Glimpses into a genius’ mind

For several weeks now, I’ve savoured one to two pages daily from Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Hensen Journal. In this book, curator-archivist Karen Falk and Jim Hensen’s eldest daughter Lisa Hensen combine excerpts from the Muppet creator’s journals with photos, sketches, script doodles and biographical notes, spanning 1954 to 1988.

What a joy!

While most of us know Jim Hensen’s work―ranging from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock through to The Muppet Show and scores of other TV specials and movies―people recognized his talents well before any of those accomplishments.

By the time he headed off to the University of Maryland, nobody could overlook Jim Hensen’s creativity. He had illustrated high school publications, designed sets for shows and performed from time to time. As a freshman, he secured his own TV show, Sam & Friends, and started a poster business of his own. He quickly moved on to creating funny commercials for Wilkins Coffee Co.

In 1958, the Washington, D.C.-based Academy of TV Arts & Sciences named Jim Hensen’s Sam & Friends as “Best Local Entertainment Program.” And by 1965, Jim Hensen earned his first Academy Award nomination, not for puppeteering, but for his short film Time Piece. Showers of accolades were yet to come. 

Jim Hensen attracted talent and he surrounded himself with fascinating characters, both human and Muppet. He worked with Canadian Dennis Lee, David Bowie, Carol Burnett, Vincent Price, George Lucas, Frank Oz, Bill Cosby, Orson Welles, John Denver and Julie Andrews.

So far, my favourite part of Imagination Illustrated is a page of Jim Hensen's notes on what the original Muppet Movie should and should not be (see below). A refreshing attitude. Any wonder millions we're drawn to his work.

Gaining a peek into the inner thoughts of a creative genius =

      AWESOME!

P.S. Did you know that Jim Hensen also contributed to developing the animatronics for The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and was instrumental in the creation of Yoda?

Click on Jim Hensen's notes above to enlarge them.



Comments

  1. CS PerryessFriday, February 08, 2013 11:23:00 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. CS PerryessFriday, February 08, 2013 11:24:00 pm

    Greetings Lise,
    Henson is a major hero for me. Good to see that you appreciate him, too, & thanks for following me at Wordmonger. I post every Thursday evening. May life treat you well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownWednesday, February 13, 2013 6:45:00 am

      Thanks for checking out my random ramblings. I always enjoy meeting bloggers with shared interests (e.g., Hensen and the "wonder of words").

      P.S. You made me howl with your opening line in your January post. You hooked me. I'll be back to read your future entries.

      Delete

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