Sesame Street "Episode 847" (found "Wicked Witch of the West" episode of children’s educational TV series; 1976): Difference between revisions

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{{ContentStart}}
{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Sesame Street: Episode 847</center>
|title=<center>“Episode 847”</center>
|image=Margarethamilton-witch.jpg
|image=SesameStreet847-HamiltonGrayscale.jpg
|imagecaption=Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Oscar the Grouch in a still from the episode.
|imagecaption=Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Oscar the Grouch in a still from the episode.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color: orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
}}
On February 10th, 1976, one of ''Sesame Street''’s most controversial episodes to date aired for the first and only time. '''"Episode 847"''' starred Margaret Hamilton, reprising her role as the Wicked Witch of the West from the classic 1939 film ''The Wizard of Oz''.
The central plot of the episode involves the witch losing her magic broom whilst flying over Sesame Street, only to have it wind up in the hands of David, who refuses to return it, skeptical towards the witch's intentions. As a result, she threatens to turn both Big Bird and David into inanimate objects (a feather duster and a basketball, respectively), also suggesting that she would make it rain inside Mr. Hooper's Store if the broom was not returned. Out of all the Sesame Street residents, the only one to react favorably towards the witch is Oscar, even to the point of developing a crush on her, although Big Bird also eventually warms to the witch and is saddened when she leaves, comically dropping her broom for a second time as the episode ends.
==Reception==
[[File:SesameStreet847-BehindTheScenes.jpeg|thumb|250px|Margaret, alongside Caroll Spinney in between takes.]]
In the days following the episode's airing, a barrage of complaints was received by the Children's Television Workshop, the majority of which were from angered parents whose children had been traumatized by Hamilton's frightening guest appearance. Due to the episode's overwhelmingly poor reception, several additional test screenings were held the following month, although the results were generally inconclusive, with a large portion of the test audience appearing fascinated by the witch, rather than scared, on account of her green face (as, during this period, some families didn't have access to a color TV). Despite the tests' inconclusive results, the initial complaints were enough for Anna Herera (of the CTW Research Department) to declare the episode unsuitable for re-airing. It has not been aired or shown publicly in any form since.
Notably, Hamilton had made appearances a year earlier on ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' (as herself) dressing up in her witch costume at the end of the Mister Rogers segment, in order to reassure children that the Wicked Witch of the West didn't actually exist and was simply a character.<ref>[https://www.metv.com/stories/in-1975-the-wicked-witch-went-on-mister-rogers-so-kids-would-not-be-afraid-of-her MeTV article on Hamilton’s appearance on ''Mister Rodgers’ Neighborhood''.] Retrieved 15 Feb '19</ref> She also appeared months after her ''Sesame Street'' appearance on  "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special" (as the witch), acting more fun-loving and wacky. Both were not met with any controversy and were generally well-received.


On February 10, 1976, one of ''Sesame Street''’s most controversial episodes to date aired for the first and only time. '''Episode 847''' starred Margaret Hamilton, reprising her role as the Wicked Witch of the West from the classic 1939 film ''The Wizard of Oz''.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hamilton_(actress) Wikipedia article on Margaret Hamilton.] Last retrieved 28 Sep 2014.</ref><ref>[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Margaret_Hamilton Muppet Wiki article on Margaret Hamilton.] Last retrieved 28 Sep 2014.</ref><ref>[http://lostmediawiki.com/images/9/9a/Margarethamiltonarticle.jpg Scan of a newspaper article on the then-upcoming episode; 08 Feb 1976.] Last retrieved 03 Oct 2014.</ref>
==Release==
In February 2019, it was announced that over 4500 episodes of ''Sesame Street'' over its 49 seasons would be archived in the American Archive of Public Broadcasting. It is possible that "Episode 847" could be included in the episodes being archived, but this is not confirmed.<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-19-019/?loclr=twloc&fbclid=IwAR30aFhut7n1NMhbJNHEZpUNuhYbc5g8ZAbi_Sc5e_RPBgCBds_EiyO94Fs The announcement of the archiving of ''Sesame Street'' episodes.] Retrieved 15 Feb '19</ref>


The central plot of the episode involves the witch losing her magic broom whilst flying over Sesame Street, only to have it wind up in the hands of David, who refuses to return it, sceptical towards the witch's intentions. As a result, she threatens to turn both Big Bird and David into inanimate objects (a feather duster and a basketball, respectively), also suggesting that she would make it rain inside Mr Hooper's Store if the broom was not returned. Out of all the Sesame Street residents, the only one to react favorably towards the witch is Oscar, even to the point of developing a crush on her, although Big Bird also eventually warms to the witch and is saddened when she leaves, comically dropping her broom for a second time as the episode ends.
Jim Henson Legacy president Craig Shemin hosted a screening of clips from the episode at The Museum of the Moving Image in New York City on November 24th, 2019, as part of a "Lost and Found" event celebrating Sesame Street's 50th anniversary. The screening was also accompanied by an unaired segment from [[Sesame Street "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce" (lost episode of children's puppetry TV series; 1992)|"Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce"]], and a discussion panel with puppeteer Stephanie D'Abruzzo, former Sesame Street head writer Norman Stiles, and Sesame Workshop's Rosemarie Truglio.<ref>[http://www.movingimage.us/visit/calendar/2019/11/24/detail/sesame-street-lost-and-found The Museum of the Moving Image's official website where it announces "''Sesame Street'' Lost and Found."] Retrieved 02 Oct '19</ref>


