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Doc
the puppet on 31 is definitely not the one on the photos of Russ Lewis...
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Were you performing with the Jerry Mahoney doll at the time you were working 12 shows a day at the 42nd street flea circus in New York?
No. The Jerry Mahoney doll had been set aside when I first met Professor Heckler at Hubert’s Museum... A fella named Eddie Marino, a ventriloquist and ticket taker at Hubert’s, had placed a professional figure on consignment in Al Flosso’s magic shop on 34th Street. [Martinka and Co.] They told me if I had a professional looking puppet they would give me a job. I went down to the magic shop and there was the puppet on consignment in the display case. Mr. Flosso gave it to me on time payments. I really got lucky with that.
Is this the puppet that eventually became Brooklyn Birch?
Yes. Eventually I ended up in Los Angeles. Went to work doing club dates, worked for the USO, came back to the States and a Mortgage Company saw me at a night club that was on the west coast in Santa Barbara and wanted me to do a television show. (The Russ Lewis Show KTTV) Well, I had come up through burlesque and strip houses as well as circus and sideshows. I knew I was going to have to set aside all of the material that I was doing at that point. So along with a change of material, I had to remake Brooklyn Birch.
Rene’ Zendejas (1927-2014) a wonderful puppeteer and puppet maker in California was going to do the puppets on the Television show. He remade the features of the doll. Gave him a pointy nose, large eyes, brand new skin and hair. And so, that is how Brooklyn Birch came about.
To be clear, who originally made Brooklyn Birch?
Here is the best answer I can give you. Eddie Marino (Hubert’s Museum) came from England with the puppet. I think it was made somewhere in Great Britain. It had been in use about 70 years before I got it in my hands.
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schillid
... I am writing to you to ask you if the blurry figure in this picture is Harry Houdini...
Attempting to identify all of the individuals depicted on Rolling Stones album “Exile On Main Street” ...
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WildAboutHoudini
That doesn’t appear to be Houdini...
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WildAboutHoudini
Sorry, I don’t know who this is...
It almost looks like it might be a woman.
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schillid
Now it's getting more difficult.
Hard to tell what's going on with the legs ...
Wade mentioned something about the smallest mother and daughter...#40 ... ? ? ?
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schillidQuote
Doc
the puppet on 31 is definitely not the one on the photos of Russ Lewis...
Apparently he had a different puppet back in those days...
He talks about it in an interviewQuote
Were you performing with the Jerry Mahoney doll at the time you were working 12 shows a day at the 42nd street flea circus in New York?
No. The Jerry Mahoney doll had been set aside when I first met Professor Heckler at Hubert’s Museum... A fella named Eddie Marino, a ventriloquist and ticket taker at Hubert’s, had placed a professional figure on consignment in Al Flosso’s magic shop on 34th Street. [Martinka and Co.] They told me if I had a professional looking puppet they would give me a job. I went down to the magic shop and there was the puppet on consignment in the display case. Mr. Flosso gave it to me on time payments. I really got lucky with that.
Is this the puppet that eventually became Brooklyn Birch?
Yes. Eventually I ended up in Los Angeles. Went to work doing club dates, worked for the USO, came back to the States and a Mortgage Company saw me at a night club that was on the west coast in Santa Barbara and wanted me to do a television show. (The Russ Lewis Show KTTV) Well, I had come up through burlesque and strip houses as well as circus and sideshows. I knew I was going to have to set aside all of the material that I was doing at that point. So along with a change of material, I had to remake Brooklyn Birch. Rene’ Zendejas (1927-2014) a wonderful puppeteer and puppet maker in California was going to do the puppets on the Television show. He remade the features of the doll. Gave him a pointy nose, large eyes, brand new skin and hair. And so, that is how Brooklyn Birch came about.
To be clear, who originally made Brooklyn Birch?
Here is the best answer I can give you. Eddie Marino (Hubert’s Museum) came from England with the puppet. I think it was made somewhere in Great Britain. It had been in use about 70 years before I got it in my hands.
.
(See HERE)
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MisterDDDD
the Ovitz Family ...
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schillid
IT IS NOT HOUDINI, apparently...
I emailed the owner of [wildabouthoudini.com] and he responded.
I wrote:Quote
schillid
... I am writing to you to ask you if the blurry figure in this picture is Harry Houdini...
Attempting to identify all of the individuals depicted on Rolling Stones album “Exile On Main Street” ...
He replied:Quote
WildAboutHoudini
That doesn’t appear to be Houdini...
Then he added:Quote
WildAboutHoudini
Sorry, I don’t know who this is...
It almost looks like it might be a woman.
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MisterDDDD
One would think a mother/daughter sideshow act would be easier to find...
This pic of members of the Ovitz Family who performed in sideshows looks a little like them...
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schillidQuote
MisterDDDD
One would think a mother/daughter sideshow act would be easier to find...
This pic of members of the Ovitz Family who performed in sideshows looks a little like them...
Ward Hall could be wrong... He didn't have his glasses on ...
Quote#40 ... ? ? ?
IDENTIFIEDQuote(Uncertain of their names)
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schillid
Hello Mr. Lewis
Recently, I learned that you are on the front cover of the Rolling Stones album “Exile On Main Street”.
Did you know that?
Although this record was released in 1972, the images on the album cover are from a Robert Frank photo taken in 1958 in Hubert’s Museum.
Can you confirm? Is this a picture of you at Hubert’s ?
Do you recall any details about the puppet or the photo or Hubert's?
Here’s an enlargement:
Thank you kindly for reading this!
And for your consideration!
All the best,
DS
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Russo Russ Lewis
Yes it is. It is from the fifties at Hubert's Museum on 42nd st. !0 am to about 10 pm, 12 shows a day. The character's name is Zampano after a 1954, film: La Strada. featuring a Greek roving entertainer, named Zampano, played by Anthony Quinn.
I had heard of the Rolling Stone cover but had never seen it. Thank you so much.
Blessings. Russ
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MisterDDDD
Fantastic!!
Great work... this thread gets better and better.
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schillid
IT IS NOT HOUDINI, apparently...
I emailed the owner of [wildabouthoudini.com] and he responded.
I wrote:Quote
schillid
... I am writing to you to ask you if the blurry figure in this picture is Harry Houdini...
Attempting to identify all of the individuals depicted on Rolling Stones album “Exile On Main Street” ...
He replied:Quote
WildAboutHoudini
That doesn’t appear to be Houdini...
Then he added:Quote
WildAboutHoudini
Sorry, I don’t know who this is...
It almost looks like it might be a woman.
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looks like it might be a woman ...