Mother Goose at the Museum: The Truth is On the Loose

The bright lights of the Christmas tree, the jingle of Santa’s bells and the sing-song rhymes of Mother Goose – these are the signatures of the season, and the once again gets in the spirit with its holiday exhibit of toys and artifacts, open now through January 31

But there’s something different about this year’s exhibit, titled ” While a tasteful series of displays show the toys, dolls, stuffed animals and dioramas of the lovable nursery rhymes, the audio tour – the adult version, at least – tells a different tale.

According to curator , “It is our way of introducing Mother Goose to today’s kids while bringing back fond memories to the grown-ups who accompany them to the exhibit.” But there’s more to it than that.

The audio tour, narrated and produced by , comes in two versions this time: Children’s and Adults (listen to example audio above). While there’s nothing salacious in the adult version, though there are a few scandals revealed, based on historical readings of the 18th century nursery rhymes collected by publisher John Newbury and his stepson John Carnan.

For instance, did you know that “Little Boy Blue” was King Henry VIII’s advisor, Cardinal Thomas Woolsey – a boastful if common-born man of the cloth, who would ignore his “flock”?

Or that “Jack” was King Louis the XVI of France, and “Jill” his wife Marie Antoinette – the first who lost his head, the second who’s own came tumbling after?

Or that “Mary, Mary” was the quite contrarian Queen Mary I (Queen of Scots), the Catholic daughter of Protestant Henry VIII? She was accused of torturing and killing her opponents, and her prison chambers took the form of a “garden,” its implements of torture were called silver bells and cockle shells – and her “pretty maids” the immobilizing device known as the Iron Maiden!

It’s enough to make you take a second look at those familiar rhymes, or at least make a visit to the Healdsburg Museum at 221 Matheson Street some afternoon from Wednesday to Sunday; admission is free.

But there’s no need to shelter the children from the annual toy exhibit this year. Yes, they have their own audio tour, with nursery rhymes and songs providing the comforting illusion of the holidays. There are plenty of toys and animals to look at, including a five-foot-tall Victorian doll house.

Among the other highlights is a 6 foot tall shoe – yes, the very one that the Old Woman lives in with so many children she didn’t know what to do. The whimsical giant shoe, with dolls spilling out the shoelaces and “windows”, was handmade for the exhibit by Jon Lacaillade.

(Of course what we learn from the audio was that the “Old Woman” was wig-wearing King George II, and the many children the unruly Parliament.)

Also in prominent display are a collection of antique tin pedal cars, the kind that our parents or grandparents (or great-grandparents) learned to “drive” when they were little, in the era before molded plastic. Tow trucks, race cars, touring cars and fire trucks, each colorfully restored, show how much fun it must have been to be a kid, “back in the day.” The cars were donated to the exhibit by George Goobanoff of Healdsburg.

As with , a working antique miniature railroad takes center stage, with a ho-ho-hoing Santa at the controls.

All in all, this seasonal exhibit by the Healdsburg Museum has once again set a high bar for what a skillful and imaginative group of staff, volunteers and members can accomplish in a community institution.

For additional information, call 431-3325 or visit healdsburgmuseum.org.