Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Sam and Friends

Sam and Friends was an American live-action and puppet television series created by puppeteer , serving as a five-minute lead-in to The Tonight Show and airing twice daily on WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C., from May 9, 1955, to December 15, 1961. The series featured a cast of innovative Muppet characters, including the titular humanoid host Sam, an early prototype of Kermit the Frog (initially a lizard-like figure made from an old coat), and others such as Harry the Hipster, with sketches often involving lip-syncing to popular songs, experimental visual effects, and satirical humor. Developed while Henson was a student at the University of Maryland and in collaboration with his future wife Jane Nebel, the show ran for over six years, allowing Henson to refine puppetry techniques, incorporate live-action elements, and experiment with television production on a tight schedule of weekday broadcasts. Sam and Friends marked Henson's professional debut in television and laid the groundwork for his later successes, introducing —who debuted in 1955 and would become an iconic character—to audiences and leading to exposure through guest spots on programs like The Ed Sullivan Show and commercials. Although most of the more than 400 episodes were performed live and only about 15 survive today, the series demonstrated Henson's creative versatility, blending comedy, music, and elements that influenced the of and .

Overview

Premise and Format

Sam and Friends was a pioneering five-minute live puppet show that aired on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., featuring satirical news reports, pantomimes, and comedy sketches performed by a cast of humanoid and abstract puppets. The program, created by Jim Henson and Jane Nebel, centered on whimsical and often absurd scenarios that blended humor with visual experimentation, marking Henson's early foray into television puppetry. The show's revolved around a mock news broadcast , with the Sam serving as the delivering reports, interspersed with musical lip-sync to popular songs and brief comedic skits. It aired weekdays, typically twice daily at around 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m., providing a lead-in to evening programming and a late-night diversion. Key characters like and an early version of Kermit appeared regularly in these segments, contributing to the show's irreverent tone. Stylistically, Sam and Friends innovated for the television medium through extensive use of shots to emphasize the puppets' expressive faces and intimate interactions, rapid cuts to heighten comedic pacing, and parodies of and . These techniques allowed the puppets to convey subtle and surreal humor effectively on small screens. Over its run from , 1955, to , 1961, the series produced more than 2,000 episodes, each lasting under five minutes, establishing a template for Henson's Muppet productions. Recent scholarship, including Craig Shemin's 2022 book and 2025 script collection, has documented over 400 audio recordings and numerous scripts, illuminating the show's content.

Historical Significance

premiered on , 1955, as a five-minute late-night program on WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C., marking Jim Henson's first at of 18 while he was a freshman at the University of Maryland. The show aired more than 2,000 episodes until its conclusion on , 1961, establishing Henson as a prodigious talent in live television puppetry during an era when the medium was still emerging. This local production served as Henson's training ground, where he, alongside puppeteer Jane Nebel (whom he later married), developed techniques that would define his career, including the use of closed-circuit monitors to allow puppeteers to see their own performances in real time. The series pioneered several innovations in television puppetry, introducing abstract, non-zoomorphic puppet designs that departed from traditional child-focused characters, instead featuring humanoid figures with exaggerated features for comedic effect. It incorporated adult-oriented humor through satirical sketches that parodied news broadcasts, advertisements, and everyday absurdities, often with a subversive edge that appealed to a mature audience rather than young children. A hallmark was the synchronization of puppets to prerecorded pop music and dialogue tracks via lip-syncing, creating seamless musical numbers that influenced the rhythmic, performative style of later Muppet productions like The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. These elements—combining live action with puppetry, humor with music—prefigured Henson's approach to blending entertainment with subtle social commentary, such as gentle critiques of conformity and media sensationalism, laying groundwork for the educational yet entertaining format of Sesame Street. As a local sensation in the Washington area, Sam and Friends garnered critical acclaim, winning a local Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1958 for outstanding local entertainment programming, recognizing Henson's early genius in elevating puppetry to a sophisticated television art form. Its popularity extended nationally, leading to guest appearances on major network shows, including regular segments on NBC's Today beginning in 1961, as well as spots on The Steve Allen Show, The Jack Paar Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show, which showcased characters like Kermit the Frog to a broader audience. These milestones highlighted the show's role in bridging local experimentation with national recognition, cementing Henson's reputation as an innovator whose work transformed puppetry from vaudeville relic to vital component of modern television.

