Last September, Saline Journal re-introduced its readers to the ties of traditional string-puppet performances to this city. [1]
Can you still see such shows today? Sure. There’s a modest theater in Ypsilanti solely dedicated to such offerings. Detroit Institute of Arts has two things on its schedule for the upcoming weekend. But unlike more common stagecraft, audiences here are equally drawn to the opportunity to see how it’s done, for a look behind The Wizard’s curtain, to ask detailed questions. [2,3,4,5,6]
Just over a year ago, Saline Mayor Brian Marl expressed concern that our place at this table has been eroded to a mere shadow of what it once was — what it still could and should be. He took this to the Arts and Culture Committee in November of 2017 with encouragement that they look for ways to better utilize the “Bixby Marionettes Trust” in future initiatives. [7,8,9]
During a discussion with Saline Journal last July, Committee Vice Chairperson John Anderson described his own reaction to that introduction of assets by the mayor as one of surprise. [10]
“The Committee was not aware of the volume of what’s here,” he said. “The number and variety of marionettes alone gets your attention. But then there are the posters and the papers.” In a statement last week, Mr Anderson estimated fifteen linear feet of business records, including “original scripts, production notes, news clippings, photographs, and posters.”
These papers, made and kept contemporaneously but never with a thought of organization for historical and research interest studies, are believed to be the basis for differentiating the Meredith Bixby legacy and the City of Saline as part of that.
“Once we knew of the needs for this collection, my interest turned to identifying other entitites that could provide collaboration,” Mr Anderson explained. “The first step is to digitize the archive. Then we can understand what we have and we can organize it.” At this point, his best guess is that costs for digitizing could range from $5000 or so. Grants are now being sought to support this.
He is keenly aware that “Finding partnerships within the community will be essential. We have in mind beginning to refresh Saline puppet displays starting in February 2019.” Based on our own discussion with newly elected state senator Jeff Irwin, it sounds like a renewed spotlight on the Meredith Marionettes Touring Company already has at least one willing advocate in Lansing. [11]
In the meantime, our Arts & Culture Committee has just announced that it has now reached a point with due diligence and coalition building to set January 3, 2019 as the date for its first step of removing all business items from storage and organizing them into specific categories of preliminary organization. Partnering in this endeavor will be the Saline Area Historical Society and Michigan Oral History Association.
With a career spanning nearly half-a-century, Meredith Bixby lead a touring company that staged approximately 20,000 performances around this country. Amazingly, his meticulous files have largely survived, likely in place as he, himself, last set them.
In just over a week, that will all change. And the histories of both Saline and puppeteering will be all the better for it.
References
- “Once Upon A Time, Marionettes Set The Stage For Entertainment Techniques That Remain Relevant To This Very Day” Dell Deaton (September 10, 2018) Saline Journal.
- Dreamland Theater (home page).
- “Local Marionettes Are Alive And Well In Ypsilanti, Currently Performing Original TV Star Trek Material Through December 16” Dell Deaton (December 10, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Puppet Peformance: The Rainbow Bridge and Other Stories” (December 29 and 30, 2018) Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).
- “The Wizard of Oz (1939)” IMDb.
- “‘Puppets Still Give Far More Realistic Performances In Movies Than Computer Graphics, Don’t You Think?’ Tim Rose, Puppeteer” Dell Deaton (November 13, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “A Brief Look Back On The Meredith Bixby Marionette Story, Part II: Saline Once Hosted Museum, Held Puppet Festivals” Dell Deaton (September 21, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Arts & Culture Committee” Saline.
- “Bixby Marionettes Trust” Saline.
- “John Anderson” International Sculpture Center (re:sculpt).
- “Exclusive Interview With Jeff Irwin, Democrat Party Candidate For 18th State Senate District In Michigan” Dell Deaton (October 23, 2018) Saline Journal.
- Saline Area Historical Society (home page).
- Michigan Oral History Association (home page).
