A Celebration of Ralph Chessé's Marionettes

at Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Hosted by Harry Arends with the Chessé Family and the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry Thursday, November 7, 2024 Exhibition: 7 PM Presentation & Panel: 8 PM

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A Celebration of Ralph Chessé's Marionettes
Bob Baker Marionette Theater and The Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry celebrate the life and legacy of master puppeteer Ralph Chessé (1900–1991). Following an exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library, take a closer look at Chessé’s marionette masterpieces and related ephemera spanning his seven-decade career. At 8 PM, Harry Arends will present a historical overview of Chessé’s work including archival audio and video, followed by a panel discussion with members of the Chessé family, Bruce, Damon, and Matt Chessé.

Multimedia

Watch Chessé's Full Macbeth 1979 Production

ABOUT RALPH CHESSÉ
Ralph Chessé was born in 1900 in New Orleans, but the majority of his life was spent in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he created paintings, sculptures, and marionette productions, including performances of Shakespeare plays and the beloved TV show The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz (the longest sustaining children’s program in San Francisco television history from 1953–1969). His work ranged from large WPA productions, which influenced our own Bob Baker, to murals to artists’ rights activism. His delightful, exquisite work continues to inspire generations of puppeteers and artists.

PARTICIPANTS

Harry Arends is a retired television producer and puppet archivist / historian. A longtime friend of Bob Baker, he worked with Bob on show development and audio restoration. The Arends Puppet Archive is among the largest in the country.
Bruce Chessé, son of Ralph Chessé, worked alongside his father in puppet productions, both as a puppeteer and producer.
Damon Chessé, grandson of Ralph Chessé, is a film and theatrical set dresser.
Matt Chessé, grandson of Ralph Chessé, is an Oscar-nominated film editor.
Perry Daniel, co-curator, of the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry
Thank you to our volunteers: Emily Bell, Taylor Bibat, Rachel Mueller, Christine Papalexis, and Alex Poteet

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES GUILD OF PUPPETRY
The Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry was formed by a group of puppetry artists, educators, historians, and enthusiasts in 1956. They were chartered by the Puppeteers of America in 1957, and are now one of the largest PofA guilds in the United States. They continue to welcome professionals, amateurs, educators, hobbyists, and fans to join them in celebrating the ancient and wonderful art of puppetry. Their mission is to share, promote, and advance the art of puppetry in the Greater Los Angeles area through performance and education.

https://www.laguildofpuppetry.org/

ABOUT BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER
Bob Baker Marionette Theater is an iconic Los Angeles institution that has served millions of children and families since 1963. As a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization, their mission is to preserve, educate, and innovate at the intersection of Puppetry and the Allied Arts. With over 3,000 handcrafted puppets and a passionate and creative staff, the Theater strives to make the world as imaginative as they see it. Now in a new Highland Park home, they are actively expanding programs to reach families, adults, and their community at large.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater – 4949 York Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90042

www.bobbakermarionettetheater.com

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