Mike Yuro

Mike Yuro began working in public relations for Muppets Inc. in 1967. During promotional tours for Hey Cinderella! and The Frog Prince, he made public appearances talking to the press as Splurge and Sweetums, respectively.
Yuro had previously been a New York school teacher and was working as a publicist for RJR Foods by 1971.The Boston Globe "Newest Muppet—Sweetums—star of special" by Percy Shain, April 28, 1971 At 5'11" and 145 lbs, Yuro operated the much larger characters to the delight of his three young children.
Following the 1969 broadcast of Hey Cinderella! in Canada, Yuro visited several U.S. cities ahead of its April 10, 1970 domestic television premiere. During the months of March and April, Yuro appeared as Splurge in the following locations:
* New York
* Chicago, IllinoisChicago Tribune "No Fright for Kids in TV Monster" by Clarence Petersen, March 18, 1970
* Irving, Texas (Kroger's Food Store in Plymouth Park)Irving Daily News "Mod Muppet meanders in store selling show" by Mary Lou Cassingham, March 24, 1970
* Boston, MassachusettsThe Boston Globe Muppets finally make the grade in Hey Cinderella special by Percy Shain, April 9, 1970
The following year, in 1971, Yuro again went on tour for a Muppet TV special. In the months leading up to the premiere of The Frog Prince on May 12, Yuro gave several interviews as Sweetums. In Boston, the Christian Science Monitor published a photo spread of Sweetums accompanied by quotes from the character. Yuro told the Monitor that "Muppets help children relate to older people."Christian Science Monitor "Sweetums in person" by Diana Loercher, May 10, 1971
File:Chicago Tribune 1970-03-18 Mike Yuro as Splurge with Patti Householder.jpg|Yuro as Splurge with Patti Householder in Chicago
File:Sweetums CSM 1971-05-10a.jpg|CSM 1
File:Sweetums CSM 1971-05-10b.jpg|CSM 2
File:Sweetums CSM 1971-05-10c.jpg|CSM 3
File:Sweetums CSM 1971-05-10d.jpg|CSM 4
File:Sweetums CSM 1971-05-10e.jpg|CSM 5
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Muppet Performers