From Pinnochio to the Muppets to Shelly Duvall's Lambchop, puppets are familiar to students even before they start watching TV. Then, as young adults, students often turn towards real-life movie and music stars for entertainment and forget the magic of puppets.
But not senior Kent Kraemer. His fascination as a child for puppetry has only grown stronger.
In addition to making his own puppets, Kraemer has performed with puppets at the annual Nutcracker Ballet in Bigfork, become involved with the Montana puppet guild and directed a full-scale puppet show.
"When I was little I loved the Muppets," said Kraemer. "I thought they were real."
But when Kraemer discovered that the Muppets were not real he hated them for three or four years until he was old enough to understand the workings behind puppetry. He found that the "magic those people can make" with the puppets was something he wanted to do.
"I want to make people believe."
Beginning in 9th grade, Kraemer began to build puppets, although he did not manipulate them. In his junior year, Kraemer was able to direct Riki-Tiki-Tavi at FHS as a puppet show.
"Kent is a dedicated puppeteer with extensive training provided by the local puppet guild," said Dave Hashley. "He provides a unique aspect for our program."
"Through his puppet's actions and character, it was easy to see Kent's magnificent talent," said senior Wade Atkinson, who worked with Kraemer on Riki-Tiki-Tavi. "Kent is dedicated and skilled in puppetry and his expertise makes him stand out."
Also in his junior year, Kraemer met Sherry Johns of Kalispell, who is actively involved with puppetry.
"He's incredible," said Johns. "When you put a puppet in his hand, he becomes that puppet. He is so creative."
Kraemer worked with Johns on a 63-second show at the annual Nutcracker Ballet in Bigfork and also on a Christmas Eve service held at Trinity Lutheran Church.
"I think that a puppet play is a wonderful way to keep the children's attention," said Judy Bennett who works at Trinity Lutheran School and saw the show. "I think even the adults enjoyed it. They did a great job."
Johns also helped Kraemer get a scholarship for the Pacific Northwest Regional Puppetry Festival, which was held over Memorial Day 1996 weekend in Vancouver, B.C. With the scholarship, Kraemer attended the Festival for free, paying only for his plane ticket.
"The festival opened up new possibilities," said Kraemer. "(Puppetry) is really an art form. You can incorporate virtually every aspect of the fine arts."
Puppetry includes the lighting, sets and sound of a large-scale play, except on a "smaller scale more feasible to do yourself," said Kraemer.
At the festival, Kraemer found that a Japanese form of puppetry called Bunraku was his favorite. With Bunraku, the audience can see the full body of the puppet, as with marionettes, but there are no strings.
"The whole weekend I was pretty much in awe," said Kraemer.
This fall, Kraemer was elected vice president of the Montana Puppet Guild. As vice president, Kraemer informs the newsletter editor for the guild of member's activities.
"Puppetry is a dying art in this country," said Kraemer. "It is more popular in other countries. The guild is trying to get more people interested in Montana."
Kraemer hopes to continue with puppetry throughout his life. He would like to be involved with the puppet group Tears of Joy he saw at the festival and to travel to Japan for more experience, especially in Bunraku.
"The magic of seeing your imagination in the flesh" is Kraemer's favorite aspect of puppetry, he said, "For myself and the audience."
"I foresee him as an upcoming Jim Hensen," said Johns. "His name will be known across the nation someday."