Over forty years ago, puppeteer and animator Carol Spinney began performing one of the most iconic characters on television—Big Bird. Making his appearance on Sesame Street in its first season in 1969, Big Bird has become a beloved character to both children and adults, capturing hearts across the generations.
Over forty years ago, puppeteer and animator Carol Spinney began performing one of the most iconic characters on television—Big Bird. Making his appearance on Sesame Street in its first season in 1969, Big Bird has become a beloved character to both children and adults, capturing hearts across the generations.
When I heard Spinney would be attending this year’s DragonCon in Atlanta, I squealed (as I do sometimes). Big Bird?! And not only Big Bird . . . Spinney performs lovable curmudgeon Oscar the Grouch. He kindly answered questions at the annual convention held over Labor Day weekend.
When asked about Big Bird’s age, Spinney explained that because Big Bird couldn’t read or write, he based him on a four and a half year old child, but he’s now taken him up to the age of six, and he’s stayed there. “In some ways he’d be a precocious child at six. He’s traveled by himself with a dog . . . Barkley’s not even his dog. He went to China with him somehow. How he got tickets, I don’t know. There’s nobody who really takes care of him. He’s only six . . . it’s kind of fun to play him as a wide-eyed child. Children identify with him. I get letters from children saying Big Bird you’re my best friend. Please come play with me.”
He also spoke briefly about his visit to the Center for Puppetry Arts, located in Atlanta. He viewed photos of what visitors can expect when the long-awaited expansion opens in November. He also saw rooms where puppets are being built or repaired, which led him to discuss Bruno the Trash Man, who used to carry Oscar around and was the only puppet Spinney created. Based on an idea he got from “The Gong Show,” Bruno eventually “turned to powder. He literally turned to powder. It’s a foam plastic but deteriorates terribly after about eight years. Costs $20,000 to make a new one, so goodbye Bruno. My one puppet that I created.”
Spinney is also an animator, but after doing it for four years in Boston, he said he grew tired of it: He was hired by Disney to be an animator but didn’t take the job since the pay was only $56 a week. Walt walked into the room while he was at Disney, but Spinney didn’t get a chance to speak to him. He had a bucket list of three people he wanted to meet: artist Andrew Wyeth (who he spent an afternoon with once), Walt Disney: “At least I was in the same room with him. And the other one was Jim Henson, who personally hired me. So I guess I accomplished all those.”
And now I’ve added another name to my own bucket list, having met “Big Bird” of “Sesame Street.”
Spinney ended the interview by singing a song in Big Bird’s voice and saying “I love trash” as Oscar the Grouch.