This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/sep/25/muppets-miss-piggy-kermit-smithsonian

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Miss Piggy and Kermit together at last at the Smithsonian Miss Piggy and Kermit together at last at the Smithsonian
(35 minutes later)
Miss Piggy is finally joining her love, Kermit the Frog, in the Smithsonian Institution's collection of Jim Henson's Muppets, and Bert and Ernie will have a place in history, too.Miss Piggy is finally joining her love, Kermit the Frog, in the Smithsonian Institution's collection of Jim Henson's Muppets, and Bert and Ernie will have a place in history, too.
Henson's family, including his daughter, Cheryl Henson, donated more than 20 puppets and props on Tuesday to the National Museum of American History to accompany previous donations of Kermit, Oscar the Grouch and early Henson creations.Henson's family, including his daughter, Cheryl Henson, donated more than 20 puppets and props on Tuesday to the National Museum of American History to accompany previous donations of Kermit, Oscar the Grouch and early Henson creations.
The newest donation includes an original version of Miss Piggy, plus Fozzie Bear and Scooter and their Muppet Show co-stars, Rowlf the piano-playing dog and the Swedish Chef.The newest donation includes an original version of Miss Piggy, plus Fozzie Bear and Scooter and their Muppet Show co-stars, Rowlf the piano-playing dog and the Swedish Chef.
Puppets from Sesame Street joining the collection include Bert and Ernie, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and Count von Count. Many of the puppets are among the first constructions of the characters.Puppets from Sesame Street joining the collection include Bert and Ernie, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and Count von Count. Many of the puppets are among the first constructions of the characters.
Smithsonian Magazine welcomed Miss Piggy, dressed in a silver evening gown and holding a red rose, with a photoshoot. The museum allowed her to pose with Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and wear the real 45-carat Hope diamond from the National Museum of Natural History.Smithsonian Magazine welcomed Miss Piggy, dressed in a silver evening gown and holding a red rose, with a photoshoot. The museum allowed her to pose with Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and wear the real 45-carat Hope diamond from the National Museum of Natural History.
"She was very well behaved, considering she wanted to take it home with her," said Bonnie Erickson, who created the Miss Piggy puppet with Henson and is now executive director of the Jim Henson Legacy foundation."She was very well behaved, considering she wanted to take it home with her," said Bonnie Erickson, who created the Miss Piggy puppet with Henson and is now executive director of the Jim Henson Legacy foundation.
The gift was made on what would have been Henson's 77th birthday. Cheryl Henson said her mother, Jane, who died in April, had spent the four years since her cancer diagnosis planning to find permanent homes for each puppet character. The gift was made on what would have been Henson's 77th birthday. His wife Jane, who died in April, spent the past four years since her cancer diagnosis planning to find permanent homes for each puppet character, Cheryl Henson said.
Other puppets are being donated to the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City and the Centre for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.Other puppets are being donated to the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City and the Centre for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.
"Many of these puppets have been in boxes for years. They've been tucked away in boxes, and we don't want them to stay in boxes. We want people to see them and to appreciate them," Cheryl Henson said. "There's something about puppets. They're not animated … They are actual, physical things.""Many of these puppets have been in boxes for years. They've been tucked away in boxes, and we don't want them to stay in boxes. We want people to see them and to appreciate them," Cheryl Henson said. "There's something about puppets. They're not animated … They are actual, physical things."
Miss Piggy will go on display in March 2014 in the Smithsonian's American Stories exhibit. The original Kermit and Cookie Monster will go on view in November in a special display case, and a puppetry exhibition in early 2014 is likely to feature Bert and Ernie, among others, curators said.Miss Piggy will go on display in March 2014 in the Smithsonian's American Stories exhibit. The original Kermit and Cookie Monster will go on view in November in a special display case, and a puppetry exhibition in early 2014 is likely to feature Bert and Ernie, among others, curators said.
The Hensons have a longtime connection to Washington. Jim and Jane Henson met as students at the nearby University of Maryland and became performing partners before they married. They made early television commercials with their puppets and created a local TV show, Sam and Friends, which included the first incarnation of Kermit.The Hensons have a longtime connection to Washington. Jim and Jane Henson met as students at the nearby University of Maryland and became performing partners before they married. They made early television commercials with their puppets and created a local TV show, Sam and Friends, which included the first incarnation of Kermit.
The original Kermit, made from an old coat and pingpong balls for eyes, was donated to the Smithsonian in 2010.The original Kermit, made from an old coat and pingpong balls for eyes, was donated to the Smithsonian in 2010.
The newest donation includes Boober Fraggle, Red Fraggle and Travelling Matt from the 1980s show Fraggle Rock. The Hensons also donated a 1957 puppet called Wilkins that was made for Wilkins Coffee commercials.The newest donation includes Boober Fraggle, Red Fraggle and Travelling Matt from the 1980s show Fraggle Rock. The Hensons also donated a 1957 puppet called Wilkins that was made for Wilkins Coffee commercials.
Heart felt gesture Muppet originals donated to Smithsonian
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.