RALPH CHESSÉ
PUPPET THEATER
Marionettes 1940-1984

marionette heads, left to right
Jascha Heifitz, Richard III, Mad Hatter, King Lear, Mikado

During 1939, the Oakland and San Francisco Recreation Projects were still functioning under the WPA's Federal Theater Project and Ralph Chessé returned to produce Pinocchio which played at the 1939 Worlds  Fair on Treasure Island until it closed. Ralph then worked on the WPA Art Project until notice came from Washington ordering all WPA workers to go into war training programs.

In 1949 Chesse began to teach puppetry for adult education and San Francisco State College where he directed and designed a production of Dickens' Oliver Twist. During the early 50's with Lettie Connell Schubert Chesse and his sons Dion and Bruce he created Holiday puppet shows for the Emporium in downtown San Francisco. With the emergence of the new medium television, Ralph began producing commercials. He then produced his first television series called Willie and the Baron.

His award winning television program Brother Buzz is the longest sustaining children's program in San Francisco's television history (1953-1969). See the Brother Buzz Page

In 1984 Chessé and his son Dion produced his last marionette productions, Molière's "The Doctor in Spite of Himself " and Dondo's "The Pie and the Tart" at Southern Oregon State College.

Baron Woodly and His Friends, musical bear
1952

Jascha Heifitz
Variety Showcase
1942

Baron Woodly and His Friends, Mad Hatter
1952

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OIver Twist
1956

OLIVER TWIST

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Romeo & Julliet
Labaudt Gallery
1956

ROMEO & JULLIET

Macbeth
Murders Scene
San Francisco Aquarium
1979

MACBETH

Macbeth
Discovery of Duncan's murder
1979

Dr. In Spite of Himself
1984

DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF

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