18 Vintage Behind-The-Scenes Sesame Street Photos

Sesame Street wasn’t just a children’s television show. It was a cultural phenomenon that shaped entire generations, blending education, creativity, and humor in a way that had never been done before. Jim Henson and his talented team of puppeteers created a magical world that felt entirely real, forming the foundation of countless childhood memories. These vintage behind-the-scenes photos capture the imagination, passion, and celebrity visits that helped make Sesame Street an iconic part of growing up.

As kids, catching a glimpse behind the curtain and realizing our favorite characters were puppets might have felt devastating. The idea of Big Bird or Oscar the Grouch being operated by ordinary people was something many of us simply couldn’t bear. But as we grow older, our perspective shifts. We begin to admire the dedication, skill, and creativity of the people who brought these beloved characters to life, deepening our respect for the craft and enriching our memories rather than spoiling them.

1. Johnny Cash on the set of Sesame Street in 1973

A man stands playing an acoustic guitar on a city stoop set, with a puppet character peeking out of a trash can beside him. The scene is in black and white and appears to be from a television show. — userdeleted

Johnny Cash went on Sesame Street to sing a song called “Nasty Dan” that really appealed to Oscar the Grouch’s sensibilities.

2. The original cast of Sesame Street circa 1970

A group of adults, children, and Sesame Street Muppet characters, including Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, and others, sit and interact on the steps of an urban brownstone building. The mood is friendly and cheerful. — DenMother8

3. Sesame Street rehearsal in the 1980s

Three men backstage operate Bert and Ernie puppets from Sesame Street; two hold and control the puppets above their heads while the third gestures with a finger gun, all surrounded by stage equipment.

From left to right, that’s Richard Hunt, Jim Henson, and Frank Oz.

4. Caroll Spinney, the Muppeteer who played Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch in 1980

A puppeteer operates Oscar the Grouch from inside a trash can while sitting on the floor, surrounded by production equipment and props, with another puppet lying in the foreground. — MulciberTenebras

5. Thanksgiving dinner on Sesame Street in 1974

The Sesame Street Muppets gather around a dinner table set with food, candles, and a silver teapot. Big Bird holds a bag of bird seed, and everyone appears to be enjoying a festive meal together. — makbla

Love the detail of Big Bird having a big bag of bird seed rather than a turkey.

6. Madeline Kahn with Grover on Sesame Street in 1978

A woman with wavy hair smiles at a furry puppet with a round nose and big eyes. The image is black and white, and they appear to be engaged in a joyful interaction. — L0st_in_the_stars

7. Mr. Snuffleupagus and Big Bird on the Verrazzano Bridge in NYC in 1983

Two people in costumes—a large brown, furry creature and a tall, yellow bird—stand on an empty bridge under a clear blue sky. The scene is playful and whimsical. — MulciberTenebras

As a kid, I always loved it when Mr. Snuffleupagus wore sneakers.

8. The original cast of Sesame Street in 1969

A group of adults, children, and colorful puppets, including a tall yellow bird, sit and stand together on brownstone steps in front of a door numbered 123. — Brassballs1976

9. Michael Jackson on the set of Sesame Street in 1978

A young man in a red vest and brown sweater smiles, leaning against a lamppost decorated with garland under a Sesame Street sign on a snowy set with trees and holiday decorations in the background. — ImaVeganShishKebab

Michael Jason visited the set for the 1978 Christmas Special, where he gifted Oscar the Grouch with a book.

10. Stevie Wonder with Grover on Sesame Street in 1973

Stevie Wonder smiles while talking to Grover, a blue Sesame Street puppet, in a music studio with a keyboard and microphones in front of them. A No Parking sign is visible in the background. — SteakCutFries

While Stevie Wonder would visit Sesame Street many times over the years, on this occasion he performed “1-2-3 Sesame Street”.

11. Danny Devito as Vincent Van Grouch, the Grouch curator of the Museum of Trash in 1986

A man in a shabby suit smiles and tips his hat while standing next to Oscar the Grouch, a green puppet character in a trash can, on a street set resembling Sesame Street.

Danny Devito also appeared in multiple episodes over the years, including one performance in a segment called “Heh Heh Heh” where they have a snarky laughing contest.

12. Astronaut Sally Ride on Sesame Street in 1984

A woman in a NASA jumpsuit labeled Sally smiles at a puppet with a helmet emerging from a trash can labeled NASA. They appear to be on a set with wooden doors in the background.

Sally Ride, the first woman in space, went on Sesame Street to teach us all about what it was like to be an astronaut.

13. Big Bird and Mister Rogers after his first appearance on Sesame Street in 1981.

A man in a sweater smiles as he hugs Big Bird, a large, feathered character from Sesame Street, in a black and white studio photo. — srsshocktrooper

In this historic PBS crossover, Mister Rogers was invited to judge a race that no else believed was real.

14. C-3PO and R2-D2 with Big Bird in 1980

Big Bird holds a colorful umbrella, standing between C-3PO and R2-D2 in a brick-walled room with various set props in the background. — Systepup

In one of the best crossovers ever, the droids from Star Wars visited Sesame Street on three different occasions in 1980. On one occasion, Big Bird and R2D2 argue over what they call a banana, which led them to sing a duet called “We Can Still Be Friends.” In another skit, C-3PO and R2D2 teach Big Bird how to count.

15. Jesse Jackson on Sesame Street in 1972

A group of children sit on steps and listen to an adult man speaking on an urban set resembling a stoop. The scene appears lively, with some children smiling and clapping. The setting looks like a TV show or classroom.

In 1972, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson lead a group of kids through a powerful call and response called “I Am Somebody”, empowering them to understand that despite their race, economic situation, or appearance, they are no lesser than anyone else.

16. An orange Oscar the Grouch and Caroll Spinney in 1969

A man with a beard and striped sweater poses next to a large orange puppet with bushy eyebrows, both behind a trash can. The puppet resembles Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street.

Some people don’t realize that Oscar was orginally orange. It wasn’t until the second season of Sesame street that he became green.

17. Frank Oz and Cookie Monster

A man with glasses and a mustache poses with a large, fuzzy puppet resembling Cookie Monster. The man wears a light-colored shirt, and the background features a patterned curtain.

I’m not exactly sure what year this was, but as Cookie Monster was one of the original muppets on the show, it could be as early as 1969.

18. The Count with Jerry Nelson in the early to mid-1970s.

A black-and-white photo showing a smiling, bearded man next to a puppet with a long nose, pointed ears, and a goatee, both appearing to look in the same direction.

Jerry Nelson joined the Sesame Street team in the second season and went on to puppet many different muppets, but was probably most famous for originating the role of Count Von Count in 1972.

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If you enjoyed these behind-the-scenes Sesame Street photos, you might also love revisiting “Teeny Little Super Guy” segments, taking a trip back to childhood with 15 Nostalgic Photos of The Scholastic Book Fair, or 25 Vintage Photos of What Life Looked Like in 1980.

18 Vintage Behind-The-Scenes Photos of Sesame Street