How it All Began |
|
|
|
|
|
Since 1969, Monica had been making puppets and selling
them at art fairs and Renaissance Faires, together with her faithful
sidekick, son Little John , here in his prince costume. |
1974: Monica’s puppets got larger and larger. One day her friend, Deanne Wortman, rode her bicycle over and suggested they start a puppet troupe. |
|
|
|
They decided to ask their friend, Jenean Arnold, to join the
troupe. One of their first shows was in the old Blackhawk Mini Park in
Iowa City. The stage blew over onto the audience! |
In 1975, Deanne quit
the troupe to pursue her visual art and work at the Iowa City Public Library.
Monica’s husband, Brother John, brought Teri Jean home for dinner one
evening and she stayed to join the puppet troupe. |
|
|
|
In 1976, Jenean left Eulenspiegel to have a second baby.
Marilyn Levin, the Cultural Arts Director at the Iowa City Recreation
Division, came on board. |
In 1978, Marilyn left the troupe for a job in Pittsburgh, and Teri Jean
and Monica combed the want ads looking for a third puppeteer. |
A dragon applied, but he couldn’t get along with the rest of the troupe. |
|
|
|
Mr. Punch flew over from England to apply, but the crocodile ate
him before he got a chance to start. |
A giant applied, but he kept stepping on the smaller puppets.
OSHA stepped in and insisted we fire him. |
Katinka applied, but was hired as a puppet instead of a puppeteer. |
|
|
The Board of Directors held an emergency meeting. |
Sam took matters into his own hands and tried to hire one of
his young admirers, but her mother wouldn’t let her join. |
Head Puppet Alfred Schulz asked his wife, Pearl, for advice. |
|
The decision was unanimous: the girls could handle it
alone!
|
|
But only if Schulz agreed to run the office.
AND THAT’S THE WAY IT’S BEEN SINCE 1978! |