Mortimer J. O'Brien

O'Brien and brother inspired one-shot characters Chet and Snooks.

Mortimer J. O'Brien (June 28, 1909 - January 19, 1992), nicknamed "Snooks," was the twin brother of Chet O'Brien. While his brother was listed as production stage manager on Sesame Street, Mortimer O'Brien was credited as simply stage manager from season 9 through season 23.

Mortimer O'Brien was born in Rochester, New York, and like his brother Chet (and often working with him), began as a dancer in vaudeville. He moved to Broadway as a chorus boy in 1920s and 1930s musicals and revues such as Fine and Dandy and As Thousands Cheer. By the 1940s, he'd transitioned to stage managing on shows including Helen Goes to Troy, A Connecticut Yankee, Sweethearts, and One Touch of Venus.

For television, O'Brien stage managed the New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts, the Stephen Sondheim TV musical Evening Primrose (with Anthony Perkins), soap operas (including Search for Tomorrow), CBS news with Walter Cronkite, and specials like 1978's Happy Birthday, Bob.

References

Cowboy Snooks

• "Snooks" O'Brien was referenced several times as an inside joke on Sesame Street, along with brother Chet. Examples include as Chet and Snooks in a Don Music sketch (referencing their vaudeville past) and as the names of two out of Three Little Pigs in a sketch with Kermit. In an Old West sketch, while no names are given in the script, a cowboy (played by Jerry Nelson) is called Snooks by the bartender (Richard Hunt), who in turn is addressed as "Chester" (Chet O'Brien's birth name).

• O'Brien is referred to again in Episode 1738 as "Snooky," whom Mr. Macintosh (Chet O'Brien's character) recalls used to do a soft-shoe routine with him in vaudeville.

External links

• Internet Broadway Database
• IMDb