Hi, I've always been interested with Humanetting (Is that how you would spell that?), and don't know where to start!  I found this website, and hope you guys can help!

So what I'm looking to do is this:

Find out how to build them/buy them-how exactly do they work?
Build a stage-being a black one, you know...the typical one you would imagine.  I just don't know how exactly all it works, I think there is actually two backdrops one coming from top and other beneith, and your eyes create the illusion?

haha, sorry if I'm not making sense, it's hard to desrcribe things you don't know!

well, any help would be appreciated!

much thanks!

mg

"Humanetting"   others may know what you are referring to but I'm not sure.  Is this the kind of puppetry where the puppet is about the same size as a person and attatches to the front of the puppeteer who then animates it with ihs body while another puppeteer opperates the head?  If thats what you looking for there are several people here that can help you.

Maybe blacklight...?

I've never heard of 'humanetting' either.... Maybe a picture or video link would help explain what you mean.

Here is an image and short article on this type of puppet: http://www.puppetvision.info/2007/01/humanette-dancer.html  Courtesy of Andrew of course.

Ah, I see now... It's just a costume and two people. One person acts as the 'top' half and the other person operates the bottom half (ie. the legs). Each half of the person that's not supposed to be visible is dressed in black.

You can see a couple of times in the video two shadows for the head.

Ever see Who's Line is it Anyway, where they have one person acting as the 'arms', picking up objects and so forth, and the other person does the rest? It's sort of like that.

(I'm just guessing here, I've never seen this before)

I have actually done this before as a skit.  The person in front does the legs, then, the person behind reaches around for the arms.  We have done "couples" before, using four people.  For the clothes, you can use anything that will fit...children's clothes for the legs, etc.  We used men's shirts turned around backwards, so that they would button in the back.  Of course, ours was a "funny" skit, nothing like this video.
Depending on the performance area, you can "rig" up a stage too:
Ours consisted of two sheets simply pinned together so that there were two entrance points.  (hard to explain here)  Of course, using the sheets, the person in back could not see out, or be seen.  We did this on purpose though, because we wanted it to be funny (trying to find things, fixing hair, etc.)  When that person could not see what their hands were doing.
An hilarious experience for sure! 

That is so cool. The video that Andrew has for that kind of presentation is great.

Thanks Andrew for having it, and thans to Mr. Sorrel to bring it here!

Miguel!

I'm looking at instructions for making a humanette right now. It's in a book by Marjory McPharlin. The copy right is 1947. Is it legal to try and download this to puppets and stuff?-Steve
P.S.  Apparently at the time this was a standard side show novelty. I saw a magician do this on his show a few years back and it looked great

nice input from all!

Cofused Monkey, if you get any more information, I would love to know some!

haha, thanks everyone!
mg

I've got  a drawing of the plans and instructions, But I am unsure how to post them. Plus there is the copy right issue. I believe I could email you a copy under the fair use provision.- Steve (anyone know for sure?)