Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 09:04:14 -0800
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Kukla, Lip Synch & History


	x-avg-checked=avg-ok-69A672A6

Yes.  The fingertip control of Shari Lewis in the
ultra flexible Lambchop translated to actual
perceived phonemes. Not just jaw flapping.  She
would sometimes slow down and over exaggerated to
emphasis it.    I can see that influence in
Henson's work with Kermit who was probably one of
the only muppets to have such flexible control.

Ax


At 08:42 AM 1/14/2006, you wrote:

>
>Shari Lewis did astounding lip-synch work with soft sculpture puppets on
>television beginning in the 1950's (often using a puppet on each hand at the
>same time). I believe Jim Henson's work is
>closer in style to hers than  others
>he acknowledged.
>
>      -Steven->
>
>
>In a message dated 1/14/2006 8:03:46 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>steve-AT-axtell.com writes:
>
>I joined  puptcrit 10 or 12 years ago to gain an
>understanding of the field with the  specific
>purpose of broadening my awareness of styles,
>different  views, and learn more about the history
>of puppets.  This is one of  the great values of this list.
>
>As a kid I loved Kukla Fran and Ollie  but was
>always really bothered by Kukla's lip sych
>manipulation.   The comic brilliance of Burr
>Tillstrom  aside, Kukla's mouth usually opened and
>closed, biting the words rather  than speaking
>them.  I was always pre-occupied by that.    (Keep
>in mind this was long before I saw Henson's work)
>
>On a  rec.arts.puppetry post from many years ago I found this.....
>
>"Henson  was quick to acknowledge the work of puppeteers before him. He
>particularly  admired Edgar Bergen. While KFO was good, it's style was much
>the same as  it had been since the middle-ages. But whereas KFO used a
>traditional style  comeplete with stage, Henson was the first to make the TV
>screen the stage.  This was a revolution in puppeteering. Henson was also one
>of the first to  lip-sync the puppet's mouth movements with their speech.
>This made the  characters appear real enough so that one could forget they
>were  puppets.   Patrick Joseph McNamara"
>
>Is that accurate?   Was lip synch never an issue
>in puppetry before Henson?   It's  hard to believe
>that with all the effort to create the illusion
>of  life, that there wasn't an effort to move the
>mouth as if it were real  speech.
>
>I'm really curious.  Were mouth puppets not
>common  before TV?  I doubt it but I don't
>know.  Punch & Judy had  an Crocodile, but did it
>ever talk?  What other early mouth puppets  were
>there before Kukla?  What is the time line?
>
>I look  forward to learning.....thanks.
>
>
>Steve Axtell Expressions,  Inc.
>
>
>
>
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Steve Axtell
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
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