Street Gang facts for kids
Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
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| Author | Michael Davis |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Published | 2008 |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Pages | 380 |
| ISBN | 9780670019960 |
Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street is a non-fiction book that tells the whole story of the famous children's TV show, Sesame Street. Written by journalist Michael Davis, it was published by Viking Press in 2008. The book came out just in time for Sesame Street's 40th anniversary in 2009. Michael Davis spent five years researching and writing the book. He talked to hundreds of people involved with the show, including its creators, actors, and crew members.
Street Gang starts by describing the funeral of Muppet creator Jim Henson in 1990, seen through the eyes of Sesame Street co-creator Joan Ganz Cooney. The first part of the book explains how Sesame Street and the Children's Television Workshop (the group that makes the show) first started. Davis also shares stories about many of the important people who helped create and produce Sesame Street. Later chapters cover the rest of the show's history, leading up to its 40th birthday in 2009.
Most people who reviewed Street Gang liked it a lot. They were impressed by how much research Davis did and how many details he included. Some reviewers thought the book felt like a collection of stories rather than a smooth history. One person even guessed that this book would become the most important source of information about Sesame Street. An audio version of Street Gang was released on the same day as the book, read by Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. A second edition of the book came out later that year. In 2021, a documentary film called Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street was made based on this book.
Behind the Scenes: How the Book Began
Michael Davis was a senior editor for TV Guide from 1998 to 2007. In 2004, he wrote an article for the magazine to celebrate Sesame Street's 35th anniversary. This article was the starting point for his book, Street Gang. Davis spent five years working on the book. He also worked closely with Sesame Street co-creator Joan Ganz Cooney to get the story right.
In 2009, Sesame Street celebrated its 40th anniversary. It was one of the most-watched children's TV shows in the United States. The show had won 8 Grammy Awards and over 100 Emmy Awards, which is more than any other children's show! By 2006, Sesame Street had special versions made in twenty other countries, called "co-productions." In 2001, more than 120 million people watched these international versions. By 2009, the show was shown in over 140 countries around the world. A survey in 1996 found that 95% of all American preschoolers had watched Sesame Street by the time they were three years old. In 2008, it was thought that 77 million Americans had watched the show when they were kids.
Key Moments in Sesame Street History
The book Street Gang takes readers on a journey through the creation and growth of Sesame Street.
The Beginning: A Big Idea for Kids
The story begins with the funeral of Muppet creator Jim Henson in New York City in 1990. This sad event is seen through the eyes of Joan Ganz Cooney, one of the main creators of Sesame Street.
The first part of the book, covering chapters 1 to 12, explains how Sesame Street and the Children's Television Workshop (CTW) were created. The idea for Sesame Street came after a dinner party in early 1966. Joan Ganz Cooney and her husband hosted the party, and guests included Carnegie Foundation vice-president Lloyd Morrisett and Cooney's boss, Lewis Freedman. They talked about creating a new kind of children's TV show. They wanted a show that could use the "addictive qualities of television" to help young children, especially those from low-income families, learn and get ready for school.
Davis shares stories about many important people who helped develop the show. These include Cooney, Morrisett, Jon Stone, Sam Gibbon, Tom Whedon, Evelyn Payne Davis, Jim Henson, Caroll Spinney, Gerald S. Lesser, Edward Palmer, Joe Raposo, Loretta Long, Bob McGrath, Will Lee, and Matt Robinson. The book also looks at the history of early children's television, like Captain Kangaroo and The Howdy Doody Show. Davis points out a fun coincidence: many people involved with the show had first names starting with the letter 'J', like Joan Cooney, Jon Stone, Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, and Joe Raposo.
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First Episode and Early Success
Chapter 13, called "Intermission," describes the very first episode of Sesame Street. It first aired on PBS on November 10, 1969. Davis says that watching that first episode today is like traveling back in time to 1969. The first show was sponsored by the letters 'W', 'S', and 'E', and by the numbers '2' and '3'.
Chapter 14 talks about how much Sesame Street influenced people during its first season. It also describes the show's big success and what its critics said.
The 1970s: New Characters and Challenges
Chapters 15 and 16 cover the 1970s. These parts of the book describe the people who produced the show, the actors who joined, and the new Muppets created during this time. Davis shares stories about producer Dulcy Singer, Christopher Cerf, Sonia Manzano, Northern Calloway, Emilio Delgado, Linda Bove, Richard Hunt, and Fran Brill. Famous Muppet characters like Cookie Monster and Roosevelt Franklin were also created in these years. Davis also talks about the great music of Sesame Street, and the funding challenges faced by the CTW.
The 1980s: Important Moments and Lessons
Chapter 17 focuses on the late 1970s and 1980s. Davis describes the making of the show's first special, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. He also talks about the passing of actor Northern Calloway and Will Lee (who played Mr. Hooper). Sesame Street handled Mr. Hooper's death in a groundbreaking way, helping children understand loss. This chapter also covers the creation of Elmo and the story of his performer, Kevin Clash. Another big moment was the wedding of Maria and Luis on the show. Davis says that Mr. Hooper's death and the wedding were like the "poles" holding up the "canvas tent" of Sesame Street in the 1980s. They showed the sometimes silly, sometimes sad, but always surprising cycle of life. The book also includes a story about Alison Bartlett-O'Reilly.
The 1990s and 2000s: Changes and New Popularity
Chapter 18 covers the 1990s and 2000s. This part describes how the cast reacted to the deaths of Calloway, Henson, Raposo, Connell, and Stone. It also discusses Jim Henson's business talks with Disney in 1990, just a few months before he passed away. The book mentions that Sesame Street's ratings went down for a while. In 1993, the show made big changes to try and fix this ("Around the Corner"). The only new thing from this big change that stayed was the Muppet character Zoe, performed by Fran Brill. There were also efforts to add more female Muppet characters. Davis talks about the huge popularity of "Tickle Me Elmo" during Christmas 1996, "Elmo's World," and the character Mr. Noodle.
Looking to the Future: A Lasting Impact
The book ends, just as it began, by focusing on Joan Ganz Cooney in her retirement years. Davis also discusses the creation of Sesame Street's newer character, Abby Cadabby, and how the show continues to influence children all over the world.
