a piano-playing rod puppet, along with new characters "Fluffy" and "Nolan", the Villain "Ronald Rodent", the slightly befuddled "Birdie", the seductive "Cuda Bara", the schoolteacher and Snarky's love interest "Butterbelle", and her father "Paw". In 1951, Baird's Marionettes performed some of the roles in the Broadway musical 611:
Bonnie Bien invited a class of young students to a puppet show during the exhibition. Peter Baird and others from the Bil Baird Troupe entertained the children. Bonnie as the gallery public relations expert worked all summer until Rita Rieff who wrote the New York Times Auction picked up Bonnie's press release for print. Marionettes depicting Elsie the Cow and her family were sold to a New York collector. A group of
572:, a family of dogs and a Goldilocks character for Hartz Flea Tags, a Maid for Drano, Stop-Motion animated Bottles for Desitin Skin Care Lotion and a puppet version of the mascot of RSO Records. Baird and his puppets would soon appear in another special for HBO called "I've Got The World on a String: The First Annual All-Star Puppet Spectacular", which featured famous singers like 1338: 610:
at the age of 82 from pneumonia and cancer. Six months after his death, on September 19–20, Baird's children Laura and Peter sold nearly all of the remaining Bil Baird Marionettes at auction. The 800-lot sale was held in New York City at The Greenwich Auction Room located at 110 East 13th Street.
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In 1972, Baird created an educational short film called Cartonella which told about the importance of milk, the short was a typical 'Damsel in Distress' story which featured the eponymously named "Cartonella", who was a fortune telling cow. This character would later become one of Baird's most
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of the mid- and late 20th century. He and his puppets performed for millions of adults and children. One of his better known creations was Charlemane the lion. He and his wife Cora Eisenberg Baird (1912–1967) produced and performed the famous puppetry sequence for
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and was regularly performed at the Reynold's Aluminum Puppet Theater in the Hastings, England section of the park from 1977 to 1978. That show was notable for starting the careers of several other prominent puppeteers. Those performance artists included
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in 1961. It is performed still, and features "a beautiful princess and her faithful dog, a wicked magician and his magic onion, a handsome prince, a hungry dragon, and a castle in an enchanted blue forest."
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ended, Baird continued his puppetry work and helped create several characters for commercials such as the "Flavor Fiend" for Bubble Yum, a family of puppets for an ad for the now-defunct
681: 330:, a fantasy about a mass-produced laughing doll who unintentionally threatens the American industrial system. Then, in 1956, Baird's puppets "Gargle" and "Snarky" appeared in 1391: 658:, was produced by Arthur Cantor, and performed by puppeteers Peter B. Baird, Pady Blackwood, Randy Carfagno, Larry Engler, William Tost and Richard Stephen Weber. 275:. He traced his love of puppets to the moment when his father made him a simple string puppet when he was eight. In 1921, he attended a local performance of the 1266: 432:. During the 1964/65 World's Fair in New York City, Baird's Marionettes hosted "The Show-Go-Round", an elaborate musical exhibit in the Chrysler Pavilion. 933: 1416: 1364:
in Mason City, Iowa owns and displays the largest collection of Bil Baird marionettes, hand puppets, and ephemera including marionettes used in
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Opening in 1967, the Bil Baird Marionette Theater at 59 Barrow Street in Greenwich Village presented plays for more than a decade. Among them,
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in New York City in 1928. Several years later Baird formed his own company, the Baird Marionettes, which performed initially at the
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In 1959, Baird helped create Schultz & Dooley, who appeared in advertisements for Utica Club Beer from 1959–1964.
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In 1985, Baird made a brief return in which he performed one of his own plays called "The Dragon and The Dentist".
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Baird received many awards and honors during his career, including the Medal of Achievement awarded by the
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Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946–1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series
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Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946–1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series
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was also a puppeteer, and he continued his family's legacy until his own death in July 2004.
