# Tom Tichenor

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**Thomas Hager Tichenor** (February 10, 1923 — November 18, 1992) was an American [puppeteer](/source/Puppeteer), most noted for creating the original puppets for the [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) musical *[Carnival!](/source/Carnival!)*.

## Early life

Tichenor was born in [Decatur, Alabama](/source/Decatur,_Alabama), and initially raised by his Aunt Ruby in [Smyrna, Tennessee](/source/Smyrna,_Tennessee).[1] His family later moved with Tom to [Nashville](/source/Nashville,_Tennessee). At the age of 15, Tichenor staged a marionette production of *[Puss in Boots](/source/Puss_in_Boots)* at the [Nashville Public Library](/source/Nashville_Public_Library), which began his lifelong association with the library.[2]

Tichenor graduated from [Hume-Fogg High School](/source/Hume-Fogg_High_School) in Nashville in 1940,[1] along with classmate (and class salutatorian) [Bettie Page](/source/Bettie_Page).[3] He joined the [US Army](/source/United_States_Army) in 1943, and at the end of [World War II](/source/World_War_II) came back to Nashville. There he continued his puppetry work with Nashville Public Library, performing marionette shows and story times. Tichenor also launched a 15-minute children's radio show on [WSM](/source/WSM_(AM)) called *Wormwood Forest*, which was sent live to [NBC](/source/NBC_Radio_Network) for national broadcast.[4] Tichenor wrote the show, and played several characters. In 1949, [Walt Disney](/source/Walt_Disney) (as himself and as [Mickey Mouse](/source/Mickey_Mouse)) and [Clarence Nash](/source/Clarence_Nash) (as [Donald Duck](/source/Donald_Duck)) made special appearances on the show.[5]

## Puppetry and books

Tichenor also expanded into television, with puppetry shows on both [WSM](/source/WSMV-TV) in Nashville[6] and [WKNO](/source/WKNO_(TV)) in Memphis. In 1959, Tichenor became the first local [Bozo the Clown](/source/Bozo_the_Clown) for WSM.[7] 1959 also saw the publication of his first book, *Folk Plays for Puppets You Can Make* ([Abingdon Press](/source/Abingdon_Press), 1959). He would go on to write two other informational books: *Tom Tichenor’s Puppets* (Abingdon Press, 1971) and *Christmas Tree Crafts* ([J.B. Lippincott Company](/source/J._B._Lippincott_%26_Co.), 1975.) He also authored three books for children: *Smart Bear* (Abingdon Press, 1970), *Sir Patches and the Dragon* (Aurora Publishers, 1971) and *Neat-O the Supermarket Mouse* (Abingdon, 1981).[1]

## New York

At the encouragement of an actor friend, Tichenor traveled to [New York City](/source/New_York_City) in 1960 to audition his puppets for the upcoming Broadway production of *Carnival!*. Tichenor auditioned for director [Gower Champion](/source/Gower_Champion), writer [Helen Deutsch](/source/Helen_Deutsch), and casting director [Michael Shurtleff](/source/Michael_Shurtleff). They found the “provincial simplicity”[8] of Tichenor's work perfect for the show, and hired him. Tichenor was tasked with designing and building the show's central puppets, and also with training actor [Jerry Orbach](/source/Jerry_Orbach) in puppetry.[9] The show was a hit, and Tichenor's puppets appeared on the May 5, 1961 cover of [*Life* magazine](/source/Life_(magazine)) along with star [Anna Maria Alberghetti](/source/Anna_Maria_Alberghetti).[10]

While in New York, Tichenor got involved with television, appearing with [Paul Tripp](/source/Paul_Tripp) on [WNBC](/source/WNBC) in *Birthday House* in 1963.[7] Tichenor appeared as Strawtop, a pantomime scarecrow, and also performed many puppet characters. When *Birthday House* ended in 1967, Tichenor returned home to Nashville.[1]

## Back to Nashville

Back in Nashville, Tichenor resumed his relationship with the public library, but still found other outlets for his puppetry. In 1969 his characters appeared on [ABC TV](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company)’s *The Mysterious Magical Miracle Box*.[11] In 1974 he served as a puppeteer and designer for *[The Letter People](/source/The_Letter_People)*, a television series originating from [KETC](/source/KETC) in St. Louis. Tichenor continued his library work until his retirement in 1988. He died in 1992 in [Murfreesboro, Tennessee](/source/Murfreesboro,_Tennessee) and is buried in [Nashville National Cemetery](/source/Nashville_National_Cemetery).[1]

Tichenor's legacy is carried on by Wishing Chair Productions, the Nashville Public Library's resident puppet troupe.[2]

## References

1. Bachleda, F. Lynne. (2008). [*The world on a string : the puppet history of the Nashville Public Library*](http://worldcat.org/oclc/232968427). Nashville Public Library Foundation. ISBN 978-0-615-20943-2. [OCLC 232968427](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/232968427)

1. ["The Tichenor Legacy | Wishing Chair Productions"](http://nashvillepubliclibrary.org/wishingchair/the-tichenor-legacy/). Retrieved 2020-03-17.

1. ["Hume-Fogg Magnet High School photos through the years"](https://www.tennessean.com/picture-gallery/news/education/2018/07/19/hume-fogg-magnet-high-school-through-the-years/36986073/). *www.tennessean.com*. Retrieved 2020-03-17.

1. Havighurst, Craig. (2013). [*Air castle of the South : WSM and the making of Music City*](http://worldcat.org/oclc/823552291). University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-07932-0. [OCLC 823552291](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/823552291)

1. ["NRetrospect: USN's Christine Tibbott"](https://www.nfocusnashville.com/people-places/article/13227684/nretrospect-usns-christine-tibbott). *NFocus*. May 4, 2015.

1. Dorman, Lee. (2009). [*Nashville broadcasting*](http://worldcat.org/oclc/276818548). Arcadia Pub. ISBN 978-0-7385-6829-4. [OCLC 276818548](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/276818548)

1. Hollis, Tim (2001). *Hi There, Boys and Girls! America's Local Children's TV Programs*. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1578063963.

1. Tichenor, Tom (July 1961). "A Case of Puppet Love". *Theatre Arts*

1. Gilvey, John Anthony. (2013). [*Before the parade passes by : Gower Champion and the glorious american musical*](http://worldcat.org/oclc/865108654). St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-4299-2559-4. [OCLC 865108654](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/865108654)

1. ["Life Magazine, May 5, 1961 - Anna Maria Alberghetti"](https://oldlifemagazine.com/may-05-1961-life-magazine.html). *oldlifemagazine.com*. Retrieved 2020-03-17.

1. ["The Texas Boys Choir Mother Goose from ABC TV special Mysterious Magical Miracle Box"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8zcO6L7ijE). *YouTube*

## External links

- [Tom Tichenor](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2748538/) at IMDb
- [Tom Tichenor](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/tom-tichenor-95253) on [IBDb](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)
- [Wishing Chair Productions](http://nashvillepubliclibrary.org/wishingchair/about-wishing-chair/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tom Tichenor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Tichenor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Tichenor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.