Showing posts with label Sesame Street. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sesame Street. Show all posts

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Throwback Thursday: How to Get to Sesame Street

Sesame Street's been around so long that when you talk about it, you talk about eras. But whether you grew up in the Snuffy-was-still-imaginary era or in a post-Elmo world, you probably have some favorite moments you want to revisit.

But it can be tricky wading through 40 years of programming and dozens of DVDs to find that time Roosevelt Franklin taught the days of the week or Count sang "Lambaba."

So Throwback Thursday is here to help with our guide to your favorite Sesame Street moments (and where you can find them on DVD.)

And, as always, you can check out any and all of these items from Mentor Public Library.

The Old School collections are probably the single best way to find classic moments from the 1960s through early 1980s. Thus far, they've released three volumes (and two CDs.)

In Volume One, you find "Bein' Green," "Rubber Duckie," "I Love Trash," Batman crosses the street, the alphabet with Jackie Robinson and Lou Rawls, "C is for Cookie," "Ladybugs' Picnic," "There's a Bird on Me," Mumford turning Grover into a rabbit, "Martian Beauty," the first and last with Beetle Bailey, "Doin' the Pigeon," Stevie Wonder performing the Sesame Street theme song and Super Grover's ongoing struggle with the telephone booth.

In Volume Two, there's "Telephone Rock," Richard Pryor's (thankfully not profane) alphabet, Kermit and the weather salesman, Grover inventing the wheel, Paul Simon singing "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Cookie Disco," Fonzie and Richie Cunningham brushing their teeth and the Grover's continuing adventures as the world's worst waiter.

In Volume Three, you have Snuffy and Gordon running the New York marathon, a visit from R2-D2 and C3PO, "Dance Myself to Sleep," Oscar's Steve Martin parody "Trash Outta Heaven" and a special goodbye to Mr. Hooper.

40 Years of Sunny Days includes memorable moments from the first four decades of Sesame Street, including the first appearances of Telly Monster, Elmo, Zoe and Abby Cadabby, Maria and Luis' marriage, "Put Down the Duckie," Neil Patrick Harris as the Shoe Fairy and cameos from everyone from Robert Deniro to the Plain White Ts to Patti Labelle. (There's also a great book recapping the first 40 years of Sesame Street.)

And, as per other classic Sesame Street moment, if you're looking for Oscar's Patton homage, check out Follow That Bird.

The Sesame gang ice skating? That would be the Christmas special, (which also has my favorite performance of "Sing.")

That time Elmo went to Grouchland? The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. (Yeah, some of these are easier to find than others.)

When in doubt, we always have a bunch of stuff with Elmo. Kids like Elmo, right?

Come back each week for a new Throwback Thursday profile.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Some of our Favorite Things

I asked my coworkers at Mentor Public Library what their favorite Christmas story, movie or song is. For your convenience, I've linked their answers to where you can find them in our collection.


Dee from Circulation: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the Boris Karloff version)
Kim from Children's: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the Jim Carrey version) and Baby, It's Cold Outside
Sue from Administration: Jolly Snow by Jane Hissey
Andy from IT: Love Actually
Chuck from Facilities: A Christmas Story
Leslie from Circulation: White Christmas (the movie)
Sally from Shelving: White Christmas (the song)
Morgan from Shelving: Carol of the Bells
Barb from Tech Services: Christmas Carol (both the book and the film starring Alistair Sim)
Mary from Tech Services: The Bishop's Wife
Rita from Circulation: It's a Wonderful Life
Torey from Circulation: This Christmas by Donny Hathaway
Kristin from Reference: The Muppet Christmas Carol
Meredith from Reference: All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
Mary from our Children's Department: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and O Holy Night by Josh Groban
Judy from Children's: The Santa Clause and Underneath the Christmas Tree by Kelly Clarkson
Lisa from Children's: A Charlie Brown Christmas (both the movie and soundtrack)
Kelly from Finance: Miracle on 34th Street
Tiffany from Tech Services: Elf
Mary Beth from Tech Services: Lilies of the Field
Julie from Tech Services: The Christmas Donkey by T. William Taylor
Lynn from Administration: The Hallelujah Chorus
Caleb from Circulation: 2000 Miles by The Pretenders
Amanda from Reference: A Garfield Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Cailey from Reference: The Year Without Santa Claus
Pam from our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch: Sound of Music
Mary from Reference: Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer by Elmo 'n Patsy
Jason from Community Outreach: I Hate Christmas by Oscar, the Grouch

You can find all of our favorites at Mentor Public Library. What's your favorite Christmas song, movie or book?