A co-founder of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in 1963, Alton helped make the theater the longest, continuously running puppet theater in the United States. Combined with their touring companies, many a Southern Califonria child celebrated at least one birthday with the Bob Baker Marionettes.

A native of Mathis, Texas, Wood grew up in San Antonio, Texas. His first professional interest was music. An accomplished pianist, he attended the University of San Antonio and the University of Texas where he graduated with a BA in music. On graduating, Alton moved to New York where he studied piano.

He then moved to Los Angeles to continue his music studies, but that changed when he met puppeteer Bob Baker. When Wood met Bob Baker in 1949, he soon was involved in film production of puppetry. After Bob taught Alton the art of puppet manipulation, they formed Bob Baker Productions.

Alton became a top performer for the company as well as its business manager. The company developed the concept of performing in the round with marionettes and other puppets. Their touring companies became a mainstay of California County Fairs. The Baker Marionettes performed for several years at the Laguna Festival of the Arts where, in one season, they performed for sixty thousand people.

Alton's first film project with Baker was RKO's Hunt the Man Down. After that, their movie and television appearances skyrocketed. They appeared in TV commercials, TV series and variety shows, and 400 motion pictures. Credits include Hollywood Palace, The Dinah Shore Show, Wild Wild West, Star Trek, G.I. Blues, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Escape to Witch Mountain and many more.