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cereal, Borden Dairy, United Cerebral Palsy, and Young & Rubicam and were part of five
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were purchased by a Pennsylvania toy dealer. Another character, "Olly Oilcan" from the
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In 1977, Baird temporarily closed down the theater so he could create another show at
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From 1958 to 1963, Baird's puppets often appeared on an educational show known as
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was the composer; Sheldon Harnick wrote the lyrics. (Playbill Vol.88 No.12).
612: 246: 82: 1106: 877: 659: 620: 511:, 36 years his junior, and they remained together until his death in 1987. 227: 682:"Sixty years of pulling strings: G.I. native's puppets on display at MONA" 1038: 573: 508: 387: 311: 232: 215: 188: 161: 958: 1351: 636: 577: 760: 607: 592: 326: 300: 276: 236: 200: 425: 535:, who later portrayed "Telly Monster" and "Mr. Snuffleupagus" on 500:
popular characters, even having her own float during the 1974/75
984:"James Coburn and the Bil Baird puppets in Remington commercial" 734:"Peter Baird, 52, Who Carried On His Family's Marionette Legacy" 591:, which was his last performance before retiring due to severe 552: 391: 375: 350:(Let's Talk French), which taught young children how to speak 1361: 383: 379: 1267:"BIL BAIRD AND HIS MARIONETTES ARE BUSY WITH STRAVINSKY NOW" 1131: 314:
created a show based on his character Snarky Parker called
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of New York and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the
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This article is about the puppeteer. For other uses, see
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In December 1988 Bil Baird's Marionettes played at the
1333: 1064:"The Des Moines Register 03 Apr 1977, page Page 191" 1293:"22 May 1985, 42 - Globe-Gazette at Newspapers.com" 199:(August 15, 1904 – March 18, 1987) was an American 1009:"Wheaties Commercial w Champy The Lion Bomb 1950s" 680: 615:figures and caricature puppets of U.S. presidents 1392:Deaths from multiple myeloma in the United States 1373: 473:People is the Thing That the World is Fullest Of 338:designed to interest children in mathematics. 606:On March 18, 1987, Baird died at his home in 583:In 1983, Baird performed a puppet version of 489:The Whistling Wizard and the Sultan of Tuffet 959:"Art Carney Meets the Sorcerer's Apprentice" 410:Art Carney Meets the Sorcerer's Apprentice 38: 1305: 776:. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 295–296. 231:. Baird also created the expandable nose 1308:"BIL BAIRD, CREATOR OF PUPPETS, IS DEAD" 1157:"commercial – Bubble Yum "Flavor Fiend"" 361:play for puppets was first published in 796: 771: 706: 153: 1937; died 1967) 1417:Deaths from cancer in New York (state) 1374: 1222:from the original on December 22, 2021 1167:from the original on December 22, 2021 1019:from the original on December 22, 2021 931: 913:from the original on December 22, 2021 833:from the original on December 22, 2021 790: 678: 286: 630: 551:, who voiced the villain "Jafar" in 543:for the Major League Baseball Team, 299:, he began work with childhood idol 225:(1965) and provided the puppets for 801:. The Scarecrow Press. p. 13. 