Photo: Onion puppets, by Chris Barrus.

We had good news regarding cell towers and tenants. But things are looking deadly for the famous Bob Baker marionettes theater on Glendale Ave., as you may have heard. Basically, Baker is facing foreclosure on both the theater and his home. It used to be that the term "a bad loan" referred to the borrower; recently, "a bad loan" has turned around to point to the lender. In Baker's case, it seems he may have signed for a bad one with complex terms that were overly difficult to understand and payments that simply shot skyward.

A couple of months ago, my friend Tembi and I took our daughters to a show at Baker's theater. It was wonderful, a full-length review, a complete alternate reality with disco puppets, dancing dachsunds, princesses, ghosts. It was by far the longest show my daughter (who is four) has watched all the way through. The marionettes were made in a workshop on the premises. I am sure that some of them also perform in the evening shows. The theater was founded in 1963.

I think it's stating the obvious to say it would be a significant loss for Los Angeles if this venue were to go down. But it needs to be said.