Muppet Wiki

Kermiteye Welcome to Muppet Wiki!


Please visit Special:Community to learn how you can collaborate with the editing community.

READ MORE

Muppet Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Muppet Wiki
Muppet Wiki
44,519
pages
in: Sesame Street Live-Action Sketches, Frank Oz Films, Numbers

Changes: Number Three Ball Film

Back to page
Sign in to edit
mNo edit summary
Tag: sourceedit
No edit summary
(17 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{song|image=Rollercoaster123.jpg|writer=[[Keith Vernon Textor]]<br>[[Jim Henson]]|composer=|lyricist=|date=|source=|publisher=Scott Textor Music Publishing, Inc.|eka=[[Episode 0277]]}}
 +
{{song|image=Rollercoaster123.jpg|writer=[[Keith Vernon Textor]]<br>[[Jim Henson]]|composer=|lyricist=|date=[[1970]]|source=|publisher=Scott Textor Music Publishing, Inc.|first=[[Episode 0254]]}}
  +
[[File:BallFilm-Powder.jpg|thumb|300px|The film's original ending, where the ball is grounded into powder.]]
  +
[[File:Cameo.heatherhenson-rollercoaster.jpg|thumb|300px|Heather Henson's cameo in the re-filmed ending.]]
   
−
The '''Number Three Ball Film''' is a ''[[Sesame Street]]'' film from [[1970]] with an electronic, carnival-like soundtrack that follows a small, red ball as it rolls throughout a toy roller coaster. The ball makes its way throughout a number of mechanical devices that help to propel it through the track, occasionally going past three items as an off-screen child voiceover ([[Brian Henson]]<ref>Karen Falk, see [[Talk:Number Three Ball Film|talk page]]</ref>) counts to [[3]]. When it reaches the end, it drops into a metal box. Originally, the film ended with the ball being ground up into a fine powder. However, kids found this ending too tragic,<ref>''[[Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street]]'' page 246</ref> and a new ending was later shot on August 2, 1974,<ref>[http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2012/08/02/821974/ Jim Henson's Red Book entry], August 2, 2012.</ref> in which it seems to turn into three cherries that are plopped down onto three sundaes that roll by on a conveyor belt. A little girl ([[Henson Kids Cameos|played]] by [[Heather Henson]]) eats one of them. The latter version is the only one that has been released on video. It appears that Brian Henson's narration has either been rerecorded or replaced by Heather Henson, as it is played in a noticeably higher pitch than in the original video.
 +
The '''Number Three Ball Film''' is a ''[[Sesame Street]]'' film from 1970 with an electronic, carnival-like soundtrack that follows a small, red ball as it rolls throughout a toy roller coaster. The ball makes its way throughout a number of mechanical devices that help to propel it through the track, occasionally going past three items as an off-screen child voiceover ([[Brian Henson]])<ref>Karen Falk, see [[Talk:Number_Three_Ball_Film#From_Karen_Falk...|talk page]]</ref> counts to [[3]]. When it reaches the end, it drops into a metal box.
   
  +
==Versions==
  +
Originally, the film ended with the ball being ground up into a fine powder. However, kids found this scenario too tragic,<ref>''[[Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street]]'' page 246</ref> and a replacement was shot on August 2, 1974.<ref name="redbook19740802">[[Jim Henson's Red Book]] — [https://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2012/08/821974/ "‘Film Heather for end of Ball Film"] August 2, 1974</ref> In the new ending, once the ball falls into the box, it turns into three cherries that are plopped down onto sundaes rolling by on a conveyor belt, one of which is eaten by a little girl ([[Henson Kids Cameos|played]] by [[Heather Henson]]). This version also features a different voiceover and first aired in [[Episode 0744]].
  +
  +
Although the ending was changed due to test audiences finding the film too tragic, the original continued to air interchangeably with the new ending. On at least one occasion, [[Episode 0797]], both versions of the film were included in the same episode. The original powder version was used on the show as late as [[Episode 4002]].
  +
  +
==Production==
 
