Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal Book Review

Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal

by Karen Falk

Foreward by Lisa Henson

Available wherever books are sold and on Amazon.com

Ryan Dosier - Straight from the heart of the Jim Henson Archives comes Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal, an incredibly detailed and gorgeous new book compiled and written by Karen Falk, the Henson Company's head archivist. For those who don't know, the book compiles incredibly rare (a lot never-before seen) photos from Jim Henson's career. Spanning from 1954 to 1990, Imagination Illustrated dedicates time to almost every single thing Jim worked on. 

Of course Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and the Muppet movies get traditionally wonderful treatment, but the book also takes a wonderful look at rarities such as The Cube, The Ghost of Fafner Hall, Rowlf's time on The Jimmy Dean Show, and so much more. The book is divided into four chapters: The Washington Years (1954-1962), New York and New Directions (1963-1969), The World Tunes In (1970-1979), and Fantasy, Fraggles, and Fearless Imagination (1980-1988), as well as an epilogue called To Be Continued (1989-1990). 

What Imagination Illustrated does so incredibly well is to not only capture the life of Jim Henson in snapshots and brief entries taken from Jim's Red Book, but to tell the story of Jim's life in pictures that we've hardly seen before, artwork from Jim himself that we've never seen before, and stories that we may have never heard before. Compiling pictures this rare must have been no easy task for Karen Falk. I can't even imagine the amount of time she spent poring over the archives to find such a staggering amount of rare images. There are some unbelievable finds in this book, including Jim's original sketch of Kermit, concept sketches of Wilkins and Wontkins, photos of Jim and Jane performing Rowlf and Baskerville, the original sketches Jim did of Ernie and Bert and Anything Muppets, puppet designs by Dave Goelz, original sketches of Sam Eagle and Animal, and virtually hundreds of other incredible items.

Each page contains anywhere plenty of photos, sketches, storyboards, or note pages as well as notes about what each image is and scribbles from Jim's personal journal. Also on every other page is a brief paragraph written by Karen Falk about what was happening in Jim's life at the moment in time the pictures are showcasing. Karen goes into great details even in these brief pieces. There is an entire section devoted to Barkley the Dog, in which I learned that Jim consulted Michael Frith and dancer Toby Towson on the design of the dog. Each of these writings is like that. I learn something, I'm become more amazed by Jim, and I'm blown away by Karen Falk's incredible knowledge and grasp on Jim Henson's life and her organization of the corresponding images.

Each new page of Imagination Illustrated offers another treasure from Jim Henson's career and it's impossible to accurately review all the wonders you'll find flipping through it. The book is a wonderful introduction to the life and career of Jim Henson, opening the door to start exploring through all of these projects and characters that Jim created in his life. However, Imagination Illustrated is clearly aimed at and successfully made for the Muppet fans who have known Jim their entire lives. Unless you have sifted through the Henson archives as much as Karen Falk, then I guarantee you will find dozens of images you have never seen before. If you need to give a Christmas present to the Muppet fan in your life, or if you're a Muppet fan in need of something to tell your parents to get you for Christmas... Imagination Illustrated makes the perfect gift.

That's exactly what Imagination Illustrated is: a gift to the Muppet fans. The book is meticulously planned, brilliantly organized, and incredible to pore through again and again. Much like the classic books that have come before it, including Jim Henson: The Works and Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street, Karen Falk's Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal is a must-own treasure if you're a Muppet fan. I can't recommend this wonderful book enough. Imagination Illustrated is that rare book that will bring a smile to your face with every page. You're guaranteed to learn something new and see something you've never seen before.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

News Update: January 12, 2012

NEWS UPDATE: January 12, 2012

Last week, Elmo and Cookie Monster appeared on Good Morning America to show off their baking chops with co-anchor of the show, George Snuffleupagus (probably not his real name). Check out the video below to see everyone's favorite monsters and certainly someone's favorite George make red velvet cupcakes!



The Build-A-Bear Workshop stores, which I'm sure you've seen in a mall at least once and rolled your eyes, are going to be selling dolls/puppets (we're not really sure yet) of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy coming this February or March (we're not really sure yet), to coincide with the release of The Muppets on Blu-ray and DVD. You can see a picture of the upcoming dolls/puppets at right, and we've been told that if these sell well, more Muppets will be made available. Probably including Fozzie... you know, because he's a bear.

Target and Amazon.com are now selling five different box versions of Muppet-brand Band-Aids! The boxes are adorned with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Beaker, and Statler and Waldorf, while the Band-Aids in the boxes are emblazoned with all sorts of various Muppets, including some awesome Beaker and Swedish Chef ones. I don't know about you, but I've been purposefully scraping my knee just so I have a use for these. Check out a great picture of the Band-Aids below!

Once again, the folks at Sesame Workshop are pioneering an incredible interactive new product for Microsoft's XBox Kinect. I would call it a game, but based on the video you'll watch below, it seems like so much more than a game. We see Bert, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Grover being fully interactive and educational towards the player/viewer. The video shows a child helping Grover recover his coconuts, playing around in Elmo's World, and more. This is truly a revolutionary new product, and I'll be very excited to see what comes of it when it is released this Spring. For now, check out the video below!



