Fox Folk Friends

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Fox Folk Friends Fox Folk Marionette & Friends, Inc. Family-friendly puppetry since 1965 - A 501(c)(3) non-profit
& member of the Puppeteers of America
www.puppetry.org

Meet Miriam! She’s the narrator for our 2026 Christmas shows this year. “As Shepherds Watched—A Christmas Tale” Will deb...
10/15/2026

Meet Miriam! She’s the narrator for our 2026 Christmas shows this year. “As Shepherds Watched—A Christmas Tale” Will debut in December. Miriam was on the workbench today for restringing & new controller.

10/08/2026

At first glance, this just looks like a quirky 1950s puppet show. But the true story behind this photograph is an absolute masterclass in human psychology. 🎭

In the mid-1950s, the Ballarat psychiatric hospital was home to deeply traumatised patients; many of whom had been entirely mute, withdrawn, or unresponsive for years. Traditional custodial care had completely failed them.

Then, they were handed marionettes.

By hiding behind a stage curtain and projecting their fractured identities onto a puppet, patients who hadn't spoken a word in years suddenly found a safe way to express themselves, process their trauma, and communicate with the outside world.

It was a radical, life-changing form of therapy introduced by a medical pioneer who completely transformed our city.

👉 We just dropped a massive, archival deep-dive on Dr. Eric Cunningham Dax and how he unlocked Ballarat’s darkest institution.

Head to our previous post to read the full story! 🤍

10/01/2026

Today, we celebrate Muppet creator Jim Henson’s 90th birthday!

Jim Henson inspired the whimsy and heart central to all things muppet, reinventing the way we view monsters, puppetry, and a character's power to educate. Thank you Jim! ❤️

Puppeteers in action behind the scenes
09/20/2026

Puppeteers in action behind the scenes

09/16/2026

X the Owl’s home is a knot hole in the Tree that’s in the center of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. He’s a fine feathered friend – eager to learn, curious, and open to discoveries. He receives lessons from the Owl Correspondence School (OCS) on a wide range of subjects and excitedly awaits their arrival. To show his delight on any occasion, he enthusiastically calls out “nifty-galifty!”

Like his hero, Benjamin Franklin, X is an avid reader, loves poetry and rhymes. And like Ben Franklin, he even has a printing press in his knot hole where he now and then prints announcements for Neighborhood of Make-Believe events.

X’s best friend and neighbor is Henrietta Pussycat. They share lots of interests and conversations. But like all friends, there are times when conflicts arise. X can be bossy and Henrietta can be stubborn. But they find ways to talk about their feelings, and are able to repair their friendship and move on.

09/16/2026

Lamb Chop first came to life in 1957 — a simple sock puppet, no fanfare, nothing fancy. Over 40 years later, Shari Lewis was still performing with her, right up until she passed away in 1998.

What made it work wasn't the puppet. It was Shari. No mugging for the camera, no forced energy — just warm, easy chemistry that somehow made a piece of felt feel completely real. Compare early clips to later ones and the bond looks identical, decades apart.

Fans still say it best. One wrote simply: "loved them both, a class act." That's really the whole story.

09/16/2026

Big Bird comes to visit his friend X the Owl:
misterrogers.org/videos/big-bird-comes-to-visit-x

Address

Hanson Drive
Appleton, WI

Telephone

+19204279723

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