Fox Folk Friends

Shari Lewis wasn’t just a children’s entertainer. She was a television pioneer.

Long before children’s television became a major industry, Shari Lewis turned a sock puppet named Lamb Chop into one of the most beloved characters in American TV history.

Born in 1933, Lewis was more than a ventriloquist. She was a singer, dancer, musician, author, conductor, and one of the sharpest performers ever to work in children’s media.

Lamb Chop became her signature creation in the 1950s — funny, mischievous, emotional, and somehow completely alive in Shari’s hands.

Then came Charlie Horse, Hush Puppy, and eventually Lamb Chop’s Play-Along in the 1990s, introducing an entirely new generation to her world through PBS and “The Song That Doesn’t End.”

What made Shari different was the precision.
The voices.
The timing.
The warmth.

Children loved her. Adults respected her.

And decades later, Lamb Chop still feels timeless.

Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, Wing Ding, and Hush Puppy . . .

Today we celebrate William Shakespeare on both the anniversary of his birth and his death. 🎭

Enjoyed a fun morning on Wednesday at Onalaska Public Library for their "Senior Moments" group! Here are select photos from "A Peek Behind the Puppet Curtain." Thanks to Sherri for all her help along with my team of Joyce, Janet, & John!

"A Peek Behind the Puppet Curtain!"
Looking forward to tomorrow's "Show & Tell" presentation at the Onalaska Public Library's Senior Moments event at 10 am! Hope to see you there. Starts at 10 am!

Last year on Sunday afternoon, it was exciting to attend the opening of the new “All American Childhood” exhibit at the Neenah Historical Society. Their “History Harvest” display of growing up in my hometown of Neenah, WI was amazing!

I was blessed to see myself in a display panel about the summer marionette program run by the Neenah Park & Rec in the 1960s. They also chose to display a pair of marionettes I built "back in the day"! Thanks to Erica & Miranda from the Historical Society for the wonderful job did for this exhibit!