Step Inside L.A.'s Historic Marionette Theater

Los Angeles’ historic Bob Baker Marionette Theater is one of the longest running puppetry theaters in the United States. It’s home to more than 2,000 handmade marionettes, and gives out free ice cream at its performances. Founded by Bob Baker and Alton Wood in 1963, the theater was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural landmark in 2009, and its creations have been featured in TV shows such as Star Trek and Bewitched, and films such as Bluebeard, A Star is Born and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

CREDITS
Directed by:
Woodruff Laputka

Executive Producers:
Doug Baldinger
Chris Naka

[dmitrii]

This channel is SO UNIQUE & ORIGINAL

[nanon]

I went there on a couple of field trips with my Catholic school (Our Lady of Malibu) as a kid in the early/mid 70s. It made such an impact that I think about it to this day. Good to see it's still there.

[Lwize]

I remember going to the original theater for my birthday around fifty years ago. I never knew they were still performing!

[thefouranimationproduction]

This is how I've wanna to work there because I see the shows since 9 years now now that everyone knows me they love my videos and more that I made for them that they like to see ❤

[debbieomi]

Oh my goodness! I love this! It brings back memories of the marionettes I bought for myself and two sisters as souvenirs from Mexico in 1978. They were the same with different color costumes but we often made gowns and wigs so we could have a girl orctwo in the line-up. We spent hours upon hours playing with them! These are such sweet memories! Thank you!

[kymberlyp]

I went to a college (Wheelock College in Boston) that taught puppeteering. I don’t know much about it as I was a social work major at the time. This was VERY interesting. I’m not particularly fond of puppets, marionettes or clowns but I still like to learn about them. Thanks for the great video. 💚🌺💚

[SDWife]

What a fantastic place. I've got tears in my eyes.

[masterkey]

Atlas obscura, you know old theaters have pipe organs hidden in them? this theater also has an organ!

[murphym.]

hopefully the new location is successful

[Mirrah]

I hope they’re doing some kind of program to pass on puppet making and puppeteering, so the tradition isn’t lost.