A DAY DEDICATED TO THE SPIRIT OF JIM HENSON

On the morning of Saturday, May 16, I woke up to this Facebook post from Kid President:

Kid President

Politician · 359,680 Likes

 · May 16 at 7:10am · 

On this date in 1990 Jim Henson died. I was 9 years old. When my mom told me - I cried. I never met him, but I cried. Thankful for the impact he made and the impact we can all make. The world is brighter because he was here. Same goes for you.

- Brad (the guy who makes all this Kid President stuff)

Turned out, it had been 25 years since puppeteer, film and television pioneer, and Muppet inventor Jim Henson passed away.

I paused a moment after reading the post, and decided that I would make this day about fun, kindness, and open-ended exploration and appreciation of colors, shapes, people, nature, art - everything around me.  I would dedicate the day to Jim.

  

First, my husband Mike and I took the subway out to Long Island City to visit our friends in an open studio weekend - LIC Arts Open 5 -  run out of a huge industrial space.  On the walk from the subway to the buildings, I asked Mike "What is your favorite kind of store to shop in?"  He replied: "Stores that sell donuts!."  Lo and behold, we rounded a corner, and saw The Doughnut Plant. Mike let out a shout of delight.

We went inside the industrial space that housed the art, and saw our friend Jessica Doh's paintings on silk.  

During the subway ride back to Brooklyn, we made some sketches, including this one:

After we returned to Brooklyn, we biked down to the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Here's what I saw:

Young women dressed in fairy-tale gowns as they celebrated their Quinceaneras.

Bridesmaids wearing floaty, florescent orange dresses.

Cute dogs prancing down the path.

People of all ages running in and out of Jeppe Hein's fountain and mirror sculpture.

Later, I watched some videos that were taken of Jim Henson's funeral service, which was held in 1990 at The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.  I've continued to watch clips of The Muppet Show, as well as interviews with his colleagues and family members.

I'm so grateful that Jim Henson lived and spread his magic among us.  The world is a better place because of him.

For more information about Jim's work and how it is being carried forward, please check out the website of The Jim Henson Legacy.

THE BAKER'S DOZEN: SOME OF THE MOST-VISITED POSTS IN CREATIVE TIMES HISTORY

1. Meet Kevin Clash, The Man Behind Elmo
2. Taja Riley, Rising Dance Star
3. A Historical Tribute To Jim Henson's Musical World at Carnegie Hall
4. Mike Sorgatz Paintings in HBO's Girls
5. Let the Games Begin: Royal Palms Shuffle Board Club in Brooklyn
6. What Would Make the World A Better Place for Women and Girls?
7. Isaac and Marcus Talk "Yes, Chef" At Powerhouse Arena
8. A Clear-Cut Space for Women in Hip Hop
9. Q and A with Benjamin Meadows-Ingram, Founding Editor of a Brand New Mag Called Brooklyn Bound
10. Private Zine Collection and Girard's Artwork at Bright Lyons
11. Jason Samuels Smith and a Walk Down Tap Dance Memory Lane
12. A Beautiful Day on the Set of a Sesame Street Photo Shoot
13. From Muppets to Mascots: The Incredible Journey of Bonnie Erickson

BELOVED MUPPETEER JERRY NELSON HONORED AT MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE

Back in 2011, the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens hosted a nine-month-long exhibit about the body of work produced by film and television pioneer and Muppets creator Jim Henson.  The exhibit was such a huge success that the museum has since hosted a variety other Henson- and Muppet-related screenings and talks.  I had the honor of attending one of those gatherings, a tribute to recently-deceased and beloved Muppeteer Jerry Nelson.

Jerry (1934-2012) played umpteen different Muppet characters, including that of Count von Count on Sesame Street.

The MOMI tribute was hosted by Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin, who immediately introduced the members of Jerry's family who were present in the audience.

Craig's wife and Sesame Street performer Steffanie D'Abruzzo then showed a compilation of 150 clips of Jerry's years as a Muppeteer which she personally  had put together.  Through the collection, Stephanie wanted to the "breadth, depth, and versatility" of Jerry's work.

