A Playful trip into the past, present & Future of Bob Baker Marionette Theater

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The History of “BOBO”

Circa 1945, the only clown out of eight manufactured marionettes coming down the Bob Baker assembly line was Coco. One day Bob Baker and Morton Haack, designing with Bob at the time, decided they were tired of seeing Coco's face. On the spur of the moment the two created a new character from the scraps and discards lelt on the cutting tables and floor. Taking his name from his creator, BOBO was born - in twenty minutes, no less. Everyone had an immediate affinity for the pixie clown with the happy-go-lucky face.

From his ignominious beginning, Bobo proved his worth by outselling every puppet model 3 to 1. Thousands upon thousands of Bobos were sold as fast as the Baker corps could manufacture them. Bobo was a hit. Three wallpaper companies put him on a children's line of wallpaper. He had his own TV show, The Adventures of Bobo, which was the first television series to originate on the West Coast, televised from KFI-TV: Los Angeles. With Marion Richman supplying his vocal chords, Bobo headed for a long career ... until they sold the station. Then came Ms. Richman's untimely death, and Bobo became voiceless.

He joined the Baker touring company as a mute puppet. In fact, whenever an audience of children grew frightened of the other marionettes, Bob Baker would trot out Bobo who proved to be shyer of the children than they were of him. Hiding behind Mr. Baker's leg, Bobo would peek at the children trying to coax him out so that the show could go on. Bobo also received the honor of giving the birthday children a very large lollipop which guaranteed his return invitation the following year. He regained his voice with the help of Alton Wood, and for the next fifteen years, Bobo played in countless movie star homes and for the children of California. Then came the Bob Baker Marionette Theater and Bobo went into retirement appearing now and again for a specialty number or a nostalgia act. He is purportedly awaiting his comeback as a puppeteer performing with his own puppets.