Beautiful Day Monster
Encyclopedia
The Beautiful Day Monster is a Muppet that debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show
. Caroll Spinney
, Dan Redican
(1989), Frank Oz
, Jerry Nelson
, Jim Henson
, Kevin Clash
, and Richard Hunt
have all performed the character.
Originally conceived by Henson as one of three monsters for a series of never-aired ads for a General Foods snack product called "Wheels, Crowns and Flutes" in 1966, the characters were aptly named the Wheel-Stealer, Crown-Grabber and Flute-Snatcher.
Although the commercials were never shown, the characters were kept by Henson. The Flute-Snatcher became Snake Frackle
, a background monster from The Great Santa Claus Switch
and The Muppet Show
. Wheel-Stealer eventually evolved into none other than Cookie Monster
, and Crown-Grabber became Beautiful Day Monster.
. The sketch featured a little girl walking along and enjoying a beautiful day. The monster slowly appears behind her and goes to extreme lengths to ruin the girl's fun. He causes it to rain, but stops when the girl says that rain can be refreshing. When the little girl tries to look at a flower, the monster eats it, along with the flowerpot. Trying to keep her spirits up, the girl comments that sounds can be beautiful, too-like those of a nearby singing bird. The monster takes out a gun and shoots the bird. Finally acknowledging the monster's existence, the girl begins to compliment him on his "perfect awfulness." This kindess causes the monster to shrink to a much smaller size, whereupon the girl destroys it with a flyswatter, saying, "You've gotta talk your troubles down to a size where you can handle 'em!" The sketch can be viewed here http://youtube.com/watch?v=mOkJYurtECI In this first appearance he was performed by Jim Henson himself.
.
. By this time, he had been rebuilt to look slightly less scary. He appeared in a sketch with guest host Paul Williams
. Williams played a travel agent, and the Beautiful Day Monster was a customer who wanted to go to Pittsburgh. He asked for a first-class ticket; upon hearing of the price, he asked, "Ya got anything cheaper?" Though Williams kept lowering the price (along with the quality of transportation), the Beautiful Day Monster would not stop repeating his question. In the end Williams pulled a lever which dropped a 5000 pound weight, squishing the monster flat. Williams picks him up and says, "Mail this to Pittsburgh". For this appearance he was performed by Richard Hunt. Since then he has only had minor appearances.
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. Caroll Spinney
Caroll Spinney
Caroll Edwin Spinney, sometimes credited as Carroll Spinney or Ed Spinney , is an American puppeteer most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the children's television show Sesame Street.-Life and career:...
, Dan Redican
Dan Redican
Dan Redican is a Canadian comedy writer and performer and puppeteer, best known for his work with the comedy troupe, The Frantics. As a founding member of the troupe he has worked since 1979 on numerous stage shows, the Frantic Times radio show, Four on the Floor TV show...
(1989), Frank Oz
Frank Oz
Frank Oz is a British-born American film director, actor, voice actor and puppeteer who is known for creating and performing the characters Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show, Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover in Sesame Street, and for directing films, including the 1986 Little Shop of...
, Jerry Nelson
Jerry Nelson
Jerry Nelson is an American Muppet puppeteer, known for his wide range of characters, singing abilities, and his frequent partnership with Richard Hunt.-Early years:...
, Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
, Kevin Clash
Kevin Clash
Kevin Jeffrey Clash is an American puppeteer and voice actor whose characters include Elmo, Baby Sinclair, Clifford, Splinter and Hoots the Owl...
, and Richard Hunt
Richard Hunt (puppeteer)
Richard Hunt was an American puppeteer best known as a Muppet performer. Hunt's Muppet roles included Scooter, Beaker, Janice, Statler, and Sweetums.-Early years:...
have all performed the character.
Originally conceived by Henson as one of three monsters for a series of never-aired ads for a General Foods snack product called "Wheels, Crowns and Flutes" in 1966, the characters were aptly named the Wheel-Stealer, Crown-Grabber and Flute-Snatcher.
Although the commercials were never shown, the characters were kept by Henson. The Flute-Snatcher became Snake Frackle
The Frackles
-Bio:They first appeared in a television special called The Great Santa Claus Switch. They would then appear in later franchises, such as The Muppet Show. Characteristics of a Frackle include fur and toothy beaks. They are normally small in stature, but there are exceptions. The Frackles became...
, a background monster from The Great Santa Claus Switch
The Great Santa Claus Switch
The Great Santa Claus Switch was a Jim Henson television special featuring his Muppets. It first aired on CBS in December 1970. It was directed by John Moffitt, written by Jerry Juhl, with music by Joe Raposo and puppets by Don Sahlin.-Plot:...
and The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
. Wheel-Stealer eventually evolved into none other than Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster is a Muppet on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is best known for his voracious appetite and his famous eating phrases: "Me want cookie!", "Me eat cookie!", and "Om nom nom nom" . He often eats anything and everything, including danishes, donuts, lettuce, apples,...
, and Crown-Grabber became Beautiful Day Monster.
A Monster Tries to Ruin a Little Girl's Day
The Beautiful Day Monster was so named because of his very first appearance on The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. The sketch featured a little girl walking along and enjoying a beautiful day. The monster slowly appears behind her and goes to extreme lengths to ruin the girl's fun. He causes it to rain, but stops when the girl says that rain can be refreshing. When the little girl tries to look at a flower, the monster eats it, along with the flowerpot. Trying to keep her spirits up, the girl comments that sounds can be beautiful, too-like those of a nearby singing bird. The monster takes out a gun and shoots the bird. Finally acknowledging the monster's existence, the girl begins to compliment him on his "perfect awfulness." This kindess causes the monster to shrink to a much smaller size, whereupon the girl destroys it with a flyswatter, saying, "You've gotta talk your troubles down to a size where you can handle 'em!" The sketch can be viewed here http://youtube.com/watch?v=mOkJYurtECI In this first appearance he was performed by Jim Henson himself.
On Sesame Street
Beautiful Day Monster then appeared numerous times during Season 1 of Sesame Street. His appearance changed slightly over the episodes, but he was always rather frightening looking, and not just in terms of a kid's show. First having small, narrow eyes (as he did on the original Sullivan sketch) he was soon given large, bulging eyes and hairy eyelashes, then articulated eyelids. In one early appearance with Ernie & Bert he was even shown having four eyes. For his Sesame Street appearances, he was performed by Frank OzFrank Oz
Frank Oz is a British-born American film director, actor, voice actor and puppeteer who is known for creating and performing the characters Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show, Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover in Sesame Street, and for directing films, including the 1986 Little Shop of...
.
Final Appearance on the Muppet Show
The Beautiful Day Monster made one last appearance on The Muppet ShowThe Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
. By this time, he had been rebuilt to look slightly less scary. He appeared in a sketch with guest host Paul Williams
Paul Williams (songwriter)
Paul Hamilton Williams, Jr. is an Academy Award-winning American composer, musician, songwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song", Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World",...
. Williams played a travel agent, and the Beautiful Day Monster was a customer who wanted to go to Pittsburgh. He asked for a first-class ticket; upon hearing of the price, he asked, "Ya got anything cheaper?" Though Williams kept lowering the price (along with the quality of transportation), the Beautiful Day Monster would not stop repeating his question. In the end Williams pulled a lever which dropped a 5000 pound weight, squishing the monster flat. Williams picks him up and says, "Mail this to Pittsburgh". For this appearance he was performed by Richard Hunt. Since then he has only had minor appearances.