What's the Matter with KIDS These Days?

Seven miles underground, deep below an undisclosed location (okay, okay, it’s an IHOP in Lansing), the ToughPigs’ secret stash of rare Muppety goodness lies, waiting to be found like that crate at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. In our bunker, you’d find things such as a picture of Frank Oz performing the Jerry Nelson puppet, the lost soundtrack to Johnny Carson and the Muppet Machine, and yes, even the 1975 recording of Fur.

But among the real things we have, one rare goodie is issue #20 of “KIDS,” the only magazine written for kids, by kids. The issue was printed in September of 1973 and cost a shiny $0.85. Which, according to my dad, bought about 9 movies with popcorn for you and your date.

A very brief history of “KIDS”: the magazine was produced as much as possible solely by kids. This included the writing, illustrations, catering, roof tarring, tap dancing, and the like. They even had a 15-year-old editor. One of the young illustrators was Ray Billingsley, who created the comic strip “Curtis.” Co-founder Jeanette Kahn later founded Dynamite Magazine and became publisher of DC Comics. So, while the magazine itself didn’t fare too well in the few years it was around, it spawned some more successful careers.

As you can see from the cover of issue #20 above, this article was written and illustrated by young Newt Gingrich impersonator, Alan Fiore, along with Bernard Thompson (neither with any connection to “Curtis”). It also features Jim Henson’s amazing yellow-flowered-shirt-and-kerchief, as well as the floating face of Jerry Nelson.

The article title asks the eternal question, “Yes, But What’s A Snuffleupagus?” which is not really answered. I think he’s some sort of furry elephant. But elephants wear tutus, so I’m lost again.

Alan and Bernard were lucky enough to visit the set of Sesame Street where they met Jim Henson, Jane Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Carroll Spinney (sic), Bonnie Lewis, Carolyn Wilcox, John Lovelady, and Kermit Love. The young journalists only spent a significant amount of time with Jerry, Richard, Frank and Jim, which is nothing to shake a stick at. Or to stick a shake at. Or to end a sentence with a preposition.

The boys got a full description on how SAM the Robot works, which included an electric wheelchair, fire extinguisher, and a very scrunched-up Jerry Nelson. They also watched Jim and Frank film a scene of Bert and Ernie going to bed. There are some beautiful shots of the set included in the article of Bert and Ernie’s beds up on stilts with the puppeteers underneath. Sadly, there’s no indication of which skit they were performing, but I’d like to think it was the eating-cookies-in-bed sketch. And that Alan got to take some cookie crumbs home with him.

Though the pictures are great, Alan and Bernard include some of their own renderings of SAM the Robot, Mr. Snuffleupagus, and how Big Bird works (including Caroll Spinney’s squished head).

I’m sure little Alan and Bernard went home that day with the satisfaction of having made their dreams a reality. And they lay their heads on their Superman pillows, wondering if anyone would believe their story. And then the next day, they’d go on an adventure for a one-eyed pirate’s treasure in order to save the Goon Docks. To quote the article, “It really felt like this was Alan’s birthday present from KIDS because that day was his birthday!!!” Truer words have never been spoken.Click here to discuss this article on the ToughPigs forum, the forum for adults who think they're kids, by adults who think they're kids!

***Special thanks to ToughPigs' own Alaina!