I Just Followed Baker Bob – PuppetsUp! Parade August 7th

PLEASE PLAY WHILE VIEWING>>:)

Photos by Steve Yaver

PuppetsUp! Parade 2016 Sunday August 7–2016

Linda and Scott Reid Member of Parliament (federal) for the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington

and so the parade begins with the first dancing footsteps of Nick

Noreen Young with her young awesome charge

The Mayor of Almonte-Shaun McLaughlin

Steampunk Ottawa

Let’s just keep following the beat….

Yowsers this is great!

Les Grandes Dames de PuppetsUp!

Look at the spectators!

We’re working the street!

My friend Vicki Racey- known as Vintage Vicki to all of her friends!

Vicki and I working the street.. Baker Bob with his fans in the back of us!

I’m just following Baker Bob!!

Wow!

Kris Riendeau Hansen from the Humm on the right and Kassandra on the left

If you would like to see more photos hit up PuppetsUp! Facebook page

So what happens when the parade is over after everyone turns that corner?

They say there are no faeries or clouds of magic in Lanark County, but some might disagree. The magic that the enchanting Noreen Young has created for many decades has made many of us follow the beat of this amazing woman who resides in Mississippi MIlls.

Noreen Isabel Young, was born on the 10th of May, 1952 and is a Canadian producer and puppeteer, and still actively involved in puppeteering through her corporation Noreen Young Productions. Young grew up in the capital of Ottawa, Ontario and knew from the beginning that puppets can say things that humans can’t.

Young, a founding member of the CBC children’s television programming developed a children’s show called “Hi Diddle Day” from 1968-1976. The uniquely-produced series starred a number of puppet characters (created, manipulated and voiced by Noreen Young) who lived in an unusual household. It was originally seen only in Ottawa, Montreal and the Maritimes, and by 1970, its popularity led CBC to turn it into a national children’s series.

But the magic didn’t stop there-  the fascinating Young was also the creator of “Under the Umbrella Tree” – another popular CBC television children’s series that ran from 1987 – 1993 on the CBC network and subsequently on The Disney Channel from 1993-1997.  She received Gemini Award nominations for all her love, imagination and her mastery of puppetry in 1986, 1990 and 1994.

Dodie”, a character on Sesame Park, also became part of Noreen’s repertoire when she replaced Rob Mills on the Canadian version of Sesame Street.  Her puppet characters also appeared on many TV Ontario productions including Readalong and Telefrancais and they were also  featured in the second 1984 Care Bears television special, The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine.

Young is also known for her fabulous caricature puppets of public figures: former governor-general Adrienne Clarkson, CBC news anchor Peter Mansbridge and hockey commentator Don Cherry, and also of community personalities from her beloved Mississippi Mills. She was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1995, honoured by the Canadian Institute for Child Health on November 18th, 2015 at the 16th Annual Crayons and Cravats Gala for her tireless energy and dedication to the use of puppetry to teach and entertain children.

No one had a clue what Noreen would do next until she and her astonishing puppet community brought the PuppetsUp! International Puppet Festival to Almonte, Ontario. Her band of volunteers, businesses, sponsors, angel investors, and of course the city of Almonte brought the community to another level with family-friendly original theatre.

 In 2017 the PuppetsUp! Festival sadly ended after 12 years. Noreen was quoted in the Ottawa Citizen: 

“This is not the end of Puppets Up!” she insisted, “I think that we will reinvent ourselves!”

…and so she has. 

Abracadabra! —Let the magic begin once again!

Related posts

The Hi- Diddle-Day House of Carleton Place – Puppets on a String

Isn’t Life Really Just One Big Puppet Show? A Photo Essay about Puppets and more

Did you Know Nick is not a Millionaire?

Jane Austen and Linda Comment on the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers

So What Happened to Laird Keller and His Ventriloquist Dummy Woody?

