Classic Sesame Street: Episode 1839 Ending Credits

[nil13]

all i can say is wow...i was born and live in singapore and its amazing how sesame street touched kids on the other side of the world. Brings back so many memories of my childhood.

[petalrs]

is it true that the actors who played Maria and Gordon got married in real life?

[hoopersghost]

@petalrs: To the best of my knowledge, no; where did you hear that?

[angrykirby]

weird that Big Bird would sit shiva for Mr. Hooper, who was rather mean to big bird early on

[TurtleDove81]

Wow I never seen this ep, I was born in 81 so I never seen the ep but read about it on Wiki.

[garycalgary]

that music always meant it was either playtime or lunch. Chicken noodle soup or mushroom, dog under the table. 

[Ui2019]

People come and go so enjoy the 'now' you have with them!

[residualbill]

The music at the very end makes me imagine Gordon dressed like Shaft. He gets out of his car so he can question birds and grouches on the whereabouts of the number 5...sucka.

[nlsnbebang]

what is the title of the end song? that's cool

[Saavykaas]

The message of death, life and birth is easy to see coming for any adult, but truly it would be awe-inspiring to most children. And that's exactly what this show has always been about.

[ItchythaWookiee]

If you don't get choked up at this, you're just cold, man.

[torontonian1978]

awesome. what a beautiful and subtle way to instill this message after the Mr. Hooper bit.

[TheArachnoid]

O.O Luis!? Maria!? No way!

[radiodj1520]

In This Clip, From 0:52 To 1:50, It Was "Sesame Street" Video Close From November 24, 1983.

[AnimalCrossingCool4]

why is big bird is looking upside down? 1:12

[hoopersghost]

@AnimalCrossingCool4 : It's a shot from the beginning street scene in the same episode. Big Bird is walking down the street that way, inspiring Gordon's curiosity; Big Bird replies that he's walking the way he is "just because". (The script writers use that answer to set up Gordon's reply to Big Bird in the scene announcing Hooper's death--"It has to be that way...because. Just because.")

[Kefkadet]

Where is the scene where Big Bird realized Mr. Hooper died?

[hoopersghost]

@Kefkadet : I had to delete that clip for legal reasons; Lionsgate Studios complained because the death clip was also on their release of the Sesame Street 20th anniversary DVD.  Never mind that I don't own the DVD... :*sigh*

[canucktheclown]

You can use it on the basis of fair use.

[Smartboy8877]

@hoopersghost

Do you think that, if you had bought that DVD, the studio would have been okay with you uploading it from the disk? I am asking just for accademic purposes.

[hoopersghost]

@Smartboy8877 No, buying the DVD (in itself) would not make an upload acceptable. I would have to add a review, detailed annotations, or commentary of my own for Lionsgate to accept a fair-use defense.

[Smartboy8877]

@hoopersghost

Thank you for all of that interesting information! I am a child of the eighties who is only slowly but surely learning about all of these high tech legalities. It is very nice of you to bare with me on this!

[purplewowies]

@hoopersghost So you can't even put it up for educational use? (Which is a provision of fair use.)

That's whack.

[hoopersghost]

@purplewowies: I'd need to be discussing the scene in a class or study group for the educational-use defense to work, I think...and throw in annotations as needed. Of course I'm no lawyer, but how else do I prove that purpose?

[videolover1999isback]

Who is tvcollector back as?

[bloggaloggs]

Beautifully done. Counterpointing death, with a new life.

[KikiC423]

They handled the topic very well, I believe. It is sad, though. It's sad when a friend dies :(

[jayb4321]

i use to love the music at the end 1:21 - 1:50 jamin..

[Smartboy8877]

@jayb4321

I did too! There are so many ways that "Sesame Street" has changed over the years. This is one thing about it that I really miss!

[RkoWrestlingfan228]

Mr. Hooper :'(

[Yasuda9000]

This is a sad episode, it made me cry.

[Yasuda9000]

I decided to watch this video since my grandpa died two years ago hoping it would help me deal with someone passing away. It helped.