Fran Brill, another long time Sesame muppeteer, also introduced her own selection of clips.  She talked about Jerry being the backbone of the Muppets and a key character actor with a flexible voice and vocal chords who gave the Muppets voice and soul.  Fran, who described Jerry as being "crusty on the outside, and like butter on the inside,"  also mentioned that Mr. Nelson was  an avid environmentalist and talented musician.

Muppeteer Matt Vogel talked fondly about Jerry's performances as Sergeant Floyd Pepper from the Muppet rock group The Electric Mayhem.  Dave Goelz, who performs Gonzo, talked about Nelson's work on Fraggle Rock, the devastating loss of his (Nelson's) daughter to cystic fibrosis, and the joy of the Muppet gang when Jerry married his wife Jan.

Bonnie Erickson, creator of some of the original Muppets and the Executive Director of the Jim Henson Legacy, shared excerpts of the emails, letters, and calls that poured into the Legacy's office in the wake of Jerry's passing.  She told of how Joe Bailey, a writer for the Muppets, had described Jerry as "mellow, discreet, gentle, and charming."

It was deeply moving to see such an amazing collection of clips and hear key Muppet performers and creators speak about their experiences with and feelings about Jerry Nelson. To bear witness to a performer, environmental activist, and musician being honored with such generosity of spirit simply reflected back the essence of who Jerry was.

PS - Enjoy the video of Dave's highlights of the tribute.

MUPPET ALPHABET



Muppet Alphabet.  Source: Society6



COME CHILLAX ON COLORFUL BEANBAGS AT MOMI AND WATCH A GREAT FILM ABOUT JIM HENSON




MOMI visitors of all ages relax on comfy beanbags as they watch a great film about the life and work of Jim Henson.



Seriously, folks.  If you haven't already, please get on over to the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens  to see Jim Henson's Fantastic World.  The exhibit closes on March 4.

I have made half a dozen trips out to Queens to see the exhibit itself plus the special screenings and live events that have accompanied it.  I saw Brian Henson give a talk about the evolution of puppetry.  I heard Frank Oz be interviewed by Craig Shemin.  I saw Craig Shemin do a demo of puppetry as it's performed for television.  I saw a film about the history of Sesame Street.

Every time I visit Jim Henson's Fantastic World, I learn something new.  I popped by a few days ago and studied the text on the placards more carefully. One of them read as follows:

"Although Jim never forgot that his puppets were made of foam, fleece, and fur, he and millions of viewers were emotionally attached to the believable characters they had become."

JIM HENSON AND FRIENDS: INSIDE THE SESAME STREET VAULT

If you haven’t taken yourself to MOMI’s exhibit Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, you really should! The exhibit, which has drawn huge numbers of people, has been extended to March 4. It includes special Muppet screenings in the theater, and the remaining screenings and special exhibit-related events can be found HERE.

I started the year by going to see Jim Henson and Friends: Inside the Sesame Street Vault. Compiled by Jim Henson Legacy President and longtime Muppet writer Craig Shemin, it’s an expansive look at the appearances which Jim Henson and other key Muppeteers made on variety and talk shows of the 1970s.

The compilation also features clips from “Old School” Sesame Street.

Vault starts with Kermit making an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. He is sitting at the piano, singing What Kind of Fool Am I? while Grover continuously interrupts him. This clip got lots of laughs from the packed audience.

Here’s some other highlights from Inside the Sesame Street Vault:

• Jim Henson and Carroll Spinney (Big Bird) make a 1971 appearance on the Dick Cavett Show. Carroll is wearing the bottom half of the Big Bird costume.
• Big Bird’s appearance on The Flip Wilson Show.
• Big Bird sings with Carol Channing on the 1985 show Night of 100 Stars.
• Julie Andrews on Sesame Street.
• Various Muppets play on tv game shows such as Family Feud.
• Muppets team up with the cast of The Electric Company for a 1970s tv special.
• Muppets do The Nighty Night Show, a parody of The Late Night Show.
• Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl appear as themselves on The Johnny Carson Show.

