191240803

Mr. Bingle was created and designed by Emile Alline, an employee of Maison Blanche, in 1947. Mr. Bingle shared the initials of his home, "M.B.", as the store was often called. Mr. Bingle first appeared in puppet form at the Canal Street Maison Blanche in 1950s, puppeteered by Oscar Isentrout (who also played the voice of Mr. Bingle). These puppet shows occurred each day for the few weeks leading up to Christmas for about 15 minutes at a time, and were a favorite of local children. Mr. Bingle also appeared in musical radio and television commercials. The puppet shows ended in 1985 when Isentrout died. Later Dillard's bought the Maison Blanche chain and the Mr. Bingle trademark. Today, many locals consider Mr. Bingle a cultural icon, fondly remembering the times when Mr. Bingle's shows were one of the most anticipated activities of the Christmas season.