Make a Puppet with Jim Henson Circa 1969
- Thinking of Jim Henson
Did you ever know of Jim Henson of The Muppets/Sesame Street
fame before his rise to stardom? This 1969 video shows how he only got better at what he did.
I’ll never forget his voice for Kermit the Frog. What a loss to the world when he passed away from pneumonia complications.
Thanks to Elizabeth O. Dulemba, this video was found floating around that I’m making available to you. In the 1969 Public TV video you’ll see how to make a puppet from something as simple as a sock or a piece of cloth. There is more in depth puppet instructions also. You’ll be able to see some of his early on puppets that took numerous personalities, colors, etc. over time.
Try making at least one of his ideas with your child. They’ll love it! Then put up a curtain on a spring rod stretched between a doorway, use an old appliance box, or drape a sheet over two spread apart chairs…all for an instant puppet theater. More than one child? You can have a puppet production for the whole family!
I’d love to read your comments on this!
Pure genius! My little ones are loving just watching the video. Ha ha. Great ideas to use at home or in children’s ministry. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I loved watching the video myself! He was an amazing man.
We made puppets with kids in children’s ministry and they had amazing things they said with their own puppet when it was their turn behind the stage.
When I made them with my own children, they usually spoke freely while using a puppet. It’s amazing the things they say (and you find out) when their hand is stuck up a sock!
DonnaPerugini recently posted..Make a Puppet with Jim Henson Circa 1969
What a cute video, and oh my gosh, he looks so young! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa,
There was a picture of him when he was about 20 holding his first puppet..Kermit. I don’t think anyone would have recognized Jim.
Don’t you wonder what he could have imagined the older he got? A lot of creativity left this earth when he passed away!
DonnaPerugini recently posted..Make a Puppet with Jim Henson Circa 1969
My kids absolutely love to make puppet shows. They are 6,4 and 2. We bought them a little puppet theatre and some hand puppets and they will take turns putting on shows for each other – and of course Mommy and Daddy. But making them, aside from an impromptu sock puppet is something I wouldn’t have thought of!
We made our own puppets when teaching children’s at our church. The price of the professional puppets was way over budget.
Growing up, I’d use anything to be a puppet..forks and spoons (fork was boy with a crew cut, spoon was girl with smooth hair) and those little fuzzy pussywillow buds were mice I carried around in my pocket at school.