Come September, the International Puppetry Museum at the Conservatory of Puppetry Arts, founded more than two years ago by longtime puppeteer and "lifelong" collector Alan G. Cook, will need a new home.

It is being forced out of its home at the Armory Northwest because the city, which owns the building, needs office space while Pasadena City Hall is being refurbished.

Jacqueline Marks, director of the conservatory, said she had been working with Cook to find a place to display his collection for 30 years, "This was a good start," she said.

PUPPETEER Alan Cook shows off Phyllis Diller puppet from his collection.

Gayle Schluter of Pasadena, who recently retired after 24 years as a membership chairwoman of Puppeteers of America and volunteers at the museum on a weekly basis, called Cook's collection "fabulous."

Cook said that the Los Angeles area is one of the five leading cities in American puppet history. The others are New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Detroit.

"We should have something here because of that and because of the fact that there are more languages spoken here than in any other part of the United States," he said. "The puppet collection is really multicultural. For kids coming from another country, one of the hardest parts is becoming acclimated to the new country. Puppets can help bridge the gap.

Cook said his love for puppetry began with trips to Los Angeles in the 1930s to see the department store's' puppet shows. He began collecting puppets at age 5, when he got his first one. Then, as second grader, he built his first marionette - a clown - at Works Progress. Click here to find out more about Alan Cook.

Information about a possible space will be greatly appreciated. COPA can be reached at (626)296-1536 or mail@copa-puppets.org

CONTACT: ALAN COOK