Early Television Marionettes of Ralph Chessé

The San Francisco Public Library has been pleased to present Ralph Chessé: A San Francisco Century from May 16 through August 18, 2024 in the Jewett Gallery. As the exhibit shows, Chessé was a man of many talents who achieved success as a painter, lithographer, actor, director, playwright and marionettist.

He was also a pioneer of children's television programming most famous for his nationally distributed puppet show, The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz, that was on the air from 1952 to 1973. A year before, he had already stepped into the world of children's television a program called Willie and the Baron.

source: San Francisco Chronicle July 10, 1951

Alternating with Chris [Cut Cartoons] at 6 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday is WILLI AND THE BARON, a new program straight from the world of fable and fancy, featuring marionette Baron Woodly.

This 15 minute program aired live on KGO twice a week for six months. 

Willie and The Baron (image source: The Marionette Actor)

The show was sometimes also called Willie and the Baron or Baron Woodley and Friends. (The Baron's name was also spelled Woodly at times).

In his short memoir, The Marionette Actor, Chessé writes about the creative conditions in early television. Programming was scarce and its content difficult to pay for. He noted that the interview format became popular owing to its production simplicity. He auditioned a television program idea that would be a "marionette spoof" of the standard news interview, but his idea was not well-received. He tweaked it a bit using the interview format to change the subjects to characters from familiar nursery rhymes and folk stories. Thus, Willie and the Baron was conceived.

Chessé voiced Baron Woodley. His son Dion voice Willie who Chessé described as a "stooge office boy." Lettie Connell played all the women's voice. Even within that limitation the possibilities were vast. He described the challenge preparing a new set of marionettes for each show. He also had to conceive and write two scripts a week for the show presented live. When it first aired it was listed on the daily schedule as "Impossible Interview" or "Impossible Interviews."

Dwight Newton, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, was very enthusiastic about the show.

The "Baron" is a quaint, old world, pixie-like character with a big nose and horn rimmed glasses. He conducts "impossible interviews" with famed figures of history and fiction, assisted by "Willi," a wide-eyed busybody with bushy hair and big ears.

Into their mouths Chesse puts delightful dialogue. Into their movements he injects a sprightly and fascinating charm. But thin, no wonder! Mr. Chesse, who has been making and manipulating marionettes here for more than a quarter of a century, has a national reputation.

Recent "impossible interviews" have been with Rip Van Winkle, Ali Baba, the Long Stanger and his horse Chigger, and Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp.

Newton concludes by exclaiming that "Willie and Baron" is "conducted with charm and sincerity and high, good humor and good taste--a welcome and worthwhile contribution to local television."

While the intrinsic value of the show was evident, it did not contribute enough value to the bottom line for KGO and they cancelled the program after 6 months.

Musical Bear from Willie and the Baron (image source: Chessé Arts Limited website in Archive.org)

The Mad Hatter from Willie and the Baron (image source: Chessé Arts Limited website in Archive.org)

During this time, Chessé also created television commercials employing his marionettes for beer and Calso Water. He did soon find a reliable sponsor for his next marionette program, The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz, that allowed it to thrive for several years.

"Impossible Interview" at 6 PM, KGO-TV, Channel 7

Television Listing, July 11, 1951 (source: San Francisco Examiner)

Bibliography:

Chessé, Ralph, The Marionette Actor (George Mason University Press, 1987).

Franklin, Bob, "Show Time," San Francisco Chronicle July 10, 1951.

McPharlin, Paul and Marjorie Batcheler McPharlin, The Puppet Theatre in America: A History, 1524-1948, with a Supplement: Puppets in America since 1948 (Plays, Inc., 1969).

Newton, Dwight, "Day and Night with Radio and Television," San Francisco Chronicle August 4, 1951