Charles Phoenix Presents Halloween at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater 10/29, 10/30

Entertainer, author and pop-culture expert Charles Phoenix will pay tribute to Bob Baker and host the legendary puppeteer's currently running Halloween show as part of "Charles Phoenix Presents... Halloween at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater!" Two performances take place at 8:30 pm on October 29 and 30, 2009 at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.

Phoenix will use film clips to share the story of Bob's colorful life with the audience prior to a performance of of Bob Baker's Halloween Spooktacular!, starring dozens of vintage marionettes including the Purple People Eater, Invisible Man and Dancing Black Light Skeletons. The evening will wind up with an appearance by the puppet master himself, followed by cake and ice cream in the festive party room.

"Bob Baker is a local treasure," says Phoenix, who has been a fan for years and always included the Bob Baker Marionette Theater as a stop on his popular 'Disneyland' tours of Downtown Los Angeles. "During Bob's seventy five plus-year career, he has performed for thousands, and countless children are still being delighted by his shows. The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is a Los Angeles landmark and the country's oldest puppet theater, not to mention a living museum of marionettes."

Bob Baker learned the magic of puppetry at the early age of eight. He trained with several different local companies and put his skills to work with his first professional performance for director Mervyn LeRoy. While attending Hollywood High School, Bob began manufacturing toy marionettes that sold both in Europe and the United States. After graduation at the age of eighteen, he began his extensive career in animation at the George Pal Studios, starting out as an apprentice and soon rising to become a head animator of "Puppetoons" a year later. After WWII, Bob served as an animation advisor at many film studios including Walt Disney. During the Golden Age of Hollywood Bob often performed at children's parties in the homes of stars, including Liza Minnelli's 4th birthday. His innovative puppets have appeared in A Star is Born with Judy Garland, G.I. Blues with Elvis Presley, Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks with Angela Lansbury, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as well as in a long list of classic TV shows including Bewitched, Star Trek, Land of the Giants and Hawaiian Eye. With his partner, Alton Wood, Bob turned a scenic shop near downtown Los Angeles into a family entertainment institution. An innovative artist and puppet master, Bob and his company have performed around the globe - even on Navy ships and submarines. Mr. Baker currently has an inventory of over three thousand marionettes and is still creating more. Bob Baker is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and former Governor of the Animation Branch of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Charles Phoenix is known for his live, hilarious Retro Slide Show performances, fun-filled School Bus Field Trip Tours, crazy kitchen experiments and colorful coffee table books. He offers a hip and highly original take on kitschy and classic American culture. Fans from coast to coast enjoy his infectious enthusiasm, gracious sense of humor and keen eye for detail. Charles is a recurring correspondent for NPR's Day to Day and guest on The Martha Stewart Show. LA Weekly chose Charles for the cover of its 2008 People issue, calling him the "Kodachrome King." Last January, Charles was honored to be the Grand Marshal of the 32nd Occasional Doo Dah Parade.

"Charles Phoenix Presents... Halloween at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater!" takes place on Thursday, October 29 at 8:30 pm and Friday, October 30 at 8:30 pm. All tickets are $35.00. The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is located under the Beverly Blvd. Bridge at 1345 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.charlesphoenix.com.

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