History of Sesame Street facts for kids

Sesame Street is a famous educational television show for young children. It first aired on public television stations on November 10, 1969. The show is currently in its 56th season. Over the years, Sesame Street has changed to reflect new ideas about how children learn and grow. It also shows the importance of different cultures.

The show uses Jim Henson's Muppets, cartoons, short films, humor, and celebrity guests. It was the first TV show to use research to create its content. It also set clear learning goals. When it first started, people loved the show, and it had high ratings. By 2009, Sesame Street was shown in over 120 countries. More than 20 different international versions were made. The show has won many awards, including eleven Grammys and over 150 Emmys. This is more than any other children's show.

The idea for Sesame Street came in 1966. TV producer Joan Ganz Cooney and Carnegie Corporation vice president Lloyd Morrisett talked about it. They wanted to make a children's television show that used TV's power to teach. Their goal was to help young children get ready for school. After two years of research, the Children's Television Workshop (CTW) was formed. It received $8 million to create the new show.

By 1979, nine million American children under six watched Sesame Street daily. Studies showed it had a good impact on their learning. The team grew, hiring more women and diverse cast members. In 1981, the government stopped funding the show. So, the CTW found other ways to get money. These included magazines, books, product sales, and international income. In the 1980s, Sesame Street began teaching about relationships, kindness, and feelings. Many stories came from the lives of the show's staff. Important moments included the passing of Will Lee (who played Mr. Hooper) and the marriage of Luis and Maria.

In recent years, Sesame Street has faced new challenges. Children's viewing habits changed, and there was more competition. Cable TV grew, and ratings dropped. After 2000, the show made big changes. It moved from a mix of short segments to a more story-based format. Because of Elmo's popularity, the show added "Elmo's World". In late 2015, HBO started airing new episodes first. These episodes became available on PBS nine months later. By its 50th anniversary in 2019, Sesame Street had made over 4,500 episodes. It also had 35 TV specials, 200 home videos, and 180 albums. Its YouTube channel had almost 5 million subscribers. The show had 24 million followers on social media.

The Amazing History of Sesame Street

Why Sesame Street Was Created

In the late 1960s, almost all American homes had a TV. Young children watched about 27 hours of TV each week. But many people thought children's shows were too violent. They also felt the shows focused too much on selling things. Producer Joan Ganz Cooney called children's TV a "wasteland." Many shows were made by local stations. They didn't focus much on teaching or showing different cultures. Using TV to teach children was a new and exciting idea.

Experts like Edward Palmer and Shalom M. Fisch noted that early children's TV was simple. Shows often just showed a camera's view of kids. Or they showed pictures from storybooks. The hosts sometimes talked down to children. An exception was Captain Kangaroo, hosted by Bob Keeshan. This show had a calmer pace and a more hopeful feeling.

Research showed that children who were ready for school did better. They earned higher grades and learned more easily. Children from lower-income families often had fewer resources to prepare for school. Studies found these children often scored lower in school-related skills. They continued to have learning gaps. The study of developmental psychology was growing. Scientists began to understand that early education could boost children's thinking skills. Because of these changes, it was the perfect time for a show like Sesame Street.

Getting Ready for the Show (1966-1969)

The Big Idea

In 1966, Joan Ganz Cooney was making TV shows at WNDT. She had won an Emmy for a film about poverty. She met Lloyd Morrisett, who worked at the Carnegie Corporation. Morrisett had given money to groups that educated young children. Cooney, Morrisett, and others believed TV could reach many children. They wanted to use TV's power for good.

Lloyd Morrisett, co-creator of Sesame Street and co-founder of Sesame Workshop, shown here in 2010.

Morrisett hired Cooney to study how children learn and watch TV. She visited experts across North America. She wrote a report called "The Potential Uses of Television for Preschool Education." It explained how TV could help young children, especially those from lower-income families. The show aimed to be appealing to all children. It wanted to help inner-city children learn as much as those with more opportunities.

Cooney suggested using public TV to improve children's shows. She wanted high-quality production, good writing, and great animation. This would attract a large audience. As one critic said, "If [children] could recite Budweiser jingles from TV, why not give them a program that would teach the ABCs and simple number concepts?" Cooney also wanted to include humor for adults. This would encourage parents and older siblings to watch too. By 2019, 80% of parents watched Sesame Street with their children.

