The AP today had a fantastic story about every kid's favorite bird. Yes, I am talking about Big Bird of Sesame Street. He is not actually a bird, as I had previously believed (yester-I mean, when I was little), but a man named Caroll Spinney who works the larger-than-life feathery yellow costume from the inside. Spinney has been Big Bird (as well as Oscar the Grouch) for over 40 years now. The Big Bird costume is quite elaborate - orange pants with pink rings, giant foam feet, a feathery yellow midsection and wings, and a big noggin with a pointy beak. One thing I learned was that Spinney can't see out of the costume. He sees what's going on on the set and knows how to act by watching a tv strapped to his chest inside Big Bird's gut. The article details his years as Big Bird, his trials and triumphs as the most beloved television bird of all time, as well as more about the costume itself. Good reading, and I encourage everyone to learn more about this one-of-a-kind bird! There are also some tidbits about our favorite trash can dweller: did you know Oscar still boasts his original eyebrows? Read all about it here.
And don't forget to check out the video!
Image found here.
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