Object Details
performer
Henson, Jim
Linz, Peter
maker
Henson, Jim
Sahlin, Don
Description (Brief)
Ernie is a live-hand puppet originally performed by Jim Henson and currently performed by Peter Linz. In a live-hand puppet, like Ernie, one of the performer’s hands is in the puppet’s head while the other is in one of the puppet’s arms, which has gloves for hands. Another puppeteer is usually needed to operate the other arm, which is known as right-handing.
Ernie lives on Sesame Street with his best friend and roommate Bert. He enjoys taking bubble baths with his rubber duck, and singing the song “Rubber Duckie” about his beloved bath toy. It was released as a single and peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 26, 1970. Ernie, with Bert, has been a part of Sesame Street since the first test pilot episodes and the premier in 1969, and this puppet is the original Ernie puppet used for those pilot episodes.
Credit Line
Gift of the Family of Jim Henson: Lisa Henson, Cheryl Henson, Brian Henson, John Henson and Heather Henson
date made
1969
ID Number
2013.0101.14
accession number
2013.0101
catalog number
2013.0101.14
Object Name
puppet
Physical Description
foam (overall material)
felt (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
fabric (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 22 in x 19 in x 14 in; 55.88 cm x 48.26 cm x 35.56 cm
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Jim Henson
Exhibition
Entertainment Nation
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Subject
Sesame Street
Puppetry
Children's television programs
Television broadcasts
Television
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_1448974
