New York Renames Street For "Sesame Street" (Photos)

On the 40th anniversary, to the day, of the Sesame Street program, New York City declared November 10 "Sesame Street Day" with a temporary street naming near Lincoln Center.

The world's largest informal children's educator, Sesame Street can be seen in over 140 countries. "Sesame Street reaches children around the world, but without a doubt, New York City is its home," added Ms. Cooney. "It's wonderful for the city to recognize where it all began." Although the show has changed over the decades, it has remained true to it's New York City setting, having broken ground in 1969 for choosing an urban environment for a children's program. "The vibrancy of NYC served as inspiration for the creation and content of Sesame Street, it is only fitting to celebrate the program's 40th anniversary with a street-naming tribute" said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Co.

A variety of changes have taken place in the program over the years as it has modernized to remain current and practical. In addition to the computer generated imagery which can be seen in "Elmo's World," Cookie Monster now sings a song entitled "Cookie is a Sometimes Food" and Sesame street itself has been cleaned of it's original graffitti and peeling paint, more representative of New York then than it is now. There are differences internationally as well, South Africa's version has an HIV Positive character while Israel's cast has specific Arab-Israeli and Jewish-Israeli puppets learning lessons on sharing. The particulars of the show and contemporary messages are due to an emphasis on research, which has been a key to the show's relevancy and success since its inception.

A constant which has remained throughout the years and different versions of the show has been the promotion of diversity. Guests of Sesame Street have ranged from famous musicians, actors and political figures, most often involved in situations where Jim Henson's muppets and humans interact naturally. The show's anniversary episode on November 10th will star Michelle Obama.

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Comments

[thatgirlinnewyork]

it's not a real celebration without kermit. why oh why did they cut him, bert and ernie out of the picture? very sad to see the show sanitized, rather than allowing parents to explain anything "unacceptable" (like cookie monster's habit--baffling!) to their children? that said, much love to gordon, susan, maria, and bob, who from the very first episode became everyone's "friendly neighbors"!

[LMPE]

Probably the greatest children's show ever.

I was surprised to see that Pat Nixon guest-starred on an episode (I saw a picture of her talking to Big Bird).

[sf girl]

"Cookie is a Sometimes Food." I love it!

[taxisdaddy]

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street, indeed! How ironic that the article doesn't actually identify the location of that street other than by saying that it's near Lincoln Center. The Lincoln Center campus is approximately 1/3 mile long and 1/10th of a mile deep. Addresses anywhere in the West mid-60s from Central Park West to Amsterdam Avenue could accurately be described as being near Lincoln Center. Anyone looking for the commemorative street sign based on this article has some wandering in their future.

[BarryChamplain]

More irony: the area around Lincoln Center was originally a rundown, blighted urban neighborhood, which was reclaimed to build Lincoln Center and launch the upscale revamping of the West Side. But before the old buildings were torn down and the construction began on Lincoln Center, there was one last hurrah for the West Side... as in "Story". Portions of the film made from the iconic Broadway musical were shot in the soon-to-be-demolished neighborhood, which will once again bear the honorary title of a neighborhood that adheres more to the original: "Sesame Street".

(Personal irony: I saw my first production of "West Side Story" AT LIncoln Center, when it was fairly new!)

If you think about it, the City instead should have permanently honored "Sesame Street" by renaming the section of 35th Avenue in the borough of Queens which has undergone a major urban renewal, but kept its urban flavor while housing such cultural landmarks as the brand new Frank Sinatra School of the Arts... and the legendary major movie studio, directly across the street from it, Kaufman-Astoria Studios.

The home of the production of "Sesame Street", of course.

[autmarfcvsmom]

Awesome!

[fiorastar]

I used to watch with my little brother--so glad I had an excuse to see the Muppets!

[Kim Stagliano - Huffpost Blogger]

I watched the first episode in school at Dominican Academy in Plainville, MA. My children watched Sesame Street. My oldest daughter's first word was Ober" for Grover. She carried that little blue mupper everywhere. I saw "Gordon" and "Susan" at the Book Expo two years ago and practically fainted, blubbering to them about how much they'd helped all three of my girls - each of whom as autism. Honestly, seeing Kevin Bacon walk into a restaurant while I was eating didn't phase me. Roscoe Orman and Dr. Loretta Long turned me into mush! Thank you for so many years of happiness, safety and learning, Sesame Street.

Kim

[defdes]

I remember watching TV as a young 4 year old and seeing commercials for this new program Sesame St.. I was hooked from episode 1. I now sing "Mahna Mahna" to my young son.