"Big picture: What’s the vibe of the place, what’s it like? Marionette puppetry is an ancient form of entertainment—they've even found wire-controlled puppets in Ancient Egyptian tombs—so it makes sense that stepping into Bob Baker Marionette Theater would be like stepping into a time warp. Set in a 1920's-era silent movie theater in the Highland Park neighborhood of Northeast L.A. , the playhouse is adorned with red curtains and a red carpet, giving it a Victorian-era coquettishness. What kinds of events can we see here? When the curtains come up, and the puppets come out, you might be mesmerized that this art form remains practiced by top-notch artists. Many of the marionettes were actually made by Baker himself, who passed away in 2014, and his artistry is unique. Around Christmastime, the puppeteers put on a rendition of the Nutcracker, and there's currently a run of shows featuring Baker's most beloved puppets doing some of the theater's greatest hits in a show called Magic Strings. How are the seats? The theater is pretty small with auditorium seating, so everyone gets a good view. When there's a crowd, the theater will put padded seating on the ground so the little ones can be up closer. Good for kids? This is absolutely a kid-friendly venue. In fact, the theater, founded by Baker and Alton Wood in 1963, touts itself as the oldest children's theater company in Los Angeles. Anything in particular that makes this place special, from the programming to a unique feature it has? It may not be the only marionette theater in the country, but it is a particularly special one with a long, storied history. The puppets are beautiful and weird, and the experience is otherworldly. If we’re going to be in town, what—and who—do you think this is best for? Open every weekend, Bob Baker Marionette Theater is sure to delight both kids and adult kids looking for a bit of entertainment in a bygone style." - Maxwell Williams
