Years back at NBC, there was this urban legend about Muppets creator, Jim Henson and some pals. Rumor had it, they had some down time waiting to be brought onto a show that was in progress. So they did what any other creative would do after noticing some paint cans sitting idly in the corner…they converted a utility closet into their own masterpiece, simply out of boredom. In my seven years at the network, I nor anyone I knew had evidence of this space’s existence but people swore it was hidden behind some wall or closet.
I received this post today from Marty Geller, an incredibly talented artist & good friend:
“On November 15, 1964, while waiting many hours to tape an appearance on The Jack Paar Program, Muppets creator, Jim Henson and Muppeteers, Frank Oz, Don Sahlin & Jerry Juhl discovered a utility closet full of pipes in their dressing room (28 years later to become Max Weinberg’s dressing room from Late Night with Conan O’Brien). Jim decided it would be fun to decorate the pipes with fanciful creatures with paints they had found.
After being hidden for 47 years, it was opened up & unveiled to the public.”
I never knew Jim Henson, but there’s something to be said for a man that so enjoyed what he did & that enjoyment made a lot of people happy.
Cheers to all the creators of quality content!
He was a favorite to many.
A special Happy Birthday to my favorite person!