Our friends over at ToughPigs.com have found another revolutionary interactive example of Sesame Workshop being awesome, with Bert and Ernie toys virtually coming to life on your iPad. The video shows an iPad digitally capturing figures of Bert and Ernie, and shows them talking and interacting with the user and each other. Imagine the possibilities here! Once again, the video is below.

 UK Cinemas and MilkMatters are offering an interesting and hilarious promotion for The Muppets, Muppet Milk Bottle Covers! They are currently offering downloads of Kermit and Beaker covers (Kermit is seen at right) and Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and Gonzo bottle stickers are coming soon. The best part? Even if you're not in the UK, you can download these stickers for yourself to decorate bottles of all sorts! (Although I would probably keep Beaker away from bottles of Uranium.)

And, finally, CartoonBrew.com is reporting that a new Jim Henson book by Jim Henson Company archivist Karen Falk is coming out this fall. Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal, from Chronicle Books will certainly be the go-to gift for Muppet fans this fall, as it sounds like a book adaptation of the fantastic Jim Henson's Red Book. Check out the official description of this sure to be must-have book below!

Compiled directly from the Henson workshop archives, this elegant and inspirational gift book adapts the diary that Jim Henson faithfully kept throughout his career, collecting rare sketches, concepts, photographs, and ideas from the creator of the Muppets and one of the twentieth century’s most influential artistic talents. Throughout, archivist Karen Falk offers behind-the-scenes details and insights into Henson’s writings and drawings and offers insights into Henson’s life, his magical creations, and the artistic process.






The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com

Jim Henson's Fantastic World Blows Away the Windy City

Today we have a very, very exciting article from new contributor Danny Beckwith. Danny visited the Jim Henson's Fantastic World exhibit last Thursday in Chicago, Illinois for its members-only preview night. He visited with The Jim Henson Legacy's Karen Falk and Arthur Novell, along with Muppet legend, now president of The Jim Henson Legacy, Bonnie Erickson. There's nothing more for me to say that Danny didn't already, so enjoy this look at an exclusive event!

Jim Henson's Fantastic World: Chicago
Member's Night Preview Event

Danny Beckwith - 5:30pm-9:00pm Members Night Preview, 7:00pm-8:00pm Lecture

I arrived at 5:24pm and a long line had already formed running the length of the main hall. At 5:30pm the line started moving and people began to experience Jim Henson’s Fantastic World.

The West Auditorium is where the lecture took place at 7:00pm. I arrived with a friend around 6:15 and the seats were virtually empty, and by 6:30 the room was filled. I had secured seats, however, right amongst the reserved seating for The Jim Henson Legacy members.

Besides the sound of the audience making small talk, songs from The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, and More! CD could be heard. Above the stage on a large screen was projected a menu from a DVD created for the lecture that contained six video clips. The stage was still empty, but the seats around me were filling up. By 6:45 the auditorium was filled with Museum members and members of The Jim Henson Legacy, including Executive Director Arthur Novell. Seated nearby was also Chicago Museum of Science and Industry Director of Temporary Exhibits, Anna Rashford.

At 7:05, Anne Rashford took to the podium to make an introductory speech. During her time at the podium, she mentioned how Jim Henson was an “inventive genius,” likening his work to a scientist, which I was very pleased to hear. She also introduced The Jim Henson Legacy members, Arthur Novell, Karen Falk, and, special guest, President of The Jim Henson Legacy, Bonnie Erickson!

A representative of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition spoke next. She spoke of the joy of working with the Jim Henson Legacy and Karen Falk, and introduced Karen as the next speaker. She came on the stage and acknowledged the Legacy members again and also Bill Grisham, whose wife was in the audience that night. Bill Grisham had worked with Jim Henson in the 1960’s. Karen Falk then explained how the lecture would consist of an overview of Jim’s work, using the six clips on the DVD. She started with Jim’s early career–mainly Sam and Friends and Wilkin’s Coffee commercials.

CLIPS -

• Sam and Friends: Harry the Hipster is in front of a weather map. He explains that he is the new weatherman for the station. Kermit enters the scene and says that the station already has a weatherman. Harry informs Kermit that he’s not giving the weather, he’s selling it. Kermit tells him that you can’t sell the weather. Harry shows Kermit the crates of weather he has for sale: sunshine, thunderstorm, fog, snowstorm, rain, monsoon season, and tempest (in a teapot). Each weather crate, as it opens, has hilarious results for Kermit.
• Wilkins Coffee: Karen Falk explained that this was the second audience in 55-60 years who got to see these commercials
• Construction Worker – Wontkins falls off a building structure
• Club – Wilkins hits Wontkins with a club
• Falling Safe – Wontkins is hit by a falling safe
• Biplane – Wilkins flies a plane upside and Wontkins falls out

Karen then explained the 1960’s of Jim’s career and how he had gained a national audience and a larger team: Jerry Juhl, Don Sahlin, Frank Oz, and Jane Henson. This was also the time that commercials like Purina Dog Chow with Rowlf, Chicago based Wilson’s Meat, and the La Choy Dragon were shown.

