A legend, and a much loved childhood memory. Although having a little browse now, it's clear that I didn't quite grasp, as a child, the role that warm socks seem to have played in the minds of the kings and princes beyond those black rocks.
RIP to a man who brought so much joy to so many children, of multiple generations. Wonderful creations, gentle stories, enduring brilliance. And Emily loved him.
RIP indeed. A huge talent and a very decent person. As I'll have mentioned before, the Firmins (and Postgates) were family friends when I was at school in Canterbury and I have happy memories of the garden shed/studio where Smallfilms was run. (I even had opportunity to create a planet or two for the backdrop of The Clangers.)
Not to destroy too much of the myth and the magic, but there were two of most puppets - and at least three Bagpusses...
He was a genius. Ivor the Engine captivates my 4 year old nephew even now. Bagpuss and the Clangers are just brilliant. Noggin the Nog was wonderful.
Mrs b and I and friends went to an exhibition of Firmin & Postgate's work a few years ago at the Lowry - it was a close-run thing as to whether our generation, or our friends' kids (5 and 7 y.o.) were more awestruck.
I think there's still a place for gentle, slow-moving kids' telly even in today's colour-saturated, shouty, thousand-miles-per-hour TV world.
RIP indeed. A huge talent and a very decent person. As I'll have mentioned before, the Firmins (and Postgates) were family friends when I was at school in Canterbury and I have happy memories of the garden shed/studio where Smallfilms was run. (I even had opportunity to create a planet or two for the backdrop of The Clangers.)
Not to destroy too much of the myth and the magic, but there were two of most puppets - and at least three Bagpusses...
Well even on the show there's three.
One with his eyes closed, one with his eyes open, and one in sepia…
I remember seeing an interview with Emily who said while Bagpuss looked soft he was basically a meccano set covered with cloth
Yep, pretty much AFAIR: most of the puppets were constructed from Meccano-type frames.
Emily was/is the youngest of the six Firmin daughters (one of whom I briefly went out with when I was fourteen) - all of whom went on to have artistic careers of one form or another. (Their mother also, however I forget in what capacity.)
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