1951-02-03 — Page 3

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1951.

GREAT PAINTINGS by Hofman and Munkacsy Inspired the figure of Jesus, held by sculptress Mabel Beaton. During the filming of a scene, specially-made controls add to the feeling of antiquity,

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A GROUP of fascinated Larchmont, N. Y., youngsters find a film sequence for The Ten Talents engrossingly realistic. Elaborate care is

taken that all of the props, including inasonry, water jars and house furnishings, are reproductions in miniature of those in Biblical days.

PUPPETS GO TO SUNDAY SCHOOL

New Medium in Religious Education Brings "Living Bible" to Children

"I

WANNA GO to Sunday School" is the new cry out of the mouths of children. It has come to be a place the kids never want to skip. Responsible are Mr and Mrs Leslie Beaton, a Rye, N. Y., artist-writer couple who conceived the idea of filming Bible stories, using puppets as

actors.

Thus far, the husband-and-wife team has pro- duced four such Biblical films, selected because of their appeal to children. Intended for television presentation, the puppet productions have proved so successful that they are now being distributed

churches, schools and among

community organisations.

Mabel Beaton, well-known sculptress, creates the puppet figures, assisted by her husband, Leslie, a commercial art director, who paints the stage settings and the faces of the marionettes. The figures are constructed of plastic wood, rubber composition, metal beading, cottons, silks and woollens. They vary in height from 22 to 24 inches.

Settings and props are authentic down to the most minute detail, necessitating painstaking research, examination of famous paintings and consultations with historians.

The productions are "hot" in a Larchmont, N. Y., film studio.

The first four films, The Ten Talents, The Good Samaritan, The Lost Sheep and The Prodigal Son have received excellent response. According to a. report from the Rev. Everett C. Parker, a roligious radio commission director: "They not only are wonderful entertainment, but they fill a vital need in the field of religious education."

CLOTHES for the puppet figures made by Mrs. Beaton are designed for close camera scrut-- iny, Her husband, Leslie, an art director, paints the faces on the bearded puppet, Levi

THE GOOD SAMARITAN—Thieves bonat traveller on road to Jericho, rob and leave film helpless. Response from children: "Goo, this is as good as The Lone Ranger."

THE LOST SHEEP-Strings and woodwinds set the mood for story of the Good Shepherd who leaves his flock of 99 to hunt for the stray, a pet of his son

RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL-Life-like Ogutos enact story of the Prodigal Son, who squanders his wealth on a seductive dancer, then returns home to a joyous welcome.