Carroll Spinney
Puppeteer
About This Interview
In his three hour Archive interview, Carroll Spinney discusses his early interest in drawing and puppetry. He describes his first work in television puppetry, with his "Rascal Rabbit" puppet, outlines his time on Boston's Bozo's Circus, and recalls the first time he met Jim Henson. Spinney then details joining the cast of Sesame Street and explains the intricacies of performing “Big Bird” and “Oscar the Grouch.” He describes the two characters, what he's added to their personalities over the years, and why he loves getting to play them both. Spinney speaks of his castmates on Sesame Street, how the death of Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper") affected the show, and what it was like to shoot the memorable, "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode of Sesame Street. Spinney also illustrates the educational nature of the children's program and offers advice to aspiring puppeteers. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on May 12, 2001 in Woodstock, CT.
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Highlights
Carroll Spinney on operating "Big Bird' - and having a monitor to work with
(04m 23s)- Carroll Spinney on performing "Oscar the Grouch" (00m 31s)
- Carroll Spinney on the development of "Big Bird's" character
(01m 28s) 
Carroll Spinney on Jim Henson scouting for someone to play "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch" in 1969, and Spinney's one lesson on operating Muppets
(01m 55s)
Carroll Spinney on performing the scene in "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" when "Big Bird" comes to fully realize that "Mr. Hooper" has died (02m 26s)
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- On why his mother selected the name "Carroll" for him; on his parents and older brothers; on loving to draw as a child; on discovering puppetry at age eight and his first puppetry performance; on his mother writing puppet plays for him to perform
- On his father wanting him to follow in his footsteps in the watch business; on attending art school in Boston; on his first professional puppet show at age twelve; on why he was drawn to puppetry; on designing training aids in the Air Force; on drawing a comic strip; on loving Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy as a kid; on other radio shows and movies he enjoyed; on liking TV's Kukla, Fran and Ollie
- Chapter 2
- On his first time seeing television - at the 1939-40 World's Fair; on deciding to be a TV puppeteer after seeing a local Boston puppet show on television; on his family's first television set; on the marionettes on Howdy Doody; on attending the Art Institute of Boston (then called The School of Practical Art); on doing puppet shows while in school; on joining the Air Force
- On showing his art portfolio to the Air Force art department; on getting stationed as a draftsman in Las Vegas, but working as an artist; on working with airbrushes; on doing illustrations for a local TV puppet show; on getting his first television show, Rascal Rabbit, on KLAS-TV; on the secret to a good puppet show; on a friend from the Air Force writing stories for his show; on getting stationed in Germany
- On on interviewing to work for Walt Disney
- Chapter 3
- On Crazy Crayon; on playing Mr. Lion on Boston's Bozo's Circus; on developing the character of "Picklepuss
- On attending the Puppet Festival of America; on the first time he met Jim Henson and Frank Oz; on Jim Henson's early work - commercials with Sam and friends; on seeing Jim Henson on The Ed Sullivan Show; on the name "Muppets"; on Henson asking Spinney to come to New York to check out the Muppets; on Jim Henson scouting for someone to play "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch" in 1969
- Chapter 4
- On going to New York to work for Jim Henson on Sesame Street; on the story of how "Oscar the Grouch" supposedly got his name; on how Jim Henson first described "Big Bird"; on meeting Joan Ganz Cooney; on the mechanics of operating "Big Bird" during the first year of Sesame Street and changing the character's persona to that of a six-year-old child; on "Big Bird" being featured by the second season of Sesame Street; on contemplating quitting Sesame Street
- On Jim Henson giving puppeteers creative freedom; on "Oscar the Grouch"; on changes to "Oscar the Grouch" within the first year; on operating "Big Bird' and "Oscar the Grouch"
- On the development of "Big Bird's" character; on the fun of doing "Oscar the Grouch" and "Big Bird"
- Chapter 5
- On children bring traumatized when they see him in half of "Big Bird's" suit; on being a puppeteer and some of the wonderful experiences he's had; on working with Margaret Hamilton, who played The Wizard of Oz's "Wicked Witch"; on traveling with "Big Bird"; on working with the regulars on Sesame Street; on ad-libbing; on how long it takes to shoot one season of Sesame Street
- On telling Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper") he loved him, during what turned out to be Lee's last day of shooting; on the "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode of Sesame Street; on two Sesame Street episodes that never aired: one on divorce and another on a bad dream (by "Ernie"); on one of his favorite episodes in which "Snuffleupagus" becomes "real" (as opposed to being "Big Bird's" imaginary friend)
- On being on Sesame Street for over 30 years; on how he spends his time when he's not performing "Big Bird"; on the commercialization of Sesame Street; on the success of The Muppet Show
- Chapter 6
- On The Muppet Show; on Jim Henson's dream of making movies and Labyrinth flopping; on his schedule and making appearances for Sesame Street; on working on The Muppet Show; on "Big Bird's" dancing; on the second season and beyond of Sesame Street; on loving working on Sesame Street
- On Jim Henson's death; on the future of puppeteering; on his parents' reactions to his success; on advice to aspiring puppeteers; on the joys of working on Sesame Street
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