Max gave inspiration to Burnaby's puppet show

By Dan Hilborn
Published Feb. 15, 2006


There is some sad new for fans of the Elwoodette Marionettes this month. Max, the real-life Elwood family pet who has been immortalized as the marionette Max the Ho-Hum Husky, passed away due to kidney failure on Feb. 4.

Max's likeness, which was lovingly carved by Hugh Elwood, was the star of the annual Christmas puppet show performed at the Bernie Legge Theatre in New Westminster.

"He was a real character," Elizabeth Elwood said. "He had a sense of fun and he twinkled and played a lot."

Originally found at the Burnaby SPCA shelter, Max was just four months old when he arrived in the Elwood household serving as family pet and creative inspiration to the puppeteers and their two daughters.

Max was one of the few animals in Burnaby to have his own theme music, which was played at the end of every Christmas show, just before the big friendly shepherd, with a bit of wolf in the mix, was invited in front of the audience to take a bow.

"He took well over 100 bows on that stage," Elwood said of the family dog who celebrated his 13th birthday last fall.

Despite his knack for show business, Max could be a handful at times, such as during one show at Burnaby Village Museum when he heard his theme song but couldn't wait to take his bow.

"I could hear the audience laughing, and I asked Hugh what was up," Elizabeth said. "When we looked around, the dog was gone. Max was roaring up and down the aisles, socializing with the audience."

Max did not have an easy life. Although he was still young when he was brought into the Elwood household, a former director of the Burnaby SPCA told the family that their new dog had likely suffered some abuse during his early puppyhood.

Making his passage even more tragic was the fact that the Elwoods were scheduled to perform one of their favourite Valentine's Day shows, Guard Dog Shows Heart, at the West Vancouver Arts Council gallery last weekend. The show went ahead as scheduled but, no doubt, there were a few tears shed by the two puppeteers pulling the strings backstage.

Elwood's two grandchildren, Ronnie and Veronica, also expressed concern that the puppet shows might stop now that Max had passed on. Their grandmother assured them that Max's spirit will indeed live on.