History and Development

Origins and Creation

Jim Henson's interest in puppetry began during his high school years in , where he crafted his first and used it to audition for a program on WTOP-TV in 1954. This early exposure to performance sparked his career, leading him to enroll at the University of Maryland in 1954, where he studied design and took a course that further honed his skills. Henson was particularly influenced by the improvisational style of Burr Tillstrom's Kukla, Fran and Ollie, a pioneering show that emphasized live interaction and character-driven comedy, which shaped his approach to blending puppets with the dynamic medium of . In 1954, while still a freshman, Henson pitched a puppet segment to WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C., securing a spot for a short daily program that evolved into Sam and Friends. The show debuted on May 9, 1955, airing live twice daily for five minutes as a lead-in to evening news and late-night programming. Initial puppets, including the titular Sam—a humanoid figure with exaggerated features—were constructed from everyday household materials such as ping-pong balls for eyes and scrap fabrics, reflecting Henson's resourceful beginnings. The early production faced significant challenges due to its shoestring and demanding live , which required rapid and on-the-fly adjustments without the of pre-recorded segments. Henson initially handled all puppeteering , performing multiple characters simultaneously from beneath a simple stage setup while commuting from his family home. A came later that year with the of , originally designed as a temporary lizard-like puppet made from green felt from Henson's mother's discarded coat and additional household scraps, marking the first appearance of the character that would become iconic. Henson's collaboration with Jane Nebel, whom he met in his university puppetry class in fall 1954, began intensifying around spring 1955 when she joined him on Sam and Friends for performances and character development; the two married on May 28, 1959, solidifying their creative partnership.

Production Evolution

Sam and Friends was produced live in a compact studio at WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C., where Jim Henson and his collaborators performed the five-minute episodes twice daily from 1955 to 1961. The setup emphasized simplicity, with puppeteers operating from below the camera frame to create the illusion of floating puppets interacting directly with the viewer, a technique that eliminated traditional stage barriers and allowed for more fluid, dynamic movements. This approach, developed by Henson and Jane Nebel, focused the audience's attention on the characters against minimal backgrounds, prioritizing puppet expressiveness over elaborate scenery. Henson constructed the show's puppets by hand using lightweight foam rubber and fabric, materials that enabled greater flexibility and lifelike expressions compared to the rigid wood or used in conventional of the era. Over the run, he innovated with mechanisms like rods attached to puppet limbs, facilitating complex gestures and multi-character interactions without requiring full marionette strings. These advancements allowed for the of characters like from simple prototypes to more nuanced performers, laying groundwork for future Muppet designs. The production team grew steadily, with Jane Nebel joining as a co-puppeteer and puppet builder shortly after the show's debut, contributing to both performance and design aspects. Nebel and Henson married in , solidifying their . This expansion supported the show's creative refinement while maintaining its intimate scale. Challenges inherent to the live format included handling unexpected mishaps, such as puppet malfunctions or timing errors, which were often resolved through on-the-spot to keep the energy high. Scriptwriting was typically loose and adaptive, with many segments relying on lip-synching to popular songs or spontaneous dialogue rather than rigid narratives, a necessity driven by budget limitations that confined sets to basic props and avoided costly special effects. These constraints fostered Henson's resourceful style, emphasizing humor and innovation within tight resources.

Content Elements

Episode Structure and Style

Episodes of Sam and Friends adhered to a standardized format designed to maximize impact within the show's constrained 5-minute runtime on WRC-TV, allowing for live broadcasts twice nightly from 1955 to 1961. Typically, each installment opened with the humanoid puppet Sam positioned at a news desk, delivering a deadpan report on absurd or fantastical events, satirizing the era's formal news delivery styles like those of The Huntley-Brinkley Report. This introductory segment, often lasting under a minute, set a tone of whimsical irreverence before transitioning into two to three brief skits or pantomimes involving the show's abstract puppet cast, emphasizing visual comedy and surreal interactions. The episode then closed with a musical number, featuring lip-synced performances by the puppets to contemporary hit songs or novelty records, such as renditions of "Lonesome Road" or tracks by artists like Louis Prima and Stan Freberg. Thematically, Sam and Friends drew heavily on satire of 1950s news broadcasts, television culture, and everyday absurdities, blending child-friendly whimsy with adult-oriented surreal humor through exaggerated visual gags and nonsensical scenarios. Early episodes prioritized straightforward comedic bits, such as puppets engaging in chaotic chases or impossible feats, often accompanied by abstract animations that highlighted Henson's experimental visual style. By around 1960, the content shifted toward more narrative-driven segments, fostering character interactions and recurring motifs that built familiarity, while preserving the core elements of satire and eccentricity. This evolution reflected Henson's growing confidence in puppetry as a medium for concise storytelling, appealing to a broad audience in the pre-Tonight Show slot. Stylistically, the show's rapid pacing—necessitated by the short duration—relied on quick cuts, minimal sets, and dynamic to maintain viewer engagement, with puppets operating in a flexible, non-theatrical visible only to the camera. Lip-syncing to formed a , energetic without , as puppets like mimed vocals to recordings for comedic effect. Recurring elements, such as "Sam's Report" on outlandish headlines, exemplified this approach, combining visual absurdity with timely cultural nods. Puppets including and Mushmellon frequently starred in these bits, integrating seamlessly into the format's humorous .