707:Rothman, Joshua (August 23, 2014). 406:Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf 341: 13: 1412:People from Grand Island, Nebraska 1212:"commercial – Desitin Hand Lotion" 934:"Baird puppets get better storage" 14: 1428: 1329: 1306:Robertson, Nan (March 20, 1987). 932:Pieper, Mary (January 31, 2015). 320:, which was a satire of American 1336: 1242:"I've Got the World on a String" 853:"World of Puppetry Exhibit 2017" 679:Brown, Rick (October 13, 2016). 129: 1299: 1285: 1259: 1234: 1204: 1179: 1149: 1124: 1099: 1074: 1056: 1031: 1001: 976: 951: 925: 895: 507:In 1974, Baird married actress 502:Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades 430:Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades 332:Adventures in Numbers and Space 170: 150: 125: 870: 845: 815: 765: 754: 726: 700: 672: 555:'s 1992 animated feature film 516:Busch Gardens: The Old Country 494: 16:American puppeteer (1904–1987) 1: 665: 262: 1407:People from Mason City, Iowa 1111:randycarfagnoproductions.com 1107:"Randy Carfagno Productions" 310:In 1950, Baird and Producer 297:Chicago Academy of Fine Arts 7: 797:Woolery, George W. (1985). 772:Woolery, George W. (1985). 465:A Pageant of Puppet Variety 242:the 1968 musical adaptation 197:William Britton "Bil" Baird 21:Bill Baird (disambiguation) 10: 1433: 1402:Entertainers from Nebraska 625:1939 New York World's Fair 481:The Dragon and The Dentist 416:, created commercials for 44:Baird and Charlemane, 1963 18: 336:Westinghouse Broadcasting 208:" in the film version of 183: 106: 98: 90: 71: 49: 37: 30: 1039:"Bil Baird's Cartonella" 938:Mason City Globe Gazette 601: 545:The Washington Nationals 334:, a nine-part series by 398:" sequence in the film 317:Life With Snarky Parker 903:"schultz & dooley" 650:in New York. The play 570:Greenwich Savings Bank 477:Bil Baird's Band-Wagon 269:Grand Island, Nebraska 64:Grand Island, Nebraska 522:, which replaced the 256:Hallmark Hall of Fame 223:The Art of the Puppet 709:"Live From the Moon" 648:Minetta Lane Theatre 589:L'Histoire du Soldat 524:Sid and Marty Krofft 485:L'Histoire du Soldat 305:Chicago World’s Fair 249:story that aired on 128: 1932; 1397:American puppeteers 1362:MacNider Art Museum 1086:martinprobinson.com 654:, from the book by 449:Alice in Wonderland 396:The Lonely Goatherd 271:, Baird grew up in 206:The Lonely Goatherd 1366:The Sound of Music 1312:The New York Times 1271:The New York Times 1246:historyforsale.com 882:thepuppetplace.com 878:"The Puppet Place" 823:"Parlons Francais" 739:The New York Times 656:Jerome Coopersmith 641:University of Iowa 617:Franklin Roosevelt 566:Once Upon a Dragon 533:Martin P. Robinson 520:Once Upon a Dragon 469:Holiday on Strings 461:Davy Jones' Locker 457:Peter and the Wolf 422:Wildroot Cream-Oil 401:The Sound of Music 293:University of Iowa 291:A graduate of the 287:Performance career 211:The Sound of Music 631:Awards and legacy 541:Racing Presidents 528:The Camelot Revue 194: 193: 99:Years active 1424: 1346: 1344:Biography portal 1341: 1340: 1339: 1323: 1322: 1320: 1318: 1303: 1297: 1296: 1289: 1283: 1282: 1280: 1278: 1263: 1257: 1256: 1254: 1252: 