The Influence of Bonnie Erickson

[beaker]

Something always struck me as being quite, well "Muppety" regarding a lot of baseball mascots(like the Phillies Phanatics) or the Mcdonaldland puppets used in Mcdonalds commercials in the 1980's. I then stumbled across the work of Bonnie Erickson:
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Bonnie_Erickson
http://www.acmemascots.com/roster/

Turns out she not only started out as the main costume designer for Frog Prince, but went on to become the head of the puppet builder workshop for the Jim Henson company in the 1970's. She is credited as the designer and builder of Miss Piggy, Statler and Waldorf, Swedish Chef, Newsman, Zoot and many more.

While Don Sahlin will always, and rightfully be considered the guy behind the signature "Muppets" look(as lets be honest, the Muppets from 1955-1962 didnt look very Muppety) I can't help but sense the immense contribution Bonnie had to the creation of that time period and beyond with other media.

I feel a bit embarrassed having not known of her by name til now

 

[MelissaY1]

Something always struck me as being quite, well "Muppety" regarding a lot of baseball mascots(like the Phillies Phanatics) or the Mcdonaldland puppets used in Mcdonalds commercials in the 1980's. I then stumbled across the work of Bonnie Erickson:
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Bonnie_Erickson
http://www.acmemascots.com/roster/

Turns out she not only started out as the main costume designer for Frog Prince, but went on to become the head of the puppet builder workshop for the Jim Henson company in the 1970's. She is credited as the designer and builder of Miss Piggy, Statler and Waldorf, Swedish Chef, Newsman, Zoot and many more.

While Don Sahlin will always, and rightfully be considered the guy behind the signature "Muppets" look(as lets be honest, the Muppets from 1955-1962 didnt look very Muppety) I can't help but sense the immense contribution Bonnie had to the creation of that time period and beyond with other media.

I feel a bit embarrassed having not known of her by name til now

She is definitely very talented. I am surprised you never came across her name in perhaps most notably in the credits for "The Muppet Show".

 

[zns]

Her craftsmanship is truly one of a kind. She is among one of the top puppet builders in the Muppet workshop, along with people such as Don Sahlin, Kermit Love, Caroly Wilcox, Rollie Krewson, and Ed Christie. Of course, there are many other great builders involved with the Muppets, but these are probably some of the more notable ones. (Please don't think I'm playing favorites )

 

[MelissaY1]

Her craftsmanship is truly one of a kind. She is among one of the top puppet builders in the Muppet workshop, along with people such as Don Sahlin, Kermit Love, Caroly Wilcox, Rollie Krewson, and Ed Christie. Of course, there are many other great builders involved with the Muppets, but these are probably some of the more notable ones. (Please don't think I'm playing favorites )

Not at all, I have to agree with you on that one. All the folks you mentioned are probably the ones most responsible for the Muppet style and look we know so well.