Characters and Puppets

Sam and Friends featured a repertory of puppets created by and his collaborators, characterized by abstract, non-anthropomorphic designs that emphasized expressive faces and minimalistic forms to suit the show's experimental style. These puppets were primarily hand-operated, using materials like fabric, rubber, , and ping-pong ball halves for eyes to achieve a lively, cost-effective suitable for . The characters' personalities ranged from the composed to the chaotic, allowing for humorous contrasts in skits, with designs evolving over the series' run from simple cloth constructions to more refined felt versions. The titular character, Sam, served as the humanoid everyman anchor with a plain-faced, wide-eyed expression and unchanging surprised demeanor, often dressed in a V-neck to embody a straight-man that contrasted the of other puppets. Constructed from with rubber and fabric , including eyebrows and a movable mouth, Sam was created in October 1954 as the show's nominal star, providing a stable narrative frame for the surrounding mayhem. His design prioritized simplicity and expressiveness, reflecting Henson's early approach to puppetry that favored emotional readability over realism. Kermit, originating as a lizard-like figure in 1955, was one of the most prominent puppets, evolving into by the 1960s through refinements in and color. Initially made fabric Henson's mother's discarded , stuffed lightly without internal , and featuring halved ping-pong balls , rounded feet, and , Kermit allowed , expressive movements as Henson's . Later iterations shifted to vibrant and visual appeal, while retaining the core design's whimsy; he starred in the final episode alongside other key characters. Among recurring puppets, was a morbid, talking designed in purple , serving as a precursor to later voracious monsters like through its humorous, . Created in June 1954, Yorick's abstract form emphasized dark comedy, often interacting with in skits that highlighted the show's blend of whimsy and the . Pierre the French Rat, Henson's oldest surviving puppet first sketched in a 1954 high school comic strip and built soon after, portrayed a café owner with a exaggerated accent, using fabric and simple features to evoke a stereotypical, lively rodent character. His design focused on cultural parody, contributing to the ensemble's diversity in personalities and accents. Harry the Hipster, introduced in September 1954, was a cool cat parody similarly constructed to early Kermit with flexible fabric and expressive elements, embodying a laid-back, jazz-influenced vibe as one of the show's most visible supporting figures. His role amplified the chaotic energy, often providing hipster commentary that clashed with Sam's composure. Chicken Liver (also known as Theodore), created by and in , was a timid with a big head, long , and uptight traits, designed from fabric to appear hesitant and flustered in interactions. This puppet added a layer of nervous humor to the cast, serving as a foil to bolder characters like Kermit. Other notable recurring puppets included Mushmellon, a yellow, furry monster with a wide, grouchy face resembling later Sesame Street figures like Oscar the Grouch, created in June 1955 for monstrous antics; and Icky Gunk, an abstract snake that underscored the show's non-realistic aesthetic. These designs collectively showcased Henson's innovative use of everyday materials to craft a vibrant, personality-driven puppet world.

Music and Songs

Music in Sam and Friends was integral to the show's comedic and expressive style, primarily through pantomimed lip-sync performances where puppets mouthed words and moved in sync to pre-recorded tracks, enabling character development and humor without live voice acting. These segments often featured contemporary popular music, including 1950s rock 'n' roll and novelty tunes, selected for their rhythmic energy and visual synchronization potential that complemented the puppets' exaggerated motions. For instance, early sketches included lip-syncs to hits like "Singing in the Rain" and "I've Got You Under My Skin," highlighting how music drove the puppets' silent storytelling and physical comedy. The selection process emphasized tracks with strong beats and clear lyrics for easy visual matching, as Henson and his team transcribed songs onto acetate records for live broadcasts. Music segments were a frequent role in the five-minute format. Beyond covers of existing hits, the show incorporated original compositions by , marking early forays into puppet musical theater. These original pieces were rarer than lip-syncs but demonstrated Henson's growing in composing for , laying groundwork for more elaborate musical numbers in his later works. Over the course of the series, music usage evolved from simple solo pantomimes in the mid-1950s—often featuring a single puppet like Sam lip-syncing to tunes such as "Old Black Magic"—to more complex group numbers by the late 1950s. This shift incorporated multiple characters interacting during performances, such as Kermit and Sam dueting on "Banana Boat (Day-O)" in 1959, enhancing ensemble dynamics and foreshadowing the collaborative musical style of . The progression reflected Henson's technical advancements in multi-puppet operation and his for music as a vehicle for synchronized group expression.

