Sesame Street Songs And
Sketches That May Have Involved Louise Gold
Skit descriptions compiled by
Emma Shane
These
sketches have a title a possible date (in many cases this may not be accurate)
and who possibly puppeteered on it, with the reasons
why it might have been whoever.
(If anyone knows
for sure the answers to some of the puzzles on this list, or of any songs
and sketches involving Ms Gold that have not been mentioned, please email to
the webmaster)
A Song For Two Will Make Us One [Mid 1990s]
Puppeteers: Louise Gold and Jerry Nelson (unconfirmed. I think it was
them, but I haven’t watched the number in a while, Muppet Fan TW is also
reckons it is them, and points out that the girl is puppeteered
left-handed)
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A Tall Tale
Puppeteers: Elmo – Kevin Clash, Noel Cowherd – Jerry Nelson, Polly Darton – Fran Brill, with Louise Gold as one of the
background puppeteers/backing vocalists (background puppeteers identified by
Muppet Fan TW).
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Description may follow ---
Al’s Alphabet Garge [1991]
Puppeteers: Al – Jerry Nelson w
(Puppeteers as identified by Puppeteer RL, however Muppet Fan SH reckons
this is not the case. Both your webmaster and Muppet Fan TW are sure they
recognised LG’s left-handed puppetry)
Al is
fixing letters in his alphabet garage, getting them ready for the road, the
skit opens with him inflating an O (as if it were a tyre). Just as he finishes
this we hear the garage door opening, and a female anything Muppet enters
lugging a J. Al asks “What’s the matter with your J?”. To which the lady says,
in a classy British accent (that sounds like a combination of Hortense in SLoT, The Queen from
Spitting Image, and Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby in the
stage musical of The Waterbabies) “My J won’t Jump.”
Al asks her if it can Jog, Jiggle, and, play jazz. She replies it can do all
those things, “It just won’t jump”. So Al gives it a Jump Start. He connects up
the wires, and asks her to turn it on. It is noticeable that she does so with
the keys in the puppet’s right hand, so using the puppet’s right arm rod. It’s
a very clear example of a puppet that is evidently being puppeteered
left-handed; and yet there is no apparent reason for this, set wise. The Jump
Start causes the J to jump all over the garage, eventually crashing into a
wall, where it makes a J-Shaped hole. At this Al delivers the punchline “Will that be cash or chargecard?”.
The look on the J owner’s face, it worth seeing, similar in manner to a sort of
look that Jim Henson or Steve Whitmire might give a
puppet. Al and the lady owner are clearly in the capable hands of consummate
professionals; who are not only good at puppetry, but good at acting with their
puppets. But there is something about that lady J owner. Some puppeteers do
have distinctive styles. And that one is just typical of Louise Gold’s
Left-handed puppetry.
The Ballad Of The Sad Cafe [1992]
Puppeteers: Louise Gold is the singer on the second of the three verses,
not quite sure who the male singer on the first verse and the female singer on
the third verse are.
See Elmo’s Lowdown Hoedown
Biff Gets His Thumb Caught In A
Bowling Ball [circa 1993]
Puppeteers:
Jerry Nelson as Biff. Muppetfan TW says that Louise
Gold may have performed Biff’s wife Celeste
Haven’t
seen the sketch so can’t comment on it.
Diva LaDiva The Loudest Singer In The World
Puppeteered by Louise Gold, (In an interview
LG conflated this character with Renata Socttie Dog, saying that her favourite Sesame Street
character was “Renata Scottie Dog The Loudest Singer
In The World, Muppet Fan TW has identified the two characters as being
separate)
According
to Muppet Fan TW this character’s main trait was that she sang louder than
anyone else, and had a tendency to demonstrate this, often. (Perhaps a bit like
her Muppeteer).
I’ve never
seen a sketch involving this character, and so don’t know what it actually sang
or did. Does anyone know?
Fairy Tales Today Presents: The Princess And The Pea [Mid 1990s]
Puppeteers: Fran Brill as Prairie Dawn, Louise Gold as The Princess
(confirmed because it’s in LG’s resume)
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Frazzle Goes To The Dentist [1996]
Puppeteers: Jerry Nelson as Frazzle, Louise Gold as Frazzle’s Mother,
and, David Rudman as The Dentist (unconfirmed, but
Frazzle’s Mother had a cockney accent and who would do that on Sesame Street at
that time)
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Description to follow ---
I Am Chicken [Early 1990s]
Puppeteers: Louise Gold as A Chicken, with a backing chorus (LG is
credited on the album Born To Add, it also sounds right, and as for puppetry
the puppet appears to lean a little as though done left-handed)
A delicious
number. A brown chicken with fluffy chic shiny feathers, and a red coxcombe sings the number. She has a backing chorus of
three similar chickens to stage right (ie. to the
left of the picture). As she sings she dances around flapping her chic wings
and clucking. The lead singer has a powerful distinctive voice, though an
American accent, it’s quite clearly that vocal-powerhouse Louise Gold; with a
song that both musically and lyrically suits her exceptional talents very well.
As for the puppetry, I don’t know if I’m reading too much into this, but did I
detect the puppet leaning slightly to the right of the screen, whereas the
backing chorus lean slightly the other way). If so, then it’s a further
indication that the lead chicken is being puppeteered
left-handed; but of course we already know that she is. All in all a good fun
I Can Sing Anything When I Sing With You [Early 1990s]
Puppeteers: Jerry Nelson as Herry Monster,
and, Louise Gold as Louisey (obvious on account of
names and sound, also confirmed by puppeteer RL that in fact the number was
written for Jerry Nelson and Louise Gold)
Herry
Monster and Louisey duet about how they can sing
anything. And that’s so true of their two muppeteers.
