dalekboy: (Default)
dalekboy ([personal profile] dalekboy) wrote2010-12-07 08:45 am
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Norman Hetherington & Mister Squiggle

At Huttcon 1990 I watched Norman and his daughter Rebecca enthral an audience of 400 adults with a Mister Squiggle Show. In 1999 I attempted to get him to appear at Aussiecon 3, but the ABC had him solidly booked up over that period for Mr. Squiggle's 40th Anniversary.

I was privileged to meet Norman on a couple of occasions, and to once have a two hour phone conversation with him. He was every bit as gentle and lovely a man as the character of Mr. Squiggle.



Squiggle0014
This isn't the original TV puppet of Mister Squiggle, but one made in 1980 for a proposed ABC film, The Great Moon Robbery.


Blackboard
Because the original show was thrown on air with very little notice, Norman had to rush the building of the puppets, hence Blackboard only ever having one working eye.


Bill Steamshovel
Out of all the puppets at the exhibition, Bill Steamshovel was the most amazing. Even as a static display he has loads of personality that comes through. You can see it better in the next photo.


Bill Steamshovel


Squiggle0054


Gus the Snail
Gus the Snail was an annoying prat, but then again, that was sort of his purpose.


Squiggle0021


Squiggle0078


Mr. Squiggle was always one of my favourite shows, a sweet and comfortable escape from life's woes. I'm glad I have a few episode on videotape so that I can show some to Lex and MaybeZoe at some point.

Thank you Norman, you will be missed.

[identity profile] murasaki-1966.livejournal.com 2010-12-06 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
If the best measure of a person's life is how much pleasure they have given others, then Norman Hetherington's life was one of the great lives of all times.

[identity profile] arcadiagt5.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 08:47 am (UTC)(link)
+1

There's really not much more to be said.

[identity profile] mynxii.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 12:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Echoing this!

Upside down, Upside down!

[identity profile] vegetus.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
I was sad when I read this in the news this morning. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures- I remember seeing the same exhibition and recalling how worn Bill looked- he looks great here tho!

Re: Upside down, Upside down!

[identity profile] murasaki-1966.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
Bill had a hard life.. all that digging....

[identity profile] ddpm.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
One of the best shows we had. Love watching way the Squiggles worked out.
I love all the charcters, even as I was older. ABC should bring out the best of Mr.Squiggle, like the BBC did with Muffin the Mule.

[identity profile] sjl.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 09:01 am (UTC)(link)
Very sorely missed. I guess he's going for that last, long space walk now.

[identity profile] fuschia17.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 09:54 am (UTC)(link)
I miss Mr Sqiggle. I wish there was a Mr Squiggle for Sebastian and no. 2 to enjoy.

[identity profile] mfg9999.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 12:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I was always curious to see where Mister Squiggle lived.

Did we ever make it to the moon?

[identity profile] meljane.livejournal.com 2010-12-18 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I think most of us grew with Mr Squiggle and he will be sadly missed *sob*