Cast and Crew

Principal Puppeteers

served as the primary and principal for Sam and Friends, performing lead characters including the titular Sam and an early incarnation of . He frequently managed multiple puppets at once during the show's live broadcasts, innovating techniques such as holding puppets above the puppeteers' heads to enable more fluid movements and interactions visible on camera. Jane Nebel, whom Henson met in a puppetry class, joined as a co-performer in 1955 and quickly became integral to the production. She specialized in voicing and operating female characters as well as secondary roles, while also co-developing skits and contributing to puppet construction; the two married in 1959. During Henson's 1958 trip to to study traditional , Nebel and Payne took over running the show. As the production expanded, other performers assisted to fill gaps. Bob Payne joined in 1958 as a substitute puppeteer, helping maintain the show's schedule during Henson's absences, and was part of the team that received a local Emmy Award in 1959. came on board in the final season of 1961, performing as a while also providing early writing support, marking the beginning of his long collaboration with Henson. Henson's approach to was largely self-taught, from but emphasizing exaggerated expressions and , comedic timing tailored for television's format. With the addition of performers like Nebel and Juhl, responsibilities became more divided, allowing for specialized handling of ensembles and smoother live execution as the matured.

Supporting Staff

The writing for Sam and Friends was largely managed by , who scripted the of episodes, incorporating topical drawn from and , with substantial creative input from Nebel on and . The production operated without a dedicated writing for much of its run, relying on Henson's improvisational style until the later years, when joined in 1961 to contribute scripts and assist with performance elements. The technical crew at WRC-TV, the NBC-owned affiliate in Washington, D.C., provided essential support, with cameramen and directors adapting standard television techniques to accommodate puppetry, such as precise close-up framing to highlight subtle facial expressions and movements. Sound engineers ensured seamless synchronization of recorded music and novelty tracks for the show's frequent lip-sync routines, which formed a core part of its comedic structure. The production received no significant external funding, sustaining itself through local advertising spots integrated into broadcasts. Early episodes benefited from occasional assistance by University of Maryland students, including Henson and Nebel themselves as undergraduates, who handled auxiliary tasks amid the demanding schedule. By 1961, as the show approached its conclusion, the behind-the-scenes had grown more organized, incorporating specialized roles to manage the increased of sketches and operations.

Broadcast and Preservation

Airing Schedule

Sam and Friends premiered on May 9, 1955, as a five-minute live puppet program on WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C. The show aired on weekdays, typically twice daily, positioning itself as a brief entertainment segment before key evening broadcasts. Its early evening slot preceded the 6:30 p.m. Huntley-Brinkley Report national news, while the late-night airing led into the 11:30 p.m. Tonight Show. This scheduling allowed it to capture a local audience during prime transitional viewing times, with episodes performed live five days a week. Over its run, the maintained a consistent weekday format but experienced occasional preemptions for or , reflecting the demands of programming in the . In later seasons, particularly during summers, reruns of select episodes were broadcast to fill the , providing for viewers amid Henson's expanding commitments. The series spanned approximately six and a half years, concluding with its final episode on December 15, 1961, after more than 2,000 broadcasts across and, starting in 1958, Baltimore's WBAL-TV. The show drew a dedicated local viewership in the D.C. metropolitan area, appealing to families during the early slot and adults in the late-night airing through its satirical sketches, music, and commercials. It never achieved full syndication but gained wider as Muppet segments and clips appeared on variety shows and talk programs, Henson's broader . The end of Sam and Friends aligned with Henson's shift toward opportunities, including freelance commercials and spots that led to his on The Jimmy Dean Show in 1963, compounded by evolving station sponsorship dynamics.

Surviving Episodes and Archives

Of the approximately 2,200 five-minute episodes produced for Sam and Friends over its six and a half-year run, only about 15 full video kinescopes survive, with the majority dating from 1960 to 1961. These losses stem primarily from the era's live television practices, where episodes were not routinely preserved on film due to high costs, and magnetic tapes were often erased and reused for new broadcasts. In addition, the Jim Henson Company Archives hold audio recordings of more than 400 episodes, along with scripts and production documents that allow for partial reconstructions of others. The primary repository for surviving Sam and Friends materials is the Jim Henson Company Archives in Los Angeles, which safeguards kinescopes, audio tapes, photographs, and ephemera. Select puppets and props, including the original Sam puppet, are preserved at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The University of Maryland Libraries' Special Collections also house related Jim Henson materials, such as recordings and documents from the show's early development. Preservation efforts have included digitization of audio assets, enabling researchers and fans to access reconstructed episodes through official channels and public domain releases. In August 2025, The Sam and Friends Script Book by Craig Shemin was published, reprinting 61 archival scripts with historical notes to further document the series. Key extant examples include early segments like the 1955 "Huntley and Brinkley" parody and the 1961 "Visual Thinking," which demonstrate Henson's evolving puppetry techniques. The show's 1955 pilot episode survives in partial form, while a reconstruction of the December 15, 1961, finale, titled "I Come for to Sing," has been compiled from audio and similar footage. However, significant archival gaps persist, with no complete seasons from 1956 to 1958 available, limiting insights into the program's mid-run evolution. In the , restoration projects have enhanced access to survivors, with remastered versions shared on platforms like the and dedicated YouTube channels. The 2022 publication Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show by Craig Shemin catalogs these assets, drawing on to detail over 400 documented episodes via audio and scripts. Certain early clips have entered the due to lapsed copyrights under pre-1964 U.S. laws, facilitating broader availability without restriction.