CLIPS -

• The La Choy Dragon: Karen introduced this clip as a presentation on the La Choy Dragon made by Jim that was a joke of sorts. The clip started with a meeting comprised of Jim Henson and the La Choy Company. Jim says, “The idea of a real fire-breathing dragon intrigued me.” The rest of the presentation shows the process of Jim, Jerry, Don, and Bill Grisham creating the La Choy Dragon. Don keeps making bigger and bigger explosions throughout the clip, eventually leading to everyone escaping out a window. The building then catches on fire, then the roof, and then the whole building is in flames and destroyed. The audience loved it!
• The Ed Sullivan Show: "Mahna Mahna"

Karen then explained how Jim had tried experimenting with film. She mentioned Timepiece and how Jim experimented in animation, as demonstrated by two clips.

CLIPS -

• Bufferin: A commercial for headache medicine that showed how a man was remembering a wonderful day with his family, then realized that that day was almost ruined with a headache. It showcased Jim’s fascination with visual thinking.
• NBC News – "The Ordeal of the American City;" The opening of an NBC news program

The second half of the lecture started with a brief discussion of the 1960’s and how Jim was thinking about how to focus his career. That’s when a call from Jon Stone would change everything. Sesame Street was about to be born. This was a time when Jim produced a whole slew of short films for the famous street, including ventures into the mediums of stop-motion, traditional animation, and computer animation.

CLIPS -

• "Henson King of Eight"
• "Dance Myself to Sleep"

The next step in Jim’s career from Sesame Street was the variety show, mainly The Muppet Show. Karen talked about how Lord Lew Grade would produce, as long as the show was filmed in London. Karen explained how The Muppet Show was instrumental to Jim’s success. It was seen by 235 million people a week in over 120 countries; an international success. This impact is what influenced Fraggle Rock in the 1980s. Jim wanted to make a show that promoted world peace, it’s now 20 years later, and as Karen Falk observed, that we will be “hopefully having world peace soon.

CLIPS -

• The Muppet Show: Pearl Bailey Episode - The final production number, a hilarious mash-up of musical numbers because Kermit couldn’t get the rights to Camelot
• Fraggle Rock: "Let Me Be Your Song;" introduction of Cantus the Minstrel

After the last clip, Karen introduces Bonnie Erickson. Bonnie takes the stage to thunderous applause. Bonnie was such a great speaker. She discussed how the opening in Chicago is very special: Miss Piggy makes here premiere! A glamorous premiere, too, in her wedding dress.

She recalls how Piggy came about when a call for a “sexy female character” caused a change in a sketch on Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. Piggy began as a “shy and naïve” young pig named Miss Piggy Lee, but that name did not stay. But the shy and naïve disappeared during the karate chop eureka moment on The Muppet Show. Bonnie explained how Kermit is Miss Piggy’s rock, a calming influence for the pig. And of course, how could you talk about Miss Piggy without mentioning her perfume, books, and fan clubs right around the time The Great Muppet Caper premiered. Bonnie also mentioned the marriage at the end of The Muppet Takes Manhattan; are Kermit and Miss Piggy married? We know what Piggy would say!

CLIPS -

• “Return to Beneath the Planet of the Pigs”: Piggy’s big debut
• Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass: Piggy is the girl singer to perform with Herb
• The Muppet Show: Season 1; Miss Piggy as a chorus girl
• The Muppet Show: Ruth Buzzi Episode; the karate chop eureka moment
• The Muppet Show: Elton John Episode; Piggy sings “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with Elton John
• The Great Muppet Caper: “The First Time It Happens”; Piggy the movie star
• The Muppets Take Manhattan: "Manhattan Melodies" marriage

Bonnie had a great sense of humor as displayed by her closing comment to the clips, “Kermit’s contract states he is at the beginning of the exhibit.” Bonnie also alluded to Miss Piggy coming back to Chicago in November to shoot a movie! Hmmm... does that mean the Muppets will be in the Windy City?!

I hung around after the lecture to talk to both Bonnie and Karen. Bonnie was the sweetest person and we had a wonderful conversation. Karen as well was great to talk to and meet. She even signed my Jim Henson’s Designs & Doodles book! Both ladies spoke amazingly well and gave avid fans and casual fans something to appreciate over the course of the presentation.

Afterward, I visited the exhibit and was ecstatic. I had already seen the exhibit in Orlando, Florida, but the addition of Miss Piggy, the wedding cake topper, and a “Manhattan Melodies” playbill.

Bonnie Erickson and Danny

Special thanks to Danny for the fantastic look into the preview event!

If you are in or near the Chicago area, be sure to visit the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry between now and January 23rd, 2011. Tickets cost just $5 for adults and seniors and $2 for children (ages 3-11)--if you're close, how can you pass it up? You're truly depriving yourself of an amazing, one of a kind experience if you pass up on this exhibit.

Our very own Lisa the Intern visited opening day of the exhibit and we'll have her article coming very soon to a blog near you (as in... this blog, that is currently near you)!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier