An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz

Jim Henson Idea Man

May 2024 •English

Featuring unprecedented access to Jim Henson's personal archives, filmmaker Ron Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.

The World of 'The Dark Crystal'

January 1983 •English

A documentary which explores the making of Jim Henson and Frank Oz's 1982 fantasy film 'The Dark Crystal', which originally aired on PBS in the United States on January 9, 1983. This one-hour documentary details the technological innovations in the field of animatronics, art design, film making, and Henson's own brand of magic. Requiring 5 years of production, including over two years of pre-production, The Dark Crystal was inspired by the imagination of artist Brian Froud and conceived by scores of talented designers, builders, technicians, and performers. The World of the Dark Crystal shows how Jim Henson's Creature Shop in London and the Muppet Workshop in New York brought Brian Froud's art and Jim Henson's vision to life.

The Muppets on Puppets

January 1970 •English

Jim Henson and Rowlf the Dog explain the art and history of puppetry, and let the viewer in on some of the secrets in performing his own act, the Muppets.

Jim Henson's Memorial Service

May 1990 •English

Following Jim Henson's passing on May 16th 1990, two public memorial services were held. The first (featured here) was held in New York at Cathedral of St. John the Divine on May 21, 1990. The second service was held in London at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 2nd 1990.

Muppet Picker Upper

January 1975 •English

Consists of the shorts "The Muppet Introduction", "Just a Few Announcements" and "Sell, Sell, Sell".

The Wizard of Id

January 1969 •English

An unsold TV pilot based on the classic comic strip, shot by Jim Henson with puppets built by Don Sahlin.

Happy Birthday Jim Henson

September 2024 •English

Join Kermit the Frog, Oscar the Grouch, and Gobo Fraggle as they celebrate Jim Henson, the man who inspired the lovers, the dreamers, and all of us to come and play, and dance our cares away.

Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE! - Surprise Party

June 2002 •English

It's Tutter's birthday and viewers are invited to join Bear and the gang in the Big Blue House as they work together to plan a surprise party for Tutter. This stage production features many of the voices from the show and many of its songs as well.

Visual Thinking

April 1961 •English

In a mix of puppetry and animation, Harry demonstrates the Art of Visual Thinking to Kermit—and what it does to you once it gets out of control.

Muppet Man

Invalid date •English

The story of how Jim Henson tried to convince broadcasters that The Muppets was a great idea and how he worked to get the characters on air where they became a comedy staple.

Alexander the Grape

November 1965 •English

ALEXANDER THE GRAPE, an unfinished cut-paper animated short from Jim Henson from 1965, relates the fable of a young grape with big ambitions who learns that it is better to accept yourself than to try to be something you are not. The short was reconstructed from film and audio elements; images from Jim’s storyboard fill in missing segments of the animation.

Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party

Invalid date •English

Rare footage from the Sesame Street season 18 cast and crew wrap party. 1986 When the Sesame Street cast and crew finish taping a season, they traditionally celebrate with a wrap party where they have dinner, watch a reel of outtakes and highlights from the season, and enjoy live skits that often poke fun at the show. In addition, toasts are exchanged, and awards and bottles of wine are presented to people who got engaged, married or had babies since the last party. In the earliest days of the show, Richard Hunt took it upon himself to provide entertainment for the parties, for one party, cameraman Frank Biondo was given the role of introducing one of Hunt's acts and from then on, he served as the organizer and emcee for the live show, eventually he was granted a full stage so they could set up the show. Includes an "adult version" of the song People in your neighborhood, sung by Bob McGrath.

House of Z

June 2016 •English

A feature documentary on the life and career of designer Zac Posen.

Niñato

April 2017 •Spanish

Jobless and with no prospects, Niñato (Brat) lives with his parents and does hip-hop music. He lives the life of the outskirts, it's the Madrid of the chronic crisis. But he is 34 years old and has three children to bring up. Time goes by, the kids are growing up and Niñato carries on, making music and looking after the children, without worrying too much about his future. Oro, the smallest one, not too motivated at school, will demand more attention and drive Niñato to face his own conflicts.

BE' JAM BE the Never Ending Song

April 2017 •English

“The Mutan tree, well we say tree, but originally it’s a liana that uses the tree to climb. And its grasp ends up killing the tree. That’s what is going to happen between us and the companies.” In Sarawak, one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo, the Penan — who not that long ago were still nomads — are the first to be affected by deforestation.

Long Echo

April 2020 •German

Dobropillia is a town located in Eastern Ukraine: 70 km from the border where conflicts with the breakaway republics are raging on and people feel always like being on the verge of total war. The sheer uncertainty about the future pushes folks to cling on to their daily habits while trying to get along with the ever-shifting political landscape. A wide array of wildly diversified characters try to cope as good as they can with the hardships in their town. A death metal band keeps rehearsing daily. A teacher guides visitors through the story of the city. The wonders of a vibrating armchair are tested as a tool against stress and anxiety. An elderly lady who has lost her son tries to talk some sense into her fellow citizens urging them to accept peace.

Cassini's Grand Finale

April 2017 •English

To help visualize the dramatic final chapter in Cassini's remarkable story, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory produced this short film that features beautiful computer-generated animation, thoughtful narration and a rousing score. Producers at JPL worked with filmmaker Erik Wernquist, known for his 2014 short film "Wanderers," to create a stirring finale video befitting one of NASA's most successful missions of exploration.

Encyclopedia

July 1998 •Spanish

Hollywood - The Second Step

June 1936 •English

This short follows the early career of actress Jane Barnes. She starts by doing extra work. After several months she is offered a studio contract (the "first step"). However, her work consists mostly of fashion shoots and bit parts that end up on the cutting room floor. She is even used as a stand-in for Maureen O'Sullivan on the set of a Tarzan movie when camera angles and lighting must be set up.

Wasted! The Story of Food Waste

July 2017 •English

See how the world’s most influential chefs battle food waste through the eyes of chef-heroes like Massimo Bottura, Dan Barber and Danny Bowien.