I was part of the generation that was not taught by the
children’s series SESAME STREET. The generation that came up after me were
exposed to the show on a daily basis, learning their ABCs long before school as
well as being taught numbers by The Count. The show has not only had an
educational effect on the children who have watched since its inception but on
the world as well. But what about the men behind the masks? We all know about
Jim Henson. But what about the man behind the biggest character to come from
that well know street, the man behind Big Bird? The answers are supplied in
this well-made documentary.
Carroll Spinney was fascinated with puppets so much so that
he planned a career working with them. A chance encounter with Henson resulted
in his learning of a new program that Henson was working on, a children’s show
that would be on PBS featuring a ton of new Muppet characters. That was all it
took to gain Spinney’s interest and when the time came to put the show together
he was there to help. When Frank Oz turned down the role of one of the larger
(in size) characters Spinney took on the task. Thus was born Big Bird.
But Big Bird wasn’t the only character Spinney played. He
was also the person responsible for Oscar the Grouch. Both characters started
out as mere costumes with certain ideas attached to them. It was Spinney who
brought them to life, who gave them certain characteristics, who made them
whole rather than just puppets who spoke words written for them. Between the
subtle nuances each displayed, the child like quality of Big Bird and the gruff
voice of Oscar, Spinney was an actor at heart who never received the acclaim he
deserved.
The film follows his history from those early years until
his training of someone to take his place when his final day on the show comes
about. It tells us of his life behind the scenes with his family, his successes
and failures in that personal life. Through it all the joyful, playfulness of
the man is on hand to be witnessed and enjoyed. To think that you could have
the chance to do what you love for a living as well as make people happy is
something we all can be a bit envious of. To actually do it is something else.
The film also tells us stories behind the scenes that many
of us were probably unaware of. Perhaps the most famous *SPOILER ALERT* was
that Big Bird was originally intended to fly aboard the space shuttle. Spinney
trained and got ready to make the trip but at the last minute he was replaced.
NASA decided it would be better to go with an everyday teacher and chose
Christa McAuliffe to replace him. This was the same space shuttle that shortly
after takeoff exploded killing all inside. The shock of knowing that he could
have been on that shuttle had lasting effects on Spinney.
But the movie is not down in mood from start to finish. It
is a joyful story of a man who achieved his dream, a man who was able to
inspire children over several decades and who brought joy into the world. That
man was Carroll Spinney. It’s a name that children, once old enough, should be
made aware of. This movie gives them that chance.
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