Charles Taylor is a very special friend of IPM. Recently, he donated a number of Bob Bromley puppets from his collection. Bromley was a friend and mentor to young Charles. He was an outstanding marionette performer. He worked with the famous Yale Puppeteers on Olvera Street. In the 1930’s , he became director of the WPA Los Angeles puppet unit. He was active in the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry and edited Puppet Life. He worked for the famous Yale Puppeteers. In the early 1930s. Bromley became director of the Federal Theater Project?s Los Angeles puppet unit,. After the demise of the Federal Theater Project, Bromley continued his work as an active member of the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry, and edited its publication Puppet Life. Bromley toured the world doing nightclub performances. Bob was the first to present puppets on England’s BBC television in 1934-1938. He created the first stripper puppet and was famous in Europe, starring at the great La Scala, Palladium, Moulin Rouge, Folies Bergere and the Lido.
Having a selection of Bromley’s puppets is a significant addition to the IPM collection.