When Muppets Come to Call

By C.J. Hirschfield

Children’s Fairyland boasts the longest-running puppet theater in America. Founded in 1956, it still presents three shows a day, every day we’re open.

The Storybook Puppet Theater is such a fixture in our park that we tend to take it for granted. Occasionally, though, we’ll be reminded that it has started the careers of some of the country’s greatest puppeteers, and continues to inspire those who perform one of the most ancient forms of artistic expression.

Fairyland's Storybook Puppet Theater.

A recent visit by three prominent Los Angeles–based puppeteers, all of whom work with the Jim Henson Company, brought home to us once again that our little theater is a prime destination for anyone interested in the history of puppetry in America.

The three men were in the Bay Area to shoot some clean-water public-service announcements for Alameda County like the one they did last year. The last time they visited the Bay Area, one of the puppeteers, Grant Baciocco, arranged a tour of the Pixar studio in Emeryville.

This year, Grant wanted to surprise his colleagues Russ Walko and Erik Kuska with a similar adventure at Fairyland.

Left to right: Erik Kuska, Russ Walko, Grant Baciocco, Fairyland's Randal Metz, and Jesse Vail, a former Fairyland puppeteer, backstage at the Storybook Puppet Theater

Grant, who grew up in Burlingame, has fond memories of visiting Fairyland as a kid; he distinctly remembers seeing a marionette show at our puppet theater. He tours regularly with The Jim Henson Company’s Puppet Up! Uncensored live show, has worked with The Muppets, and produces Under The Puppet , a monthly podcast that interviews puppeteers on the art and business of puppetry.

As a Jim Henson Company puppeteer, Russ regularly builds in the Creature Shop; he also owns his own puppet fabrication company, PuppetGarage.com.

Erik is a puppeteer and storyboard artist who also teaches puppetry for film and television and puppet character-development classes.

All three men work as puppeteers on the new “Mystery Science Theatre 3000,” which streams on Netflix.  

The only day the trio could visit happened to be April 20, Fairyland’s Head Start Day, when we welcomed over 1,000 Head Start kids and family members for a day of activities, multicultural music, dance and storytelling. It’s one of our liveliest days of the year, and the three Muppety men clearly appreciated the high-spirited crowds of excited kids.

The three puppeteers spent four and a half hours at the park with Fairyland master puppeteer Randal Metz, who regaled them with stories about the many people who got their start here. Michael Earl, for example, was a child apprentice at our puppet theater under our master puppeteer of over 30 years, Lewis Mahlmann. Mike later went on to win four Emmy Awards for his work as Mr. Snuffleupagus on “Sesame Street” and Dr. Ticktock in “Ticktock Minutes.”

Michael Earl

Young Frank Oznowicz was probably the most famous teenage Fairyland puppet apprentice. You may know him better as Frank Oz, creator of Miss Piggy (“The Muppet Show”) and Yoda (“Star Wars”). 

Frank Oz (right) with Fairyland puppetmaster Lewis Mahlmann in 1970

After the visit, Erik sent Randal a handwritten thank-you note that touched all of us.

“I’ve been in puppetry for 10 years now (my first classes were from Michael Earl) and over the years, Fairyland keeps getting mentioned,” Erik wrote. “What a revelation to finally visit the wonderful place where kids get to play in a geography built for their most playful desires, and puppeteers take early steps to greatness.”

He went on to say that Michael Earl, who died in 2015, often spoke of his life’s mission: “To encourage, instruct, and strengthen children of all ages through the imaginative use of music and puppetry.”

Erik added: “I wonder if that all got started when he apprenticed at Fairyland so long ago. … I can certainly tell you it has inspired me.”

He also praised “all of the heart and dedication that gets put in each show.”

For his part, Randal was inspired by the Henson men’s sincere desire to learn about the history of puppetry as well as Fairyland’s role in providing mentoring opportunities. Athough Randal chose to stay with classical puppetry, he acknowledges the huge role the Jim Henson Company has played in bringing the art form to a huge—and appreciative audience.

Our puppet theater still provides mentoring opportunities for kids who want to help us encourage the next generation of inspired puppeteers. For more information, send an email – or a handwritten letter! – to Randal Metz, c/o Children’s Fairyland, puppetcomp@yahoo.com.

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C.J. Hirschfield has served for 15 years as executive director of Children's Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation of the nation's oldest storybook theme park.