They're two of the most recognized and beloved characters in American culture -- Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. But did you know that before they made Sesame Street the most well-known neighborhood in the land, they served in the military?
In fact, after the two felt superstars were discharged, they almost worked for Walt Disney as animators and illustrators. Of course, Jim Henson would have had a major problem with this -- so he hired them first. The rest is history.
Well, in a manner of speaking anyway. It wasn't the puppets that served our country and almost worked for Disney, it was the man behind them.
Caroll Spinney, the voice and puppeteer of both Oscar and Bird, has had a fascinating career, bringing to life two mainstays of just about everyone's childhood. But he also had an entirely separate career path -- that of an illustrator and artist.
That's the story behind The Art of Caroll Spinney, an exhibit opening this weekend at ToonSeum, a cartoon museum in Pittsburgh. The exhibit contains works that span Spinney's life, from his childhood cartoons to the comic strip he drew while in the Air Force and his books illustrating Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7w-5xSaMUg&feature=player_embedded[/media]
Full story: http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/the-art-of-big-bird/19700995
In fact, after the two felt superstars were discharged, they almost worked for Walt Disney as animators and illustrators. Of course, Jim Henson would have had a major problem with this -- so he hired them first. The rest is history.
Well, in a manner of speaking anyway. It wasn't the puppets that served our country and almost worked for Disney, it was the man behind them.
Caroll Spinney, the voice and puppeteer of both Oscar and Bird, has had a fascinating career, bringing to life two mainstays of just about everyone's childhood. But he also had an entirely separate career path -- that of an illustrator and artist.
That's the story behind The Art of Caroll Spinney, an exhibit opening this weekend at ToonSeum, a cartoon museum in Pittsburgh. The exhibit contains works that span Spinney's life, from his childhood cartoons to the comic strip he drew while in the Air Force and his books illustrating Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7w-5xSaMUg&feature=player_embedded[/media]
Full story: http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/the-art-of-big-bird/19700995
