Sesame Street celebrated its 10th anniversary in the spring of 1979 with a half-hour PBS special hosted by James Earl Jones titled A Walking Tour of Sesame Street. The special aired on individual PBS stations at various times between March and May 1979.
Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Barkley and human members of the cast (Gordon, Susan, Mr. Hooper, Bob, Luis, Linda, and Olivia) appeared on the street with Jones as he showed clips from the first 10 years and talked about the show, the street, the characters, and their worldwide impact.
Notes[]
- The special originally was titled Now We Are Ten.[1]
- The special was screened daily at the Smithsonian Institution during the "Ten Years of Sesame Street" exhibit housed there during the summer of 1979.
Cast and crew[]
- Director: Emily Squires
- Writer: Jim Thurman
- Producer: Michael Cozell
- Credited: Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar
- Uncredited: Linda Bove as Linda, Emilio Delgado as Luis, Loretta Long as Susan, Bob McGrath as Bob, Roscoe Orman as Gordon, Alaina Reed Hall as Olivia, Will Lee as Mr. Hooper and Brian Muehl as Barkley.
Clips shown[]
- James Earl Jones recites the alphabet. (Episode 0002)
- Waiter Grover: Alphabet Soup (Episode 0276), intercut with portions of the alphabet being recited by Burt Lancaster (Episode 0006), Fonzie and Richie (Episode 1176), Arte Johnson (Episode 0147), Whitman Mayo (Episode 0866), Cookie Monster and Genelle (Episode 0320), Flip Wilson (Episode 0151), Richard Pryor (Episode 0862), Mr. Snuffleupagus and Joey (Episode 0671), Bill Cosby as twins (Episode 0131), the cast of Bonanza (Episode 0136) and Pat Paulsen (Episode 0067)
- Pinball Number Count: 6 (Episode 0983)
- "Gimme Five" (Episode 1137)
- The Count appears in the yard to explain why he is called "The Count." (Episode 0799)
- Jazz Numbers (brief clip of intro only)
- Kermit the Frog and Marlena observe their knees. (Episode 1162)
- The Harlem Globetrotters demonstrate parts of the body as they pass a basketball. (Episode 0627)
- Grover demonstrates near and far. (Episode 0787)
- Film: A trip to the doctor's office (Episode 0471)
- Film: Appalachian mailman on horseback (Episode 0493)
- Big Bird and a pilot (Jim Thurman) discuss parts of the airplane. (Episode 1090)
- "Fireman Ready to Go" (Episode 0131)
- Film: Some kids guess that a woman is an architect. (Episode 0768)
- Ernie hears an exercise program on the radio and tries to get Bert to participate. (Episode 1025)
- 1, Rue Sésame theme tune (French)
- Ernie opens Bert's surprise present. (Episode 0165) (shown in Spanish)
- Iftah Ya Simsim opening (Arabic)
- Maria talks with Ray Barretto, who demonstrates how to use two sticks (la claves) to make a beat. (Episode 0966)
- Film: Sheep dog (Episode 1056)
- Video: Scanimate kids intro (Episode 0798)
- A group of children play with a feather. (Episode 0813)
- Linda teaches a child to sign "Bus Stop." (Episode 0996)
- Big Bird drags Bob, Gordon, Susan and Linda to the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center to finally meet Mr. Snuffleupagus, who comes to hear the opera rehearsals every day. However, once he arrives, he becomes blocked from view by the fountain in the plaza square. (Episode 1311)
- David, Buffy, Susan and Luis attempt to find out what's bothering Big Bird, who has forbidden them entry to his nest area, and Buffy sings "Different People, Different Ways" to him. (Episode 1037)
Sources[]
- ↑ CTW Newsletter, Fall 1979
See also[]
- A-B-Chorus Line, a proposed 10th anniversary special for the show