Legacy

Influence on Jim Henson's Career

Sam and Friends served as the pivotal launchpad for Jim Henson's career, establishing his reputation as an innovative puppeteer in the mid-1950s. The show's success on WRC-TV, NBC's Washington, D.C. affiliate, quickly attracted national attention, leading to guest appearances on prominent programs such as The Steve Allen Show, The Jack Paar Show, and NBC's Today. These early exposures in the late 1950s and early 1960s showcased Henson's unique puppetry, culminating in a regular segment on The Jimmy Dean Show from 1963 to 1966, where characters like Rowlf the Dog gained widespread popularity and solidified Henson's transition from local talent to national entertainer. Through Sam and Friends, Henson refined of what would become the Muppet , emphasizing expressive, malleable faces constructed from soft, flexible fabric that allowed for movements captured effectively by television close-ups. The program frequently integrated by having puppets lip-sync to and , a technique that enhanced character expressiveness and rhythmic performance, directly influencing the musical numbers and puppet in later productions like Sesame Street (1969) and (1976). This experimental approach to , blending whimsy with , allowed Henson to evolve beyond traditional rigid constructions toward more fluid, personality-driven characters. On a personal level, the show facilitated key milestones in Henson's life, including his collaboration with Jane Nebel, whom he recruited as a puppeteer and who became his in 1959 after meeting through the . Their not only strengthened the show's creative output but also led to the formal of Muppets, Inc. on November 20, 1958, providing a business foundation for Henson's growing endeavors in puppetry and entertainment. In the long term, Sam and Friends functioned as a prototype for Henson's application of in educational contexts, laying the groundwork for the characters and methods that would educate and entertain generations on . Henson himself frequently credited the program as the foundational experience of his career in interviews and journals, viewing it as the essential testing ground where he honed his vision for blending with television to create impactful, character-driven storytelling.

Cultural Impact and References

Sam and Friends has left a lasting on and through its innovative blend of live , , and , influencing subsequent works in adult-oriented puppet entertainment that pushed boundaries with mature themes using puppets. The series has been prominently featured in documentaries and retrospectives that celebrate 's early innovations. Ron Howard's Disney+ film Jim Henson Idea Man opens with from Sam and Friends, illustrating its foundational in developing ' signature and Henson's with Nebel. Clips from the show also appear in Muppet , such as those produced by the , underscoring its significance in the of American television puppetry. In popular culture, Sam and Friends is frequently referenced through Kermit the Frog's origins, with the character's debut as a makeshift lizard-like puppet made from a discarded and ping-pong balls highlighted in films like The Muppet Movie (1979) and subsequent Muppet productions. Digitized episodes, now available on platforms like YouTube, have sparked renewed , including clips that inspire memes and discussions about Henson's experimental humor from the 1950s. This digital accessibility has contributed to global recognition, allowing international audiences to the show's quirky sketches via streaming services. Recent archival efforts have further amplified its cultural footprint. In 2025, marking the 70th anniversary of the show's debut, the Museum of the Moving Image hosted an event featuring the 70 greatest moments in Henson history, including elements from Sam and Friends. Additionally, the traveling exhibition The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited was showcased at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in 2022–2023, displaying original Sam and Friends puppets, scripts, and footage. In 2024, the book Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show by Craig Shemin was published, providing transcripts and analysis of surviving episodes to enhance public and scholarly appreciation. These efforts emphasize the show's role in bridging local television experimentation with worldwide puppetry innovation.

