Come And Play...

Sesame Street turned 40 this month and there are all sorts of interviews and news stories around that have stirred up for me all of my personal nostalgia for this show.  I was born in 1966 and Sesame Street came along in 1969.  As a three-year old for the debut, I consider myself a member of the first full generation of Sesame Street.  At that age, I was only allowed to watch Public Television.  A wise choice by my parents.  I watched Mister Rogers, Sesame Street and the Electric Company with delight!  As I grew a bit older, I missed The Partridge Family, but fell in love with Zoom.   Sesame Street, however, holds the strongest and fondest memories for me.  In fact, you may be impressed to learn, the card above is not any old postcard, but a card personally sent to me from Ernie and Bert.

Try not to be too jealous, but yes, I do consider them close personal friends.

I kept my Sesame Street 45 RPM records in a case similar to this one.  My own, however, was covered in pink faux fur and had eyes, similar to a muppet monster.  Of all the 45's my favorite, hands down, is "I Love Trash."  I must have played that over and over again, and, can still recite all the lyrics for you if you like.  Perhaps, however, you would like to hear it from the master?  If so, click below:


One story line from Sesame Street that always stuck with me, was the invisibility of Mr. Snuffleupagus to adults.  Week after week I would sit and watch Big Bird talking to his enormous friend, and, watch Mr. Snuffleupagus's tail whisk around the corner just at the moment that an adult came into the area.  EVERY TIME I would think "Ok, this is it!  They are going to see him."  And EVERY TIME I would feel so sympathetic for Big Bird.

Eventually, I became too old for Sesame Street, and, by the mid-1970's had moved on to other things.  Even my younger brother, born in 1970, was no longer watching by the 1980's.  It was with shock, SHOCK therefore that I recall a day about 8 years ago that I stood in the break room of the local Public Television station where I worked, making myself a coffee, and glanced up at the monitor to see MR. SNUFFLEUPAGUS TALKING TO ADULTS!   What the?  I immediately started asking people "When could adults start to see Mr. Snuffleupagus?"  They had no idea what I was talking about.  "They could always see him." They replied.  Was this a conspiracy?  No.  They simply were born a little later than I, or, had watched it with their children beginning in the 1980's.  Upon further research I learned that there was an episode that had aired at some point where the adults DID see Mr. Snuffleupagus for the first time.  I started asking my PBS colleagues at meetings and conferences "How can I see that episode, you know, the one where the adults see Mr. Snuffleupagus for the first time?"  I thought this was a normal question.  They thought I was insane.

The other day, I was grinning and listening to an interview with Gordon from the show, and, it suddenly dawned on me... YOU TUBE!  OMG, my heart was racing, I went to the computer, and,...oh my...there it was!  The episode.  Episode #2096.  The episode where Snuffy is revealed.  November 1985.  24 years ago. I got it set up and took a deep breath and pressed PLAY.  If you want to do the same click below:


Ok, I admit it.  I cried.  I literally cried.  I had been waiting for this moment since I was 5 years old!  Finally, finally, Big Bird was vindicated.   The adults actually APOLOGIZED to him. What a moment.  What a moment...

Sniff....

Snuffle...