For a routine that I have in mind, I use a little monkey puppet and a yoshino t***d-h**d gimmick to hold up a rod & curtain in front of me & work the monkey from behind. Thing is, there are time I need to take the puppet off & put it on again which is VERY hard to do one-handed. Are there any utility devices designed for this or mabye a method?

If I might suggest a ring sewed on the bottom of the puppet and a small hook like a curtain hook on the curtain. Then the puppet would hang there and allow you to slip your hand in and out. You could also attach the hook to your belt. This is the way the old timers did their puppets with hooks below the stage so they could slip their hands in and out easliy.

Thousands of years ago I used to do a Punch and Judy show. I'd use the ring and hook trick, but I'd also sew wire or rubber tubing into the bottom of the puppet dress, in order to keep it open so that I wouldn't be fumbling one-handed to separate the fabric. Worked like a charm.

-Philip

JEEZ That hook thing is so obvious!!!! WHY didn't I think of that? Thanks both of you!!