Jim Henson at 90

One of the most traumatic moments of my childhood occurred in 1979. That was the year my mother took me to the theater to see The Muppet Movie. It was going to be the first time I could witness the characters that I loved from television on the big screen.

But it was sold out.

Telling a five-year-old that she wasn’t going to get to see Kermit and Fozzie Bear that day didn’t go down well. Back then movies were not released on video, and you couldn’t just wait a few weeks for it to come out on streaming. If you missed it, that was it. Unless it was playing for more than one day, which my mother patiently explained. A few days later I was sitting in that same theater listening to The Rainbow Connection.

The power The Muppets had back then is indescribable to modern generations. The characters that came out of the mind of the legendary Jim Henson delighted both young and old and were a part of the fabric of my Gen-X childhood. That was why losing Jim Henson in 1990 was so hard; he was still young, with so much left to do.

September 24 would have been Henson’s 90th birthday. So, this is a good time to remember some of Henson’s most iconic works, starting with The Muppet Show.

It might seem unusual to modern audiences that a show with lead characters that were puppets were part of the primetime lineup. But this was the genius of the show—both parents and kids could find something to enjoy. The variety setting allowed the big stars of the time to show their singing, acting, and dancing skills. And the Muppet characters got a collection of entertaining sketches that let them shine as well. My favorite: PIGS IN SPACE!

Next came a show more targeted towards children, but something that adults could sit through without wanting to pull their hair out: Fraggle Rock.

With a cadre of delightful characters who lived underground and faced challenges with both heart and song, Fraggle Rock was a joy to watch. And the show didn’t shy away from dark topics, including death. Each episode also featured the adventures of Traveling Matt and his is strange encounters with the “Silly Creatures” (otherwise known as human beings).

Finally, there is the movie The Dark Crystal. The story about a young Gelfling trying to heal a complicated mythical world full of unusual creatures was initially viewed as too bleak. Henson’s foray into dark fantasy with creature designs that were bizarre and even frightening surprised those who were used to his light-hearted Muppets. However, the innovative story and revolutionary use of animatronics eventually led the movie to become a cult treasure.

Jim Henson will live on forever in the characters he created, and his legacy continues under The Jim Henson Company. Happy Birthday, Kermit’s dad!

Pamela M.
Antioch Branch