Puppets Bring Magic and Laughter to Campers at SDCE Recreation Center
The SDCE Recreation Center was filled with fun and imagination as ImagiCamp campers were treated to a colorful and lively puppet show. Giggles filled the room as silly characters told stories, shared jokes, and imparted important life lessons in a way that only puppets can do.
Comic Ventriloquist Joe Gandelman and his 15 puppet friends performed a one-hour show for 10 camp counselors and 35 kids, who were engaged and cheering him on. The show, designed especially for kids, was more than just entertainment; it was an opportunity for young audiences to explore creativity, empathy, and teamwork through the magic of puppetry.
Gandelman brought a boy puppet named John, a bear, two elephants—one that sprayed a light mist of water on the campers, and a dragon that blew out a mist resembling smoke. He also brought a cat, a shark, a turtle, a zombie, a plant, a baby, and two dogs. He drew on a whiteboard, creating a face with eyes that moved around, which really excited the kids. There was a lot of audience participation: he put a puppet face on a boy and had him play along with the show and put lips on a girl, which had the audience laughing.
Gandelman has always liked puppets, so much so that as a kid, he put on puppet shows for the other kids in his neighborhood. His career began back in 1981 when he was a reporter in Wichita, Kansas. When he was a journalist, he turned to puppetry to relieve stress and bought a book on magic shows. Wanting to improve his skills, he contacted famous ventriloquist and comedian Paul Winchell, who advised him to purchase better dummies at a magic store in San Diego. He also reached out to Jimmy Nelson, a ventriloquist from the 1950s and 1960s, famous for his Nestle Quick commercials. Jimmy mentored Gandelman and critiqued his videos. It was Jimmy who encouraged him to go full-time with his act.
He has been doing shows for over 31 years and has performed in venues all over the United States and Canada. He has appeared in big-stage variety shows on television, at fairs, festivals, corporate events, casinos, libraries, country clubs, churches, synagogues, mosques, schools, and private parties. He even got ordained after a couple requested that he perform their wedding ceremony with his Bassett hound dummy. He has videos on YouTube and TikTok. In a couple of weeks, he will be heading to Colorado to perform at a fair, then to New Mexico. Gandelman loves comedy and enjoys making people laugh and smile. He made the Rec Center campers do just that.
At the end of the presentation, Gandelman taught the kids a few behind-the-scenes tricks on ventriloquism and had some audience members practice saying words without moving their lips. He also showed them the inside of the wooden dummy puppet named John and demonstrated how he controls the puppet and moves its face.
ImagiCamp at the SDCE continues to be a place where kids can explore new skills, build confidence, and have a lot of fun. And thanks to the puppets with big personalities, this week’s fun had a magical twist.
Check out Joe Gandelman & Friends at https://familyentertainer.com.
Photo of Joe Gandelman with puppet collage courtesy of Joanne Rivera, Recreation Secretary. All other photos taken by Tiffany Pressler
