Meredith Bixby

Meredith Bixby (May 31, 1909 – Sept. 11, 2002) was an American puppeteer.

Meredith Bixby
Born	(1909-05-31)May 31, 1909 Detroit, MI, U.S.
Died	September 11, 2002(2002-09-11) (aged 93) Saline, MI., U.S.
Education	Wayne State University, Art Students League
Occupation	Puppeteer
Spouse	Thyra Bixby

Early life and education

Meredith Bixby studied engineering at Wayne State University, but discovered a passion for drawing.^[1] He then moved to New York City and attend the Art Students League and studied painting under Thomas Hart Benton. Jackson Pollock was one of his classmates. ^[2] To support himself he worked at the New York Public Library Main Branch.^[3] There he found the book A Repertory of Marionette Plays by Paul McPharlin^[4] and attempted to make his own production of Dr. Faustus during a month’s vacation.^[1] After producing a couple of shows he thought marionette productions would promise a better means of support than painting.

Early productions toured from Boston to New Orleans.^[5] He also produced plays for commercial clients.^[2] His career paused during World War II, where he served as superintendent of a tool and die shop in Miami.^[6]

Career

After World War II, Bixby moved to Saline, Michigan where his father had a dentistry practice.^[1] From there the Meredith Marionettes Touring Company toured predominantly to schools in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.^[5] His repertoire included Pinocchio, The Caliph Stork, The Magic Stalk (Jack and the Beanstalk), The Enchanted Birds, The Little Humpbacked Horse, The Wizard of Oz, and The Golden Fish.^[5] BIxby created the scenes and backdrops, wrote the scripts (some based on Russian folk tales) and carved the 3-foot tall marionettes. His wife Thyra made the costumes,^[5] and served as promotions and publicity director.^[7] Each year he would preview his productions in the old Saline Opera House^[1] on S. Ann Arbor Street, which was also his studio.^[8]

Bixby trained recent college graduates to take the show on the road and pull the strings.^[8] The troupe performed two to three shows a day,^[1] and was on the road 180 days a year, performing for 250,000 children annually.^[5] To keep the vocal performances consistent, Bixby taped the dialog, with additional voices performed by his wife, his daughter Norah, local radio personality Ted Heusel, and other Ann Arbor-based actors as needed.^[5]

While a season’s production toured, Bixby created the next season’s show: writing the script, carving puppets, and designing posters and scenery.^[1] Some of his marionettes had unique features, like a house on chicken’s feet that lit up from the inside, and other marionettes that would smoke pipes and blow smoke.^[9]

Other activities

In 1937, Bixby was among the founders of Puppeteers of America.^[10]

In 1956, Bixby was a founding officer of the Saline Broadcasting Co., and acquired the radio broadcast license for WOIA studios.^[11]

In 1969, Bixby began making films of his marionette plays,^[5] eventually renting space from the Saline Station in 1982 to continue filming and editing.

Legacy

In 1997, Bixby donated his entire collection of marionettes and props to the city of Saline, and his works were displayed at the Chamber of Commerce until 2008.^[9]

In 1998, Bixby was recognized for his life’s work in the U.S. House of Representatives. ^[12]

In 2024, James K. and Marcia J. Cameron published Tales Come Alive! The Meredith Marionettes: An Oral History. ^[8]