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Published Sunday, November 15, 2009 in Education

Coweta residents reflect as 'Sesame Street' turns 40

By Jeff Bishop

The Newnan Times-Herald

The PBS children's show "Sesame Steet" turned 40 this month.

At the end of this season, "Sesame Street" will number 4,212 episodes. It's the longest-running children's television show.

Many local residents -- even those who are now middle-aged -- carry fond memories of "Sesame Street."

"I love Sesame Street," said Angela Tinsley of Turin. "Grover was my favorite character as a child, and it was really cool when I had children to watch it all over again with them. And I do mean over and over and over again. They love it as much as I did 30 something years ago!"

"The best episode ever was when the man that played Mr. Hooper passed away, and the gang had to tell Big Bird that Mr. Hooper died," said Tony Daniel of Newnan. "Amazingly well-done episode, teaching parents how to deal with the news of someone dying. It still brings a tear to the eye."

Other local residents said they remember the songs and skits vividly, even though they haven't watched them in years.

"One leaves falling, two leaves falling, three leaves falling ... ah ah ah!" said Jodie Powell Jenkins.

"I loved those alien guys, too," she said, referring to the "Yip Yips."

Anna Grasso Lugo has fond memories of the "Mahna Mahna" song.

"Do do do do do!!!" she said.

"C is for Cookie and that's good enough for me," said Tatumn Oliver Arrowood.

According to Associated Press, Big Bird was the first Muppet seen in the opening episode, followed by Oscar the Grouch; Oscar's first lines were: "Don't bang on my can! Go away!" He hasn't gotten any mellower.

Oscar was orange the first season. He turned green in season 2; the same costume still is used today. Oscar's pet worm is named Slimey.

Big Bird is 8 feet 2 inches tall; he's been played since episode 1 by Caroll Spinney, who also does Oscar. At 75, Spinney still plays both.

Big Bird is a golden condor; the costume is made up of nearly 6,000 feathers. Big Bird's teddy bear is named Radar.

Big Bird, Oscar, Kermit, Grover, Bert, Ernie and Cookie Monster were original characters.

The first episode was brought to us by the letters W, S and E and the numbers 2 and 3.

The cookies that Cookie Monster eats are rice cakes painted to look like cookies; chocolate, oil and grease can damage a Muppet's fur.

Elmo first appeared in 1984 as a walk-on Muppet; puppeteer Kevin Clash gave the red-furred monster a 3 1/2-year-old's personality, energy and high-pitched voice. Elmo's pet goldfish is named Dorothy.

The program name came from "Open, Sesame" in "The Arabian Nights" -- creators believed it suggested "excitement and adventure" -- and "street" because the show is set in an urban scene.

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