Research Catalog

Turnabout the story of the Yale Puppeteers

Title
Turnabout [videorecording] : the story of the Yale Puppeteers / Shire Films ; directed and produced by Dan Bessie.
Publication
Los Gatos, Calif. : Shire Films, c1992.

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Moving imageUse in library *MGZIA 4-7342Performing Arts Research Collections - Dance

Details

Additional Authors
  • Bessie, Dan.
  • Garvy, Helen.
  • Burnett, Harry.
  • Brown, Forman George.
  • Lanchester, Elsa, 1902-1986
  • Neumann, Dorothy.
  • Goslar, Lotte.
  • Odetta, 1930-2008
  • Shire Films.
Description
1 videocassette (VHS, NTSC) (59 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences; 1/2 in.
Summary
Documentary on the Yale Puppeteers (Harry Burnett, Forman Brown, and Roddy Brandon), much of it told in the words of Burnett and Brown. Among the topics discussed are the group's beginnings; its celebrity admirers, some of whom inspired portrait puppets; its success at the Turnabout Theater in Hollywood, where its shows, which included live performers as well as puppets, became known for unsparing satire; its collaboration with performers Elsa Lanchester, Dorothy Neumann, Lotte Goslar, Odetta, and others. The program includes archival footage of performances by the Yale Puppeteers, Lanchester's renderings of several songs by Brown, Goslar in her dance/mime solo Little heap of misery, and present-day vocal performances by Brown and Burnett. Brown and Burnett also discuss their experiences as gay men, which were reflected in Brown's autobiographical novel Better angel, written under the pen-name Richard Meeker.
Donor/Sponsor
Gift of the Lotte Goslar Pantomime Circus Foundation.
Uniform Title
Little heap of misery (Choreographic work : Goslar)
Subject
  • Burnett, Harry > Interviews
  • Brown, Forman George > Interviews
  • Brandon, Roddy
  • Lanchester, Elsa, 1902-1986
  • Neumann, Dorothy > Interviews
  • Goslar, Lotte
  • Odetta, 1930-2008 > Interviews
  • Yale Puppeteers
  • Turnabout Theater
  • Gay men > Interviews
  • Puppeteers
Genre/Form
  • Documentaries and factual films and programs.
  • Video.
Credits (note)
  • Editing, Helen Garvy.
Performer (note)
  • Featuring Harry Burnett and his marionettes; Forman Brown and his music and lyrics; with Elsa Lanchester, Dorothy Neumann, Lotte Goslar, Odetta.
  • Narrator: Dan Bessie.
  • Interviewees: Harry Burnett, Forman Brown, Dorothy Neumann, Odetta.
Call Number
*MGZIA 4-7342
OCLC
NYPY03-F674
Title
Turnabout [videorecording] : the story of the Yale Puppeteers / Shire Films ; directed and produced by Dan Bessie.
Imprint
Los Gatos, Calif. : Shire Films, c1992.
Country of Producing Entity
U.S.
Credits
Editing, Helen Garvy.
Performer
Featuring Harry Burnett and his marionettes; Forman Brown and his music and lyrics; with Elsa Lanchester, Dorothy Neumann, Lotte Goslar, Odetta.
Narrator: Dan Bessie.
Interviewees: Harry Burnett, Forman Brown, Dorothy Neumann, Odetta.
Added Author
Bessie, Dan. Director. Producer. Narrator
Garvy, Helen. Film editor
Burnett, Harry. Performer. Interviewee
Brown, Forman George. Composer. Lyricist. Performer
Lanchester, Elsa, 1902-1986, singer.
Neumann, Dorothy. Interviewee
Goslar, Lotte. Performer
Odetta, 1930-2008, singer.
Odetta, 1930-2008, interviewee.
Shire Films.
Added Title
Little heap of misery (Choreographic work : Goslar)
Research Call Number
*MGZIA 4-7342
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