References

  1. [1]
    5/9/1955 – 'Sam & Friends on the Air.' | Jim Henson's Red Book
    May 9, 2012 · When Jim's five-minute show went on the air in 1955, he was ... Despite the grueling broadcast schedule for Sam and Friends (a live ...
  2. [2]
    12/15/1961 – 'Sam and Friends Last Show' | Jim Henson's Red Book
    Dec 13, 2013 · The last show of Sam and Friends aired on 12/15/1961, featuring Kermit and Harry. The show ran for six and a half years, and Kermit was a ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  3. [3]
    1/13/1966 – 'Tonight Show – “Money” and “Sclrap Flyapp”.'
    Jan 13, 2011 · At the start of his career in the 1950s, his five-minute Sam and Friends show usually aired twice a day at 6:25 pm as a lead in to the Huntley/ ...
  4. [4]
    Kermit the Frog Comes Home to Washington – Jim Henson
    Aug 25, 2010 · The show featured a host of unique characters, including the original Kermit the Frog, who was more of a lizard-like creature, constructed with ...
  5. [5]
    Our Founders - The Jim Henson Company
    ... premiere in 1969. ... Their first national television guest appearance was on Steve Allen's Tonight Show, the same show that Sam and Friends had preceded.
  6. [6]
    Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show ...
    Two decades before The Muppet Show and nearly fifteen years before Sesame Street, Jim Henson created a long-running daily local program called Sam and Friends.Podcasts and Interviews · Q's and A's · Signed Bookplate Offer · Reviews
  7. [7]
    5/6/1959 – 'Local Academy TV Arts & Sciences Wash. DC
    May 6, 2012 · Jim's local Washington five-minute show Sam and Friends had gone on the air in Spring of 1955 and was immediately popular. Airing daily, often ...
  8. [8]
    9/17/1985 – 'Toronto – 30th Anniversary of the Muppets.'
    Sep 17, 2012 · In the spring of 1985, Kermit the Frog turned 30 years old. ... Kermit with Harry the Hipster, Yorick and Sam from Sam and Friends celebrating 30 ...
  9. [9]
    https://movingimage.org/event/sam-and-friends/
  10. [10]
    Touring Jim Henson's Restless Creative Spirit, at ... - The New Yorker
    Jul 25, 2017 · Many of the “Sam and Friends” skits involved lip-synching to popular songs. ... Instead, you see rapid cuts of surreal images, among them ...
  11. [11]
    This Time, the Muppets Take Queens - The New York Times
    Jul 19, 2017 · In 1950 he convinced his parents to buy a TV set, and before he was out of his teens Henson had created “Sam and Friends ... close-up shots of a ...
  12. [12]
    Sam (Sam and Friends) | Muppet Wiki - Fandom
    Most of the other characters had flexible features that were more conducive to the close-up medium of television. In addition to Sam and Friends, Sam has ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  13. [13]
    Facts & Things - The Jim Henson Legacy
    ... Sam and Friends. For more information, see NMAH. The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY holds a large collection of Henson licensed products donated by ...
  14. [14]
    Reframing entertainment - USPTO
    Apr 1, 2021 · For “Sam and Friends,” Jim and Jane invented a new puppet performance technique: instead of placing the puppets on a stage in front of the ...Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
  15. [15]
    Meet the Muppets | National Museum of American History
    Nov 8, 2019 · The original Kermit the Frog puppet was created by Jim Henson in 1955 for "Sam and Friends." Kermit appeared again in a brief promotional film ...Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
  16. [16]
    https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/meet-muppets
  17. [17]
    Jim Henson & The Muppets - Puppetry Resources - Research Guides
    Dec 19, 2024 · Entitled Sam and Friends, this program earned Henson his first Emmy in 1958 – two years before his graduation from the University of Maryland.Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
  18. [18]
    Awards - The Jim Henson Legacy
    1957. Fairfax Jubilaires, Fairfax, VA, Award to Sam and Friends for their contribution to the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop ...
  19. [19]
    Jim Henson's Red Book | Page 25
    The bit they planned, “Glow Worm”, was a staple for Jim, originally conceived in the Sam and Friends era. Kermit is harassed by a series of small worms that he ...
  20. [20]
    Television Pioneer and Puppeteer Jim Henson to Be Honored With ...
    Mar 2, 2020 · ... Sam and Friends,” which aired on the NBC-owned WRC-TV Washington ... Jim Henson was an innovative puppeteer, animator, inventor ...
  21. [21]
    12/6/1985 – 'Burr Tillstrom dies.' | Jim Henson's Red Book
    Dec 6, 2010 · The television work of master puppeteer Burr Tillstrom, particularly his show Kukla, Fran and Ollie, was of great interest to Jim and certainly served as an ...Missing: influenced | Show results with:influenced
  22. [22]
    Original Kermit Puppet | National Museum of American History
