When “The Muppet Movie” was first released in 1979 I saw it in the back of a station-wagon at a drive-in theater with my mother and siblings. Fast-forward forty-five years and today I saw it in a decently crowded air-conditioned theater with my daughter and husband. Not that I haven’t seen it numerous times in the past on DVD. But when my daughter learned Fathom was going to be showing it in theaters to celebrate the 45th anniversary, she said she had to see it on the big screen. And see it we did.
As many times as I’ve seen it, “The Muppet Movie” never gets old. It’s even good to know that all these years later there are a handful of guest stars in the movie who are still alive.
I never grow tired of hearing “Rainbow Connection”. Along with the “The Muppet Movie” itself, that song, to me is the epitome of Jim Henson. He had finally “made it”. His “Muppet Show” was a great success by this time and “The Muppet Movie” was a symbol of that proof. That you can take a kid (frog) out of the swamp in Mississippi and if you keep believing and keep pretending, you’ll accomplish just what you set out to do. As the lyrics go:
Life’s like a movie, write your own ending Keep believing, keep pretending We’ve done just what we set out to do. Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you.
The newly released Disney+ documentary, “Jim Henson: Idea Man”, directed by Ron Howard, is a well put together dive into the behind the scenes of Henson’s life. But for someone who grew up with The Muppets and especially for someone who lives with a self-professed Henson/Muppets/Fraggles connoisseur (my daughter), many of the clips they incorporated into the documentary have been seen before. Many times.
Some of the stuff was new, to me, anyway, such as the interview with Orson Welles, and it was nice to see interviews of Jim and his late wife Jane from years ago. It was essential for Howard to include interviews with as many people that Jim worked with as possible (and he did) because many of them (Frank Oz especially), were there from nearly day one. Working interviews in with Rita Moreno (the first guest star on “The Muppet Show”) and Jennifer Connelly from “Labyrinth” was a nice touch as was showing clips from “Sesame Street”.
But I feel the most important part of this documentary were the interviews with Henson’s children. Many Muppets fans are grateful for their continued contributions to what their father created and left behind. They could have all chosen other fields but instead decided to walk in their father’s footsteps to continue providing Henson entertainment for future generations to enjoy.
If you’re ever looking for an inexpensive trip down memory lane, visit the Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum in Cheshire, CT.
Here you will find nostalgic toys and cartoon items dating back to 1873. Even if the younger set gets sick of hearing you exclaim “ooh, I remember that when I was a kid!”, they will still get a kick out of seeing characters who are still familiar today.
Aside from all the great memorabilia, the price of admission can’t be beat:
Kids under 3 are free
3-18 – $3.00
Students with ID – $4.00
adults 19-64- $5.00
seniors 65 and up – $4.00
Start your visit in the Barker Animation Art Gallery (which is where you pay admission) and admire the many works of cartoon and character art for sale. Be sure to get your picture taken with one of the many life-sized character cut-outs found on the outside grounds of the museum. Then enjoy the interior of the museum itself and get ready for flashbacks of a lifetime. There will be many. Even the TV theme songs that are playing as you browse the many bits of your childhood will make you feel nostalgic.
My husband and I reminisced about school lunches when we saw the collection of lunchboxes hanging overhead. Just so you know, they are hanging alphabetically from the end of the alphabet to the beginning of the alphabet (those are upstairs). So I didn’t get to see my “Little House on the Prairie” lunchbox. And I failed to get a pic of the Donnie Osmond doll that I used to have when I was a kid. Oh well!
This collection is so extensive, there is an upstairs section as well. On our visit, we didn’t get a chance to get upstairs due to being so overwhelmed by the downstairs.
NOTE: the main museum and even the art gallery are very tight quarters. It is unknown if there are any handicapped ramps on the premises. I did not visibly see any, nor do I believe there is an elevator to the second level of the museum. If you wish to visit and have a question about accessibility, it may be best to call ahead.
This museum does have something for everyone, even the younger generation. It’s great especially if they appreciate older-style cartoons and characters, such as my teen-age daughter does. She was ecstatic to see Fraggles there, along with many other Jim Henson characters, as they are her favorites.
Enjoy the pics!
One of the many cartoon/character cut-outs you’ll encounter on the outside of the museum. Yay! Scooby-Doo!Who remembers this TV show? Such a young John Travolta! I had this very coloring book when I was a kid and I freaked out when I saw it!A huge M & M with Ernie from “Sesame Street” lurking in the backgroundA “Wizard of Oz” collectionGarfieldHere’s Ernie with some Wheaties boxes behind himMore “Wizard of Ox” stuffOf course they have Disney stuff there! Woody!A bigger than life HulkMuppet stuffMy daughter felt bad for Boober Fraggle being crammed into this case!Miss Piggy in the tub while a Cabbage Patch doll watches. Wembley Fraggle stuffed in the case. With a reflection of my husband’s face. LOL!Even the Beatles are hereMore “Sesame Street” and Muppet stuff
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