It's also a terrific introduction to the world of puppets, particularly the world that has existed on the shores of Lake Merritt for more than half a century.

"Storybook Strings: 50 Years of Puppetry at Children's Fairyland's Storybook Puppet Theater" (Rappid Rabbit Publishing, $19.95) is as much a visual history of puppetry as a written one. More than half of Metz's book is dedicated to lively black-and-white photos of puppet shows, puppeteers and theater directors.

Metz's book also contains early Fairyland photos. You can view architect William Russell Everritt's models of Fairyland sets and a photo of William Penn Mott Jr. and Arthur E. Navlet, the creative minds behind Fairyland.

Metz describes Fairyland as a fun, accessible family park from the moment it opens in 1950. Even before the Storybook Puppet Theater is completed in 1956, puppet shows prove to be Fairyland's most popular entertainment. Metz describes the park as a magnet for the Bay Area's talented puppeteers.

Early puppet shows are presented by influential artists Ralph Chesse and Lettie Connell Schubert.

Schubert is also particularly active in the early years of the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild (SFBAPG).

Frank and Dorothy Hayward and Bruce Sedley also provide puppet shows at Fairyland in the early '50s. The Haywards' shows are part magic, part puppet-and-marionette shows, and Metz describes Frank as a gifted magician.

Hayward and Sedley
Upon completion of Storybook Theater, the Haywards are named puppet theater directors. Unfortunately, Frank suffers a fatal heart attack shortly after, leaving Dorothy both sole director and new mother.

In recognition for the theatrical support she receives from SFBAPG members after Frank's passing, Dorothy co-creates the San Francisco Bay Area Puppet Fair, an annual gathering of puppeteers at Fairyland.

Sedley, another early puppeteer, is famous at Fairyland not only for his sidekick King Fuddle, a ventriloquist puppet with whom he hosts cartoon shows on television, but also as creator of the Children's Fairyland Story- book Magic Key.

Sedley's key idea begins when the puppeteer announces, on his television show, tours of Fairyland sets with King Fuddle. The puppeteer expects a few kids, but as the tours become popular, Sedley fears he will lose his voice from telling so many stories. Instead, he develops the idea of a Magic Key that kids insert into a "Talking Storybook" at each set, allowing them to listen to a story or song.

You can almost hear Metz's glee when he says Sedley's idea is still used in zoos and kids parks around the world. You never know what will emerge from the world of puppets, he seems to say.

Urbano and Coad
After Hayward retires as puppet theater director in 1959, handsome and talented Tony Urbano is appointed. Metz includes a photo of Urbano posing with his marionette, Prince Charming. It's uncanny how much they look alike.

Metz describes Urbano as a natural puppeteer who, as a youth, is fortunate enough to work with both Chesse and Schubert. After a stint in the armed forces, Urbano returns to Fairyland and works with Hayward and a young Frank Oz, of Muppets fame.

Unfortunately, Urbano's love of theater leaves him overworked, and in 1962 he bids farewell to Fairyland. The puppeteer's eclectic career includes television ads starring Snuggle Bear and the Parkay Tub and work in both "Men In Black" films.

Fairyland finds a young, dedicated puppet director in 1963. Luman Robert Coad is an assistant puppeteer at San Jose's Happy Hollow Amusement Park when he's offered the plum position at Fairyland.

Besides building six new puppet shows a year, Coad is responsible for a children's puppet program and the "Storybook Personalities" kids' acting program. Metz describes Coad's trip to Romania and how a Fairyland show, "A Dog's Tail," wins first prize for interpretation at the international puppet festival in Bucharest.

In a romantic twist, Coad meets his second wife at Fairyland and, in 1966, relocates with her to Canada where they establish Coad Canada Puppets. Currently, Coad publishes books on puppetry. His film credits include "The Never Ending Story III" and "Being John Malkovich."

Mahlmann's Reign
Fairyland's next puppet director is a man of exceptional talent and a puppeteer the park has wooed for years. Lewis Mahlmann is Metz's mentor, future business partner and co-director. Before Mahlmann accepts the directorship at Fairyland, he presents classic adult puppet shows such as "Blue Beard" and "A Soldier's Tale" through his company, The Lilliputian Players. Writer David C. Jones adds a special touch to puppet company scripts. He and Mahlmann also publish puppetry books.

Mahlmann begins his reign at Fairyland in 1967 and remains puppet director for 35 years. Mahlmann also teaches puppetry at San Francisco State University, is twice president of The Puppeteers of America, and travels worldwide with Jones searching for new puppet stories for Fairyland.

Most important to Metz, Mahlmann is also in charge of The Junior Guild, a group of youths who volunteer at the theater in the early 1970s. Metz and fellow guild member Tom Royer go on to form The Puppet Company, and young Mike Davis becomes Michael Earl of "Sesame Street" and the Muppets. In 2002, in recognition of Mahlmann's talent and artistic influence, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown declares April 6 "Lewis Mahlmann Day."

And Now, Metz
The author has come a long way from the boy who tried to purchase Mahlmann's "Treasure Island" puppets to the director of America's longest running professional puppet theater. And now he's also a Fairyland historian -- a happy irony for a man who wanted to be a history teacher when he grew up.

Metz does a lot of his growing up at Fairyland. As a teen, he begins to work with members of the SFBAPG, learning trade secrets. Metz remembers spending hours listening to Schubert discuss and demonstrate puppet manipulation and style. Other SFBAPG members, such as Chesse, Bob Baker and Mike and Frances Oznowicz, help Metz learn script writing and puppet building.

In 1979, Metz and Royer put their puppetry skills to professional use when The Puppet Company is hired to present shows at the Knowland Park Oakland Zoo. Later, Metz is appointed Fairyland's artistic director. In 1991, Metz and Mahlmann form M Plus M Productions and become co-directors of Storybook Theater.

Now as sole director of Storybook Theater, Metz looks forward to the future and emphasizes the theater's importance as a haven for budding puppeteers. He is passionate about the apprentice model for young puppeteers and in the last chapter offers names of national puppet centers and degree programs for those interested in pursuing puppetry as a profession.

You can e-mail Kathleen Grant Geib at kgeib@angnewspapers.com or call (925) 416-4812.

The Oakland Tribune: Bay Area Living
Catherine Schutz, Features Editor
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