1238: 1232: 1231: 1229: 1227: 1208: 1202: 1201: 1199: 1197: 1183: 1177: 1176: 1174: 1172: 1153: 1147: 1146: 1144: 1142: 1128: 1122: 1121: 1119: 1117: 1103: 1097: 1096: 1094: 1092: 1078: 1072: 1071: 1060: 1054: 1053: 1051: 1049: 1035: 1029: 1028: 1026: 1024: 1005: 999: 998: 996: 994: 980: 974: 973: 971: 969: 955: 949: 948: 946: 944: 929: 923: 922: 920: 918: 899: 893: 892: 890: 888: 874: 868: 867: 865: 863: 849: 843: 842: 840: 838: 819: 813: 812: 794: 788: 787: 769: 763: 758: 752: 751: 749: 747: 730: 724: 723: 721: 719: 704: 698: 697: 695: 693: 684: 676: 549:Jonathan Freeman 441:The Wizard of Oz 418:Remington Razors 357:The text of his 348:Parlons Français 342:Late 1950s–1960s 273:Mason City, Iowa 174: 172: 154: 152: 133: 131: 127: 78: 59: 57: 42: 28: 27: 1432: 1431: 1427: 1426: 1425: 1423: 1422: 1421: 1372: 1371: 1342: 1337: 1335: 1332: 1327: 1326: 1316: 1314: 1304: 1300: 1291: 1290: 1286: 1276: 1274: 1273:. 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His son 91:Occupation 56:1904-08-15 1352:Bil Baird 1082:"Mentors" 857:issuu.com 761:Tony Sarg 652:Pinocchio 608:Manhattan 593:arthritis 445:Pinocchio 327:Flahooley 307:of 1933. 301:Tony Sarg 277:Tony Sarg 259:special. 237:Pinocchio 221:He wrote 201:puppeteer 102:1928–1987 94:Puppeteer 32:Bil Baird 1220:Archived 1165:Archived 1017:Archived 963:imdb.com 943:March 5, 911:Archived 831:Archived 718:March 5, 692:March 5, 613:Rockette 437:Ali Baba 426:Wheaties 322:Westerns 295:and the 267:Born in 235:wore as 184:Children 1216:YouTube 1161:YouTube 1013:YouTube 988:YouTube 907:YouTube 827:YouTube 558:Aladdin 518:titled 245:of the 175:​ 167:​ 155:​ 147:​ 143:​ 134:​ 122:​ 118:​ 107:Spouses 805:  780:  576:& 564:After 553:Disney 487:, and 392:Turkey 390:, and 376:Russia 352:French 85:, U.S. 66:, U.S. 602:Death 526:show 384:Nepal 380:India 253:as a 189:Peter 169:( 165: 149:( 145: 124:( 120: 1360:The 1356:IMDb 1319:2019 1279:2019 1253:2019 1228:2021 1198:2019 1173:2019 1143:2019 1118:2019 1093:2019 1050:2019 1025:2019 995:2023 970:2019 945:2019 919:2019 889:2021 864:2021 839:2019 803:ISBN 778:ISBN 748:2017 720:2019 694:2019 619:and 408:and 130:div. 72:Died 50:Born 1354:at 587:'s 251:NBC 239:in 1378:: 1310:. 1269:. 1244:. 1218:. 1214:. 1189:. 1163:. 1159:. 1134:. 1109:. 1084:. 1066:. 1041:. 1015:. 1011:. 986:. 961:. 936:. 909:. 905:. 880:. 855:. 829:. 825:. 736:. 711:. 685:. 595:. 580:. 547:; 504:. 491:. 483:, 479:, 475:, 471:, 467:, 463:, 459:, 455:, 451:, 447:, 443:, 439:, 424:, 420:, 386:, 382:, 378:, 171:m. 151:m. 126:m. 1368:. 1321:. 1295:. 1281:. 1255:. 1230:. 1200:. 1175:. 1145:. 1120:. 1095:. 1070:. 1052:. 1027:. 997:. 972:. 947:. 921:. 891:. 866:. 841:. 811:. 786:. 750:. 722:. 696:. 204:" 58:) 54:( 23:.

Index

Bill Baird (disambiguation)

Grand Island, Nebraska
New York City
Josie Lloyd
Peter
puppeteer
The Lonely Goatherd
The Sound of Music
Peter Baird
Dark Shadows
Peter Noone
Pinocchio
the 1968 musical adaptation
Carlo Collodi
NBC
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Grand Island, Nebraska
Mason City, Iowa
Tony Sarg
University of Iowa
Chicago Academy of Fine Arts
Tony Sarg
Chicago World’s Fair
Yul Brynner
Life With Snarky Parker
Westerns
Flahooley
Westinghouse Broadcasting
French

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