    This Kermit the Frog puppet was created by Jim Henson in 1955 for Sam and Friends. ... Kermit started as a lizard-like character and evolved into a frog over time ...
  23. [23]
    5/28/1959 – Jane and I are married. | Jim Henson's Red Book
    May 27, 2014 · On May 28, 1959, they were married at Jane's parents' house in Salisbury, MD. While Jane had lived at boarding school and with college roommates.
  24. [24]
    How Jim Henson Worked | HowStuffWorks - Entertainment
    When he started "Sam and Friends," puppets were typically made out of very stiff material and were either straight hand puppets or marionettes. When he built ...
  25. [25]
    [PDF] Bucks County Community College
    The following year, as a college freshman, he was given his own daily show, Sam and Friends, on an. NBC station. ... Rod: Puppet is held up and controlled by a ...
  26. [26]
    In Memoriam - The Jim Henson Legacy
    Their first national television guest appearance was on Steve Allen's Tonight Show, the same show that Sam and Friends had preceded. Jane Nebel graduated in ...
  27. [27]
    Jim Henson Chapter Summary | Brian Jay Jones - Bookey
    Nov 26, 2023 · Finalizing Sam and Friends The end of Sam and Friends came with an ... budget constraints. Personal Trials While navigating ...
  28. [28]
    An old coat and a ping pong ball = Kermit?
    Aug 26, 2010 · The original Kermit from Sam and Friends was painstakingly made from a green coat discarded by Jim Henson's mother and his eyes were each one half of a ping ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  29. [29]
    Before Sesame Street and Electric Mayhem, a Crude Kermit Lip ...
    Nov 9, 2011 · Despite getting top billing, the star of “Sam and Friends” was not jug-eared Sam, whose round nose and bald head suggested Popeye. No, the ...
  30. [30]
    Sam Puppet from Sam and Friends | Smithsonian Institution
    **Summary of Sam Puppet from Sam and Friends:**
  31. [31]
    Yorick Puppet from Sam and Friends
    This is the original Yorick puppet created by Jim Henson in June 1954. Sam and Friends was a five-minute show that aired on the local NBC affiliate station in ...
  32. [32]
    Harry the Hipster Puppet from Sam and Friends | Smithsonian Institution
    **Summary of Harry the Hipster Puppet from Sam and Friends:**
  33. [33]
    Chicken Liver Puppet from Sam and Friends
    Chicken Liver (also known as Theodore) is a puppet with a big head and a long nose from Sam and Friends. This is the original Chicken Liver puppet created by ...
  34. [34]
    Chicken Liver Puppet from Sam and Friends | Smithsonian Institution
    **Summary of Chicken Liver Puppet from Sam and Friends:**
  35. [35]
    Mushmellon Puppet from Sam and Friends | Smithsonian Institution
    **Summary of Mushmellon Puppet from Sam and Friends:**
  36. [36]
    Sam and Friends - Singing In The Rain (HQ) - YouTube
    Oct 28, 2017 · Early Jim Henson Muppets skit with improved audio.
  37. [37]
    I've Got You Under My Skin (Now Synched with Better Audio)
    Dec 28, 2011 · Here is a clip from the old local tv show Sam and Friends starring the first ever Muppets created by Jim Henson...This one show Kermi and ...
  38. [38]
    Sam and Friends - The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show
    This book is about the story behind Sam and Friends, a local Washington, D.C. television program created by Jim Henson and Jane Nebel, and includes an episode ...
  39. [39]
    None
    Nothing is retrieved...<|control11|><|separator|>
  40. [40]
    Mourning the Loss of Jane Henson: Artist, Creative Genius and ...
    Born Jane Ann Nebel ... In the late 1950s, while Jim traveled extensively researching European puppeteers, Jane remained in the US to run Sam and Friends.
  41. [41]
    2/-/1955 – 'Began working together. [Jane]' | Jim Henson's Red Book
    Feb 2, 2011 · With their success there, Jim was given his own daily five-minute show, Sam and Friends, which went on the air May 9, 1955. Though a short ...
  42. [42]
    Award-Winning Writer-Producer Jerry Juhl Dies - Television Academy
    Oct 10, 2005 · A puppeteer on Henson's first television show, Sam and Friends, Juhl later went to work as a writer on Sesame Street when the series ...
  43. [43]
    Jerry Juhl, 67; His Scriptwriting Breathed Life Into the Muppets
    Oct 6, 2005 · ... Juhl joined the Hensons as a puppeteer and writer on their local TV show in Washington, D.C., “Sam and Friends.” Advertisement. As the ...
  44. [44]
    Henson Day | University of Maryland Innovation Gateway
    Together, they developed and performed a daily five-minute show with puppets on local Washington, D.C. airwaves, WRC-TV, called Sam and Friends. ... five-minute ...
  45. [45]
    6/–/1958 – 'Jim trip to Europe.' | Jim Henson's Red Book
    Jun 23, 2012 · Jim had already enlisted the help of a high school friend, Bob Payne, to work on Sam and Friends, and Bob and Jane took responsibility for the ...Missing: biography early
  46. [46]
    Jim Henson's Red Book | Page 126
