The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-09-06
Winner Of 81. 500 Prize in Tacoma Times Contest
Credits Success Largely TO Her Two Babies
She and Husband
Hove Puppet Show
Nv RALPH SMITH


Even = dosea years - playing
before audiences couldn't Keep
NJ. Edith William. - EdEswood
from being = little unnersed whrn
sh, stepped into IRE Tacoma
Times office Thursday afternoon
and wss handed check fnr
1850.
Mrs. Williams sflil WASH sure
Just how she had won first praae
in The Tscoms Times Hollywood
ruzzie contest. bot shs did 80.
pect shs could credit success
largely 70 two Young men IN her
home son Johnny. aged two wears.
and son Rch. Who i iust siN
months.
I'm SURF they provided On.
metive.- said thu contest Win
net, and thes certainly kept
me home te WORK 81 a."
And In return for all that help.
Mrs. Williams IA pretty sure ~. >
going 10 put Some ~ that 81 500
into United States savings bonds
night away and keep Il there q
help educate her hoys WHEN they
grow un to college aes.
Whether the Williams family
profession had anything TO Do with
Mrs. Williams Identification Of
the puzzle pictures Is questionable
but II IL definitely an interesting
one which keeps the mind alert.
She and her hushan
Rebert N. Williams. are IN.
creators, animafor< and voice.
Of the Williams Marionett-s.
travelling puppet show that
has hcen seen by audiences In
nearly all parts Of the United
states and even In Europe.
While Mrs. Williams has been
busy taking care Of her babies
and solving The Tines puzzles.
Mr.. Williams has been putting In
fun time making up = now show
which they hope 10 take out about
the end of this month. They plan
10 play the Northwest with Il in
the fall and possibly in California
after Christmas.
Their home near Fdgewood. at
Route /. BOX AS. puyallup. Is
their workshop. too. Tn. Will
iamses have been making puppets
Of steadily increasing air. and
complication since 1927. That in.
wolves some skilled wood carving
for most Of the heads and sculptur-
INK in plastics for some Of the
other parts Of the figures.
MR.. Williams studied art
nj the Chicago Art Institute.
That. where che was when
abe met Mr.. Williams. hut
he elected 10 try the puppet
show venture originally as nm
outlet for his ambition 10
| write and now has become a
eredifabie sculptor A. we'll rs
author Of all their plays. Mrs.
Williams saws.
She also attended the University
Of Washington and University Of
California and taught school In
both states
While IL has been no novelty
for European puppst show, TO play
IN the United States. the Williams
harionettes were the first Amen
can puppets 10 entertain audiences
IN Europe.
Another enterprise Of q few
years ago was little pnppet
thester In Hollywood which Mr..
and Mrs. Williams ran one winter
Many motion picture personalities
visited their thester. which was
an informal little place with about
30 seats. They served coffs. after
each show 10 their sndience.
which included IN. G. Aubrey
Smiths many tsmes, Boris ksrioff.
Walt Disney and MS sn,mstors
and many o,s-.s.
IN Hon, wood. the Williams
hsdonsft~s played adult
shows. shongh fheir repertoire
usually 10 for entertainment
of children. They played In
the Tacoma junior high schools
and ~ Lincoln high last year
and haNe nj. sed IN. eo..s ~.