University of California, Los Angeles. Fowler Museum of Cultural History

Biography

Melvyn B. Helstien was born in Denver, Colorado on the 2nd of February 1920. He received his BA from the University of Washington in 1947 and his MFA from the Yale School of Drama in 1948. In 1962, Dr. Helstien earned his Ph.D in theater at the University of Minnesota. He taught at UCLA in the Department of Theater Arts from 1963-1986. He served as the department Vice-chairman from 1971-1973 and again in 1981 until 1985. During his thirty-eight year career, he directed, produced, designed or performed in dozens of UCLA theatrical productions; lectured, and wrote with a focus on puppetry. In 1976, Dr. Helstien curated the exhibit Asian Puppets: Wall of the World, as well as writing chapters in its accompanying catalog for the Museum of Cultural History. He was a member of the board of directors for the Union Internationale des Marionnettes (UNIMA-USA). Dr. Helstien died on March 6, 1990.

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