Jim Henson and his Muppets hold a special place in my heart. It was through hours of watching Sesame Street that I learned English. As I got older, I went from learning my alphabet with Cookie Monster and Big Bird to laughing at Miss Piggy’s aggressive seduction of Kermit during The Muppet Show. Jim Henson’s creations have changed in meaning and grown as I have. Now what sly references and innuendo passed over my head when I was younger, I delight in rediscovering and understanding.
Jim Henson set the standard for entertainment in the 1950s as a college freshman working on his show Sam and Friends, where a primitive version of Kermit the Frog first appeared, when instead of wooden marionettes he began using flexible, fabric-covered foam rubber, which gave his puppets a bigger freedom of movement to express more emotions. During the 60’s and on through the late 80’s, Henson went on to create numerous successful commercials, television shows and movies as well as starting two companies and one charity. When Jim Henson died in 1990, the whole world mourned the loss of a visionary, but his work continues in his children and his fans. The Henson creative legacy continues to entertain and inspire generations of people.
The Gene Siskel Film Center is proud to celebrate the life work of Jim Henson with a viewing of his various movies plus special features. The movies shown showcase different parts of the genius of Jim Henson’s creations. Movies like The Muppet Movie, which tells the story of how Kermit and gang got started in show business, and The Great Muppet Caper and the shorts Muppet Fairytales: The Frog Prince and Others, and Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas and Shorts show the light-hearted comedy and memorable music and songs. Two of the movies The Dark Crystal, which shows a “Tolkien-like” world with fantastical mythical creatures and Labyrinth, starring David Bowie, are better suited for adults and sci-fi fans. The rest of the features show all the behind-the-scenes looks into Jim Henson’s work and other shows or movies that never made it on DVD, all of which recount Jim Henson’s lifetime of achievements.
The Gene Siskel Film Center is located at 164 North State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601. Tickets to the movies are $9 for general admission, $7 for students, $4 for student, faculty and staff of the Art Institute. It is $5 for Film Center members. For more information, call either the general information line at 312-846-2600 or the movie hotline at 312-846-2800.