LOUIS HENRY MITCHELL: THE ART OF SESAME STREET

When Louis Henry Mitchell and I come out of watching archival footage of Jim Henson's television appearances as himself and as various Muppet characters, I ask Louis what he is thinking about.

"I never met him," replies Louis, referring to Jim Henson. "I've met his friends and family. I wish we could have met."

Still, Louis feels grateful that, as Sesame's Associate Design Director of Special Projects, he gets to "influence what Jim considered to be his [Jim's] most important work, and the work of someone [Henson] whose work is so important to me."

Louis' connection to Henson goes all the way back to his own youth, when he saw the Muppets on The Ed Sullivan Show and then watched Jim Henson come out from behind the scenes to shake Mr. Sullivan's hand.

"Seeing Jim Henson on tv triggered something in me," Louis reflects. "I thought if a man was doing that, maybe I could do that, too."

Years later, as an adult, Louis submitted his portfolio multiple times to the Muppet headquarters in Manhattan. After eight months of delivering his work, he was hired by Jim Mahon, a man who would become his Muppets mentor. From there, Louis quickly became a top licensing artist, creating art for many Sesame products. It has now been twenty years since Louis was brought on board the Sesame crew.

One of the challenges of Louis' work is "to keep growing in it, and not just relax in it." Along those lines, Louis feels it's important to remind the folks at Sesame Workshop that "It's about education and an art form, not just [about] business. [...] History means so much to me. I don't let it become a commercial venture. Everything should point back to the curriculum. Ultimately, for me, it is about the children."

When I ask Louis to expand on what he sees as being his unique contribution to Sesame, he has this to say:

"I keep everyone thinking like children, to not lose sight of who the work is for. We have a sacred mission to reach out to children, to families around the world. It's a sacred trust. We have to keep things interesting without resorting to sensationalism. I see this as not just a job, but a mission."

And with a show that claims such longevity (Sesame is now entering into its 43rd season), how does Louis find a balance between innovation and tradition?

"It's really about how things blend and grow together," reflects Louis. "History is influenced by technology. Innovation looks back and respects history. You don't forget where you came from."

One place where Louis himself has balanced, in a literal sense, that respect for both history and
technology is in his job of overseeing the making of the Sesame balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. For this special event that is witnessed annually around the globe, Louis has supervised the construction of both the Super Grover and Big Bird balloons as well as the float that the actors and Muppets ride on through the parade.

As Louis explains: "Aerodynamics and physics are incorporated into the design. More cables were needed for Big Bird, causing him to have a bigger than usual head and shorter- and smaller-than-usual legs. I resculpted the balloon to give it more balance and everyone was happy."

Louis brings leadership to other Sesame initiatives as well. Product managers consult with him about decisions around characters, like what phrases and slogans they (the characters) should use on toys and other various products. Louis has also been the one to answer letters which children write to Sesame characters.

Louis' advice for other people who want to make a living from their craft?

"Discover what is in your heart and let it speak to you. Who are you here to be and what are you here to do? It's all about discovery. Once you find out what that is, do not hesitate or you will block the flow. Give it all you got."

BRIAN HENSON SPEAKS AT MOMI ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF PUPPETRY

Last Sunday night, I had the pleasure of hearing Brian Henson, award-winning director, producer, and puppeteer, talk at the Museum of the Moving Image about the evolution of puppetry. The talk was part of the current exhibit entitled Jim Henson's Fanstastic World. This exhibit, which includes special Henson-created screenings, will be at MOMI until January 16.

Brian's presentation to a packed audience included an inside look at the history of the revolutionary Henson technique and style of puppetry; examples of the company's work throughout the years, including behind-the-scenes clips from Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal; recent work on the TV series Sid the Science Kid; a live demonstration of puppetry for the screen; and Q and A from the audience.