Building the Show

Because of Cooney's idea, the Carnegie Corporation gave her $1 million in 1968. This helped start the Children's Television Workshop (CTW). Morrisett raised more money from the government and other groups. The CTW's first budget was $8 million. This mix of public and private funding protected the show from money problems. Sesame Street was expensive to make. The creators wanted it to be as good as other professional TV shows.

Jim Henson, (1989), creator of the Muppets. Henson was initially reluctant to become involved with a children's show, but agreed to do so.

The producers spent 18 months getting the show ready. This was a very long time for children's TV. Each episode cost $28,000. Cooney put together a team of producers. Jon Stone handled writing and casting. David Connell managed animation. Samuel Gibbon connected the production and research teams.

The CTW hired Harvard University professor Gerald S. Lesser. He helped design the show's learning goals. He also led a team of advisors. These advisors helped create the educational goals and creative ideas. They held seminars in 1968 to decide what skills the new show should teach. They gathered experts from many fields. The seminars created many ideas for the Sesame Street curriculum.

The producers decided to focus on thinking skills. This was based on what schools and parents wanted. The main goals were understanding symbols, thinking processes, and the world around them. The seminars also set rules for how the show would handle different cultures and social topics. This is also when Jim Henson joined Sesame Street. Cooney met Henson at one of these seminars.

The producers decided to set the show on a city street. This was a new idea. Jon Stone believed inner-city children would connect with it. Even with an urban setting, they avoided showing too much negativity. Lesser said, "Sesame Street became a sweet show, and its staff maintains that there is nothing wrong in that."

The show was first called the "Preschool Educational Television Show." The producers couldn't agree on a name. They finally chose Sesame Street. It was inspired by Ali Baba's magical phrase. Some worried it would be hard for young children to say. Jon Stone disliked the name but later said he was "deeply grateful" for it.

Jon Stone was in charge of casting. He wanted a diverse cast. Auditions began in spring 1969. They filmed the auditions and tested children's reactions. Actors who got the "most enthusiastic thumbs up" were chosen. For example, Loretta Long was picked to play Susan. Children sang along with her during her audition. Most of the cast and crew joined through connections with Stone and other producers. Stone hired Bob McGrath (Bob), Will Lee (Mr. Hooper), and Garrett Saunders (Gordon).

Using Research to Make it Great

Sesame Street was the first children's TV show to use clear learning goals. It also used research to create its design and content. Research had three main jobs: to see if kids liked the show, to find ways to make it better, and to tell the public about its impact. About 10-15% of the first $8 million budget went to research. Researchers were always in the studio during filming. A "Writer's Notebook" helped writers turn research goals into TV stories. Muppet characters were made to teach specific things. For example, Oscar the Grouch taught children about their feelings. This teamwork between researchers and producers was called the "CTW model."

Welcome sign at entrance to ETS headquarters. The ETS conducted the early summative studies about Sesame Street.

Edward Palmer was the CTW's first Director of Research. He helped build the CTW's research foundation. He tested if the learning goals were reaching children. Palmer also worked with the Educational Testing Service (ETS). His research was very important to the show's success.

Palmer's team used a new way to test the show. He created "the distractor." This tested if the show kept children's attention. Two children watched an episode on a TV. Next to it, a slide show changed every seven seconds. Researchers recorded when children looked away from the episode. If the episode held their interest 80-90% of the time, it aired. If it was only 50%, they reshot it. By the fourth season, episodes rarely scored below 85%.

Testing the First Episodes

Before the first season, producers made five test episodes. They wanted to see if children liked them and understood the lessons. These were shown to preschoolers in homes and day care centers in July 1969. The results were very good. Children learned from the shows, liked them, and stayed focused for the whole hour. However, children's interest dropped during the "Street" parts when no Muppets were on screen. This was because child psychologists had advised against showing humans and Muppets together. They thought it would confuse children.

The "Street" scenes were important for connecting the show. So, producers knew they needed to make changes. Connell, Stone, and Gibbon disagreed with the experts. Cooney agreed with them. Lesser called their decision to go against advice "a turning point." They reshot the Street segments. Henson and his team created Muppets like Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird. These Muppets could interact with human actors. These characters became very popular. Also, Garrett Saunders' role as Gordon was recast with Matt Robinson. These test episodes led to the "artful blend of fluffy monsters and earnest adults" that is Sesame Street.

The First Season and Beyond (1969-1970)

Two days before the show's premiere, a preview called This Way to Sesame Street aired on NBC. It was a special look at the new show.

