After more than a dozen years in three locations, the Santa Monica Puppetry Center is the latest casualty of the economic downturn. We have lasted this long only because of the extreme patience of the property owner who, along with me, continued to believe that we would find ways to survive the loss of revenue from the drop off in school shows and private parties. We are very sad about this announcement but also very grateful for the long run we’ve had and all the wonderful audience members who make me feel that I have the greatest job in the world.
Some extraordinary events have been held at the Puppetry Center including the final performances of ventriloquist legend, Paul Winchell and Ed Sullivan regular, Ricky Layne. Marionette master, Phillip Huber who performed the puppetry sequences in the 1999 film, Being John Malkovich brought his show to the center for three sold out engagements. In 2005 the puppeteers from "Team America", reunited for special seminar about the all-marionette movie from the creators of "South Park.’ In 2008 the Center hosted the Santa Monica Puppetry Festival, highlighted by the appearance of film legend, Leslie Caron, star of the 1953 puppetry themed MGM film, Lili.
Steve Meltzer
August 2009
The photos below show Steve
Meltzer's final performance of Puppetolio at the Broadway location in
Santa Monica on August 16th, 2009.
The entire audience was invited outside for a group photo.
