Early SS Monsters: Not so cute!

[fatblue]

This has been touched on briefly in other threads, but I want to give it it's own forum.

I don't know about any of you, but the monsters from when SS first aired were not by any means 'cute' OR 'lovable'. They seemed very dark and intimidating. Now I say this becasue as a kid, I was very scared of most of them.

That 'Beautiful Day Monster' was very scary to me, with those teeth and huge eyes, and loud growl!! eeecch! Gave me bad dreams at times, this is the truth, no BS, I was scared of him. Same with that dragon like creature, who they called 'Fred' on one skit (how original) he was on the skit of Ernies rock hunting adventure. Cookie Monster and even Grover's early look was pretty dark. I can't put a name to the rest of them, but they were a gruesome bunch boy, I'll tell you. I have a lot of respect for Jim Henson and I miss him very much, but not so sure what he was thinking here.

 

[MuppetDude]

I tried to get a link for it, but it didn't work. See if you can find "The Sesame Street Monsters" thread by me. It gives a list of most of the monsters that appeared during the first season.

 

[fatblue]

Link isn't working Muppet Dude.

 

[Dantecat]

Actually,That's Just Crazy Harry!

 

[MuppetDude]

I edited my message, guys...

 

[MuppetDude]

Hey, check out the "Similar Threads" at the bottom of the page!

 

[fuzzygobo]

scary monsters

Yes, it's true those monsters from Season 1 were not a cute bunch. Jim's main partner-in-crime was puppet builder Don Sahlin, who shared Jim's taste in creating gruesome looking monsters.

If you're lucky enough to find it, there's a book out there on the history of the Muppet Show, which has a picture of Don with some of his scarier creations. Beautiful Day, "Fred", Cookie Monster, the original-greenish-brown Grover, and others are included. Not for the faint-of-heart.

 

[JaniceFerSure]

The Sesame Street Encyclopedia

Try this site.

 

[Barry Lee]

The very first season was different.Remember this was an expirement.

They didn't know how succesful this television series would be they just made some random puppets figuring they would never use them and they didn't realize how scared kids were.

Cookie Monster didn't change in the first season but he had a different design but he still looked like the cookie monster.Grover was totally made over.He was a green ugly muppet used in old sketches back in the early 60's he soon became blue and changed into a cute little monster.

Beautifal Day Monster only appeared in the FIRST SEASON he was used alot in the first season as a scary monster.Splurge was used in the show once I believe,

All the monsters evovled into somebody else I think the three headed monster in the Jim Henson Muppets on Puppets special were later Tom,DIck,and Harry.

But remember these were mainly left over puppets from other projects!

 

[Xerus]

Yes, most of those scary monsters were from the Ed Sullivan show. I guess Jim and his crew were used to making scary Muppet scenes for adult audiences and didn't realize what would happen if you put these scaries on a kids' show.