Answer: Howdy Doody
"Howdy Doody" was a American children's television program that ran from 1947 to 1960. The character was created by Bob Smith who was known "Buffalo Bob" in his role as host. The show took place in Doodyville, a circus town in which both puppets and humans resided. The Howdy Doody puppet was a boyish, red-headed, freckled-faced marionette. He had 48 freckles representing the 48 States(until 1959 when Alaska was admitted to the Union). The original marionette was operated with eleven strings.
Other puppets included Heidi Doody (Howdy's sister), Mayor Phineas Dilly Dally, Inspector John J. Fadoozle, Sandra the Witch, Capt. Windy Scuttlebut and Flub-a-Dub (a combination of eight animals). The human characters included Clarabell the Clown, J. Cornelius Cobb, Sir Archibald the Explorer, The Featherman, and Chief Thunderthud, Princess Summerfallwinterspring.
"Masterpiece Theater" debuted in 1971 as an collective drama series showing adaptations of biographies, novels and original television dramas. The production of "Our Town" with Paul Newman, as the Stage Director aired on Masterpiece Theater on October 5, 2003. Ben Fox assumed the role of George Gibbs a "boy next door type", who becomes a responsible husband and father.
From Quiz: Masterpiece Puppet Show
Answer: An emu
Rod Hull and Emu were a popular 'double act' in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s, though their formative years were on Australian television. 'Emu' was based on the flightless bird of the same name, with Hull having one arm up its neck and forming its mouth. That 'mouth' could be used for a variety of actions, both physical and purely visual.
In 1972, Emu destroyed a bunch of flowers presented to the Queen Mother at the Royal Variety performance in London. Four years later, it attacked Michael Parkinson on his chat show. Parkinson, probably the best and most admired UK talkshow host of his era, was clearly seen to struggle hard to preserve his dignity - and his temper. Emu also appeared on US TV shows. In 1985, it attacked Johnny Carson live on "The Tonight Show".
From Quiz: Dummies For Dummies
Answer: Nookie Bear
In 1976 the act performed at the Royal Variety Performance in front of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. De Courcey was a big Crystal Palace fan and Nookie Bear used to wear a large Crystal Palace rosette.
From Quiz: Eyafjallajökull... That's Easy For You To Say!
Answer: Vietnam
Water puppets are lacquered wooden puppets that originated in the Red River Delta area of Vietnam. This type of puppet show takes place in a waist-deep pool of water. The puppets are attached to a large underwater wooden rod. These rods are controlled by puppeteers who are hidden behind a screen. This form of entertainment is over 1,000 years old and was often performed in flooded rice paddies. They were originally performed to amuse and satisfy the important water spirits who influenced many parts of the peasants lives.
From Quiz: There Might Be Strings Attached
Answer: Charlie McCarthy
Charlie McCarthy sat on Edgar's knee with a monocle, top hat, and tuxedo. He made comments and remarks that no human would have thought to make during the late '30s to early '50s. Charlie and Edgar were off and on radio from 1937 to 1973 with shows such as "The Chase and Sanborn Hour" (Hour later changed to Program), "The Charlie McCarthy Show", "The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show", and "The New Edgar Bergen Hour" plus guest appearances on others. Bergen hosted a TV game show, "Do You Trust Your Wife?" ('56-'57) and usually appeared with Charlie, Mortimer Snerd, and Effie Klinker. Charlie did receive an honorary degree (Master of Innuendo and Snappy Comeback) in 1937 from Northwestern University.
From Quiz: Ventriloquists - A Tribute
Answer: It doesn't
Of course it is the ventriloquist who speaks, not the dummy, but one could certainly look like the world's greatest ventriloquist if an audio device was concealed inside the dummy's head. Jules Vernon, an early vaudeville ventriloquist, had no need of such trickery, and used as many as seven puppets in his act, seamlessly jumping from character to character in a whirlwind of dialogue and repartee, as he made the puppets appear to converse with him and each other.
