framer wrote:This is awful. Bob Kramer's Marionettes on Laclede was completely destroyed in a fire last night. One person was killed (possibly Bob himself).
This is heartbreaking in a thousand ways. I remember first going to a show when I was in pre-school (early ‘80s) and I’m glad I had a chance to take my daughters a couple years ago. Such a loss for our city (and for the world actually). The entire production, theater and personalities could’ve fit right into New York. The fact that their entire lifetime of irreplaceable work went up in flames just adds to the tragedy. An incalculable cultural loss for St. Louis.
Bob and his family lived in the same development I grew up in, off Buckley Road in South County. I did not know Bob personally, as he was several years older than me, but even then, Bob and his mother and sister were heavily involved in puppetry.
I just called my younger sister to tell her about the fire, and she told me about the time Bob's mom invited my sister and several other neighborhood kids into the home and took them into the basement workshop. My sister said everyone was fascinated by their craft and even then it was evident Bob loved and was passionate about what he was doing.
IIRC, Bob moved into that building on Laclede sometime in the early 1970's. I went to SLU and lived in an off-campus apartment on Westminster Place. One day, riding my bike home from school, I happened to notice the Kramer Marionettes sign on the building, so he had to have occupied that building for at least 50 years as I graduated in 1974.
I'm now 70, and as I said earlier, Bob was several years older than me, so he must be in his mid to late 70s, maybe even 80.
This is a huge loss for St. Louis. Any city is a very diverse place with many talented people, but Bob's talent and craftsmanship/showmanship were truly unique and world class.
Such a shame. I've never been to a show, but as a former actor, it's always rough to hear about a tragedy in the performing arts community.
I was looking at Google Maps, and the back section of the building seems to have had a collapsed roof already. Does anyone know if there was a fire in that building before?
Tragic loss, like many St. Louis grade school kids we were treated to a show almost every year at school. The region is going to be a little bit poorer for it. Those photos are hard to look at - especially the last one.
If you are inclined there is a go fund me for Dug -
