Turnabout Theatre
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The Turnabout Theatre existed in Hollywood, CA., from 1941 through 1956. Extremely popular in its day--attractng both the general public as well as many of Hollywood's tops stars--it offered entertainment that combined both puppets (marionettes) for the first half of a show and a stage revue for she second half.
The name of the theater derives in part from the fact that the theater seats swiveled, with a puppet stage at one end and the live revue stage at the other. Adjacent seats were labeled with humorous names (e.g., "Hot 'n Bothered," "Salt 'n Pepper," etc.), and after intermission theater-goers would "turn about" to see the show continued at the opposite end of the house.
The Theater originated with a group of puppeteers (the Yale Puppeteers) composed notably of Forman Brown, Harry Burnett, and Richard (Roddy) Brandon. Many artists, some quite well known (e.g., Elsa Lanchester) also participated.
The history of the theater is documented in the film, "Turnabout: the Story of the Yale Puppeteers," directed by film maker Dan Bessie. Notable about the trio, and discussed in the documentary, is its place in the history of the gay experience (in this connection, see also the Wikipedia article on Forman Brown).
[edit] Trivia
Dan Bessie is a son of Harry Burnett's sister, Mary. Harry Burnett is a brother of famous advertising executive Leo Burnett.
[edit] External Links
- Turnabout Theater online exhibit at the Los Angeles Public Library
[edit] References
Rare Birds: An American Family by Dan Bessie, University Press of Kentucky (November 2000)
