LOS ANGELES (2UrbanGirls) – The Italian American Museum of LA will host the Bob Baker Marionette Show Jan. 21st in downtown Los Angeles.
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, founded by Bob Baker and Alton Wood in 1963, is the oldest children’s theater company in Los Angeles.
Guests are invited to tour the museum and catch the Bob Baker Marionette Show Jan. 21 with performances at 2pm & 4pm. There is no admission cost and donations are encouraged.
Guests will especially enjoy the exhibit A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio, which explores the cultural origins, adaptations, and enduring appeal of one of the most popular characters in children’s literature. Written in 1883 by Italian author Carlo Collodi, The Adventures of Pinocchio has delighted generations and occupies a revered place in the canon of children’s literature. The book has been translated into over 260 languages—a number exceeded only by the Bible. This original exhibition, conceived and produced by the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, explores Collodi’s work and its biblical, literary, and historic influences.
Guests will also encounter a first-edition Italian-language version of Le Avventure di Pinocchio, one of only six copies of the book that remain in the world. Artwork from Walt Disney’s animated feature film, vintage toys, costumes by Oscar-nominated designer Massimo Cantini Parrini, Pinocchio ephemera, and publications of the book in languages ranging from Polish to Vietnamese are also showcased. The exhibition, designed to engage visitors of all ages, is a journey into the many incarnations of a beloved character who has left an indisputable mark on our collective imagination.
The museum is located at 644 North Main Street (corner of Cesar Chavez Avenue) with parking available across the street.
The museum is easily accessible by the Metro Red Line, Gold Line, or Purple Line to Union Station/Gateway Transit Center. Exit the station and walk across N. Alameda Street to El Pueblo Historical Monument. Continue west to Main Street, then walk North one block to Cesar Chavez.
The exhibit is presented in collaboration and with the support of California Arts Council; Fondazione Collodi; Walt Disney Archives; University of California Los Angeles; Costumi Tirelli S.p.A.; Italian Cultural Institute Los Angeles; Italian Consulate General Los Angeles; Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
About the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA)
The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) explores the Italian American experience in the context of the nation’s multicultural mosaic. The 6,000 square-foot museum is located in downtown Los Angeles and features an award-winning permanent exhibition, which is also accessible online, as well as temporary exhibitions, cultural-educational programming, and curricula. The IAMLA is housed in the Italian Hall, which was constructed in 1908 as a community center. The Italian Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is among the oldest remaining structures from the city’s historic Little Italy. The IAMLA is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization; admission to the museum is free. For more information, visit www.iamla.org.
Photos: 2UrbanGirls