From Quiz: Ventriloquism for Dummies
Answer: Baroness Schraeder
Baroness Schraeder was planning to marry the Captain and had come to visit him and meet his children. Maria and the "kids" entertained the Baroness and the Captain with an original puppet show and songs about "The Lonely Goatherd".
From Quiz: Much Ado About Puppets
Answer: Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson's first puppet production was "The Adventures of Twizzle" in 1957, and over the next thirty years he produced several more shows of this genre. During this time he also created several space-themed real-life shows such as "UFO" (1969) and "Space: 1999" (1975). In 2005 a computer-animated sequel to "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" was released. Called "Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet" it cost ₤23 million to produce.
Gerry was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2001.
From Quiz: Puppet on a String
Answer: 1955
An early version of Kermit appeared in 1955, in a 5-minute puppet show for WRC-TV's "Sam and Friends".
From Quiz: Kermit the Frog
Answer: Rob Halford
"Rock-n-Roll Puppet Show Productions" co-founder Hillary Thomson provides the voice of Rob Halford. He has a new, wacky adventure in every show!
From Quiz: Rock-n-Roll Puppet Show!
Answer: Charlie McCarthy
Charlie McCarthy was Edgar Bergen's famed dummy partner. Charlie, who was part of Bergen's act in high school, became famous for his top hat, tuxedo, and monocle in the 1930's. Charlie and Bergen made their radio debut on NBC's "The Chase and Sanborn Hour". The following year, Mortimer Snerd was added. After a famous feud with W. C. Fields Charlie became a true icon.
On October 30,1938, after Charlie's comedy spot, some radio listeners stumbled on Welles' production of "The War of the Worlds" Even though the show issued a disclaimer at the beginning, people tuning in late did not hear the announcement and some panic ensued. Alexander Woolcott, a critic, sent Orson Welles a telegram stating: "This only goes to prove, my beamish boy, that the intelligent people were all listening to the dummy, and that all the dummies were listening to you."
The original "Upstairs, Downstairs", divided into five series that ran from 1971 to 1975 on "Masterpiece Theater", was created by Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins, with Marsh portraying house parlormaid Rose Buck.
Angus Hudson was the stern yet fair and good-hearted Scottish butler in the Bellamy household at 165 Eaton Place, Belgravia. He was an educated man from a working class background. Although authoritative with the junior staff, he had a wicked sense of humor which he sometimes displayed to Mrs. Bridges, the cook, whom he married in the final episode. He was fiercely loyal to the Bellamy family, although he was not above eavesdropping on a telephone call or two!
From Quiz: Masterpiece Puppet Show
Answer: Lenny the Lion
Terry first appeared on a BBC TV programme in the UK in 1956 in a variety show entitled "Dress Rehearsal". The act visited America in 1958 and had a spot on "The Ed Sullivan Show". In 1963 The Beatles appeared on an episode of "Pops and Lenny", one of the duo's UK shows. The act continued to work through the 70s and 80s. The act was even used as an educational tool to teach children to read on a programme in the 80s called "Reading With Lenny".
From Quiz: Eyafjallajökull... That's Easy For You To Say!
Answer: Ventriloquist dummy
Many people may be unaware that ventriloquism is a form of puppetry. Ventriloquism is the art of 'throwing' your voice so that it appears to be coming from the puppet or dummies head. The emphasis in this form of entertainment is the skill of the speakers voice while the use of other puppets requires emphasis on hand skills. Ventriloquist dummies can be made from wood, plastic, cloth or even metal and the varieties are limited only by the creators imagination. Jeff Dunham is one of the worlds most famous ventriloquists and has performed all over North America and Europe. He has often been credited with reviving this old art form and bringing it into the 21st century.
