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The article discusses the International Puppet Festival organized by its founder Rosalynde Osborne Stearn as a festival for puppeteers, amateurs and professionals. The first puppet theatre festival was held in Hamilton, Ontario in May 1939 and consisted of a three-hour series of performances by selected groups with short papers presented during intermissions. Puppet artist and first president of the Puppeteers of America Paul McPharlin addressed the conference during dinner followed by a hand-puppet performance by puppet artist Walter Wilkinson.