[SlurpeeQueen21]

RIP MR LOOPER" i miss those days eyes glued to the television back then we only had 4 stations no such thing as cable lol

[roosbee]

@hoopersghost would I be able to have a copy of the episode as well?

[sebnl95]

This episode was really sad. Some of the actors were crying.

[patrickmgaddis]

It's a sad episode. It's the one where Mr. Hooper Dies.

[hoopersghost]

@patrickmgaddis: well, Mr. Hooper is already dead when the show starts. But this *is* the first time anyone talks about it.

[abehammy]

Good how they ended this episode on a happy note

[ericandy88]

I vaguely remember seeing this episode when it first aired around November 1983, when I was only 3 years old, but my memory is a wide one.

Those who remember that explanation scene will recall that it was blunt, to-the-point, but nothing more really needed to be said. Even so, how CAN you really explain death to your children?

[mustange550]

I always wondered why they played that song after every episode the one at 1:30?

[hoopersghost]

@mustange550: My best guess is that someone on CTW's music-writing staff composed that tune specifically for the funding credits.

[pekoe]

@mustange550 Sounds like they broke out a blacklite an bong an started rocking out!!!!!!!!!

[GSNLiveFree4All89]

Loved the final shot of Big Bird at 1:13 as they did the CTW plug. Guess we're going to have to see the main highlight of this on our DVD players at home. I'll allow you to figure out the part of this particular show I means. Great clips anyway though.

[bnatrl88]

what year was this?

[radiodj1520]

I Just Love This "Sesame Street" Video Close From November 24, 1983.

[cordsman]

Do you think Sesame Street will ever be canceled? It's an integral part of the last 3 generations lives.

[christytina81]

LOVE the funky music during the credits

[SuperSenshi]

Does anyone know where I can watch the rest of this episode?

[hoopersghost]

@SuperSenshi : I've got a Windows Media file of Noggin's broadcast--only one cartoon and one short film (unrelated to the plot) edited out. Would that be OK? If you do want it, please e-mail me and I can send a copy.

[tegan8D]

@hoopersghost

would it be possible for you to send me a copy of that ?? thx =]

[rebelboy86]

When I first heard the sponsors announced, I thought the voice that announced them was Maria's, but then I realized it was Olivia's.

[GreatAuntCayce]

Before the Credits rolled they should have added, "In Loving Memory of Will Lee." .

[BuckWilliams17]

Agreed.

[jarbon5]

man, I haven't heard the Public Television Stations ending in years. Of all the things that the Sesame Street show presented, that was my favorite. Me and the sibs used to get down to that, and have a good time, too. It was just so funky:)

[jvfunn3000]

Maybe Will Lee is watching over Big Bird from heaven. I think that when Carroll Spinney dies Will Lee will be the angel chosen to take him home to heaven.

[Bearfoot]

I can only hope.

Though I do hope that happens a very very long time from now. I don't think I'd emotionally handle it well.. :(

[tegan8D]

does anyone know where i can find the full episode???

[thekingof8]

I made a play list of available sketches.

[Soul74]

Brilliant! A "circle of life" kind of thing. I too forgot about the awesome music they played at the end there. Lots of great funk/R&B on Sesame Street.

[oaktea]

Thanks for posting these clips. I was trying to find the full episode 1839, but couldn't find it...so I created a playlist out of (mostly) your clips. =)

[MissKennedy58]

Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5... thats kind of funny! :D

[mattmanguy]

Brought to us by the letters J and M, and by the number 5? As in, MJ5? As in, Michael Jackson, and The Jackson 5?

[hoopersghost]

@mattmanguy: If those letters hadn't been chosen at random, I'd swear that they were an allusion to the five "key players" at CTW back then: Jim Henson (his middle name was Maury, which could explain the M); Joan Ganz Cooney (who founded CTW); Jon Stone (a writer/director for CTW); Joe Raposo (who wrote most of the songs for Sesame Street back in the day); and Jeff Moss (another major songwriter for the show).

