Jim Henson is someone we all grew up with. If it was Sesame Street you loved Bert and Ernie. If you watched the Labyrinth you wanted to chilly down with the wild gang. Also don’t get me started on the live action Ninja Turtles movies. Jim Henson has had a hand in the imaginations of people for several generations. Recently I had the privilege to visit the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles to check out the Jim Henson exhibit. In a word, amazing.
Walking through a significant part of my childhood and being reminded as soon as I entered why I was a geek had me hooked. The colors and vibrant images that you are met with when you enter the Jim Henson exhibit will remind you of a time where all you had was your imagination. We all grew up talking to our toys, wishing they’d talk back like the muppets we saw on TV. This exhibit was there to show you the progression of a man who never lost his imagination and the legacy that is still seen to this day.
What I Saw
One of the first things you see when you enter the Jim Henson exhibit is Kermit the Frog waving hello. If that doesn’t tell you how awesome this is going to get, I don’t know what to tell you. You see early prototypes and early versions of your favorite muppets. There are hand written scripts and lyrics to songs sang by the muppets as well, which are just a delight to see.
After you go through the history of the muppets, you move into more niche territory. You see actual props and costumes from the film The Dark Crystal. There’s a brief Fraggle Rock section. Also, and this is just my opinion, the highlight of the night, Jareth the Goblin King’s ballroom attire. I could hear the voice of David Bowie in my head as I passed this national treasure.
Almost every piece at the exhibit had a brief, yet informative description as to where the inspiration had come from in the object. This exhibit is filled with such rich history and information. You could get long in both the nostalgia and learn a lot about the things you loved as a child.
Overall
I thoroughly enjoyed the Jim Henson exhibit and I implore you to go check it out as well. The rest of the museum is awesome as well and has so much to offer in culture and experience. Seeing your favorite muppets up close is already worth the price of admission. So take it upon yourself to head on down to the Skirball Cultural Center and broaden your mind. The Jim Henson Exhibit runs through September 2, so hurry before it’s too late.
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