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Jim's birth and childhood
Jim Henson was born James Maury Henson on September 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi. At a young age, Henson was drawn to the arts. -
Sam and Friends
By his freshman year at the University of Maryland, in 1955, Henson had scored a bi-weekly bit on a local NBC affiliate, Sam and Friends. The program scored a local Emmy Award in 1958, the same year that Henson founded the Jim Henson Company. The Muppets, including an early version of Kermit the Frog, were borne from Sam and Friends. -
Introducing Rowlf!
The first Muppet to gain national exposure, Rowlf the Dog, went from making appearances in Purina commercials to playing a sidekick on The Jimmy Dean Show in 1963. Rowlf was brought to life with the assistance of puppet builder Don Sahlin and puppeteer Frank Oz. -
Can you tell me how to get to......
in 1969, Henson teamed up with Children’s Television Workshop to produce the now-classic children's show on PBS, Sesame Street. As the show's theme song goes, Henson swept "the clouds away" with various original characters, including Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Snuffulupagus and Elmo. Between his puppetry and animated shorts, Henson perfected his gift for engaging children and making learning fun on Sesame Street. -
It's time to play the music......
But Henson's even bigger claim to TV fame came in the 1970s, with the debut of The Muppet Show.In 1975, at Grade's ATV Studios, Henson and his crew created Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Animal, Gonzo, Scooter and the rest of The Muppet Show ensemble. The hit series, with Kermit as the host, premiered in 1976. -
The creature shop
Founded in 1985, The Creature Shop has earned a reputation for consistent, award winning performance and visual effects achievements. The company has attracted some of the world's finest talent in the areas of animatronics, puppetry and computer graphics for filmmaking, television, and live performances. -
The loss of Jim
Jim Henson, the puppeteer whose Kermit the Frog and other Muppet creatures became the playmates and teachers of millions of youngsters who grew up watching ''Sesame Street'' on television, died early May 17, 1990. He was only 53. -
Merged with the mouse
In 1991, after previous failed attempts to work out a deal with the Henson family, Disney bought the Jim Henson Company. -
Welcome Walter
The Muppets make a new movie and introduces the world to Walter!