[[Frank Oz]] recalls the production of the film in an interview with Kenneth Plume for IGN FilmForce:
 
[[Frank Oz]] recalls the production of the film in an interview with Kenneth Plume for IGN FilmForce:
   
−
{{quote|The only <nowiki>[directing]</nowiki> I ever did myself <nowiki>[</nowiki>on ''Sesame Street''<nowiki>]</nowiki> was a bizarre thing with this ball for the number 3 where I built an entire kind of bizarre wire sculpture and shot it over many months. Looking back on it, I'm thinking "My God, why the f*** was I doing all of that work?" But it was fun to do. I wouldn't call that directing. I was in a gallery doing wire sculpture and one of my pieces sold, so that's where that came from. It was something where I could control my own little world, but it wasn't directing. It was creating and then just kind of calling the shots.<ref>[http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/035/035842p1.html IGN FilmForce - Interview with Frank Oz]</ref>}}
+
{{quote|The only <nowiki>[directing]</nowiki> I ever did myself <nowiki>[</nowiki>on ''Sesame Street''<nowiki>]</nowiki> was a bizarre thing with this ball for the number 3 where I built an entire kind of bizarre wire sculpture and shot it over many months. Looking back on it, I'm thinking "My God, why the fuck was I doing all of that work?" But it was fun to do. I wouldn't call that directing. I was in a gallery doing wire sculpture and one of my pieces sold, so that's where that came from. It was something where I could control my own little world, but it wasn't directing. It was creating and then just kind of calling the shots.<ref>IGN FilmForce [https://web.archive.org/web/20020804131802/http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/035/035842p1.html Interview with Frank Oz] by Ken Plume, February 10, 2000</ref>}}
   
−
In addition to directing and building the wire sculpture, Frank Oz sequenced the film by drawing on note cards. [[Jim Henson]] produced the film and also drew on some of the cards.<ref>[[Karen Falk]], personal correspondence, see talk page</ref>
 +
In addition to directing and building the wire sculpture, Oz sequenced the film by drawing on note cards. [[Jim Henson]] produced the film and also drew on some of the cards.<ref>[[Karen Falk]], personal correspondence, see talk page</ref>
   
 
==Title==
  
==Title==
  +
The film's title varies from several sources:
−
The film's title varies from several sources. ASCAP catalogues the music as "No.3 Ball Powder," and [[sesamestreet.org]] gives it the similar title "Ball Powder No. 3" (despite the fact that it's the version with the cherry ending), while the ''[[Learning About Numbers]]'' DVD chapter stop identifies it as "Rollercoaster 1,2,3." ''[[Old School: Volume 2]]'' refers to it as "Henson Ball High Wire #3." ''[[Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street]]'' shows pictures of film from this segment, which has the title "Sesame Street Number Film #3" on the films label. When portions of the original set piece were on display at [[The Muppets Take Maryland]] exhibit (as seen in an episode of ''[[National Arts]]'', the placard described it as the "Number Three Ball Film."
  
  +
* [[Jim Henson's Red Book]]<ref name="redbook19740802" /> — "Ball Film"
  +
* [[Episode 0254]] script — "Ball Sculpture #3"
  +
* (most other) scripts — "Henson Ball Powder #3" (version I and version II, despite the latter omitting the powder)
  +
* ASCAP Work ID: 498099788
  +
** "Henson Ball"
  +
** "Henson Ball Powder No.3"
  +
** "Henson No.3 Ball Powder"
  +
* ''[[Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street|40 Years of Life on the Street]]'' pg 247 — "Sesame Street Number Film #3" (shown on the film's label)
  +
* [[sesamestreet.org]] — "Ball Powder No. 3" (though the video itself was of the second version)
  +
* ''[[Learning About Numbers]]'' DVD chapter stop — "Rollercoaster 1, 2, 3"
  +
* ''[[Old School: Volume 2]]'' — "Henson Ball High Wire #3"
  +
* [[The Muppets Take Maryland]] exhibit (as seen in an episode of ''[[National Arts]]'') — "Number Three Ball Film" (as seen on the exhibit placard)
   