==Reception==
==Gallery==
[[File:847 proof 2.jpeg|thumb|250px|Margaret, alongside Caroll Spinney in between takes.]]
===Images===
In the days following the episode's airing, a barrage of complaints were received by the Children's Television Workshop, the majority of which were from angered parents whose children had been traumatized by Hamilton's frightening guest appearance. Due to the episode's overwhelmingly poor reception, several additional test screenings were held the following month, although the results were generally inconclusive, with a large portion of the test audience appearing fascinated by the witch, rather than scared, on account of her green face (as, during this period, most families didn't have access to a color TV). Despite the tests' inconclusive results, the initial complaints were enough for Anna Herera (of the CTW Research Department) to declare the episode unsuitable for re-airing. It has not been aired or shown publicly in any form since.<ref>[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_0847 Muppet Wiki article on Episode 847.] Last retrieved 28 Sep 2014.</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=275px>
847 newspaper article.jpeg|''Chronicles Telegram'' newspaper article on the then upcoming episode; 08 Feb 1976.
SesameStreet847-SampleLetter.jpeg|One page of one of the letters sent after the initial airing.
SesameStreet847-ColorScreenshot.jpg|A newly rediscovered still of the episode, in color.
</gallery>
===Video===
{{Video|perrow  =2
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =v=FM8KGetGqMU
  |description1 =LSuperSonicQ's video on the subject.
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =v=z5EhEf20by8
  |description2 =Scribbles to Screen's video on the subject.
}}


Notably, Hamilton had made appearances a year earlier on ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' (as herself) dressing up in her witch costume at the end of the Mister Rogers segment, in order to reassure children that the Wicked Witch of the West didn't actually exist and was simply a character. She also appeared months after her ''Sesame Street'' appearance on  "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special" (as the witch), acting more fun-loving and wacky. Both were not met with any controversy and were generally well received.
==See Also==
*[[Sesame Street (partially lost children's educational TV series; 1969-present)]]


==External Links==
==External Link==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI-40zWqVbY Margaret Hamilton's 1975 ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' appearance]
*[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_0847 Muppet Wiki article on "Episode 847".]


==References==
==References==
<references/>
{{reflist}}
<br/>


[[Category:Lost puppetry]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Lost puppetry]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]
[[Category:Historic]]
[[Category:Historic]]


{{ContentEnd}}
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Revision as of 03:08, 23 October 2021

SesameStreet847-HamiltonGrayscale.jpg

Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Oscar the Grouch in a still from the episode.

Status: Partially Found

On February 10th, 1976, one of Sesame Street’s most controversial episodes to date aired for the first and only time. "Episode 847" starred Margaret Hamilton, reprising her role as the Wicked Witch of the West from the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

The central plot of the episode involves the witch losing her magic broom whilst flying over Sesame Street, only to have it wind up in the hands of David, who refuses to return it, skeptical towards the witch's intentions. As a result, she threatens to turn both Big Bird and David into inanimate objects (a feather duster and a basketball, respectively), also suggesting that she would make it rain inside Mr. Hooper's Store if the broom was not returned. Out of all the Sesame Street residents, the only one to react favorably towards the witch is Oscar, even to the point of developing a crush on her, although Big Bird also eventually warms to the witch and is saddened when she leaves, comically dropping her broom for a second time as the episode ends.

Reception

Margaret, alongside Caroll Spinney in between takes.

In the days following the episode's airing, a barrage of complaints was received by the Children's Television Workshop, the majority of which were from angered parents whose children had been traumatized by Hamilton's frightening guest appearance. Due to the episode's overwhelmingly poor reception, several additional test screenings were held the following month, although the results were generally inconclusive, with a large portion of the test audience appearing fascinated by the witch, rather than scared, on account of her green face (as, during this period, some families didn't have access to a color TV). Despite the tests' inconclusive results, the initial complaints were enough for Anna Herera (of the CTW Research Department) to declare the episode unsuitable for re-airing. It has not been aired or shown publicly in any form since.

Notably, Hamilton had made appearances a year earlier on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (as herself) dressing up in her witch costume at the end of the Mister Rogers segment, in order to reassure children that the Wicked Witch of the West didn't actually exist and was simply a character.[1] She also appeared months after her Sesame Street appearance on "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special" (as the witch), acting more fun-loving and wacky. Both were not met with any controversy and were generally well-received.

Release

In February 2019, it was announced that over 4500 episodes of Sesame Street over its 49 seasons would be archived in the American Archive of Public Broadcasting. It is possible that "Episode 847" could be included in the episodes being archived, but this is not confirmed.[2]

Jim Henson Legacy president Craig Shemin hosted a screening of clips from the episode at The Museum of the Moving Image in New York City on November 24th, 2019, as part of a "Lost and Found" event celebrating Sesame Street's 50th anniversary. The screening was also accompanied by an unaired segment from "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce", and a discussion panel with puppeteer Stephanie D'Abruzzo, former Sesame Street head writer Norman Stiles, and Sesame Workshop's Rosemarie Truglio.[3]

Gallery

Images

Video

EmbedVideo is missing a required parameter.
EmbedVideo is missing a required parameter.

See Also

External Link

References