The Muppet Technique

Since 1955, Jim Henson always performed puppetry for a camera. (This makes sense since Jim used puppetry as a vehicle to enter the worlds of film and television.) In doing so, Jim and his colleagues turned the television itself into the puppet's stage. "The performance was always to the camera; the Muppets were always looking to the fourth wall," Brian explained. He showed a clip of In the Navy as an example. The old television sets were rounded, so the old Muppets, with their rounded heads, complimented that tv shape nicely.

In the Muppet technique, puppeteers are taught to forget that the puppet is on their arm; they are instructed to be on the outside looking in. (See my interview with Sesame performer Martin Robinson, who emphasizes this point.) "You forget yourself completely, " shared Brian on puppeteering in the Henson style, "and what the character does surprises you [the performer]."

With the introduction of the Emmet Otter characters into the repertoire came Jim Henson's use of radio-controlled puppets. Jim went on to utilize animatronix when making The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth films. Animatronix, explained Brian, were first used with puppets at Disney theme parks, where you could find robotic characters with sound tracks. Brian showed film clips to demonstrate how animatronix were applied to the character of Hoggle and also the Henson show Dinosaurs.

From animatronix, Jim Henson moved on to also use 3-D digital characters as well as 2-D manipulation of images. Blowing everyone's mind (well at least my own!), Brian showed a video which explained the technology behind one his newest projects geared toward the pre-school age child, Sid the Science Kid. Sid is produced by motion capture, which "[...]refers to recording actions of human actors, and using that information to animate digital character models in 2D or 3D computer animation." (Source: Wikipedia)

The highlight of the evening for me came when Brian inhabited an armadillo puppet, demonstrating the different puppetry styles of some of his colleagues, including that of his father, Jim. "My dad was the bounciest!" exclaimed Brian. (Watch Kermit the Frog and you'll see what Brian means.) The audience was laughing hard, and there was so much magic and fun in the way Brian brought that puppet to life and made us believe it was real.

A Little Q and A With the Audience
(Here, I paraphrase Brian's answers.)

Q: How were Miss Piggy and Kermit able to ride bicycles?
A: We are riding bikes from above (the shot) and controlling their motions with strings.

Q: Animate means to bring life to something, to give it soul. How do you give soul to your characters?
A: The idea behind Muppet characters is to take an outrageous concept and turn it into a character that people feel they know.

Q: Do puppeteers train in theater and physical comedy?
A: We teach lip-syncing. The early performers were amazing ad-libbers and improvisers. Muppeteers currently go through a training in Los Angeles.

Q:What's the word on Dark Crystal II?
A: Lisa Henson [Brian's sister) is driving this project.

Q: What's the scoop on a Fraggle Rock movie?
A: It will probably start shooting at the end of 2012.

Q: How did you make Miss Piggy?
A: We wanted a bunch of pigs, and someone put a wig on one of them. She was unplanned. She is now molded from soft foam with a layer of flocking over it to make her look slightly furry.

[Editor's Note: This is not entirely true. Although Miss Piggy was not drawn first, she was not unplanned.]

Q: What is your earliest memory of working with your dad?"
A: One of my memories is of playing with the Chicken Liver Muppet from Sam and Friends in the sandbox!

Q: What makes up the essence of the Muppets?
A: Characters with a bold, confident, devil-may-care lunacy. They do crazy stuff, which takes confidence, it goes wrong, they feel bad, and they do it again!

DR. TEETH AND JANICE

My husband just emailed a link to an article on Collector's Weekly called Before Sesame Street and Electric Mayhem, a Crude Kermit Lip Synced Pop Standards.

These posters were included in the piece, and I fell in love instantly.

The article's author, Ben Marks, explains the posters in this bit:

On “The Muppets Show,” the vehicle for Henson’s musical side was its house band, which, like Kermit, has its own legions of fans. For example, in anticipation of the new Muppets movie, a Toronto graphic designer named Michael De Pippo created gig posters for each of the original members of Electric Mayhem—Dr. Teeth (keyboards), Zoot (sax), Janice (guitar), Sgt. Floyd Pepper (bass), and Animal (drums). Originally conceived as a fan’s “homage for my love of the Muppets,” the posters went viral on the Internet earlier this fall and were quickly licensed by Disney, which is publishing limited-edition, signed screenprints of each poster via Acme Archives. De Pippo says that some of the 18-by-24-inch posters, which advertise a show by the band at The Muppet Theatre on March 19th, 1975, the air date of “The Muppet Show” pilot, should be ready in time for the release of “The Muppets” over Thanksgiving weekend.

