Muppets

Apr 2 2013

Long battle with cancer

Jane Nebel Henson — who was married to the late Muppets creator Jim Henson and was instrumental in the development of the world-famous puppets — died Tuesday morning, a representative for the Jim Henson Company said. She was 79.

Henson died at her home in Connecticut after a “long battle with cancer,” a written statement from the company said.

The two met in a puppetry class at the University of Maryland in 1954, the release said. Jane Henson was a performer, puppet designer and builder, and Jim Henson’s business partner.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Oct 27 2011

Hollywood by Choice

If you met him on the street, you’d never know that Kevin Jeffery Clash is the voice, heart and soul of the beloved Sesame Street muppet, Elmo. The word is out, thanks to the award-winning documentary film, “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey,” about the life and career of Kevin Clash.

The film was directed by Constance Marks, and debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, the documentary features archival footage, including Clash puppeteering as a teenager with his own handmade puppets.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Oct 28 2010

Hollywood by Choice

What was the hottest thing on the web last week and it’s still going strong?

Hold on to your hats dear readers … it’s a little brown, kinky- head Muppet girl singing and dancing, proudly announcing to the world … “I Love My Hair.”

Of all the tributes to hair, this little puppet captured the imagination of young and old alike.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Oct 7 2010

Hollywood by Choice

Now is a great time to start buying DVD’s and Blu-rays for Christmas gifts, and here’s a list of movies that might not be on your ‘A’ list, but I think you should seriously consider them. 

For Children:

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”