The Lonely Goat herd

 

 

From the newsletter we receive at work each week - this one's a gem.

 

It's about my favorite movie of all time, The Sound of Music. My college roommates - Sal, Vic and Jane also loved the movie. Once, during our college years, we traveled to the Fleur theater in DSM just to see the movie when it made the rounds again on the big screen. We also liked to play the album during our beer parties. I have a lasting memory of Russ Euken dancing to the Lonely Goatherd late, late on night. I think Marci Merrick was involved.

 

If you're from Atlantic, you might remember the Eukens - they're from Cumberland. Sherry Nichol's big sis Jill married his older brother. Another brother came along with Russ to our parties. Or was that a cousin? He was pretty cute. I always think of Russ when I hear that song!

remember how the eyelashes batted?

There was really foam on the steins in the movie...

 

Iowa Outdoors

Celebrating 25 Years of REAP

Famous Puppet Collection Protected for Generations in Mason City

 

 

Thanks in part to Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Funds, the “lowly goat herd” – an icon of the big screen - has been preserved.

The lowly goat herd puppets were a feature of the 1965 Academy Awards Best Picture, The Sound of Music” and the creation of Mason City native Bil Baird.

As the 25^th anniversary of REAP is celebrated, one of the great accomplishments from the program has been the preservation of some of Iowa’s most iconic historical and cultural treasures such as the Bil Baird puppet collection at the MacNider Art Museum in Mason City.

Baird was one of the world’s best-known puppet masters.  Based out of his New York City studio, once a Capone-era whisky still, Baird produced such works as the “Goat Herd” marionette performance in The Sound of Music.  He also performed extensively throughout Russia and India.

Before animation, Baird’s puppets were hugely popular in the advertising and promotional world.  His clients ranged from AT&T to governments promoting healthy agricultural practice — he even commemorated the USA moon landing. Baird became friends with founding MacNider museum director Richard Leet, and in 1979 began donating his collection of wood and newly engineered plastic puppets to his hometown, where he still visited family. 

The puppets came smashed and crammed haphazardly in old dusty wooden meat boxes with no clear labeling system.  In 2008, REAP funds matched by private donations enabled museum director Edith Blanchard to contract Sarah Carlson to inventory and photograph the collection with the help of Mara Linksey-Deegan, documenting condition and repairs. Now stored one puppet per chemical-free box, organized strings and fiber-filled bags support fragile structures ensuring proper preservation. 

The museum also features a collection of Bil Baird films, interviews, demo tapes, commercials and productions that have been converted from their original 16mm film format to digital DVDs.  Edward R. Murrow’s Person to Person interview with Baird and his wife, Cora, in their studio is included.  REAP funds purchased a special freezer that safeguards the flammable self-toxic filmstrips.

“These aren’t just puppets he owned.  He made all these puppets, that’s why we’re trying to save them in the way we are and preserve them,” said Blanchard.  “Baird is uniquely Iowan, very creative and educated both in the Mason City school system, and at the University of Iowa.  It really shows what talent you have possible in Iowa and we want to preserve that for future generations.”

 

I was sad to see that Maria Von Trapp - the last of the famous singing children passed away in February.

Of course they didn't call her Maria in the movie - that would have been too confusing since the nun's name was Maria. She's beautiful. Much more so than actresses who try to hold back the hands of time through surgery. I prefer the wrinkles. (though not on myself...)

When I am facing a touch situation (like a job interview) I still like to bolster myself with a rousing "I Have Confidence". I try not to wear an ugly dress like Maria did though...
I need to get to that museum in Mason City one of these days. the puppet-master. Genius.

 

My fave movie of all time

I have confidence - at least that's what I sing to myself when I need a boost. It's one of the songs I love from my favorite movies of all time, "The Sound of Music". I first saw the movie at one of the fancy theaters - probably in Omaha, but I was young enough that I'm not sure. It was likely 1965 so I was 8.

I have blogged about the movie before - mostly about Deb and my adventure attending "Sing Along Sound of Music" a few years ago. Today I watched the S O M reunion show on Oprah - got home from my week in DSM just in time to catch most of the show. There was even a clip of the real Maria with Julie Andrews singing Edelweiss together - excellent!


