More with Michael Davis

Street Gang author Michael Davis (left) with puppeteer Caroll Spinney.

Tough Pigs has posted part two of their chat with Street Gang author Michael Davis (see previous post). The National Post's Mark Medley also sat down with Michael recently for an interview. I really enjoyed reading both of these interviews. Micheal's love of Sesame Street is obvious and sincere and it's very interesting to learn a little more about how he wrote and researched his book.

Michael is currently soliciting stories about Sesame Street. You can share your memories of Sesame Street with him on his web site.

Street Gang (link goes to the book's official site) is available to order on Amazon.com.

Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street

Street Gang, a comprehensive new history of Sesame Street written by Michael Davis was released just a few days ago. I haven't had a chance to read it just yet, but Joe Hennes has posted a Street Gang review on Tough Pigs. If you'd like to sample the book for yourself, you can read a special web-exclusive chapter of the book online.

Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street is available to order now from Amazon.com.

Weekend Puppet Catch-Up

Sorry for the lack of updates this past week; I'm moving at the end of the month and having been busy looking for a new house/apartment. To make it up to you, here's a bunch of puppet stuff to take a glance at:

Hawk Attacks Puppetry Centre Employees - A red-tailed hawk was confused by a bird-shaped puppet that two people at the Centre for Puppetry Arts were photographing and swooped down to attack. Thankfully, no humans, hawks or puppets were harmed.

More Stars for Letters to Santa - Uma Thurman and Jesse L. Martin have joined the cast of the upcoming Muppet Christmas movie Letters to Santa.

Who's The Dummy Now? - Ventriloquism's $100 million man Terry Fator (see previous post) has a new book coming out. It's available to preorder from Amazon.

Imagination Movers - This kids' band has a new series on Disney Playhouse featuring a puppet called "The Warehouse Mouse" designed by Tim Lagasse and performed by Kevin Carlson.

New Books Celebrate 40 Years of Sesame Street

Two new books planned for release later this year will celebrate Sesame Street's 40th anniversary.

It's hard to believe, but next year will be the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. To help celebrate this amazing milestone Sesame Workshop is planning to release two all-new books that look back on the history of the groundbreaking children's series. Sesame Street: A Celebration of Forty Years of Life on the Street by Louise Gikow will be released November 1st and provides an inside look at every aspect of Sesame Street from the making of the pilot episode to the show's evolution over four decades. Also planned for release later this year is Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis, which aims to capture the oral history of Sesame Street and take a thorough a look at the show's development and success.

Although both books aren't scheduled to be released until later this year, you can preorder them now from Amazon by clicking on the links above and you'll save 34% off the regular cover price.

Tuesday Morning Inspiration: Diary of a Doll Wiggler

Diary of a Doll Wiggler: A Bob's Eye View into the Wacky and Wonderful World of Puppetry is a new book by Bob Nathanson from Charlemagne Press, a small publishing house that specializes in puppetry books owned by renowned Canadian puppeteer Lumad Coad.

The book draws on Bob's nearly thirty years as a professional puppeteer to provide a glimpse behind the stage at the life of a touring puppeteer. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but knowing Bob it should be a great read so pick yourself up a copy and read all about his adventures and misadventures in puppetry over the past 30 years.