Life is Too Short to Buy Green Bananas

I Will See You at PuppetsUp! Today

Me on the cover of Florida’s Screamin Mamas Magazine– photo by Sherry Crummy

 

Get Hometown News where you shop and read my articles

There’s a reason why I’m counting the days until the PuppetsUp! International Puppet Festival comes to Almonte. Years ago I became a fan because the facade of my home was used as the opening intro to PuppetsUp! artistic director and founding member Noreen Young’s  CBC children’s television program called “Hi Diddle Day”.



The children’s program was once a CBC Ottawa production designed to entertain and inform young viewers from 1968-1976. The uniquely-produced series starred a number of puppet characters (created, manipulated and voiced by Noreen Young) who lived in an unusual household. It was originally seen only in Ottawa, Montreal and the Maritimes and by 1970, its popularity led CBC to turn it into a national children’s series.



But it didn’t stop there. Noreen Young (Order of Canada, 1995) was also the creator of “Under the Umbrella Tree” – another popular CBC television children’s series that ran from 1987 – 1997 on the CBC network and subsequently on The Disney Channel.



No one had a clue what Noreen would do next until she and and her puppet community brought the PuppetsUp! International Puppet Festival to Almonte, Ontario  12 years ago.  Her band of volunteers, businesses, sponsors, angel investors, and of course the city of Almonte have brought community to another level with family-friendly original theatre in the heart of Almonte. So what is PuppetsUp! and  why do you and your family need to attend?

My puppet room

 

 

Puppets Up! is a great day or weekend out for everyone with all the activities happening within the downtown core of Almonte, along Mill Street. There are puppet shows, buskers, food vendors and also a small market bazaar, where you can take home a souvenir of Puppets Up! like I do every year.



So meet me at PuppetsUp! TODAY and I will personally see you at the parade today from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m. Sunday, on the main street of Almonte. Look for Elvis and he will thank you very much for coming!

 

Time Capsule in the ‘Hi Diddle Day’ House?

The Morphy Cram House — Springside Hall

The Hi- Diddle-Day House of Carleton Place – Puppets on a String

The Ghost Lovers of Springside Hall – A True Love Story

Do You have an Archaeological Find in Your Carleton Place Basement?

Feeling Groovy by the Lake Ave East Bridge

October 13, 1977 George W. Raeburn of Lake Ave East— Artist and C. P. R. Man

What if You Had a Fire and No One Came?

 

Steampunk Ottawa Coming to PuppetsUp! Parade

Steampunk Ottawa will be at the PuppetsUp! Parade this year!

Join the good professor (along with his co-host, Ms. Josée Canuel) and have fun at the “Puppets Up Parade” as part of the Almonte Festival!

When and where is the parade?

1:45 to 2:15 p.m. Saturday & Sunday,  (August 6-7) down the main street of Almonte from the top at the library to the Heritage Mall at the bottom.  Just follow the crowds!

 

PuppetsUp is August 5-7

Last year’s PuppetsUp!

 

 

Did you Know Nick is not a Millionaire?

 

 

People are so quick to talk about puppets. Some think that  Nick and his crew are walking around with diamond Rolex’s on, BUT, the fact is- they don’t reap any Kardashian perks from their craft or event-they do it for the love of the people.

I could never be on the stage on my own. But, puppets can say things that humans can’t say– so here are the facts Jack! As we walked around the Carleton Place Farmer’s Market Saturday Nick filled me in on things I had no idea about.

Nick told me that last year, the money  PuppetsUp! brought in from selling tickets to the Festival, did NOT cover the direct costs of bringing the amazing talent they showcased in Almonte. Now if you have ever been to PuppetsUp! you know the quality of what I am speaking about.

That’s right…Nick said they brought in just over $57,000 in ticket sales to the festival and they spent almost $70,000 to bring first class talent from around the world to Almonte!

This doesn’t include the money they spent locally on promotion, on expenses to create the 5 additional theatre venues out of tents, or the administration that takes place year-round.

If all the “economists” were laid end to end, they’d never reach a conclusion-but the puppets know you have to spend money to make something fantastic happen like PuppetsUp!

