Number Song Series

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Written by	Joseph G. Raposo, Jim Henson
Music by
Lyrics by
Date	1969
Source
Publisher	Stage Harbor Publishing, Inc. Jonico Music, Inc.

In 1969, for the first season of Sesame Street, Jim Henson produced and directed a series of live-action short films teaching numbers. Ten segments were produced, for the numbers 1 through 10. The shorts were highlighted by the use of animated graphics, supplied by Henson, and a song, performed by the Kids and individually registered with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers as, for example, "Ten Song (Song of Ten)." In a similar fashion, the "First Season Show Content", found at the CTW Archives, refers to the segments as, for example, "Henson #10" (the Old School: Volume 1 DVD chapter stop for the first episode also refers to one segment as "Henson #3"). The series has also been referred to as "‘The Baker’ films"^[1] or "baker segments"^[2] due to the presence of a baker as the final gag in each film.

Each film opened with an animated sequence where kids counted up to 10 and then back to 1 (this sequence was remade in ribbon effects for various Number of the Day segments from 1 to 10 during the 36th season). Another animated sequence followed, as children would count to the specific number, in choral voice over, while animated numbers zoomed around the screen.

After the segment's number was announced, several human characters, ranging from jugglers to professors, would present that number with various objects. Finally, a baker melodically announced that segment's number of desserts, and fell down a flight of stairs. Jim Henson dubbed the voice of the baker, while Alex Stevens^[3] played the character on screen.

In addition to the baker and the animated sequences, other recurring sequences in these segments included: a man opening a door with a question mark on it, revealing that segment's number of animals (two turtles, three crocodiles, four fish, etc); a boy with that segment's number of toys; and a boy (played by Brian Henson) presenting the segment's number of money (one penny, five dimes, etc).

In 1970, the New York Times Magazine reported on Joan Ganz Cooney's distaste for the baker's fall at the end of the segment: "'I don't like it,' Mrs. Cooney says flatly of the pratfall finale. 'Banana-peel humor is male and it's from age 4 on. Younger children -- 2-year-olds, say -- think he's hurt.' Then why does the guy stay? 'The show,' said Mrs. Cooney, 'is definitely male-oriented.'"^[4]

List of segments

"One Song (Song of One)" (EKA: Episode 0086) Baker: wedding cake Notes: Video material not available. Information taken from the 1970 Sesame Street Magazine Parents' Guide. belly button "Two Song (Song of Two)" (First: Episode 0001) Baker: chocolate cream pies Notes: This segment appeared in the first test show. ice cream cones turtles heads hats butterflies "Three Song (Song of Three)" (First: Episode 0001) Baker: birthday cakes Notes: Jim Henson makes an on-screen cameo as a juggler, and his son Brian appears as the kid who says "three peas." balls peas crocodiles eggs little pigs "Four Song (Song of Four)" (First: Episode 0006) Baker: root beer floats Notes: Some of the toys were used again in the #10 film. dolls balloons fish wind-up toys arms "Five Song (Song of Five)" (First: Episode 0006) Baker: fancy fruit cakes Notes: Beautiful Day Monster, Thudge, an early Grover, Flute-Snatcher, and Snork make a cameo. The man who discovers them exclaims "five... whatever they are!" Releases: The version heard on The Sesame Street Book & Record included five horns, five dogs and five coconuts. It was also released on Songs from the Street. This clip can also be viewed at Sesamestreet.org (though the "five monsters" scene is cut). fingers ice cream sodas monsters frogs dimes "Six Song (Song of Six)" (First: Episode 0011) Baker: strawberry shortcakes chicks squares bats cats cameras "Seven Song (Song of Seven)" (First: Episode 0011) Baker: pumpkin pies Notes: Also appeared in This Way to Sesame Street. straws circles ducks spooky spiders nickels "Eight Song (Song of Eight)" (First: Episode 0016) Baker: raspberry pudding desserts blocks clocks puppets puppies ping-pong balls "Nine Song (Song of Nine)" (First: Episode 0016) Baker: coconut custard pies Notes: Rowlf makes a rare Sesame Street cameo in this film. noodles nails lights mice quarters "Ten Song (Song of Ten)" (First: Episode 0021) Baker: ten chocolate-layer cakes Notes: Sometime after its first broadcast, the "ten little Indians" were replaced with "ten bells." This film was reviewed by Oscar the Grouch and Telly Monster (and imitated by Ernie) in a Sneak Peek Previews sketch. Releases: The Street We Live On, with new sound effects. Pictures and dialog included in Sesame Street Unpaved. toes triangles pins bells wind-up toys

Sources

1. ↑ Borgenicht, David. Sesame Street Unpaved. p. 44
2. ↑ Morrow, Robert W. Sesame Street and the Reform of Children's Television. Index.
3. ↑ Talk: Number Song Series
4. ↑ John Culhane, "Report Card on Sesame Street," New York Times Magazine, 24 May 1970, pp. 18 ff.