Bob Baker's Halloween Hoop-De-Doo

I first saw Bob Baker's Marionette Theater back in March 2005, when Charles Phoenix offered a slide show there to a group from the Los Angeles Conservancy (see March 2009 post). We also got a taste of Bob's marionette mastery, including meeting Bob, taking a peek in his workshop and having ice cream in the party room.

Since then, I've heard about tough times for Bob and his puppets, including the potential sale of the Theater. I was thrilled to hear about his Halloween Hoop-De-Doo show and knew I had to go while I had a chance. It was fantastic! I sat in the adults-without-kids section (there actually were several of us there) while it was mostly parents or grandparents with toddlers. All ages had a great time, cheering and laughing for the full hour.

Here you see Dracula and Vampira (with their human companions holding the strings) entertaining the audience. We also saw multiple blacklight acts which were totally cool, plus the Purple People Eater and the Invisible Man, courtesy of Bob's troupe. And, yes, we all got ice cream in the party room afterward.

The Theater dates back to 1960, and most locals haven't seen a show since childhood. I'm going back for Bob's Nutcracker show over the holidays, while I still can. I'll hope to see you there!

Click here to go to Bob Baker's Web site.

Bob Baker's Nutcracker

Two years ago, I saw Bob Baker's Halloween Hoop-De-Doo and said I would see his Nutcracker that year. Welllll, better late than never, I guess. As you may know, Bob passed away just a few weeks ago at the age of 90, so seeing this show now was especially important to me. It was as special and spectacular as ever!

Bob's crew continues to tell the classic tale in his own unique way, utilizing 100 or so handmade shadow puppets, marionettes and props to make the story come alive. The orchestra players and their instruments actually moved!

This dragon puppet from Clara's dreamy travels was my favorite, and the kids in the audience were mesmerized by the magical performance, including this big kid!!

PLEASE help keep Bob's Theater alive! The Nutcracker runs through Sunday, February 1, so continue the holidays going long after the stockings and ornaments are tucked away.

Click here for Bob Baker's website.

Bangkok Palace

After Bob Baker's Nutcracker show, my chum and I walked a few blocks north to Bangkok Palace for some lunch and to verbalize the awesomeness of what we just experienced.

And this is the next round of astonishment: my standard Thai benchmark spicy mint chicken taken up a few notches. Wow, I might go out on a limb and say this is the best yet! Mouth-on-fire chiles definitely spiced  up the minty-deliciousness. Yummy, plate was licked clean with both happy brain and tummy!!

Click here for Bangkok Palace's website.

Charles Phoenix Retro Holiday Slide Show

Charles Phoenix is at it again! He has revamped his hysterical Retro Holiday Slide Show once again, this time offered in a Mammal Hall at the Natural History Museum.

As I've gushed previously, I've been a Charles fan since 2005 when I saw his slide show at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. In the intervening years, I've seen Charles' Retro Holiday Slide Show three or four times, including at the Egyptian Theater, Moonlight Rollerway and Petersen Automotive Museum. And, Charles is blog post #2 when he was Master of Ceremonies at the 2009 Doo Dah Parade. In case you don't know what I'm talking about with the slide shows, Charles has tens of thousands of vintage slides that he's collected over the years. Think wacky, awkward, crazy slides of random families shot in blazing Kodachrome colors flashed on the big screen. He focuses on the choice holiday ones for the shows and provides a wonderful running commentary to connect it all together.

Tonight began with some new-fangled slide images of Charles' life. We got an insight into his youth, love of vintage cars and clothes, his first score on slides, the slide shows, then into his current food crafting phase, like the Astro-Weenie tree seen above. (I've made my version on multiple occasions!) We also heard about the genesis of cherpumple cake/pie, requesting "faces" on his pancakes, and his adventures making a Jello tree out of a parking cone. As Charles likes to say, "I know!"

Then came the show, and all the laughs! It is just as much fun the fifth (or so) time as it was the first. If you miss the Christmas season, keep an eye out for other shows. I guarantee it will be a hoot!!

Click here to go to Charles' Web site.

Anything Charles Phoenix

I first experienced Charles Phoenix at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in May, 2005. He was doing a slide show for the LA Conservancy Historic Theater Committee. After laughter equivalent to 1,000 or more sit-ups, I was hooked. I've since seen multiple versions of his slide shows, most recently at the Moonlight Rollerway (with a full-on roller skating performance), and at the Petersen Automotive Museum (surrounded by vintage camper trailers). In this picture, Charles is Master of Ceremonies at the 2009 Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena. Yes, that is a Pepto Bismal pink metallic suit he's wearing with Mickey Mouse ears! Seek out Charles, as he is always a hoot.

Click here to go to the Web site.

Charles Phoenix Downtown Disneyland Bus Tour

OK, so you should know by now that I'm a huge Charles Phoenix fan. The missing segment of my fandom has been joining in one of his Downtown Disneyland Bus Tours. Even though I've visited all of the planned places, today was the day to check something else off my bucket list. (Note that you don't have to be a Disney freak to get tons of history and humor from Charles and this tour.) We kicked the party off at Union Station (see April, 2009 post). If you haven't been, Union Station is deemed the last of the great railway stations and has remained virtually unchanged since its opening in 1939, well, except for the new plaza with some modern art and an aquarium (think submarine ride!).

From Union Station, we caught the Monorail/Gold Line to Chinatown, now referred to as Adventureland. This version of LA's Chinatown dates back to 1938. We were treated to an old-school egg roll at Hop Louie's (1941), plus firecrackers and a lion dance with drummers in the courtyard.

From Chinatown, we jumped on a big yellow school bus for the drive to Olvera Street (see March, 2010 post), which is considered LA's birthplace in 1781. Frontierland, if you will. First stop was the Plaza Firehouse Museum and some history, then a stroll through the Avido Adobe (LA's oldest existing house from 1818), viewing a restored 1932 banned and painted over mural ("La America Tropical"), and scarfing down a sizzling hot taquito from Cileto Lindo.

Next we took the short jaunt to Philippe's (see March, 2010 post) and the famous French Dip sandwiches. I went with my fave lamb dip, potato salad and orange soda. Delish!!

Properly fueled up, we jumped on the bus for Tomorrowland via The Bradbury Building. The Bradbury, completed in 1893, was inspired by a science fiction novel set in the year 2000. Too bad that  didn't work out for us! For some bonus fun, Blade Runner, with key scenes shot at the Bradbury, was on the marquee at the Million Dollar Theater across the street.

Next up was a short walk through the Grand Central Market (see August, 2009 post) and over to Angels Flight (see March, 2010 post) for the shorter ride to the top.

Then we walked to Disney Hall (see December, 2009 post), the castle of downtown if you will, for some modern architecture and a nod to Walt and the Disney family.

Back on the bus, our next stop was Carroll Avenue, representing Main Street USA. Don't you wish you lived there?! Strolling the street, it was great to see so much grandeur, with a few in progress.

Finally, we jumped on the bus to Bob Baker's Marionette Theater (see October, 2012 post), or Fantasyland. We saw a show with classic characters dating back to the 1940s. And, we can't forget the cake and ice cream in the party room. Woohoo!!

Six hours later, and we're back to Union Station, exhausted and inspired at the same time! Yes, I've been to all of these places before, and I've posted on most of them. But Charles put a wonderful new spin on things. Who wants to join me next time?!

Click here to go to Charles' Web site.