To keep the PuppetsUp! prices reasonable and family-friendly, they rely heavily on the support of community, money from both from individual donors, and corporate sponsorship. They can’t exist without the amazing volunteers who give their time and their talents. They are VERY appreciative of that support and they really and truly could NOT hold the Festival without them.

As Nick said, “We are nobody’s puppet without them”!

Once you hand someone the strings they become narrators of life so–always be yourself– gracious, giving and wonderful like Nick and the PuppetsUp! gang! Thank  you to all of the PuppetsUp! crew for all you do.

 

Find out about PuppetsUp! here

Visit the Carleton Place Farmers Market here..

 

Related reading

The Hi- Diddle-Day House of Carleton Place – Puppets on a String

Isn’t Life Really Just One Big Puppet Show? A Photo Essay about Puppets and more

Jane Austen and Linda Comment on the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers

So What Happened to Laird Keller and His Ventriloquist Dummy Woody?

Life is Too Short to Buy Green Bananas

 

The Hi- Diddle-Day House of Carleton Place – Puppets on a String

 

 

Hi Diddle Day was a CBC Ottawa production designed to entertain and inform young viewers from 1968-1969. The uniquely-produced series starred a number of puppet characters (created, manipulated and voiced by Noreen Young) who lived in an unusual household. The setting was a remodeled Victorian house in Crabgrass, a typical small Canadian community (Carleton Place). In the house lived Mrs. Dibble, and a host of zany puppet characters. Other puppets were Basil the Beagle, Durwood the Dragon, Wolfgang Von Wolf, Granny, Chico The Crow, a French-Canadian moose called Ti, Lucy Goose and others.

 

Mrs. Gertrude Diddle

Mayor Gertrude Diddle, the star of the 1970s CBC children’s show Hi Diddle Day, became an object of fascination for Ronnie Burkett, a devoted fan of the show. “She was the most outrageous, gayest, campiest puppet in history at the time.” Her creator Noreen Young would later meet Burkett, promising to leave Mrs. Diddle to him in her will. But Burkett was far too impatient to wait for Young’s demise and so one day the puppet arrived in the mail. “She’s my muse. She can’t be topped.” He says he’s always had a version of Mrs. Diddle in his shows.

A regular on the show was the mailman, Mr. Post, played by Bob Gardiner. Musician Wyn Canty appearred occasionally as music teacher. There were also guest appearances by experts in the fields of music, art, science, entertainment and sports. The show was originally seen only in Ottawa, Montreal and the Maritimes. By 1970, its popularity led CBC to turn it into a national children’s series.

 

 

 

 

Since 1981 I have lived in the Hi-Diddle-Day House, and because of my love of Noreen Young’s talent I have created a small shrine in one room to the puppets of Hi-Diddle-Day. I actually own one of Noreen’s older puppets and proudly march in the Puppets Up! parade each year in Almonte that she created. That’s because with a puppet I can get away with a lot more:)– in reality I guess I am just a puppet who can see the strings.

 

See you at Puppets Up! this weekend in Almonte!

 

Wikipedia–Noreen Isabel Young, CM (born May 10, 1952) is a Canadian producer and puppeteer, and is still actively involved in puppeteering through her corporation Noreen Young Productions.^[1] Young grew up in Ottawa, Ontario.

 

A Noreen Young caricature puppet

She was the creator of Under the Umbrella Tree, a popular CBC Television children’s series that ran from 1987-1993 on the CBC and on the Disney Channel from 1993-1997,^[2] and was also the puppeteer for “Dodie”, a character on Sesame Park, the Canadian version ofSesame Street.^[3] Her puppet characters also appeared on many TVOntario productions including Readalong and Telefrancais.

Young featured in the second Care Bears television special, 1984’s The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine.

