OT-Big Bird Designer dies

[Angiekay]

Costume designer Kermit Love, who helped Muppet inventor Jim Henson create Big Bird and other Sesame Street characters, has died at age 91, the Associated Press reports. Love died from congestive heart failure Saturday (June 21st) near his home in Stanfordville, New York.

Henson designed the original sketches of Big Bird for Sesame Street, which premiered in 1969, then had Love build the eight-foot, two-inch yellow-feathered costume. Love also helped design costumes and puppets for Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster, among others. He also appeared on the show himself as resident hot dog vendor Willy. As for Kermit the Frog, Love always maintained that the famous green-skinned character wasn't named for him.

Caroll Spinney, who has played Big Bird since Sesame Street began, said, "Kermit was definitely a totally unique person. He looked very much like Santa Claus but was a little bit more like the Grinch."

Besides his work with Henson, Love designed for some ballet's most esteemed choreographers, including Twyla Tharp, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine. He also designed costumes and puppets for film and advertising, including the Snuggle bear from the fabric softener commercials. Earlier in his career, Love designed costumes for Orson Welles' Mercury Theater.

[mistiejourney]

Wow - now there's a man whose work will live on for generations of kids.

How sad! But he made it to 91...

[Vocalsmanvocals]

Wow - now there's a man whose work will live on for generations of kids.

How sad! But he made it to 91...

RIP...wow, I can only hope to make it to the age of 91 lol

[Red13JoePa]

I still get a boot in the ass out of Big Bird, particularly when Mr SnuffleUpAgus calls him "Bird."

[Michigan Girl]

So sad,
but what a life!!!

[bluejeangirl76]

I still get a boot in the ass out of Big Bird, particularly when Mr SnuffleUpAgus calls him "Bird."

"Hiiiiiii, Birrrrrrrrd."

[separate_wayz]

I still can't get over that a guy named Kermit designed Big Bird's costume ...... That's mind-bottling.

[Enigma869]

That's mind-bottling.

or even mind-boggling


John from Boston

[Michigan Girl]

[mikemarrs]

kids everywhere are in mourning.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

One thing I always wondered about, is Big Bird a boy or a girl? I heard that a woman does his voice. I found this more than a little disconcerting when I found this out.
I always thought that Big Bird, like God, was a man, and felt safe and secure in this fact. Now Im just scared that nothing I believe is actually true.

[Arkansas]

One thing I always wondered about, is Big Bird a boy or a girl? I heard that a woman does his voice. I found this more than a little disconcerting when I found this out.
I always thought that Big Bird, like God, was a man, and felt safe and secure in this fact. Now Im just scared that nothing I believe is actually true.

Isn't Bart Simpson's voice from a woman too?


later~

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

One thing I always wondered about, is Big Bird a boy or a girl? I heard that a woman does his voice. I found this more than a little disconcerting when I found this out.
I always thought that Big Bird, like God, was a man, and felt safe and secure in this fact. Now Im just scared that nothing I believe is actually true.

Isn't Bart Simpson's voice from a woman too?


later~

Shit, Not Bart as well

[StoneCold]

I still get a boot in the ass out of Big Bird, particularly when Mr SnuffleUpAgus calls him "Bird."

Oh, Birrrd!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sw2HX6gUZk

[Angiekay]

One thing I always wondered about, is Big Bird a boy or a girl? I heard that a woman does his voice. I found this more than a little disconcerting when I found this out.
I always thought that Big Bird, like God, was a man, and felt safe and secure in this fact. Now Im just scared that nothing I believe is actually true.

Isn't Bart Simpson's voice from a woman too?


later~

Shit, Not Bart as well

Yes and yes. Bart Simpson's voice is done by Nancy Cartwright and Big Bird is:

Being Big Bird: at 74, actor is still flying
On 'Sesame Street,' Caroll Spinney is always 6 years old
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 06/17/2008 01:31:12 AM PDT


NEW YORK (AP) - On the street, Caroll Spinney is a 74-year-old of modest proportions. On the job, transformed into Big Bird, he stands 8 feet 2 inches tall and is 6 years old.

Being Big Bird is sweaty, physical work. But Spinney, who has worked on "Sesame Street" for nearly four decades playing both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has no wish to be anywhere else.

"I can't imagine willingly walking away from Big Bird and Oscar," he said.

Spinney's workday transformation begins with a pair of orange furry jeans encircled in hot-pink ridges. Next, manhole-size pink webbed feet made of foam - built around a pair of Hush Puppies loafers.

The crew straps a TV monitor to his chest. Wearing drugstore reading glasses, Spinney will watch the monitor while inside the top half of the costume to see how Big Bird appears on camera. Otherwise, he's blind inside the bird.

To play the role, "you have to not be claustrophobic," he said. "You have to be willing to walk, not seeing anything in front of you."

Spinney tops off his ensemble with the familiar 25-pound top half of Big Bird, a combination of costume and puppet. He works Big Bird's mouth with his hand and the eyes with a coat hanger attached to his pinky finger.

Spinney got his start on "Sesame Street" during its first season in 1969, after Muppets founder Jim Henson saw him perform at a puppeteer's convention.

Spinney is one of a handful of original cast members still on the show;

the only other original puppeteer still working full time is Jerry Nelson, who plays the Count.
"One of the things I really enjoy about Sesame Street is that years go by and I'm still the same age," Spinney said. "I'd love to be 70 again, 60 and 50 and 40.

[stevew2]

Friga loved Big Bird