The Muscatine Journal from Muscatine, Iowa • 18

Nickelodeon's 'Pinwheel' puppeteers talk about their work- Observer of Hope's theater department productions, Bun1 Tillstrom was creator of television's "Kukla, Fran and -Ollie." the college awarded Tillstrom an honorary degree for his work in the tradition of "Punch and Judy," "Howdy Doody," "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" and the Muppets, Nickelodeon's "Pinwheel" has presented Its viewers with a unique generation of puppets: enthusiasm and puppetry skill increased. Eventually he began partnering Brad in puppet manipulation for the bigger puppets Cwhich required two people to work them). When Plus and Minus became Jim became Minus to enable the two characters to play off of one '-1 assistant at a local fabric shop where Jim was buying burlap for the puppet- sets be was making. Jim explains: "I told him I'D do anything to get to work on this Jinkins became William's assistant, aiding him initially in the painting and building of "Pinwheel" sets. Working with Williams, Jinkins' 'Punch and Judy' and another puppet show (the first for which I had created an original puppet) in the National Puppet Festival in New London, Conn.

Warner, then in the process of developing a children's television show, had talent scouts there. They approached me to work for a few weeks on this 'vague' That was the begwnign of 'Pinwheel'." Williams relocated to Columbus, Ohio, to design the sets as well as to create the original family of "Pinwheel" puppets. From his imagination sprang the bigger than life puppets Aurelia, Ebenezer and Luigi. Then came the puppet "children, Plus and Minus. 'To me puppets should, be used for things which humans can't do.

You apply that to their physical appearance: a puppet should look Hke something that no human can look like. And they should be able to do things which no human could do or get away with! I think we've achieved that with Brad Williams. 1 Aurelia, mistress of "Pinwheel" House, Ebenezerr keener of the weeds. Luisri and At the time "Pinwheel" was being formed, Jim Jinkins, a 1 y'Y in television, Williams had his first opportunity to work with this master. Williams prepared his own puppet show for Tills trom's critique and later worked on a retrospective of "Kukla, Fran and Offle which toured the National Puppet Festivals.

Brad also built his own "Punch and Judy" Show which was presented at the festivals. "A few years later, when I was in graduate school at the University of Connecticut," explains Brad, "I entered my his vegetables and the kids Plus and Minus. Brad' Williams, their creator and Jim Jinkins, puppeteer and Pinwheel'sart-tlirectorr came out from under their puppet characters to talk about themselves with Nickelodeon and Muscatine Cablevision. Brad Williams started his college career as an art and theater major at Hope College in Michigan. An active graduate student in photography and cinema at Ohio State University, was working in the university's audio visual department with the responsibility of bringing the puppetry program up to speed.

He was "discovered" by a production Pupeteers Jim Jinkins (left) and Brad Williams (right) give Pinwheel character Luigi O'Brien a rest. LOCAL PROGRAMMING 6:30 p.m. "Viewpoint," repeat of Monday, 6:30 p.m. show. 7:00.

Mall Interviews" MCTV visited the Muscatine Mai recently and talked with Muscatine residents Martha Potts, Amy and Keen Jerdee, Julie Dunker, Linda Millage, Lana Bartenhagen, Charles and Shirley Lucas, Gene and Vickie Gross and Curtis Bol. Wednesday, Aug. 19 5:30 p.m. "Nutrition for Teen Athletes," young athletes, coaches, a doctor and a nutritionist discuss the various aspects of nutrition and its effect on the health of the developing young athlete. 6:00 p.m.

"First National Broadcast of Video Artists," many innovative and unusual things will be seen during this half-hour program that features works by different video artists. 9:00 p.m. "Viewpoint Steve Roelle, a juvenile probation officer in Muscatine, is interviewed in the first of a two-part show on juvenile crime. Interviewers are Rob Graham and John Heilman. Thursday, Aug.

20 6:30 p.m. "Blessing Time," a half-hour devotional program produced by the Foursquare Gospel Church. 7:00 p.m. "Scapemates," an electronic music soundtrack occompanies the video effects of abstract landscapes in this film. A video colorizer and other effects are used.

7:30 p.m. "Warm with Wood," this tapes looks at the various stoves and fireplaces, what woods to use and some safety precautions to use when using wood to heat 8:00 p.m. "Meet Miss Muscatine," repeat Monday, 7 p.m. show. Friday, Aug.

21 5:30 p.m. "Blessing Time," repeat of Thursday, 6:30 p.m. show. 6:00 p.m. "Viewpoint," repeat of Wednesday, 9 p.m.

show. 6:30 p.m. "MCTV Mall Interviews repeat of Tuesday, 7 p.m. show. Channel 11 Monday, Aug.

17 6:00 p.m. "City of Refuge," dealt with the reception of refugees in Pella, Iowa, where they first made their home after fleeing from Loos two years ogo. A congressional report. Rep. Jim Leach comments on the refugee situation.

6:30 p.m. "Viewpoint," Bruce Bole, general manager of Muscatine is interviewed by Rob Graham and John Heilman. 7:00 p.m. "Meet Miss Muscatine," John Schwandke talks with the New Miss Muscatine County, Cynthia Weber; Darla Blocker, the reigning Miss Iowa; Jim Parks, senior judge; and Kerry Hay, Miss Muscatine pageant chairman. Tuesday, Aug.

18 6:00 p.m. "Silly Songs of Iowa," the Rev. Ralston Bedge and his String Cheese Chorale are featured. Boris Nouse is the host. MuK.tln.'t TV Wo.k it avblrMW worth by Dm Mute at in.

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A NOTE ABOUT SCHEDULES Network and Cable listings published in Muscatine's TV Week are compiled by the Tele-Log Company. The schedules ore based on information supplied by local stations, coble companies and the networks. All schedule are subject to change without notice by the station, network and cable suppliers. Programs of less than IS minutes in length are not listed! The designation "short programs" means several short subjects within a 15 minute period. The term "varied programs" means that the station schedules different shows in the same Monday through Friday time slot.

WHBF Rock Island, IL WOC Davenport, JO 0D WQAD Molina, IL CD WGN IL KIIN Iowa City, 10 ZZZZ astniir CI EM AX Noma Box Office WTBS Atlanta, GA CBN Christian Netwfk ACSN Appalachian Ntwk USA USA Network BET Black Entertain. C-SPAN House of Reps. ESPN Sports Network NICK Nickelodeon HBO Home Box Office ihbo Muscatine's TV Week 301 E. Third St. Auscatine, IA 52761 319-263-2331 l981.MuKOtMW Journal 0W.

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