Jim Henson with Kermit custom figure

[MuppetsRule]

Did Kermit have legs and other important questions

I want to do a Jim Henson with Kermit custom figure and need some help with some details.

When Kermit was played behind a desk or backstage did the actual Kermit puppet have legs? I know he did in sketches when he was visiting with guest stars and such but what about when he was behind a desk? Were there two different puppets for each scenario?

Did Jim Henson play Kermit on his left-hand or right? What hand did he work the arm rod with?

Likewise, to which of Kermit's hands was the arm rod attached to?

Any help would be muchly appreciated.

 

[zeldazipple]

I believe Jim played Kermit with his left hand and did the rods with his right but don't quote me on that.
I think that sometimes Kermit had legs and sometimes he didn't depending on what sence he was in.

 

[MuppetsRule]

Thanks Zeldazipple. That was what I had thought as well.

 

[MrsPepper]

I remember reading somewhere that even if a puppeteer is left-handed, they use their right. On some of the articles on MC, there is/are picture/s of Jim with Kermit on his right arm... check in the "Muppets Magic" review about the Muppets on the Ed Sullivan show.
Edit: Here you go, this is the picture form that article. http://www.muppetcentral.com/_images/performers/henson_edsul.jpg

 

[D'Snowth]

Jim Henson WAS right-handed, even on Sesame Street Biography, when they were showing footage of Jim and Frank demonstating a glove puppet, Jim was using his right hand to work the puppet's head. I don't know who started this whole Jim was left-handed thing, but he's a righty.

 

[Xela]

Yeah...in almost every picture I have seen, Jim looks right-handed.

Although, as a lefty myself, I can do a lot of things with my right hand...

 

[MrsPepper]

Yeah, I didn't think he was a lefty either.

 

[MuppetsRule]

Jim Henson being left-handed was already debated here:

http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showthread.php?t=18278&highlight=left-handed

There seemded to be confusion there as well but I think it was concluded Jim was right-handed.

Anyway, I reviewed my World of Jim Henson tape and Jim is always shown with Kermit on his right hand and working the arm rod with his left-hand and attached to Kermit's left hand, which makes Kermit a lefty. Jim Henson is also shown signing autographs on several occassions with his right hand.

This leaves only one question to be answered . . . .

Did Kermit have legs? Always? Sometimes, depending on the scene?

 

[Vic Romano]

There are actually several Kermit puppets, some with legs, some where his torso just continues down. 9 out of ten times, if the shot required Kermit to be taped from the waste up, Jim would use the "legless" Kermit, but there are photos and videos of Jim using a legged Kermit for a waist on up shot if you will.

The puppets needed repair and servicing regularly, especially the more widely used ones like Kermit, so it made sense to have several on hand. I'm not sure what the count was on TMS, but I read that Muppets From Space had seven different Kermits on hand. From what I'm to understand, depending on their usage, several of the same Muppet can be reproduced on a regular basis, but the Henson company is rather hush hush and very particular about the retiring of older puppets.

Jim also always operated Kermit's mouth, body, neck etc. with his right hand (most of the Muppeteers were right handed which made for some improper handling of musical instruments like Lips who actually holds his trumpet wrong, but that's a whole other discussion!). Both of Kermit's arms were connected to arm rods most of the time (there were occassions where only his left arm was connected to a rod and his right arm pinned to his chest, but that was very rare). The rods were actually one continous rod in the shape of a "V" where the bottom of this "V" was almost spring like so the puppeteer could operate both the puppets arms using only one hand. More skilled puppeteers may also have used two seperate arm rods with one hand in a similar style to using chopsticks.

There's a new member here on MC named "WasOnceErnie" who worked with Jim personally and has a Q&A thread that you might find quite helpful as well.

 

[MuppetsRule]

Thanks alot Vic!!!!! That was very helpful.

I just discovered this morning, the inside cover of the Jim Henson action figure has a good shot of exactly what you are talking about. That is what I will be basing my custom figure on as far as pose, proportion, etc.