Marionette, standing human female with bathing cap and towel; composition material, cloth, plastic, wooden handle. Bathing Beauty” marionette from Burnside Baths used in short skits and between scenes at the Turnabout Theatre in San Francisco c. 1930-1950. Theatre got its name from streetcar seats with reverse direction backs. Half of program was puppets. At intermission seats were flipped to face live theatre. Theatre moved from S.F. to L.A. in early 1950’s. Marionette purchased from Harry Burnett by the donor in 1978 at annual Westwood Village sidewalk art show and sale. Donor replaced strings.
Donor:
Robert Jessup
Collection place:
San Francisco County, California
Culture or time period:
United States Historic
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Marionettes (stringed puppets)
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama