547     December 16, 1963 (LIVE)
Bill, Betsy, Henry, Bess

[Phillip Boa] from Bellerose, Long Island: “I play the tuba” 
Phillip is a young and quite small member of the Salvation Army Youth Band of Hempstead, New York.  The band is on stage to perform in the show’s annual Christmas program.  Conducted by director Vernon Post, they perform “Adeste Fideles” (1741).   


Professor Piccolowski from Rome, Italy: “The panel will pull the strings for our performance” 
The professor is a marionette, a featured player in Podrecca’s Piccoli Theater.  Vittorio Podrecca founded his puppet theater in 1914.  At its peak, the company toured the world, with 25 performers operating some 2000 difference marionettes.  Here, the panel gets a crash course in puppetry, and operates the professor, a guitar player and two rumba dancers.  Later, the professional puppeteers perform the same characters.   Podrecca’s Piccoli Theater is performing at the Playhouse on the Mall in Paramus, New Jersey  

In the final segment, the panel and Garry join the youth band to perform “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” on pop bottles.

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