Jim Henson: The Muppet Man
“Come and play, everything’s a-OK, friendly neighbors there, that’s where we meet, can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?” As a kid, when that song came on I would get so excited. The anticipation of seeing Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch, were like having a meeting with my childhood life coaches. "Sesame Street" taught children how to spell, how to count and sometimes how to do both in a different language. It also introduced children to concepts like confidence, diversity, compassion, and acceptance. Oscar the Grouch, was my first lesson in accepting people for who they are. The Muppet's, effectiveness in introducing young children to complex issues is a direct correlation with the life and personality of Jim Henson.
If you were to look up Jim Henson’s accolades, you would see that they go far beyond being the creator of the "Muppets". He actually created the word "Muppets", which is a combination of the words marionette and puppet. He was the first person to have an original series on HBO with "Fraggle Rock". He was a prolific film creator, making cult classics like "Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth" (one of my favorite movies). Most importantly, he was a formidable business man, one of the youngest creative independents to go into negotiations with Disney. What many people do not know is, technology, imagination,and love propelled the genius that effected so many people with his creations.
In the late 1940's and early 1950s television was still in its infancy. Yet, if you did not have access to a one, you were missing out on the evolution of American culture. When Jim saw a puppet show called Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, he decided that's what he wanted to do with his life. In high school, he began receiving income by using his puppetry for advertisers. He later went after a degree in home economics from University of Maryland which, allowed him the ability to hone his skills even further. It was also at U of M that, he meet his future business partner, wife and mother of his five children Jane. At the time he graduated from college, Jim had reached a level of success where he was able to purchase a very nice home for his family and drive himself to his graduation ceremony in his own Rolls Royce.
Jim Henson had laser focus and a strong work ethic. The passion he had for what he did still resonates in our current lives. "Sesame Street Live" is almost a right of passage for toddlers. Apple TV, is in the process of revamping "Fraggle Rock" and Kermit the Frog, is used in a ridiculous amount of social media memes. You may be asking, why the riveting history lesson on Jim Henson, well; May 16, 2020 marks the 30th anniversary that he transitioned.To honor him, I will be following the instructions to the "Fraggle Rock" theme song. I am going to dance my cares away, save worries for another day, let the music play down on this blue rock.