Joan Ganz Cooney, co-creator of Sesame Street and co-founder of the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop), in 1985

The first season of Sesame Street began on November 10, 1969. It was praised for being new and original. Parents and children loved it. The show reached 67.6% of the country. It had a 3.3 Nielsen rating, meaning 1.9 million homes and 7 million children watched daily. In its first season, the ETS reported that children who watched the show scored higher on tests.

In November 1970, Time magazine featured Big Bird on its cover. He received more fan mail than any human host. The magazine called it "the best children's show in TV history." An executive at ABC said Sesame Street brought "taste and wit and substance" to children's TV. Many thought it would force other channels to improve their kids' shows. Sesame Street won a Peabody Award, three Emmys, and the Prix Jeunesse award in 1970. President Richard Nixon sent Cooney a letter of congratulations.

Sesame Street did face some criticism. In May 1970, a commission in Mississippi voted not to air the show. A member said Mississippi was not ready for the show's diverse cast. A commercial station in Jackson aired it instead. Cooney called the ban "a tragedy." The commission changed its decision three weeks later.

The producers made some changes in the second season. Segments with children became more natural. More groups wanted to be shown on Sesame Street. For example, Hispanic groups criticized the lack of Latino characters. The CTW responded by hiring Hispanic actors, staff, and researchers. By the mid-1970s, the show included Chicano and Puerto Rican cast members. It also featured films about Mexican holidays and Spanish words.

Some groups also wanted more strong female characters. For example, National Organization for Women (NOW) felt the show was too focused on males. They also thought the character Susan, originally a housewife, needed a different role. The show's producers responded by making Susan a nurse. They also hired a female writer.

Growing and Changing in the 1970s

By the mid-1970s, Sesame Street was a big part of American culture. Studies in 1970 and 1971 showed the show helped children learn. These results helped the producers get funding for several more years. They also helped promote the show. By the second season, Sesame Street was so popular that researchers changed how they studied it. They found that children who watched more often understood the material better.

Producer Jon Stone was key to the show's success. He was known for finding and supporting talented people. He hired and promoted many women. This was at a time when few women held top TV production jobs. His work helped many women become producers and writers. They later led children's programming at channels like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Dulcy Singer became the first female executive producer of Sesame Street.

After its first success, the show's producers looked for other ways to get money. The CTW decided to rely on government agencies and private groups. This protected it from money problems that commercial networks faced. But it also made finding ongoing support a challenge. In 1978, the U.S. Department of Education delayed a $2 million payment. So, the CTW decided to rely more on selling products, publishing, and international sales. Jim Henson owned the rights to the Muppets. He agreed to market them if the profits went to fund the CTW. The producers wanted full control over all products. They insisted that any product linked to the show had to be educational and affordable. The CTW worked with Random House to create books and other materials. In 1980, the CTW also started a touring stage show.

Soon after Sesame Street started, people from other countries wanted their own versions. Former CBS executive Mike Dann helped the show become global. A flexible plan was created for these international versions. They were called "co-productions." They had their own sets, characters, and learning goals. By 2016, 39 different co-productions had been made. Each had its own name, Muppets, and goals for local children. By 2019, 150 million children watched over 150 versions in 70 languages. In 2005, income from these international shows was $96 million.

Sesame Street's cast grew in the 1970s. This helped the show reach its goal of more diversity. New cast members included Sonia Manzano (Maria), Northern Calloway (David), Alaina Reed (Olivia), Emilio Delgado (Luis), Linda Bove (Linda), and Buffy Sainte-Marie (Buffy). In 1973, Roscoe Orman became the third actor to play Gordon.

New Muppet characters also appeared in the 1970s. Count von Count was created by Jerry Nelson. Nelson also voiced Mr. Snuffleupagus, a large Muppet needing two puppeteers. Richard Hunt created characters like Gladys the Cow and Forgetful Jones. Telly Monster was first performed by Brian Muehl. Marty Robinson took over in 1984. Frank Oz created Cookie Monster. Matt Robinson created Roosevelt Franklin. Fran Brill was the first female Muppet puppeteer. She created Prairie Dawn. In 1975, Henson created The Muppet Show. This show was filmed in London. Many Muppet performers went with him. This opened doors for new performers on Sesame Street.

