Puppeteer. Born Wayland Parrott Flowers, Junior in Dawson, Georgia. After dropping out of college in 1963, he moved to New York City where he performed as an assistant puppeteer for Bil Baird's Marionettes, and constructed puppets for others including Suzari Marionettes, Nicolas Coppola, and the Captain Kangaroo Show. In 1971 he staged an off-Broadway show 'Kumquats,' which was billed as "the world's first erotic puppet show" and marked the rod puppet, Madame's, first professional appearance. The coarse and ribald persona of Madame became a sensation and launched Flowers' career. In 1972, he and Madame appeared as a lounge act attracting appreciative crowds. In 1974, the pair appeared in the film, 'Norman, Is That You? ' They were star attractions at clubs and casinos, headlining in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. They were featured on The Andy Williams Show, Laugh-In, Solid Gold, and Hollywood Squares where they succeeded to the coveted center square. He eventually created other puppets for his act including Crazy Mary; Jiffy, who was described as a hooker with a heart of brass; Mr. Macklehoney, an old vaudeville trouper; and Baby Smedley, which appeared in the all-star 1974 TV special 'Free to Be You and Me.' He began developing a television sitcom for Madame, creating a back story for the puppet, which became the book 'Madame: My Misbegotten Memoirs' written with Gary Simmons. The television show, 'Madame's Place' debuted in 1982. Flowers remained out of frame, ceding the spot light to his puppet, only appearing on-screen once. The series was canceled after one season. He spent most of the remainder of his career working live. In 1987, he was diagnosed with HIV and subsequently developed a related cancer. In September 1988, he collapsed on stage while performing at Lake Tahoe, and would succumb to the illness a month later. He bequeathed his puppets to his friend and manager who eventually allowed brief revivals of Madame's act. Some of the redundant Madame puppets have since been sold at auction, but in 1991, one went on display at The Museum of Modern Art, NYC; while another is now in the collection of the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia.