The Idea Man

thumb|right|300px|Color film without Limbo.
The Idea Man is a three minute short film by Jim Henson which was used for a live performance with Limbo on The Mike Douglas Show on July 20, 1966. 
During its premiere, Jerry Juhl explains that the process was created by Henson and introduces the piece as The Idea Man. Limbo, referred to here as the Floating Face, is performed live for the studio audience, broadcast to home viewers in black and white. Following the performance, Mike Douglas reveals the work done behind the curtain by Henson operating the mouth using strings attached to a pair of gloves, Jerry Nelson operating the eyes with a cable system, and additional support from Frank Oz.
In color, the film has featured in various screenings of vintage Henson material without the Limbo performance superimposed over the images; this version was published to the Henson Company's YouTube channel in July 2009.
Henson had previously showcased a routine called "Idea Man" on The Today Show on May 29, 1963.Henson Archives document
Shot.ideaman.jpg|Opening shot.
Idea_man_limbo.jpg|Limbo being performed over the opening shot.
==Ideas==
One of the film's objectives is to highlight the ideas that manifest in the mind of the protagonist. To this end, Limbo (whose voice is provided by Henson, pre-recorded to sync with the visuals) takes account of several ideas that have already been taken. Most of them are ordinary, everyday objects, but several of them are specific references to works by Henson, as well as other creators.
Idea Man ideas 01 zipper.jpg|zipper
Idea Man ideas 02 hula hoop.jpg|hula hoop
Idea Man ideas 03 television.jpg|television
Idea Man ideas 04 relativity.jpg|relativity
Idea Man ideas 05 safety pin.jpg|safety pin
Idea Man ideas 06 sewing machine.jpg|sewing machine
Idea Man ideas 07 atomic energy.jpg|atomic energy
Idea Man ideas 08 polyunsaturated fat.jpg|polyunsaturated fat
Idea Man ideas 09 cellophane.jpg|cellophane
Idea Man ideas 10 light bulb.jpg|light bulb
Idea Man ideas 11 blender.jpg|blender
Idea Man ideas 12 stopwatch.jpg|stopwatch
Idea Man ideas 13 record player.jpg|record player
Idea Man ideas 14 toaster.jpg|toaster
Idea Man ideas 15 electric plug.jpg|electric plug
Idea Man ideas 16 radio.jpg|radio
Idea Man ideas 17 volkswagen.jpg|Volkswagen
Idea Man ideas 18 8mm camera.jpg|8mm camera
Idea Man ideas 19 kukla.jpg|Kukla
Idea Man ideas 20 gun.jpg|gun
Idea Man ideas 21 photograph.jpg|photograph
Idea Man ideas 22 coca-cola.jpg|Coca-Cola
Idea Man ideas 23 yorick.jpg|Yorick
Idea Man ideas 24 jfk.jpg|John F. Kennedy
Idea Man ideas 25 speed boat.jpg|speed boat
Idea Man ideas 26 tape recorder.jpg|tape recorder
Idea Man ideas 27 wrench.jpg|wrench
Idea Man ideas 28 bikini.jpg|bikini
Idea Man ideas 29 toilet.jpg|toilet
Idea Man ideas 30 floor sponge mop.jpg|sponge mop
Idea Man ideas 31 kermit.jpg|Kermit
Idea Man ideas 32 airplane.jpg|airplane
Idea Man ideas 33 pipe.jpg|pipe
Idea Man ideas 34 playboy.jpg|Playboy
Idea Man ideas 35 mad magazine.jpg|Mad magazine
Idea Man ideas 36 violin.jpg|violin
Idea Man ideas 37 telephone.jpg|telephone
Idea Man ideas 38 clock.jpg|clock
Idea Man ideas 39 wine.jpg|wine
Idea Man ideas 40 keyboard.jpg|keyboard
Idea Man ideas 41 yorick again.jpg|Yorick (again)
==Notes==
* The name of the film inspired the title of the 2024 documentary, Jim Henson: Idea Man. Some of the dialogue is repurposed, with a recreation of the Limbo puppet lip-syncing to the recording.
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Henson Films
Category:Psychology