REPORT BACK FROM MOMI'S JIM HENSON: FRIENDS AND FAMILY

What an amazing treat and honor to get to hear about the life of Jim Henson from the perspective of people who were part of his nuclear and work family.

Six folks gathered onstage of the Museum of the Moving Image to show and talk about film clips which reflected some part of Jim's body of work.

Jim Henson Legacy president Craig Shemin, who put together all of the film compilations for the entire Jim Henson's Fantastic World exhibit, moderated the event with his usual fun and engaging humor.

He first introduced Cheryl Henson, who spoke to an often-asked question about what it was like for her to be one of Jim's children. Cheryl shared that her father was fond of having his children be a part of his work projects and would go out of his way to make that happen. She chose to show the clip Run, Run, which Jim filmed at his family's home in Connecticut and depicts his daughters Cheryl and Lisa running into the arms of their mother. The lovely music was composed by Joe Raposo. Cheryl also showed Two Little Dolls. (Check out this interesting piece about Two Little Dolls in Jim Henson's The Red Book.)

Next, Craig introduced Bonnie Erickson, the current Executive Director of The Jim Henson Legacy who created, amongst other creatures, Ms. Piggy, Statler, Waldorf, and Zoot. (See my interview with Bonnie HERE.) Reflecting on her work as a colleague with Jim Henson, Bonnie asked "How could you ever find [another] job where you spent most of your time laughing?"

She talked about how various Muppet characters either fell by the wayside or "found fame and fortune," as well as about how characters evolved both in terms of appearance and personality. One interesting tidbit from Ms. Erickson: Ms. Piggy was designed as an homage to Peggy Lee. (More on that topic HERE.) Bonnie chose a clip about a behind-the-scenes workshop look at the making of Emmett Otter characters.

Fran Brill, a long-time Muppeteer of characters such as Prairie Dawn and Zoe, presented a film clip depicting the hard physical work that goes into being a Muppeteer.

Aurthur Novell, who did public relations for Henson, talked about how Jim's work reflected what was happening in the culture at that time. Novell chose to share a hilarious clip of Piggy and Kermit hosting the Emmy Awards in 1979.

Toward the end of the program, Craig Shemin described the period of time that Muppet characters appeared on Saturday Night Live and how one of the SNL writers declared "I don't write for felt." He also let the audience in on the fact that there's a script for a Fraggle Rock movie that has not yet been made.

For more information about the current MOMI exhibit Jim Henson's Fantastic World, click HERE.

THIS SUNDAY THE 18TH, MOMI PRESENTS JIM HENSON: FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Henson & Bert. Photograph by Ted Neuhoff. ©2007 The Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved.

SPECIAL EVENT at The Museum of the Moving Image

Jim Henson: Friends and Family

Part of Henson Screenings & Special Programs

Sunday, September 18, 4:00 p.m.

Buy Tickets

A roundtable conversation with Cheryl Henson, Bonnie Erickson, Craig Shemin, Fran Brill, Arthur Novell, and Karen Falk, featuring rare archival clips and a 35mm screening of Jim Henson’s avant-garde film Time Piece

Close colleagues and daughter of Jim Henson will participate in a wide-ranging and intimate conversation about working on projects including The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, The Muppet Movie, and more—all accompanied by their favorite clips. The panel will include Cheryl Henson, daughter of Jim Henson and President of the Jim Henson Foundation; Bonnie Erickson, Executive Director of The Jim Henson Legacy and designer of Miss Piggy and other iconic Muppet characters; Craig Shemin, President of The Jim Henson Legacy and longtime writer for The Muppets; Fran Brill, the first female Muppet performer hired by Jim Henson for Sesame Street; Arthur Novell, former Executive Director of The Jim Henson Legacy and longtime publicist for The Jim Henson Company; and Karen Falk, archivist and curator of the exhibition Jim Henson’s Fantastic World. The discussion will be followed by a special showing of Time Piece, Jim Henson’s 1965 experimental short (9 mins.), presented in an archival 35mm print.

