A Celebration of Ralph Chessé's Marionettes
Hosted by Harry Arends with the Chessé Family
November 7
Exhibition: 7 PM
Presentation: 8 PM
On Thursday, November 7, join BBMT and the LA Guild of Puppetry to celebrate the life and legacy of master puppeteer Ralph Chessé (1900–1991). Following an exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library, guests can take closer look at Chessé’s marionette masterpieces and related ephemera spanning a career of 7 decades. At 8 PM, Harry Arends will present a historical overview of Chessé’s work including archival audio and video, followed by a panel discussion with members of the Chessé family, Bruce and Damon Chessé.
Chessé’s works will be displayed throughout our first floor, and the panel discussion will happen in our Theater.
Ticketing is general admission. Beverages will be also available for purchase!
About Ralph Chessé
Ralph Chessé was born in 1900 in New Orleans, but the majority of his life was spent in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he created paintings, sculptures, and marionette productions, including performances of Shakespeare plays and the beloved TV show The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz (the longest sustaining children’s program in San Francisco television history from 1953–1969). His work ranged from large WPA productions, which influenced our own Bob Baker, to murals to artists’ rights activism. His delightful, exquisite work continues to inspire generations of puppeteers and artists.
About Our Participants
Harry Arends is a retired television producer and puppet archivist / historian. A longtime friend of Bob Baker, he worked with Bob on show development and audio restoration. The Arends Puppet Archive is among the largest in the country.
Bruce Chessé, son of Ralph Chessé, worked alongside his father in puppet productions, both as a puppeteer and producer.
Damon Chessé, grandson of Ralph Chessé, is a film and theatrical set dresser.
The Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry was formed by a group of puppetry artists, educators, historians, and enthusiasts in 1956. They were chartered by the Puppeteers of America in 1957, and are now one of the largest PofA guilds in the United States. They continue to welcome professionals, amateurs, educators, hobbyists, and fans to join them in celebrating the ancient and wonderful art of puppetry. Their mission is to share, promote, and advance the art of puppetry in the Greater Los Angeles area through performance and education.