The Bob Baker Marionette Theater has entertained Los Angeles audiences for half a century, bringing to life intricately designed wooden marionettes with the tug of a string. But now, with the theater in poor financial straits two years after master puppeteer Bob Baker's death, the famed theater could soon be converted into a lobby for a seven-story apartment building.We sent LA-based photographer the1point8 to capture the puppeteering magic at a recent performance, knowing it could be among the last. His photographs show the art of puppetry through the eyes of the many children in the audience, who sit cross-legged on the theater's floor in awe and wonder. Below are scenes from Sketchbook Revue, a revival of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater's first-ever production in 1963, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses of Los Angeles's most beloved puppet theater.
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Read our feature story on the fate of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater here and see more of the1point8's photography on his website and Instagram.