Tickets: $15 public / $10 Museum members / Free for members at the Silver Screen level and above. Call 718 777 6800 or order online.

ALL KINDSA CRAZY COOL STUFF AT JIM HENSON'S FANTASTIC WORLD

Last Saturday, I made my first venture out to the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens (actually, right by where they film Sesame Street) to see the new exhibit called Jim Henson's Fantastic World.

One thing I liked about the exhibit was that it featured many of the sketches Jim created, the sketches that were the groundwork for his commercials, Muppets, films, and television shows. I appreciated that the show revealed the creative process behind the final product. With everything so computer-generated in today's world, there's something so reassuring about seeing pencil and pen drawings that come straight from the artist's mind.

During my visit to MOMI, I had the pleasure of attending "Hands Up! Puppets Down!": An Inside Look at Puppetry for Television. Writer/producer Craig Shemin and veteran Sesame Street puppeteer and wrangler Lara MacLean shared behind-the-scenes footage and live demonstration to show how puppetry magic is created for television.

Great fun was seeing the Muppet which Craig's wife and Sesame Street performer Stephanie D'Abruzzo had created in Craig's image. Craig and Lara together were a great team.

They fielded questions from Muppet fans in the audience who ranged greatly in age. Like Star Wars, the Muppet shows and movies have a fan base that spans generations. One young person in the audience asked "Is it true that Tim Burton was a Muppeteer in a scene from one of the Muppet Movies?" Craig confirmed that yes, it is true. Wow, how do people get their hands on this info?!?!?

Click HERE for the full list of Henson-related workshops and screenings. Be sure to note that some events require advance ticket purchase to guarantee a seat.

Here are two that I am particularly excited about:

* September 18 at 4 pm: An Afternoon with Jane Henson: "Look Both Ways and Go"

* September 24 and 25 at 1:00 pm: Muppet Music Moments: A Weekend Celebration of Jim Henson's Birthday (Jim would have been 75 on the 24th)

Photo of Lara MacLean from Muppet Wiki

A LIBRARY WHERE YOU CAN WATCH YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOWS, NEW AND OLD

Did you know that there is a library in Manhattan (and in L.A.) where you can go and watch thousands of television shows?

I first discovered this library in 1993 around the time I started graduate school in New York. It was housed in what was then called The Museum of Radio and Television. There was a special exhibit called Jim Henson's World of Television. In addition to checking out the exhibit, I went to the library to watch these programs:

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
The Jim Henson Hour: The Secrets of the Muppets
The Muppet Show (with guest Ethel Merman)
The Muppet Show (with guest Paul Simon)

In more recent years, after the museum had been renamed The Paley Center for Media, I went back to view these titles:

Sesame Street - Maria & Luis Wedding
Muppet Show (with guest Harry Belafonte)
Of Muppets and Men
60 Minutes: Backstage at the Muppet Show

All these shows, along with books and articles I read, gave me a decent working knowledge of Jim Henson's work in television and film.

Branching out from all things Henson, I returned to the museum in January of 2010 to be part of the premier screening of VH1 Rock Doc Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America. I got to hear some great panelists speak about the show. The lineup included: Danyel Smith, music journalist (who also appears in the film): Big Bank Hank from The Sugar Hill Gang (of Rapper's Delight fame);Questlove, Drummer for the Roots and creator of the doc's musical score; and Tyronne Proctor, Soul Train dancer and currently choreographer.

This summer, I went back for more on Henson and found myself in a new and improved screening room where most titles have gone digital and the viewer can control what she watches with a click of a mouse. If your selection is only available via video, you go back up to the old screening room. Which I did do this time around, as my choice was Great Performances: The World of Jim Henson from 1994. It was great up there - dark and quiet. I kicked off my shoes and watched moving footage of Jim and also his peers talking about him.

