| Bob Baker Marionette Theater | |
| Location: | 4949 York Blvd, Los Angeles |
| Built: | 1923 |
| Designation1: | Los Angeles |
| Designation1 Date: | 2009[1] |
| Designation1 Number: | 958 |
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, founded by Bob Baker and Alton Wood in 1963, is the oldest children's theater company in Los Angeles. In June 2009, the theater was designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.[2] In early 2019, the theater moved to a new permanent home on York Boulevard.
While attending Hollywood High School, Bob Baker began manufacturing toy marionettes that sold both in Europe and the United States. After graduation he became an apprentice at the George Pal Animation Studios. A year later he was promoted to head animator of Puppetoons. After World War II, Baker served as an animation advisor at many film studios, including Disney. His puppetry was featured on TV in Bewitched, Star Trek, Land of the Giants and NCIS; and on film in Bluebeard, A Star Is Born, G.I. Blues, Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.[3]
In 1961, Baker and Alton Wood opened a live puppet theater and permanent showcase for their hand-crafted marionettes. Originally built as a scene shop for special effects artist M.B. Paul, the theater was located on 1st Street in downtown Los Angeles. The theater remained in this location until 2019.
In June 2009, the Los Angeles City Council designated the theater as an historic monument. The Los Angeles Times described the scene:[4]
Baker died on November 28, 2014, at the age of 90 from natural causes.[5]
In 2019, The Bob Baker Marionette Theater gained 501(c)3 non-profit status, and relocated into a 1920's silent movie theater in Highland Park. Inspired by Bob Baker's original renderings, the new space has been transformed into "The Place Where Imagination Dwells".
In addition to hosting their BBMT productions, Bob Baker Marionette Theater houses El Cine,[6] a non-profit promoting Latinx culture through film. BBMT and El Cine frequently collaborate with local, mobile movie screening clubs, including La Collectionneuse[7] (franco-centric club).[8] These events will often include a marionette show and movie screening. Sometimes they will include speakers, musicians, and receptions with drinks and discourse after.