Grover Puppet
date: label: date made
content: 1967
name: label: performer
content: Oz, Frank
label: performer
content: Jacobson, Eric
label: maker
content: Henson, Jim
label: builder
content: Sahlin, Don
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This original Grover hand-rod puppet was built in 1967 as one of several monsters used by Jim Henson and other performers on television variety shows and was first seen in his current design on a 1970 Christmas Eve episode of The Ed Sullivan Show. This darker, green-furred puppet appeared throughout the first season of Sesame Street as a generic monster and was named Grover by the end of the season. The character of Grover was rebuilt for season 2 and was then covered in his now signature bright blue fur. This puppet was later used as Grover’s mother in a skit about Grover having trouble sleeping because he is afraid of the dark, though in later appearances Grover’s mother has bright blue fur similar to Grover.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The character of Grover is a loveable, furry, and thoughtful monster who has many different roles and professions. He loves to help people but is sometimes frustrated by miscommunication, worries, and clumsiness. Grover has a unique voice and manner of speaking, generally avoiding contractions. Grover was originally performed by Frank Oz and is currently performed by Eric Jacobson. Grover is a hand-rod puppet which means that the performer’s dominant hand goes into the puppet’s head and operates the mouth and sometimes other facial features. The less dominant hand controls the arm rods, which are thin rods connected to the puppet’s hands.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Children's television programs
label: Subject
content: Sesame Street
label: Subject
content: Television
label: Subject
content: Puppetry
setName: label: See more items in
content: Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
label: See more items in
content: Jim Henson
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of the Family of Jim Henson: Lisa Henson, Cheryl Henson, Brian Henson, John Henson and Heather Henson
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2013.0101.05
label: accession number
content: 2013.0101
label: catalog number
content: 2013.0101.05
objectType: label: Object Name
content: puppet
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: synthetic fibers (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: foam (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 23 in x 11 in x 7 in; 58.42 cm x 27.94 cm x 17.78 cm