Mr. Bones Skeleton Marionette

Mr. Bones is one of the earliest puppets in the Museum's collection. This oversized skeleton marionette is made of painted wood, and operates with nine strings on three bars. Bones is thought to be part of an unusual marionette/minstrel show said to have been staged on a showboat traveling up and down the Mississippi River between 1850-1875. Showboats offered a variety of entertainments, including both comedy, and music to working class Americans in urban and rural areas.

This disassembling skeleton, appeared along with a group of marionettes that included Mr. Tambo, a horse skeleton, and a white policeman. A common form of entertainment, the popular minstrel show is considered to be the first uniquely American form of entertainment that featured white people parodying African Americans. The rest of the show featured songs, dances and other variety acts, and ended with a short skit. It was rare, however, that this popular amusement involved puppetry.

Currently not on view