    May 12, 2012 · Despite the grueling broadcast schedule for Sam and Friends (a live show, five days per week, often twice a day before the 6:30 Huntley ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  47. [47]
    Sam and Friends | Muppet Wiki | Fandom
    Sam and Friends was Jim Henson's first television series, a five-minute show that aired twice daily on WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, ...Episodes · Existing · Documented · Gallery
  48. [48]
    General 2 — Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First ...
    Those tapes, plus the scripts, kinescopes, and original acetate records of the songs the Muppets lip-synced to were used to construct a partial episode guide.Missing: music | Show results with:music<|control11|><|separator|>
  49. [49]
    Sam and Friends (partially found early Jim Henson puppet TV series
    The show aired twice daily on WRC-TV and the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C. from May 9, 1955, to December 15, 1961. While most episodes were performed live, ...
  50. [50]
    Henson, Jim | Archival Collections - University of Maryland
    Abstract Jim Henson (1936-1990) was an American artist, puppeteer, innovator, and filmmaker. He is known for his work as a designer, director, and performer ...Missing: Sam Friends Smithsonian
  51. [51]
    Sam And Friends Huntley And Brinkley : Jim Henson - Internet Archive
    Mar 16, 2024 · Sam And Friends Huntley And Brinkley. by: Jim Henson. Publication date: 1955.Missing: digitized | Show results with:digitized
  52. [52]
    Sam And Friends (Jim Henson Muppets) Last Episode ...
    Sep 27, 2023 · ... aired twice daily on WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C. from May 9, 1955 to December 15, 1961. This is a reconstruction of the ...
  53. [53]
    Sam & Friends (Kermit) : r/publicdomain - Reddit
    Jan 29, 2024 · So I think sam and friends is public domain cause it lacked a copyright renewal and due to the pre-1964 law it fell into the public domain. Also ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  54. [54]
    Jim Henson: Biography, TV Puppeteer, Muppet Creator
    May 31, 2024 · By his freshman year at the University of Maryland, in 1955, Henson had scored a five-minute reoccurring bit, Sam and Friends, on a local NBC ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  55. [55]
    How Muppets creator Jim Henson changed puppetry without ... - NPR
    Jun 3, 2024 · Until "Sam and Friends ... The fabric made his face very soft and maluable which Ron Howard said was perfect of the close-up lens of television.
  56. [56]
    Interviews: Jim Henson - Muppet Central Articles
    Was the term "Muppets" coined specifically for Sam and Friends? HENSON: Yeah, I think we did the term Muppets before we got the show Sam and Friends - a few ...Missing: foundation | Show results with:foundation
  57. [57]
    When puppets go bad | Theatre - The Guardian
    Jun 13, 2006 · These are the stars of puppet show Avenue Q, a satire inspired by children's TV that has enjoyed a phenomenal rise from the New York fringe to ...
  58. [58]
    'Happytime Murders' in the Shadow of 'Team America'
    Aug 26, 2018 · The intent to blend human and puppet characters isn't nearly as prevalent in titles like Avenue Q or Team America; the constant presence of ...
  59. [59]
    'Jim Henson: Idea Man' review: Ron Howard's portrait of a mastermind
    May 30, 2024 · Ron Howard has directed a documentary on the man, the artist, the innovator: “Jim Henson Idea Man,” which premieres Friday on Disney+.
  60. [60]
    The Best Jim Henson Documentary Is Already Out on YouTube
    May 31, 2024 · Idea Man and the Defunctland series follow the same narrative beats. Both start with Sam and Friends, a puppetry segment for Washington's WRC-TV ...
  61. [61]
    What Made Jim Henson, the Visionary Behind the Muppets, One of ...
    May 31, 2024 · One of the objects on display when the exhibition opened was the original Kermit puppet created by Henson in 1955 for “Sam and Friends,” as well ...Missing: production | Show results with:production
  62. [62]
    Witness the Birth of Kermit the Frog in Jim Henson's Live TV Show ...
    Feb 19, 2021 · Kermit debuted in black and white in the spring of 1955 as an ensemble member of Sam and Friends, a live television show comprised of five-minute episodes.<|control11|><|separator|>
  63. [63]
    A refreshing pre-'Muppets' primer on Jim Henson's cultural legacy
    Sep 15, 2015 · The first Muppets television show was “Sam and Friends,” a five-minute show for a Washington NBC affiliate that has echoes in Web-based ...
  64. [64]
    Jim Henson Birthday Event: The 70 Greatest Moments in Henson ...
    Sep 21, 2025 · Jim Henson Birthday Event: The 70 Greatest Moments in Henson History · Sunday, Sep 21, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. · Location: Redstone Theater · Share.
  65. [65]
    The Grand Rapids Art Museum Celebrates the Creative Vision of ...
    Highlights include a Kermit the Frog puppet from 1978; handwritten scripts from Henson's first television series, Sam and Friends (1955 – 1961); a clip from his ...