Not long after, I went to Paley again and after some searching around the digital archives found living tap legend Savion Glover's Nu York, in which he could be found performing with folks like Stevie Wonder, Wyclef Jean, and (then named) P. Diddy. (Yes, he and Diddy did a tap-off!)

Then I journeyed downstairs to the Bennack Theater to watch a screening of Funny Women of Television, a show produced by The Museum of Radio and Television in 1996. It was a good show, but sorely lacking in representation of women of color.

Here's basic info on Paley, and I encourage you to check out their website to check out their Daily Screenings schedule so ya get to watch things on the big screen as well as on the individual computer screens.

The Paley Center for Media
25 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019-6129
(212) 621-6600

Open Wed,Fri-Sun 12pm-6pm; Thu 12pm-8pm
Subway: 5 Av/53 St

BURT AND ERNIE, JIM AND FRANK

I think about Jim Henson a lot. I feel his spirit around me. And I miss him. I love this photo of Jim playing Ernie and Frank Oz playing Burt. (Not sure who is playing Ernie's right hand.)

If you love Sesame Street and the Muppets, check out these other posts I've done based on in-person interviews and an in-person visit on the set of Sesame Street:

• Meet Kevin Clash, The Man Behind Elmo
• Frank Biando: The Mayor of Sesame Street
• Letters to Big Bird
• A Tribute to Jim Henson and the Muppets

SIMPLE PLEASURE #3: IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

The other night, when I couldn't sleep, I went to my bookshelf and started paging through my little inspirational books. One of them was It's Not Easy Being Green And Other Things to Consider, written by Jim Henson, the Muppets, and Friends.

Jim Henson was and is one of my idols and major sources of inspiration.

The book fell open to this entry:

When Jim left the planet so suddenly, all of us who loved him, worked with him, were inspired by him, gathered in New York City. We were like dandelion seeds clinging to the stem and to each other. An on May 16th, the wind began to blow.

There's no stem anymore. We're all floating on the breeze. And it's scary and exhilirating. And there's nothing we can do about it. But gradually, we'll all drift to the ground and plant ourselves. An no matter what we grow into, it'll be influenced by Him. We're Jim's seeds. And it's not only those of us who knew him. Everyone who was touched by his work is a Jim-seed.

He changed our lives. He changed the world. And we'll continue
his work, because that's how inspiration operates. People die, but
inspiration lives and grows. Inspired by his gentleness, we'll fill the
world with gentleness. Inspired by his vision, we'll fill the world with
visiion. Inspired by his chicken imitation, we'll fill the world with
laughter."

-- Jocelyn Stevenson

A TRIBUTE TO JIM HENSON AND THE MUPPETS

WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT JIM AND THE MUPPETS

I’ve always loved the Muppets. Like many of you, I grew up with them. I saw them on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and all the Muppet movies. One of my favorite rituals during trips home from college was to rent the first three Muppet movies (The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan), get into my pajamas, and spend a whole day glued to the television. How can you not love a world where rats are bellhops, frogs and pigs fall in love, vegetables sing from a pushcart, and penguins surf in the shower?

I appreciate the man behind the Muppets as much as I admire the furry creatures themselves. Here’s a list of some of the things I treasure most about Jim Henson:

• His patience, kindness, and optimism


• His endorsement of creative anarchy


• His inclusive style of leadership - he collaborated well in creative partnerships and teams


• The theme in all his movies of going after your dreams, supporting your friends to do the same, and being true to yourself


• The way he saw no limits on what he could achieve on artistic and technological fronts The way he created work that was playful and kind in its tone while still having an edge


• His dedication to promoting laughter in front of and behind the screen

WHO WAS JIM HENSON?

In 1993, I went to The Museum of Television and Radio to check out an exhibit featuring Jim Henson. At this exhibit, which featured mostly screenings, I learned that Jim was about much more than the Muppets. A technical and conceptual wizard, he was a pioneer in the worlds of television and puppetry. Here are some interesting bits from his personal and professional history which I found in the new book It’s Not Easy Being Green and Other Things to Consider.