[rebelboy86]

When I first heard the sponsors announced at the end, I thought it was Maria's voice, but then I realized it was Olivia's.

[jayb4321]

i use to love the music at the end 1:21 - 1:50 jamin.. i done a mix to it once..

[meganalo]

OMG I didn't even remember that song until it played. That's awesome!

[tsangari]

Channel 4 UK used to only show a shortened version of this, as it was unecessary to broadcast every day.

[Konqithedragon]

Channel 4 used to show it, in its entirety! Then around the late 90s they shortened it then they got rid of it all together. :(

[MrMaxDamage]

@Konqithedragon Yeah that's sucks that Channel 4 canned it a few years back.

[UdoShan]

I remeber as achild, my mother showed me a news clips about this very upcoming episode. She said that when it came on, I didn't have to watch it if I didn't want to. I'm ashamed to say that I did NOT watch the episode (I just wasn't that brave). It's one of my few childhood regrets.

[tuttlemsm]

@UdoShan Nothing to be ashamed of; you probably just weren't ready for it at the time.

[KAMIKAZR]

I was born in November of 1980, and I remember Mr. Hooper very well.

I remember him very well, and Sesame Street is not the same without him.

God bless Mr. Hooper.

[kungfujiapple]

From 1983.

[SDWalden]

I remember Mr. Hooper, and I remember the picture hanging by Big Bird's nest, but I don't remember him dying.

[A1l2l2e2n4]

Will Lee, the actor who played Mr. Hooper, died in Dec. of 1982. But "Sesame Street" didn't actually write the character of Mr. Hooper out until late 1983. Indeed, no mention was made of Mr. Hooper's death until the episode where Big Bird passes out the portraits.

[FiresofH0j0]

whos mr. hooper???

[hoopersghost]

He was the character who owned Hooper's Store on Sesame Street, from the first episode in 1969 until this episode announcing the character's death.

[alexyynz]

I stand corrected. 7th of december 1982

[alexyynz]

He passed away in 1983

[hoopersghost]

Will Lee died in December of 1982; but CTW announced his death a year later because they'd already filmed a season's worth of footage with Mr. Hooper. (Back then, a new season began in November.)

[animegal2686]

1:13, that is quite a weird picture of Big Bird.

[hoopersghost]

That's a still from Big Bird's "just because"" silly walk at the beginning of the episode; I already posted that clip if you're interested.

[terrillwhite78]

I vaguely remember Mr. Hooper. I was born in 78 so he passed away when I was 4.

[jhzenor61481]

I was born in 81, and I wasn't around when Mr. Hooper passed away.

[A1l2l2e2n4]

Actually, you would have been. You were born in '81. Will Lee died in '82. "Sesame Street" wrote Mr. Hooper out in '83. Of course, you wouldn't be old enough to remember it.

[BuddyBoy600]

Hmm, I thought there was a picture of Will Lee with an sign under the picture which reads "In Memory of Will Lee 1908 - 1983."

[golddemona]

Wow, I wasn't even born yet when this episode aired. (I was born in '84)

I really wish I could see the whole episode.

I also wish I could see some of the early episodes with Mr. Hooper in it.

[hoopersghost]

The only place I know of that has a complete, uncut copy of #1839 is the Paley Media Center (formerly the Museum of Radio and Television) in New York. If only we could both go and see for ourselves...

As for other old shows with Mr. Hooper in them, you're in luck:  most of my collection is in that range of seasons. Keep your eyes peeled for new uploads!

[golddemona]

I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open. =)

[seanrgriffiths]

Mr. Hooper was the sweetest man on TV in the 1970s. He was a father figure, a grandfather figure, and grenerally wonderfully caring man. All of children's television mourned the loss of that man when he passed away.

[TherealRNO]

This episode has been brought you today by the letter H and by the number 1, reminds us all that even though Hooper is no longer with the Street, his presence can still be felt through memories and through the fact that his store--sans a few small changes in ownership and one remodeling--has become the mainstay staple throughout the show's run (even the Fix-It Shop didn't have it as good, because it was replaced one year, whereas Hooper's is as iconic as any of the characters & segments are).

