U-Matic

Christmas Carnival puppets Skits (rough) 51:17- 8:51

U-Matic tape containing several takes of a three scene featuring puppets, shot for a public service announcement promoting the annual Christmas Carnival at Cobo Hall.

In the first segment, two child-like creature puppets with long snouts sit in a bed, and ask their mother--a woman in a green dress and hat with a red and white apron--to tell them a story about the Christmas Carnival. She responds with a poem patterned after "A Visit From St. Nicholas" that includes the event's details.

The second segment is silent and features Santa Claus, and another long-snouted green creature standing around a Christmas tree and pile of presents

The third segment is also silent and again features Santa, the tree, and presents, but Mrs. Claus takes the place of the green creature.

The video is on a U-Matic S tape with a typewritten City of Detroit Department of Public Information Video Production label on its top. The label identifies the tape as number 112. The tape is housed within a black plastic latching clamshell case with the number "217" handwritten on a piece of masking tape along its spine. A handwritten note included in the case reads, "X-Mas Carnival Puppets, mom & 2 kids."