In 1984, puppeteer Kevin Clash picked up the red puppet and started doing the voice and the personality and it clicked - thus, Elmo was born.ģ. People would try to do something with him, but nothing really panned out. Elmo: The way it's described by a Sesame Street writer, apparently this extra red puppet was just lying around. By that time, he had started working on Sesame Street and decided this monster would have a home there.Ģ.

The commercial was never used, but Henson recycled one of the monsters (the 'Wheel-Stealer') for an IBM training video in 1967 and again for a Fritos commercial in 1969. Cookie Monster: Jim Henson drew some monsters eating various snacks for a General Foods commercial in 1966.

Some of the characters we know and love were recycled from other TV shows and commercials Jim Henson worked on, while others were invented by using whatever materials were around.īe prepared for a little nostalgia, and I hope I didn't leave out your favorite - not all of the characters have interesting background stories (sorry, Big Bird).ġ.