From Quiz: There Might Be Strings Attached
Answer: Danny O'Day & Farfel the dog
Danny O'Day sang the beginning and Farfel the dog sang the last word, both the creation of Jimmy Nelson (born 1928) as was Ftatateeta the cat, Humphrey Highsby, and David Sumkind (a David Suskind imitation). Farfel (a Yiddish name for pasta), Danny and of course Nelson were spokesmen for Texaco on "The Texaco Star Theater", Milton Berle host. Nelson, along with Madge, the Palmolive manicurist, and the Maytag repairman are among the longest TV spokespersons. "The Texaco Star Theater" was so popular that NBC refused to cancel it for the election on 2 Nov 1948. Nelson also hosted a show called "Studio 99 1/2", from 1960-61 on a local NY TV station weekday afternoons and evenings, but no episodes can be found.
From Quiz: Ventriloquists - A Tribute
Answer: Manipulator
The "manipulator" controls the puppet by manipulating the strings. This is normally done hidden from view so the audience is unaware of what is happening backstage. Puppets can be controlled by one manipulator, or two or three, all depending on the complexity of the model. The manipulator is also known an a "controller" in certain places in the world.
From Quiz: From Puppets to Muppets
Answer: Throwing their voice
Naturally, ventriloquists do not actually throw their voice (one could not literally throw one's voice any further than one could throw a party), but this is the term that is used to describe the skill of making it seem as though the dummy is doing the talking, even though the sound is coming from the ventriloquist's mouth. Harry Lester (1878-1956), also called The Great Lester, and the "Grandfather of Modern-Day Ventriloquism", was one of the great teachers of the art of "ventriloquizing", and was the first ventriloquist to popularise the familiar stand-up routine with a single dummy (most notably his dummy "Frank Byron, Jr.").
From Quiz: Ventriloquism for Dummies
Answer: Edgar Bergen
Edgar Bergen was a famous ventriloquist who often performed on radio in the 1940s and 1950s. So it really didn't matter much if he moved his mouth when his dummies talked ... and he usually did!
From Quiz: Much Ado About Puppets
Answer: The Goatherd Song
In the movie, the puppet performance is put on for the children's father, with Maria (Julie Andrews) singing the song. The puppetry in the show was performed by master puppeteers Bil Baird and Cora Eisenberg.
In the stage production of 1959, Maria sings the "Goatherd Song" to comfort the children during a thunderstorm, whilst other productions have the song at fairs or a concert.
From Quiz: Puppet on a String
Answer: Organ failure caused by undiagosed strep
Jim Henson, of course, was the creator of the Muppets and he and his gang of puppeteers preferred to call themselves "muppeteers"!
From Quiz: Who Is Pulling My String?
Answer: Louis Brabant
Ventriloquism is an ancient art. It can be dated all the way back to Egyptian and Hebrew archaelogy, however, the first ventriloquist known by name was Louis Brabant. Like other ventriloquists, Brabant was seen as a prophet of sorts (because he could speak using his belly). Brabant was a valet to King Frances I of France during the 16th Century.
From Quiz: The History of Ventriloquism
Answer: Steve Whitmire
Jim Henson died of pneumonia at the age of 53, on May 16th, 1990. Steve Whitmire has since taken over as the puppeteer of Kermit.
From Quiz: Kermit the Frog
Answer: Rock-n-Roll Puppet Show
This show was first performed in June 2001 in Toronto, and has been performed several times since.
From Quiz: Rock-n-Roll Puppet Show!
Answer: Sesame Street
"Sesame Street" began educating children on US TV in 1969. It used animation and the Muppets created more than ten years earlier by Jim Henson. By the time it celebrated its 40th anniversary, "Sesame Street" was being broadcast in 140 countries.
From Quiz: Dummies For Dummies
Answer: Orville the Duck
Orville was a green duck who wore a nappy with a very large safety pin in it. In 2005 the duo had an appearance on Peter Kay and Tony Christie's video for the UK hit "Is This the Way to Amarillo". In 2009 the duo even made a cameo appearance on the BBC show "Ashes to Ashes".
From Quiz: Eyafjallajökull... That's Easy For You To Say!