The CTW wanted the best music for Sesame Street. Songwriters like Joe Raposo, the music director, kept the rights to their songs. This meant writers earned good money. It also helped the show stay popular. Raposo's "I Love Trash" for Oscar the Grouch was on the first Sesame Street album. Jeff Moss' "Rubber Duckie", sung by Henson for Ernie, was a Top-40 hit in 1970. Another Henson song, "Bein' Green" for Kermit the Frog, was recorded by Frank Sinatra. "Sing" became a hit for The Carpenters in 1973.

In 1977, the show was the first to show breastfeeding on television.

In 1978, Stone and Singer made the special Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. It told a story where Bert and Ernie gave up their favorite things for gifts. Bert and Ernie were played by Frank Oz and Jim Henson. This special won Emmys for Stone and Singer in 1979.

By 1979, nine million American children under six watched Sesame Street daily. Four out of five children had watched it over a six-week period. 90% of children from lower-income homes watched the show regularly.

New Lessons and Challenges in the 1980s

In 1984, rules for children's TV changed. Advertising during kids' shows almost doubled. This led to more shows focused on selling products. Sesame Street did well during this time. This was even though the U.S. government stopped all funding for the CTW in 1981. By 1987, the show earned $42 million a year. This came from its magazine, books, product sales, and international income. This covered two-thirds of its costs. The rest came from its PBS broadcasts.

In the 1980s, Sesame Street focused on helping children understand their world. The show's lessons grew to include feelings, relationships, and kindness. Many stories came from the real lives of the show's staff.

In 1982, Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, passed away. For the 1983 season, the show decided to explain Mr. Hooper's death to its young audience. They felt it was important to honor a beloved character. They talked with psychologists and other experts. Research showed that most children understood the message. Parents reacted very positively to the episode. The episode won an Emmy. It aired on Thanksgiving Day in 1983 so families could watch together. It was a very touching and memorable episode.

In the mid-1980s, people became more aware of child safety. So, Sesame Street decided to "reveal" Mr. Snuffleupagus in 1985. Before this, only Big Bird could see Snuffy. Adults thought Snuffy was Big Bird's "imaginary friend." The show's producers worried about the message this sent. They thought if adults didn't believe Big Bird, children might be afraid to tell adults important things.

For the 1988 and 1989 seasons, the show explored love, marriage, and having a baby. The characters Luis and Maria fell in love, married, and had a child named Gabi. Sonia Manzano, who played Maria, was pregnant in real life. Her experiences gave the show's writers the idea. Studies after these episodes showed that children understood more about pregnancy.

Adapting to New Times in the 1990s

The 1990s were a time of change for Sesame Street. Several people who were part of the show from the start passed away. These included Jim Henson in 1990 and songwriter Joe Raposo. Other long-time cast and crew members also passed away.

By the early 1990s, Sesame Street was still the top children's show. Its music had won 11 children's Grammys. However, another PBS show, Barney & Friends, started to challenge its popularity. Sesame Street's ratings began to drop. For its 25th anniversary in 1993, the show changed its set. It was called "Around the Corner." New human and Muppet characters were added. These included Zoe, baby Natasha, and Ruthie. Zoe was created to add another female Muppet. She aimed to break stereotypes and be a positive role model for girls. She was one of the first characters developed with help from marketing experts. In 1998, Sesame Street accepted corporate sponsorship for the first time.

Elmo and his portrayer, Kevin Clash, in 2010.

For its 30th anniversary in 1999, producers looked into why ratings were lower. They studied how children's viewing habits had changed. They found that children started watching at a younger age. Also, preschool TV had become more competitive. The traditional mix of short segments wasn't holding young children's attention as well. The rise of home videos showed that children could focus for longer. But Sesame Street viewers, especially younger ones, lost interest after 40-45 minutes.

Starting in 1998, a new 15-minute segment called "Elmo's World" was added. It used animation, Muppets, music, and live-action film. But it had a more continuous story. "Elmo's World" followed the same pattern each time and used lots of repetition. It took place in a colorful, crayon-drawn world. Elmo was chosen as the host because he was popular with three- to four-year-olds. Elmo became a huge success, especially after the "Tickle Me Elmo" doll sold five million copies in 1996. This made Elmo a household name and led to "Elmo's World."

The 2000s: Modernizing and Reaching Out

On June 5, 2000, the Children's Television Workshop changed its name to Sesame Workshop. This showed its move into non-TV and interactive media. The "CTW" initials on the Sesame Street sign changed to "123." The website also changed. In 2002, Sesame Street producers made bigger changes. They changed the show's basic structure. The target age for the show shifted from four years to three years. Co-executive producer Arlene Sherman said, "We basically deconstructed the show." They expanded on "Elmo's World" by using a story-based format. This made the show easier for young children to follow.