It's a long movie with an intermission in the middle - so folks can go get popcorn and go tinkle. I love the movie start to finish - from the opening shot of Maria lost in the beauty of the "hills" that are alive. Then of course she realizes she's late to chapel and the nuns are singing about her. The Reverend Mother sends her to be a nanny.

She wears that ugly dress and rides the bus - singing the confidence song. That song has helped me on the way to job interviews and speaking engagements through the years. If Fraulein Maria can get through those rowdy children and the Nazis I can deal with my life! On to teaching the children how to sing and falling in love with the Captain.

Every kid loves the puppet show part of the movie! Oh how I wanted to operate those puppets - the little goats. My most favorite part of the movie is during the party - the children are dancing. Maria tries to show Frederich how to do the Austrian folk dance, the Landler when Captain steps in. So romantic! And the adorable children do the goodbye song.

Of course the evil Baroness can't help herself, she has to drive Maria away. The wise Reverend Mother sends Maria back telling her to climb every mountain. I walked up the aisle to the S O M Wedding March 28 years ago. And no - nobody sang "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Leslie".

The silly bowing woman at the sad sweet show at the end when the whole family sings for Austria always cracks me up. I always hope Rolf won't blow his whistle in the cemetery - but he does. And those kick-ass nuns go confess they have sinned by messing up the Nazi car distributor caps.

The last we see of the Von Trapps, they are climbing the beautiful mountains to freedom. Ah how I love the movie! This is the 45th Anniversary of the movie and the children are coming out with a book soon. I think I need to watch it again soon...

Bestest movie

Sister Mary Debra, Fr Art and me

Disclaimer - think I blogged about this before...but it is a damn good story!

Another frozen Sunday - Pablo and I resorted to watching movies from our huge (not) movie library yesterday. We watched my fave movie of all time "The Sound of Music". I've also got the CD recently uploaded to my iPod - so naturally I couldn't resist singing along. (I thought I detected Paul also singing along during certain songs).

Watching the show, I couldn't help but remember the time Deb P and I went to "Sing Along Sound of Music" at the Civic Center in DM. It was perhaps five years ago. Attendees were to come in costume - and we wasted no time in rounding up nun costumes. Deb, naughty Planned Parenthood manager that she is, has her own nun costume from the time the PP workers went out for Halloween dressed as the "Smokin' Drinkin' nuns".

I borrowed Deb's co-worker's costume, unfortunately I didn't have the handcrafted foil wrapped cross on a string like Deb did. She must have been the reverend mother...But we did look pretty good. It was funny, parking at the old library and walking across the street in the nuns costumes - wimples (sp?) and long gowns.

There were lots of other good costumes and other folks who just came to sing. We got a packet of goodies when we bought our tickets - some edelweiss, a party favor that pops (for the big celebration at George's house) and more stuff I don't recall. Similar to Rocky Horror Picture Show, there were instructions - such as Hiss when the Baroness is talking.

Of course everyone sang along throughout the movie - I love each and every song! One time, on my way to a job interview, I played "I Have Confidence" to help pump me up. (can't remember what the job was and whether or not I got it, but by golly I remember that!).

At Intermission, Deb and I went down on stage for the costume contest! We were on the freakin stage at the Civic Center! There were some awesome costumes - people wearing lederhosen, Marias, and my fave - people dressed as Alps, complete in green felt mountain. (they ended up winning).

Deb and I also ran into a Catholic priest who grew up in Creston, Fr. Art McCann - he was an usher at the Civic Center. He was the chaplain at Methodist when Patrick was rushed there for diagnosis - and he baptized and confirmed our baby boy. So I have a special place in my heart for the guy. (see my blog about gay marriage and the church where he is also mentioned...) Deb and I got our pic taken - he in his tux and we in our nun outfits!

After the show, we stopped, still in costume, at Olive Garden. They were quick to seat us and we got lots of stares. I was glad to get the gear off in the end. I wish they'd do it again - we could get a big group to go! Or what about Sing Along Wizard of Oz? Good time!