By — News Desk News Desk Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/sesame-street Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Sesame Street celebrates 45 years with 45 facts Arts Nov 10, 2014 5:51 PM EDT “Sesame Street,” the long-running children’s television series that airs on PBS, celebrates its 45th birthday today. To look back at 45 seasons entertaining and educating children, the show’s Twitter feed shared 45 facts Monday; including Oscar the Grouch’s original color, Elmo’s favorite food and how Cookie Monster’s fingers set him apart from his other fellow monsters. On the first season of Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch was orange. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/YU050LX3IH — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Caroll Spinney, who performs Big Bird, has been in that role since the first episode. Ever. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 When inside the Big Bird costume, Spinney wears a harness with a video monitor so he can see what’s going on. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In 1992, we created a TV special where Snuffy’s parents went through a divorce. It never aired. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Cookie Monster’s first name, originally? He thinks it may be Sid. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 He’s never been the Vegetable Monster. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo once testified before Congress. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Big Bird’s teddy bear, Radar, was given to him by Mr. Hooper as a gift. #SesameStreet — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Bert has an identical twin brother named Bart, who briefly appeared in an episode in 1974. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Cookie Monster and Ernie are both left-handed. (The puppeteers use their right hands for the mouths.) #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Remember Ernie’s Rubber Duckie song? In 1970, it made it to no. 16 on the Billboard top singles chart. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/kLbB7AozWM — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Abby Cadabby speaks a language called “Dragonfly.” She’s teaching it to Rosita. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo’s World debuted in 1998. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama have all lived in the White House … and visited Sesame Street. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo is eternally three and a half years old. Even on his birthday. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Grover has been an astronaut, waiter, salesman, professor, marshal, farmer, elevator operator, and of course, superhero. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Count von Count has had one, two, three lady friends: Countess Dahling von Dahling, Lady Two, and Countess von Backwards. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Snuffleupagus has a first name. It’s Aloysius. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/4VpoUVMipv — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In an early episode of Season 7 (in 1976), Big Bird ran for President. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/L21NmtVPTv — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In 1990, a clay stop-motion short starring a character named Arnold debuted on the show. It would become “Hey, Arnold!” #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Super Grover’s true identity isn’t Grover Monster. It’s Grover Kent, ace doorknob salesman. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo’s cousins run a hotel in the UK called @TheFurchester. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/9ArHgbnaex — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 And Cookie Monster is a room service waiter at @TheFurchester. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/C86k7uUJru — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Oscar’s car is called the Sloppy Jalopy. It’s license plate reads “SCRAM.” #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/bkdzVICRYe — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo’s favorite food is wasabi. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Murray and Ovejita have visited more than 20 different schools in the “Murray Has a Little Lamb” segment. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 The 1,000th video uploaded to our Youtube Channel featured a Muppet spoof of Justin Bieber. #45SesameFacts https://t.co/v4sDz7Cg1B — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Count von Count has a pet octopus named Octavia. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In Martian-speak, “Yip yip yip” still means “yip yip yp.” #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/FYB0Gr73kg — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Bert has 368 bottle caps in his collection, including the rare and much sought after Fizzy Fizz cap. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In total, Bert and Ernie have one eyebrow. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/XDTk91ssrv — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Mister Hooper died 31 years ago. We still miss him. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/kLgSHL2USE — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo can ride a tricycle. #45SesameFacts https://t.co/F9qqTAyUWh — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 The first celebrity to appear on Sesame Street? James Earl Jones. #45SesameFacts https://t.co/mB6zOZOwDq — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Rosita originally had wings. She was designed to be a fruit bat. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 There are more than 60 unique Elmo’s World segments. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Cookie Monster has five fingers on each hand. All the other monsters four. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/ZB9dcDb4ic — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Both the Amazing Mumford and Count von Count live in castles. And they are next door neighbors. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Ernie’s favorite number keeps changing. It’s been two, five, seven, and 8,243,721. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In the first Super Grover segment (1974), Super Grover helps two brothers who are fighting over an apple. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo has over 6 million Facebook fans. Cookie Monster has over 10 million. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Telly is named after his original obsession. No, not triangles. Television. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Big Bird is 8’2” tall. Or about two and a half meters. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/CB4MrXi23V — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Oscar has a cell phone, but it weighs seven pounds or so. It’s an old one Jim Henson threw away. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Sesame Street debuted 45 years ago today. Thanks for reading our #45SesameFacts! pic.twitter.com/ub3EK6ULy3 — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — News Desk News Desk