She is also known for her caricature puppets of public figures such as former governor-general Adrienne Clarkson, CBC news anchorPeter Mansbridge and hockey commentator Don Cherry, and of prominent personalities from her hometown of Almonte, Ontario. She currently serves as artistic director of the Puppets Up international puppet festival, held annually in Almonte.^[4]

She was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1995–Noreen Young will be honoured by the Canadian Institute for Child Health on November 18th at the 16th Annual Crayons and Cravats Gala for her tireless energy and dedication to the use of puppetry to teach and entertain children.

Me on the cover of Screamin Mamas magazine from Florida that I write for. That is one of Noreen Young’s original puppets that I cherish.

 In ode to Noreen..The original Balderson cow in the background.. I called her Baldy Welsh after the Carleton Place Canoe great– because her udders swing both way. One must have whimsy…

Also read-

I’m Your Puppet! — Hi Diddle Day and Uncle Chichimus

 

 

More Memories of the Storyland Bunny

Summer Life — More Stories about the Storyland Bunny

While You Were Sleeping —-The Storyland Bunny Moves to the Hi Diddle Day House

Yes the Storyland Bunnies Are still Alive and Well I might Add…

The Elements of Storyland-Are Those Bunnies Now in Bali Ha’i ?

 

 

Photo Tammy Sharp

Jane Austen and Linda Comment on the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers

• Posted by Linda Seccaspina on August 8, 2011 at 11:30pm
• View Blog

An artist cannot do anything slovenly and therefore the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers from Maine can do no wrong in my mind – and how quick come the reasons for approving what we like!

There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart. You can feel this young ladies heart and smile right through the picture.

Respect for right conduct is felt by everybody. The kids as well as the adults were spellbound. Of course they were so spellbound that some had bad hats, which were probably inflicted on them by wizards.

Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim. But in the case of the wee tiger seated on the floor we will make an exception.

 

A mind lively and at ease, can do with seeing nothing, and can see nothing that does not answer. Yet little things please her like two puppets in a boat called Chucky and Lucy seeking treasure.

A woman, especially, if she has the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can. In this case when there are bumbling pirates about Lucy should drop the idea of listening to Chucky.

For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn? But what about that huge pink sea monkey that did not come in a packet and not ordered in the mail for $4.99 plus shipping and handling.

Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. Or in this case a Helen Keller captain with two hooks for hands and a whole lot of attitude.

Business, you know, may bring you money, but friendship hardly ever does. Especially in the case of hidden pieces of eight. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

 

Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies. Our heroes are surrounded not by spies but Lobster Boy, Crabby and yes, that sea monkey.

One man’s style must not be the rule of another and no one beats Frogtown Mountain Puppets. Even if they do wear vegetable strainers for hats to allow the boat to move around.

One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty. In this case the men are witty although their sister takes the show.
My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company. In this case it’s the Frogtown Mountain Puppets.

 

If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. Nothing like a man and his love for a puppet.

One man’s style must not be the rule of another’s. Thank goodness for the stylings of Frogtown Mountain Puppets.

“Everybody Loves Pirates” is the story of a young girl named Lucy and her goofy friend, Little Chucky.

While fishing one day, the kids discover a treasure map and decide to set out on a quest to find their fortune.

Unfortunately, they run into a group of bumbling pirates who try to thwart their efforts by stealing the treasure.

Of course, it all works out in the end with some help from Chucky and Lucy’s new ocean-dwelling friends, including Lobster Boy, Crabby and a wise Sea Monkey.

Great for all ages- Trust me, even Jane Austen approved.

Images by Linda Seccaspina 2011

A few are from Frogtown’s website.

Text by Jane Austen and Linda Seccaspina

 

Where an opinion is general, it is usually correct. And they received a standing ovation.

This is Sleepy Hollow Dirty Dancing that I saw last year by Frogtown Mountain Puppets. Just so brilliantly done.

 

They also have a recycling DVD out for kids.

All Shook Up Over Elvis

                                      

July 25, 2014.

Truth be told I never was an Elvis fan. Not one single photo of Elvis ever graced my Beatle wallpapered wall as a teen. The closest I came to having some sort of an affiliation with the rock legend was stealing a 45 RPM called “Viva Las Vegas” from the local five-and-dime in the 60’s.

