Magic Theatre Automaton. Los Angeles, Alan Wakeling, ca. 2000. Fine modern recreation of the famous and rare Magic Theatre automaton designed and built by Renou in the Victorian age. As the music box plays and the handle of the automaton is cranked, the curtains lower over the small puppet stage. When raised, the puppet in the theatre has changed. The doll’s hand and head and hands move in concert with the changes. One hand raises and lowers the curtain, the other, holding a magic wand, raps three times on the roof of the theatre to apparently effect the magical change of the puppet. DIMENSIONS. With a plexiglass display box (cracked). Crank handle slightly bent, else very good. The only automaton of this kind crafted by Wakeling.