1936 – Jim Henson is born in Mississippi.

1947 – Jim moves to Maryland with his family and forms strong interest in the new visual medium of television.

1954 – Still in high school, Jim launches career in television by performing puppets on a Saturday morning program. Soon after, he is given his own show, Sam and Friends, which he produced with fellow student Jane Nebel.

1959 – Jim and Jane marry and have five children together.

1964 -1969 – Jim produces several experimental films, including award-winning Time Piece, Youth ’68, and the The Cube.

1966 – Joan Ganz Cooney begins work on Sesame Street and asks Jim to create a family of characters for it.

1975(ish) – The world is introduced to the Muppets through The Muppet Show.

1980s – Jim and friends make Muppet movies. In addition, they make fantasy films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, both of which feature three-dimensional characters “with advanced movement abilities”. The staff of the later two films form basis for what is now known as Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

1990 – Jim dies in New York City after a brief illness. The world mourns his passing and celebrated the joy, humanity, and artistic vision that he brought to this world. His memorial services take place at The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, where Big Bird sang It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green. His family, friends and colleagues continue and expand his vision through the Jim Henson Company, Sesame Workshop, and The Muppets Holding Company, and The Jim Henson Foundation.

GREAT QUOTATIONS

It’s Not Easy Being Green and Other Things to Consider also features quotations by and about Jim Henson. Here are some of my favorites:

“I feel that almost everyone maintains a childlike quality throughout their adulthood. One of the nice things about the puppet form is that it has the ability to communicate with this childlike side of the audience. The personalities of the Muppet characters are really quite innocent and everyone, in some way or another, seems to be able to relate to this innocence.”
-- Jim Henson

"From Kermit the Frog, literally an extension of Jim, comes a life-affirming decency, a passionate belief that there are stories to tell which don’t exclude children and don’t insult adults, which don’t exclude adults but which don’t insult children, which can be outrageous and innovative without being arch or misanthropic. There’s anarchy here, but it’s anarchy that celebrates rather than destroys.”
-- Anthony Minghella, Writer of “Jim Henson’s The Storyteller”

“Jim inspired people to be better than they thought they could be. To be more creative, more daring, more outrageous, and ultimately more successful. And he did it all without raising his voice.”
-- Bernie Brillstein, Jim’s friend and agent since 1961

"I don’t know exactly where ideas come from, but when I’m working well, ideas just appear. I’ve heard other people say similar things – so it’s one of the ways I know there’s help and guidance out there. It’s just a matter of our figuring out how to receive the ideas or information that are waiting to be heard.”
-- Jim Henson

RESOURCES FOR FANS OF JIM AND THE MUPPETS

Websites
http://www.jimhensonlegacy.org/ – good place to order books and DVDs
http://www.henson.com/ – the website of the company has lots of good insider info, esp. about the 50th Anniversary of the company
http://www.toughpigs.com/ – for Muppet fans who are now adults
http://www.hensonfoundation.org/ – is dedicated to keeping the art of puppetry alive
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/ – self-explanatory!
http://www.muppetcentral.com/ – inside scoop on all that is happening with the Muppets
http://www.kermitage.com/ – great spot to reminisce about The Muppet Show
http://www.mtr.org/ – site of the Museum of Television and Radio.
Note: New York’s Museum of Television and Radio is the premier spot for viewing works by and about Jim Henson. By making a reservation to use the library, you are privy to the many program titles which appear under “Jim Henson’s World of Television,” including special episodes of Sesame Street like “Maria and Luis’ Wedding”.

You can also find these titles in the museum’s screening library:
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
The Jim Henson Hour: The Secrets of the Muppets
The Muppet Show, Featuring Paul Simon

Other Cool Stuff

* 50th Anniversary Commemorative Stamps, starring – who else! – the Muppets, are now available at the US Post Office.

* A book I recommend is Jim Henson: The Works - The Art, the Magic, the Imagination by Christopher Finch