Memories of "Early Elmo"

[dvakman]

The Elmo character was actually around during the tail end of when I originally watched the show. He had a different voice, sort of like Harry Monster's, husky but at a higher pitch. I'm pretty sure he interacted with Mr. Hooper too... despite what the Special wanted us to believe (maybe they don't count the pre-Clash Elmo as the "real" Elmo, but then again, there was the wedding clip that actually contained Elmo, so there probably wasn't a lot of thought put into it one way or the other). Does anyone else remember this original, more "low key" Elmo and can anyone confirm that he did have scenes with Hooper?

 

[Hays]

I stopped watching around the time Elmo appeared. I remember it was during the "babies" craze sometime in the early 80's (Muppet Babies, Godzuki, Scooby-Doo babies) and he did sketches as a baby Grover - I hated him instantly. I think Elmo now is less irritating than the Grover Minime version, though.

Of course, I was "too old" to watch Sesame Street by that time (not that that ever stopped me...)

 

[BWSmith]

I can remember when Elmo was around when I stopped watching in the early 80s.

Elmo was in prime form back then as a supporting cast member. It was only when he was regularly thrust into lead roles that he became really annoying.

 

[Muppetsdownunder]

I never realised how much sesame street I watched when I was young but coming to MC reminds me. I think I would have been watching it from the late 80s to the early 90s to mid 90s. I remember elmo and know he was different to how he is now (meaning he didnt steal the limelight all the time, lol) I'm not sure if I was watching sesame street before elmo arrived. I think I need to look back at some old sesame episodes to refresh my memory, I dont have any though!

 

[camillachick]

I watched sesame street from the mid 80's myself and into the early 90's with my little sister. I have an old memory of Elmo before he was a phenomenon (do do, da do do). It went like this:
Elmo is sort of milling or wandering on the street timidly and Gordon comes up to him and begins talking to him. He asks him what he likes to do and Elmo says- tell jokes. Then Gordon asks if he has any jokes to tell. Elmo replies no but he has a riddle. "Why did the little monster throw the butter out the window? To see the butter fly." That's all I can remember about it and probably the extent of the skit anyway. He talked more babyish than now as well as the refering to himself as "Elmo".
On a side note, they seem to be getting Grover into the act alot recently. I wonder if he could be contending for resident "cute monster" of the street.

 

[Xerus]

I remember the first time seeing Elmo on the street. He didn't talk much and all he did was whisper. He was in the fix-it shop where Luis was teaching him how to write the word, Casa. Elmo liked the word so much that he took his chalk and started writing, Casa, all over the street. And in the end, Luis was now teaching Elmo how to use soap and a wet sponge so he could clean up his mess.