Changes: Big Bird walk-arounds

Latest revision as of 05:47, 10 November 2023

Big Bird VStar SSTD — Big Bird Vstar Walk-Around

Walk-around versions of Big Bird have been created for public appearances, including the Sesame Street Live stage shows and the Sesame Place theme parks. Big Bird made his debut in walk-around form in the Ice Follies in 1974. The standard design was introduced in 1980 in Sesame Street Live, in which he wears a red and blue striped necktie. Other times, he wears a white tuxedo shirt. Big Bird was added to Sesame Place in 1986.

Outside of Sesame Place, Big Bird also appears at SeaWorld parks, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios Singapore, Beaches Resorts (since 2010), and PortAventura (seasonal, since 2019). Big Bird occasionally appears at Universal Studios Japan (since 2003), and also appeared at the now defunct Tokyo Sesame Place. Big Bird formerly appeared at Sea World in Queensland, Australia, and SeaWorld San Diego.

Ice Follies (1974-80)

Big Bird as he appeared in the Ice Follies. Fabricated by the Muppet Workshop.

Muppet Workshop (1980s)

Big Bird as he appeared in Sesame Street Live and Sesame Place during the 1980s, fabricated by the Muppet Workshop. Big Bird made his debut at Sesame Place in 1986.

VStar & Animax (Current)

Big Bird currently maintained by VStar Entertainment (nee VEE Corporation) and Animax Designs.

Seasonal/special attire

Notes

Although he closely resembles his on-screen counterpart, the Big Bird walk-around is not a puppet. A string is attached from underneath Big Bird's beak to his left wing, allowing the performer to use both hands to operate both of Big Bird's hands. The necktie only serves as a means to hide the vision hole in his neck.

As of 1985, the Big Bird costume cost $30,000.^[1]

Sources

↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 22, 1985

[1] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 22, 1985

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[File:Big Bird VStar SSTD .png|thumb|300px|Big Bird Vstar Walk-Around]]
-Full-body puppet/costumes of '''[[Big Bird]]''' created for various stage shows and public appearances. Costumes used in ''[[Sesame Street Live]]'' are exactly 8' 2", the exact same height as the Big Bird puppet on ''[[Sesame Street]]'' itself. Whenever Big Bird appears in ''Sesame Street Live'', he always wears a striped tie (to hide the vision hole in Big Bird's neck, very similar to certain occasions when Big Bird would perform on location in the TV specials.) Unlike the puppet from the show, the mouth doesn't move, allowing the performer to use both his hands as Big Bird's hands.
+Walk-around versions of [[Big Bird]] have been created for public appearances, including the ''[[Sesame Street Live]]'' stage shows and the [[Sesame Place]] theme parks. Big Bird made his debut in walk-around form in the [[Ice Follies]] in 1974. The standard design was introduced in 1980 in ''Sesame Street Live'', in which he wears a red and blue striped necktie. Other times, he wears a white tuxedo shirt. Big Bird was added to Sesame Place in 1986.
+Outside of Sesame Place, Big Bird also appears at [[SeaWorld]] parks, [[Busch Gardens]], [[Universal Studios Singapore]], [[Beaches Resorts]] (since 2010), and [[PortAventura]] (seasonal, since 2019). Big Bird occasionally appears at [[Universal Studios Japan]] (since 2003), and also appeared at the now defunct [[Tokyo Sesame Place]]. Big Bird formerly appeared at [[Sea World]] in Queensland, Australia, and SeaWorld San Diego.
-The costumes were originally designed and fabricated by [[The Muppet Workshop]], and are currently made by the [[VEE Corporation]] in [[Minnesota]]. As of 1985, the Big Bird costume for ''Sesame Street Live'' productions cost $30,000.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EQgOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P24DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2670,4770779&dq=around-the-world+sesame+street+live&hl=en Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 22, 1985]</ref>
+{{br}}
+===Ice Follies (1974-80)===
+Big Bird as he appeared in the Ice Follies. Fabricated by the [[Muppet Workshop]].
+<gallery>
-{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 valign=top
+bigbirdicefollies.jpg
-|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
+bigbirdstandfollies.png
-! Full Body Puppet/Costume !! Year !! Stage Production !! Notes
+bbicefolliesup.jpg
-|-
+bigbirdicefolliesbw.jpg
-| [[Image:Holidayonicebigbird.jpg|200px]] || 1978 || ''[[Holiday on Ice]]'', and ''[[Christmas Eve on Sesame Street]]'' ||
+</gallery>
-|-
-| [[Image:Big_Bird_Live.jpg|200px]] || 2003 || ''[[Out of This World]]'' ||
+===Muppet Workshop (1980s)===
-|-
+Big Bird as he appeared in ''Sesame Street Live'' and Sesame Place during the 1980s, fabricated by the [[Muppet Workshop]].
-| [[Image:Img_0024.jpg|200px]] || || [[Sesame Place]] || Big Bird appears as a park walk around character at Sesame Place. The silent full body character shakes hands, poses for pictures and signs autographs. Big Bird also appears in parades and stage shows, to a vocal track by [[Caroll Spinney]].
+Big Bird made his debut at Sesame Place in 1986.
-|-
-| [[Image:BigBirdBlueTie.jpg|200px]] || || [[Sesame Place]] || Similar design with a solid blue tie.
+<gallery>
-|}
+BBWalkaround-SSLive1980s.jpg
+</gallery>
+===VStar & Animax (Current)===
+Big Bird currently maintained by VStar Entertainment (nee VEE Corporation) and [[Animax Designs]].
+<gallery>
+bigbirdwalkaroundchina.jpg
+Bigbirdsesameplaceop.jpg|At a photo op session at Sesame Place
+BigBird-SSLive.jpg|Big Bird as seen in Feld Entertainment's ''Sesame Street Live''. Designed by Animax
+Image:Bigbirdatorlando.jpg
+</gallery>
+'''Seasonal/special attire'''
+<gallery>
+Image:Bigbirdvampirebuschgardens.jpg|As a [[vampire]], Halloween at Busch Gardens Tampa
+</gallery>
+===Notes===
+* Although he closely resembles his on-screen counterpart, the Big Bird walk-around is not a puppet. A string is attached from underneath Big Bird's beak to his left wing, allowing the performer to use both hands to operate both of Big Bird's hands. The necktie only serves as a means to hide the vision hole in his neck.
+* As of 1985, the Big Bird costume cost $30,000.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EQgOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P24DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2670,4770779&dq=around-the-world+sesame+street+live&hl=en Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 22, 1985]</ref>
 ==Sources==
 <references />
+__NOWYSIWYG__
 [[Category:Sesame Street Stage Characters|Big Bird]]

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