Anthony F Sarg

Anthony Frederick Sarg, known professionally as Tony Sarg, was a German American puppeteer and illustrator. He was described as "America's Puppet Master", and in his biography as the father of modern puppetry in North America. Born in Guatemala to a German father and English mother, Sarg began his career in the German military, resigning his commission in 1905 and moving to England. There he met and married an American, Elizabeth Parker; they moved to New York City in 1915. He became a U.S. citizen in 1920. He was an illustration artist for various publications including the Saturday Evening Post. In 1917, he began to create marionettes and motion picture shadowgraph productions. Sarg mentored the famous puppeteer Bil Baird, and together they designed and built tethered helium-filled balloons for the Macy's department store's Thanksgiving Day parade in 1928. With Baird, Sarg also created designs for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. Then Baird left to form his own competing studio. From 1935 until his death in 1942, Sarg designed Macy's elaborate animated window display for the holiday season. A member of the Salmagundi Club and the Society of Illustrators.