Peter and the Professor puppet, 1964

This is a puppet of the boy Peter, who was just one of eight puppets used in the 1964 educational ABC children's program Peter and the Professor. The puppets, which were made from foam and metal, capture some of the simple analogue technology of the time, where puppets were placed on a steel sheet and moved around via magnets in their feet. Without any puppet string, it would have seemed magic to any children watching at home. 

The simplicity was also due to the production of the series, which was made in a Sydney garage by WG Geddes. It followed Peter's adventures across approximately 49 episodes, as he was assisted by the Professor and Constable Catchem. The five-minute episodes contained a moral and mostly involved the main characters spoiling the attempts of thieves to steal or misuse the Professor's latest invention. The Professor’s inventions included ‘The Hovering Handbag’ and ‘The Bubble House’, an inflatable balloon where people could live and work.