Who knew that yesterday Elvis would become my new “Hunk of Burnin’ Love”. It ‘s no secret to those that know me that puppets have always been a great love and fascination of mine. Each year in August (except for last year) I religiously attend the “Puppets Up!” festival in Almonte, Ontario. I cram as many shows as they feature, and am the number 1 fan of the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers from Bar Harbor ME.

Yesterday I was given a vintage Noreen Young affiliated puppet of Elvis for my birthday by my “Bossa Nova Valley” sweetie from California.

 

 “Ain’t that Lovin You Baby?”

I have idolized Ms. Young for years and my children worshiped her television show “Under the Umbrella Tree”. I am lucky and honoured to live in the house they used for the opening of her 60’s CBC-TV show “High Diddle Day.” I would safely say that I don’t have a puppet fetish, but just a great admiration for those that use such creativity to entertain.

                             

Each year as I watch the annual “Puppets Up!” parade I envy those that participate in the yearly extravaganza. This year I proudly announce I will be in that very parade mingling with the puppeteers in section B with my “King of the Whole Wild World”.

Another thing finally marked off my bucket list!

This morning I got up and smiled at Elvis, and as he looked at me he seemed to say,

“It’s Now or Never” baby!

Today, there is finally “Peace in the (Ottawa) Valley” for me.

               

                    

             Puppets Up! August 8-10 Almonte Ontario

All photos by Linda Seccaspina

Isn’t Life Really Just One Big Puppet Show? A Photo Essay about Puppets and more

• Posted by Linda Seccaspina on August 8, 2011 at 8:30am
• View Blog

                Behind the falls of the Canadian Mississippi River and around the bend,

                   Lies a secret under the towers of the Almonte, Ontario Town Hall,

People line up everywhere for puppet shows galore!

There were fuzzy alien puppets,

There were tall chubby puppets,

                                               And short ones in chairs,

        There was sugar and silliness,

And of course there was royalty,

                                                       Some danced,

And there were Mums and Dads too,

                                             People came from far and near,

There were puppets on the bottom,

And more puppets were on top,

The Belly Dancers led the parade,

                                              The Scotsmen were next,

Some were from our land,

                                      Others were from a galaxy far far away,

                              ,

Some marched proud with their puppets,

  Some did not care,

            Some were not so famous and had no umbrellas to shield them from the hot sun.

And then some were very famous as we all remembered them from CBC’s “Under the Umbrella  Tree”

Thank you Noreen Young and everyone else from “Puppets Up” for one grand day!

Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.
Jim Henson

Images and text: Linda Seccaspina 2011

Shots taken on location at Puppets Up! in Almonte, Ontario, August 6th, 2011.

Over 10,000 people filled the small town for the two day fest this year.

My Carleton Place home used to be the Hi Diddle Day House in the opening CBC TV show credits of Noreen Youngs puppet program called Hi Diddle Day.

Hi Diddle Day (Series) (1968-1975)

 

Hi Diddle Day was a CBC Ottawa production designed to entertain and inform young viewers. The uniquely-produced series starred a number of puppet characters (created, manipulated and voiced by Noreen Young) who lived in an unusual household. The setting was a Victorian house in Crabgrass, a typical small Canadian community. In the house lived Mrs. Dibble, and a host of zany puppet characters. Other puppets were Basil the Beagle, Durwood the Dragon, Wolfgang Von Wolf, Granny, Chico The Crow, a French-Canadian moose called Ti, Lucy Goose and others.

A regular on the show was the mailman, Mr. Post, played by Bob Gardiner. Musician Wyn Canty appearred occasionally as music teacher. There were also guest appearances by experts in the fields of music, art, science, entertainment and sports. The show was originally seen only in Ottawa, Montreal and the Maritimes. By 1970, its popularity led CBC to turn it into a national children’s series.

Original Broadcaster(s): CBC