“Sesame Street,” the long-running children’s television series that airs on PBS, celebrates its 45th birthday today. To look back at 45 seasons entertaining and educating children, the show’s Twitter feed shared 45 facts Monday; including Oscar the Grouch’s original color, Elmo’s favorite food and how Cookie Monster’s fingers set him apart from his other fellow monsters. On the first season of Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch was orange. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/YU050LX3IH — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Caroll Spinney, who performs Big Bird, has been in that role since the first episode. Ever. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 When inside the Big Bird costume, Spinney wears a harness with a video monitor so he can see what’s going on. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In 1992, we created a TV special where Snuffy’s parents went through a divorce. It never aired. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Cookie Monster’s first name, originally? He thinks it may be Sid. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 He’s never been the Vegetable Monster. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo once testified before Congress. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Big Bird’s teddy bear, Radar, was given to him by Mr. Hooper as a gift. #SesameStreet — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Bert has an identical twin brother named Bart, who briefly appeared in an episode in 1974. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Cookie Monster and Ernie are both left-handed. (The puppeteers use their right hands for the mouths.) #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Remember Ernie’s Rubber Duckie song? In 1970, it made it to no. 16 on the Billboard top singles chart. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/kLbB7AozWM — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Abby Cadabby speaks a language called “Dragonfly.” She’s teaching it to Rosita. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo’s World debuted in 1998. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama have all lived in the White House … and visited Sesame Street. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo is eternally three and a half years old. Even on his birthday. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Grover has been an astronaut, waiter, salesman, professor, marshal, farmer, elevator operator, and of course, superhero. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Count von Count has had one, two, three lady friends: Countess Dahling von Dahling, Lady Two, and Countess von Backwards. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Snuffleupagus has a first name. It’s Aloysius. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/4VpoUVMipv — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In an early episode of Season 7 (in 1976), Big Bird ran for President. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/L21NmtVPTv — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In 1990, a clay stop-motion short starring a character named Arnold debuted on the show. It would become “Hey, Arnold!” #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Super Grover’s true identity isn’t Grover Monster. It’s Grover Kent, ace doorknob salesman. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo’s cousins run a hotel in the UK called @TheFurchester. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/9ArHgbnaex — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 And Cookie Monster is a room service waiter at @TheFurchester. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/C86k7uUJru — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Oscar’s car is called the Sloppy Jalopy. It’s license plate reads “SCRAM.” #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/bkdzVICRYe — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo’s favorite food is wasabi. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Murray and Ovejita have visited more than 20 different schools in the “Murray Has a Little Lamb” segment. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 The 1,000th video uploaded to our Youtube Channel featured a Muppet spoof of Justin Bieber. #45SesameFacts https://t.co/v4sDz7Cg1B — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Count von Count has a pet octopus named Octavia. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In Martian-speak, “Yip yip yip” still means “yip yip yp.” #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/FYB0Gr73kg — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Bert has 368 bottle caps in his collection, including the rare and much sought after Fizzy Fizz cap. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In total, Bert and Ernie have one eyebrow. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/XDTk91ssrv — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Mister Hooper died 31 years ago. We still miss him. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/kLgSHL2USE — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo can ride a tricycle. #45SesameFacts https://t.co/F9qqTAyUWh — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 The first celebrity to appear on Sesame Street? James Earl Jones. #45SesameFacts https://t.co/mB6zOZOwDq — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Rosita originally had wings. She was designed to be a fruit bat. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 There are more than 60 unique Elmo’s World segments. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Cookie Monster has five fingers on each hand. All the other monsters four. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/ZB9dcDb4ic — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Both the Amazing Mumford and Count von Count live in castles. And they are next door neighbors. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Ernie’s favorite number keeps changing. It’s been two, five, seven, and 8,243,721. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 In the first Super Grover segment (1974), Super Grover helps two brothers who are fighting over an apple. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Elmo has over 6 million Facebook fans. Cookie Monster has over 10 million. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Telly is named after his original obsession. No, not triangles. Television. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Big Bird is 8’2” tall. Or about two and a half meters. #45SesameFacts pic.twitter.com/CB4MrXi23V — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Oscar has a cell phone, but it weighs seven pounds or so. It’s an old one Jim Henson threw away. #45SesameFacts — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 Sesame Street debuted 45 years ago today. Thanks for reading our #45SesameFacts! pic.twitter.com/ub3EK6ULy3 — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 10, 2014 We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now