Charles Phoenix to host Bob Baker tribute

Entertainer, author and pop-culture expert Charles Phoenix will host a tribute to Bob Baker in honor of the 85th birthday of the legendary puppeteer.

"Charles Phoenix presents... Bob Baker's 85th Birthday Party and Puppet Show Celebration" will take place on February 6 and 7 at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.

Phoenix will use slides and film clips to share the story of Bob's colorful life with the audience prior to a performance of Something to Crow About, Baker's classic 1957 barnyard-themed musical starring dozens of vintage marionettes. The evening will wind up with a performance by the puppet master himself, followed by birthday 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 for Liza Minnelli's 4th birthday. His innovative puppets appeared in a long list of classic TV shows including Bewitched, Star Trek, Land of the Giants and Hawaiian Eye. Among his many motion picture credits are A Star is Born with Judy Garland, G.I. Blues with Elvis, Bednobs and Broomsticks and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

With his partner, Alton Wood, Bob turned a run-down scenic shop near downtown Los Angeles into a family entertainment institution.

An innovative artist and puppet master, Bob and his company have performed puppets around the globe - even on Navy ships and submarines. Mr. Baker currently has an inventory of over three thousand puppets as he creates 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."

This January, Charles is honored to be the Grand Marshal of the 32nd Occasional Doo Dah Parade.

"Charles Phoenix presents... Bob Baker's 85th Birthday party and Puppet Show Celebration" takes place on Friday, February 6 at 8:30 pm and Saturday, February 7 at 8:30 pm. All tickets are $40.00. 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.