[DanaAbel30]

That's right. And this episode also told us that death is just a painful part of the big cirriculum of life.

[barefootpoet24]

Why do we have to grow up so fast? By the time this farewell to Mr. Hooper was aired I was in high school. Thought I had outgrown Sesame Street. Now I can't stop playing these videos.

[Pocockable]

@barefootpoet24

I'm 41 years old and have never really outgrown Sesame Street. I would continue to watch it throughout my elementary school years on days when I didn't have school, and would even watch it during my teenage and adult years. I watch Sesame Street classic clips on YouTube all the time and own both the Old School and 40 Years of Sunny Days DVD sets. Hopefully an Old School Volume 3 should be out soon, and I will buy it.

[MrMasidonio]

I had heard that at the end of this episode before the credits they ran an explanation..that Mr Hooper had died..but I dont see it..Is it untrue or is it just not included in this clip..

[hoopersghost]

The explanation about Mr. Hooper's death ran earlier in the episode, as a separate clip; I posted it as "I'm Sure Gonna Miss You, Mr. Hooper!

[MrMasidonio]

not the actual clip where Big Bird tries to give the picture to Mr Hooper..I mean like after the show they had text that said like Mr Hooper died on blah blah date and that he died of a heart attack...i was wondering if that was true?

unless i just missed it in the clip earlier..

[hoopersghost]

No such text message ever appeared as part of the show itself (and some of my fellow fans have seen the unedited original in New York). If the original broadcast in '83 was followed by a death announcement like that, I wouldn't know; the only versions I've seen are recorded reruns.

[MrMasidonio]

=) thanks i was just curious as to what words they used to explain to the children...

but i figured it would be before the credits which is why i asked on this video..it would make more sense

[seanrgriffiths]

While I don't recall there being an attached message from Seasame Street or the Children's Television Workshop itself, there was an attached message that ran after the credits had ended as a separate clip that stated that Mr. Hooper (his real name) passed away but not when or how. {I remember being just old enough and wondering what that meant.}

[rebwanz]

God I used to love to rock out to the end credits! lol!

[WillWatchAnything]

That picture still hangs by the nest to this day. And even though the store has gone through a few owners and remodels, it's still called Hooper's. Ironically enough, the store's second owner David (Northern Calloway)would also pass from health complications between seasons 20 and 21, but this was not mentioned on air; they just said he moved.

[hoopersghost]

The reason Calloway's death wasn't mentioned on Sesame Street was that he'd already left the show *before* he died--and had planned to return, if his medical treatments succeeded (they didn't).

[wonkacorp]

What a beautiful message to give: one the one hand Mr Hooper is gone, but on the other hand, there is a newborn baby. The miracle of life's cycle continues.....They don't make TV as good as this anymore.

[caitlinjane92]

I was thinking the exact same thing about what message this scene on Sesame Street was.

[Garrettk41]

I know. It's like one friend's exit is another friend's entrance.

[tomarkenfan83]

Nice....

[travelplus1]

What is the song playing with the Children's Television Workshop message/

[cbsteffen]

Funky Chimes.

[cbsteffen]

Too bad Leandro never got to meet Mr. hooper.

[ExplorerDS6789]

I'm somewhat confused. The actor Will Lee died in December 1982, yet the show didn't recognize his death until November 1983. Why the year wait?

[hoopersghost]

I can think of two reasons:

1. CTW already had episodes taped for the 1982-83 season, including some material that was shot before Will Lee died. (Back when a Sesame season was 130 episodes long, it usually began in early to mid-November). Announcing Mr. Hooper's death earlier would have thrown the show's continuity off.

2. CTW wanted to schedule the death episode on Thanksgiving day so that parents would be at home to explain the situation to their children.

[PieFights]

Yes that's what I said too Jim Henson asked CTW to put a full page ad in the New York Times for reason # 2!!!!

[lemonsters2008]

keep your old stuff.