Answer: Lester
Created by Willie Tyler, Lester is recognized by his ever-present baseball hat. The team's routines were performed primarily on variety styled shows of the 1970s. Lester remarked that they were part of "The Four Tops" when they were called "The Four Tops and a Stick". Tyler was the first ventriloquist to appear on the "Late Show with David Letterman". He toured with many famous Motown artists and in 2000 was presented with "The Askins-Award" for his contributions to the art of ventriloquism. The duo has a few commercials to their credit like McDonalds and Maxwell House Coffee.
From Quiz: Ventriloquists - A Tribute
Answer: F, V, B, P, M
The labial sounds of the consonants F, V, B, P, M, and also W are the hardest to produce without moving the lips. Ventriloquists typically use substitutes like TH (for F and V), D (for B), T (for P), and N (for M), often modifying them by using the tongue in a different manner, or disguising them by speaking quickly. For W, a quick "ooh" sound is often used as a substitute before the rest of the word is pronounced. Making these sounds while maintaining a smile is particularly difficult.
From Quiz: Ventriloquism for Dummies
Answer: Pinocchio
Pinocchio was a fictional character first created in 1883 by Italian writer, Carlo Collodi. "Pinocchio" is a wooden puppet made by a lonely carver, and is brought to life by a fairy. In order to become a real boy, Pinocchio, with the help of his conscience, Jiminy Cricket, must learn to be "brave, truthful and unselfish".
Walt Disney released "Pinocchio" as an animated movie in 1940.
From Quiz: Puppet on a String
Answer: Gepetto
The puppet was Pinocchio who had many adventures with a cricket named Jiminy (at least in the Disney movie) who acted as his conscience.
From Quiz: Who Is Pulling My String?
Answer: Sesame Street
The song 'It Isn't Easy Being Green' was first performed on "Sesame Street", in 1972. The song is associated with problems with identity, and failure of individuality.
From Quiz: Kermit the Frog
Answer: Night of the Living Dead
This puppet show was based on "Night of the Living Dead," but with a rock-n-roll twist. It featured some very funny, original characters and hilarious zombie puppets.
From Quiz: Rock-n-Roll Puppet Show!
Answer: Greg The Bunny
The show debuted on a local TV station in New York until the Fox Network picked it up and made a season of programmes that went on-air in early 2002. Fox toned down some of the wilder elements, and the show lost its way, being cancelled the same year. It later acquired cult status.
From Quiz: Dummies For Dummies
Answer: Ray Alan
Both Ray and Lord Charles wore a monocle when performing. Although more famous for Lord Charles, Ray did have another unique pair of dummies called Tich and Quackers. Tich was also a ventriloquist, so you had Ray doing Tich's voice and Quackers' voice, while the duck sat on Tich's lap as his dummy. Prior to finding fame with his ventriloquism act, Ray Alan toured all over the world as a cabaret act, even performing once with Laurel and Hardy in 1954.
From Quiz: Eyafjallajökull... That's Easy For You To Say!
Answer: Jerry Mahoney
Paul Winchell's goal at 13 was medicine but polio and the Great Depression intervened. While recuperating, Paul created a dummy for his art class taught by Jerry Magon. Jerry Mahoney was named after this teacher who awarded Paul credit for his creation. Along with his other friend Knucklehead Smiff, he took 1st prize on the radio show "Major Bowe's Original Amateur Hour" and was introduced to TV in 1948 on "The Bigelow Show". Carol Burnett was introduced to TV in 1955 on the "The Paul Winchell Show". "Winchell-Mahoney Time" ('65-'68) saw Knucklehead Smiff's father, Bonehead Smiff, and Oswald, a clever camera inverted image both appear.
From Quiz: Ventriloquists - A Tribute
Answer: Bunraku
"Banraku" was first introduced during 1612 in Osaka. The production features life size puppets controlled by puppeteers, a chanter who narrates the story and a musical instrument player. The musical instrument is similar to a lute.