 
==Releases==
  
==Releases==
 
;Video
  
;Video
−
* ''[[Learning About Numbers]]''
 +
* ''[[Learning About Numbers]]'' (cherries ending)
−
* ''[[Old School: Volume 2]]'' (as a Season 6 Classic Cut)
 +
* ''[[Old School: Volume 2]]'' (cherries ending) (as a Season 6 Classic Cut)
−
* ''[[Old School: Volume 3]]'' (as a Season 15 Classic Cut)
 +
* ''[[Old School: Volume 3]]'' (cherries ending) (as a Season 15 Classic Cut)
  +
* ''[[50 Years and Counting]]'' (powder ending)
−
;Online
  
−
* [[Youtube]] - {{Youtube|hbnisWmLv0I}}
  
 
;Other
  
;Other
−
*''[[Sesame Street Movie Viewer Cartridges|Numbers]]'' - A clip of the ball going through three doors
 +
* ''[[Sesame Street Movie Viewer Cartridges|Numbers]]'' - A clip of the ball going through three doors
   
 
==Sources==
  
==Sources==
 
<references />
  
<references />
  +
  +
__NOWYSIWYG__
 
[[Category:Sesame Street Live-Action Sketches]]
  
[[Category:Sesame Street Live-Action Sketches]]
 
[[Category:Frank Oz Films]]
  
[[Category:Frank Oz Films]]

Revision as of 04:22, 29 March 2020

Rollercoaster123
Written by Keith Vernon Textor
Jim Henson
Date 1970
Publisher Scott Textor Music Publishing, Inc.
First Episode 0254
BallFilm-Powder

The film's original ending, where the ball is grounded into powder.

Cameo

Heather Henson's cameo in the re-filmed ending.

The Number Three Ball Film is a Sesame Street film from 1970 with an electronic, carnival-like soundtrack that follows a small, red ball as it rolls throughout a toy roller coaster. The ball makes its way throughout a number of mechanical devices that help to propel it through the track, occasionally going past three items as an off-screen child voiceover (Brian Henson)[1] counts to 3. When it reaches the end, it drops into a metal box.

Versions

Originally, the film ended with the ball being ground up into a fine powder. However, kids found this scenario too tragic,[2] and a replacement was shot on August 2, 1974.[3] In the new ending, once the ball falls into the box, it turns into three cherries that are plopped down onto sundaes rolling by on a conveyor belt, one of which is eaten by a little girl (played by Heather Henson). This version also features a different voiceover and first aired in Episode 0744.

Although the ending was changed due to test audiences finding the film too tragic, the original continued to air interchangeably with the new ending. On at least one occasion, Episode 0797, both versions of the film were included in the same episode. The original powder version was used on the show as late as Episode 4002.

Production

Frank Oz recalls the production of the film in an interview with Kenneth Plume for IGN FilmForce:

“The only [directing] I ever did myself [on Sesame Street] was a bizarre thing with this ball for the number 3 where I built an entire kind of bizarre wire sculpture and shot it over many months. Looking back on it, I'm thinking "My God, why the fuck was I doing all of that work?" But it was fun to do. I wouldn't call that directing. I was in a gallery doing wire sculpture and one of my pieces sold, so that's where that came from. It was something where I could control my own little world, but it wasn't directing. It was creating and then just kind of calling the shots.[4]”

In addition to directing and building the wire sculpture, Oz sequenced the film by drawing on note cards. Jim Henson produced the film and also drew on some of the cards.[5]

Title

The film's title varies from several sources:

Releases

Video
Other
  • Numbers - A clip of the ball going through three doors

Sources

  1. ↑ Karen Falk, see talk page
  2. ↑ Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street page 246
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jim Henson's Red Book — "‘Film Heather for end of Ball Film" August 2, 1974
  4. ↑ IGN FilmForce Interview with Frank Oz by Ken Plume, February 10, 2000
  5. ↑ Karen Falk, personal correspondence, see talk page
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.