Following its tradition of discussing difficult topics, Sesame Street addressed the events of 9/11. This was in its premiere episode on February 4, 2002. This episode, and a series of four episodes after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, were used to help communities.

In 2006, the United States Department of State called Sesame Street "the most widely viewed children's television show in the world." More than half of the international co-productions were made after 2001. In 2003, Takalani Sesame, a South African co-production, introduced Kami. Kami was a Muppet created to help children in South Africa understand important health topics and show empathy for those facing health challenges. This caused some discussion in the United States. But the discussion ended quickly after Kofi Annan and Jerry Falwell praised the efforts. By 2006, Sesame Street had won more Emmy Awards than any other children's show. It won the outstanding children's series award for twelve years in a row. By 2009, the show had won 118 Emmys. It also received an Emmy for its 40 years on air.

The 2008–2009 economic downturn affected Sesame Street. In spring 2009, Sesame Workshop had to reduce its staff. By the show's 40th anniversary, it was the fifteenth most popular children's show. In 1969, 130 episodes were made each year. By 2003, only 26 episodes were made due to rising costs. Corporate funding decreased, and DVD sales dropped. By 2009, Sesame Workshop launched a new website. It offered many free video clips and podcasts.

Starting in 2009, Sesame Street worked to bring back older viewers. It also successfully increased its audience among 3- to 5-year-olds. In 2012, for the show's 43rd season, Elmo's World was replaced with Elmo the Musical. This was aimed at older viewers.

Sesame Street in the 2010s

In 2014, more children were watching online and on mobile devices. There was also more competition from other preschool shows. Sesame Workshop and PBS started making a half-hour version of the show. The hour-long version still aired in the mornings. The new, shorter version aired in the afternoons, when more children watched TV. PBS also began streaming full episodes online. In 2014, Sesame Workshop launched a streaming service called Sesame Go. It offered both old and new episodes.

In late 2015, HBO began airing new episodes of Sesame Street first. This was part of a five-year deal. Episodes became available on PBS stations and websites nine months after airing on HBO. This change happened because of big shifts in the media business. Sesame Street had faced financial losses in 2014. The deal allowed Sesame Workshop to make more episodes, about 35 new ones per season. It also created chances for spin-off series and new educational shows. This decision caused some concern. Critics worried it might favor children with more access to TV. They felt it moved away from the show's original focus on all children. In 2017, the show's episodes were shortened from one hour to thirty minutes. They focused on fewer characters and a single main topic.

In April 2017, Sesame Street introduced Julia. She was the first Muppet with autism. Her puppeteer, Stacey Gordon, has an autistic son. Julia had already appeared in digital and printed storybooks since 2015.

By its 50th anniversary in 2019, Sesame Street had produced over 4,500 episodes. It also had 35 TV specials, 200 home videos, and 180 albums. Its YouTube channel had almost 5 million subscribers. The show had 24 million followers on social media. As part of its anniversary, Sesame Street had a traveling show in 2019. The slogan for the anniversary was "50 Years and Counting."

Recent Years: The 2020s

In 2020, CNN aired town hall segments with Sesame Street characters. These helped children understand important social topics during the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter discussions.

On January 29, 2024, the Elmo X (formerly Twitter) account posted: "Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?" This post received many responses. People shared feelings of worry, anxiety, and fear. This sparked a wider conversation about mental health. The next day, the Elmo account posted: "Wow! Elmo is glad he asked! Elmo learned that it is important to ask a friend how they are doing. Elmo will check in again soon, friends! Elmo loves you." Other Sesame Street social media accounts also shared messages of support. Sesame Workshop provided mental health resources.

On October 30, 2023, The Hollywood Reporter announced a change for Sesame Street season 56. The show moved from its traditional mix of segments to a more story-based format. This included a new animated series called Tales from 123.

On December 13, 2024, it was announced that HBO was removing Sesame Street from its lineup. The episodes remained in the Max streaming library until 2027.

On May 19, 2025, it was announced that Sesame Street began airing new episodes on Netflix starting November 10, 2025. These episodes also aired on PBS. To include older episodes on Netflix, new episodes are released on both platforms on the same day. Past Sesame Street seasons are also available.

In August 2025, Sesame Workshop started a five-year partnership with Phreesia. This is a healthcare technology company. The goal is to promote children's health. They deliver educational content with Sesame Street characters to families during doctor visits.