From Quiz: From Puppets to Muppets
Answer: Winky Dink
As a teenager In 1952, Shari Lewis won first prize for her puppet artistry on "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts". In 1956, she and Lamb Chop appeared on "Captain Kangaroo," and she landed her own show on two local television stations. "The Shari Lewis Show" ran on NBC from 1960 to 1963.
From Quiz: Much Ado About Puppets
Answer: Mr Squiggle
Mr Squiggle is a marionette with blue hair and a pencil for a nose. Once a show he flies down from his home on the moon to draw pictures from squiggles sent in by children. Inevitably they were drawn wrong way up and Mr Squiggle would jump around saying "upside down". Over the course of the show he was aided by one of several female assistants, and the bad tempered blackboard whose catch cry was "hurry up!"
The show first screened in 1959, and continued until 1999.
From Quiz: Puppet on a String
Answer: "Howdy Doody"
Hosted by Bob Smith the show introduced us to many icons of children's television including Howdy Doody himself, Cowboy Bob and Clarabelle the Clown.
From Quiz: Who Is Pulling My String?
Answer:
The Muppets hit the big screen in 1979, in a movie that developed the back story of the formation of the troupe that would perform on 'The Muppet Show'. Like that show, it was a British production, from ITC Entertainment.
After an opening scene to set the stage, we see a young Kermit sitting in a Florida swamp, playing the banjo and singing 'Rainbow Connection' before he is inspired to set off to Hollywood so he can pursue a career in show business. He teams up with Fozzie (who is already a hopeless comic), but they soon find themselves pursued by Doc Hopper, who wants Kermit to be the spokesperson (should that be spokesfrog?) for his line of French-fried frog legs restaurants. He continues to pursue them as they encounter, and add to their entourage, the rock band Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, the band's manager Scooter, Gonzo and his girlfriend Camilla Chicken, Miss Piggy, Rowlf the Dog, and finally Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Bunsen. After surviving numerous hairy situations, they arrive in Hollywood and are immediately signed to a lucrative contract. Mishaps during their performance lead to the appearance of a rainbow above the movie studio, and the cast (joined by some Muppets from 'Sesame Street' and other Henson projects) reprises 'Rainbow Connection'.
As well as the fun of seeing the development of the familiar ensemble cast the movie offers the anarchic humour with which we have become familiar. The human guest star list was extensive, including Edgar Bergen (as himself, with Charlie McCarthy) in his last film appearance. Dom de Luise was the talent agent who sent Kermit on his way, and Orson Welles the producer who gave them a contract in Hollywood.
The movie was the highest-grossing puppet film until the 2011 release of 'The Muppets'. It was nominated for numerous awards, mostly for its music. Jim Henson and Paul Williams (who wrote' Rainbow Connection' and other tracks) were awarded a Grammy for Best Album for Children for the soundtrack.
From Quiz: So Many Muppets
Answer: Paul Zerdin
His most popular character is Sam, a cheeky young boy. He uses other characters called Baby and Albert, Baby being exactly that--a baby--and Albert being an old man. He also uses the method of a movable mouth placed over the lower face of a volunteer from the audience. Once the mouthpiece is in place the audience member actually then becomes the ventriloquist's dummy.
From Quiz: Eyafjallajökull... That's Easy For You To Say!
Answer: Lamb Chop
Lamb Chop was the answer but the others were also puppets of Shari's. Charlie Horse, the goofy guy, Hush Puppy, from the south and Wing Ding a black crow, who was dropped from mention in the '60s because of cultural attitudes. She had many TV shows, specials, and appearances from 1952 to 1998 including "The Shari Lewis Show" and "Shariland". "Captain Kangaroo" introduced Lamb Chop to TV in 1956. Shari and daughter Mallory, who has carried on with Lamb Chop, won the first ever Emmy by a mother and daughter. Elmo of "Sesame Street" was purportedly the first non-human puppet to testify before Congress in 2002, Lamb Chop beat him by nine years in 1993. Along with Shari they testified for children's protection on TV.
From Quiz: Ventriloquists - A Tribute