Herry Monster needs no introduction. Louisey is an orange haired female anything muppet. Her orange hair is straight, but quite wild in a
mop-like way. Not so dissimilar to Louise Gold’s own chestnut mop (even though
Louise’s titan hair is curly).
This is
surely one of the greatest performances ever of that great Muppet singing
double act Jerry Nelson and Louise Gold. This number suits their individual and
combined talents so perfectly it could have been written for them. Although
both use a wide range of voices in the number; in the end they really come
across mostly as themselves. Louise at least, even sings parts of it in
something approaching her natural voice (in between being operatic, and doing
her famous monster imitations that is). A really glorious number.
I Could Have Counted All Night (A parody of I Could Have Danced All
Night from My Fair Lady)
Puppeteers: Jerry Nelson as The Count, Louise Gold or Julianne Buescher as The Countess, and, Fran Brill as The Countess’s
Mother. The album The Count’s Countdown
credits Louise Gold as The Countess. However, Louise Gold cannot have puppeteered it. Muppet Fan TW reckons this is incorrect and
that Julianne Buescher performed it on the programme,
but who sang it on the album? None of
the puppeteers, not even LG herself seem to be able to remember for sure;
However, Puppeteer FB (who also consulted Puppeteer JN) says that the concensus among Sesame Street Puppeteers is that Louise
Gold sang it on the album
When I
first heard this I was surprised to read in the sleeve notes that it was Louise
Gold’s, because it didn’t sound much like any of her usual pieces. But it
doesn’t sound totally not like a voice she would do either. If you’ve heard her
be really guttural. So is her. Muppet fan TW thought that Fran Brill singing
both female parts on the recording of that number. However the consensus among
Sesame Street puppeteers is that Louise Gold did sing it (at least on the
album). Puppetry-wise Muppet Fan TW has observed that The Countess is being puppeteered Right-Handed; as Louise Gold always puppeteers
left-handed she can’t possibly be puppeteering it.
Muppet Fan TW has observed that vocally and puppetry on the actual episode it
appears to be like Julianne Buescher’s performances.
I Get A Kick Out Of U (A parody of I Get A Kick Out Of You from Anything
Goes) [Early
1990s]
Puppeteers Louise Gold as Ethel Mermaid, not sure who did the shark (LG
confirmed it because it’s in her resume, but in any case that just sounds
absolutely her, it’s totally obvious!)
I don’t
usually like watching or listening to parodies of Ethel Merman, because so few
of them are actually good enough. In 1955 in her autobiography Don’t Call Me
Madam, Broadway star Ethel Merman claimed to be not only difficult to imitate
but impossible to imitate well. She wrote “Have you ever seen a good Merman
burlesque?” She obviously expected the answer “no” for her next line was
“That’s what I thought”. Well at that time there probably wasn’t anyone who
could have done it. However in the early 1990s with this parody
I’m A Bookworm Baby
Performer: Ivy Austen sang it, while Louise Gold assisted by
Puppeteer
RL has always remembered doing a bookworm number with Louise Gold. The vocals
on this one most definitely do not sound like hers, and the album Sesame Road
identifies them as Ivy Austen’s. Therefore, either she is puppeteering and the
vocals were dubbed later on. Or her bookworm number is another number.
Muppet-fan TW has watched the sketch and he reckons that Louise puppet this
one.
The Job Song
Some
Muppet-fan seems to have mistakenly attributed one of the characters to Louise
Gold. Muppet Fan TEB, Muppet Fan TW, and your webmaster all reckon this is the
Sesame Street skit that a certain Sesame Street puppeteer (puppeteer LG) once
spotted as having been mistakenly attributed to Louise Gold, when stylistically
the puppetry clearly is not hers (not least because of the handedness matter).
In fact Muppet Fan TW thinks the character in question might be one of Kathryn
Mullen’s.
Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: Anyone’s Nose
Puppeteers:
Louise Gold (as lead singer), with backing singers: Jerry Nelson (as Herry Monster), Kevin Clash (as Elmo), and, Marty Robinson (as
Telly). (Your webmaster hasn’t seen this, however Muppet Fan TW has seen it and
confirms it sounds a lot like Ethel Merman).
Louise Gold
performed this parody of the song Anything Goes. Most likely in her own typical
Mermanesqye style.
Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: Inside And
Outside (a parody of Tonight from
Puppeteers: Louise Gold and Jerry Nelson as the principals. with two
others as a pair of cats in the chorus. (Unconfirmed –though both your
webmaster and Muppet Fan TW are pretty sure it’s the dynamic musical duo as the
leads; but your webmaster haven’t seen
this for sometime)
This number
has some gorgeous lyrics such as “He’s out, she’s in. Their love cannot begin.
Our lovers have not actually met.”
Near And Far
[Mid 1990s]
Puppeteers: Louise Gold and Marty
Robinson (unconfirmed, but very likely)
Your
webmaster hasn’t seen it. Apparently Louise Gold performed a character in a
ballroom who sang about her husband dancing near and far from her. Muppet Fan
TW has seen it and points out that the female in it is puppeteered
left-handed. Muppet Fan TW reckons that the weary husband was puppeteered by Marty Robinson.
Nestrapolitan Opera Presents: A Diva
Singing/Rehearsing The Alphabet (1991)
Puppeteers: Louise Gold as A Diva (according to Muppet Wiki, I have never to my knowledge seen this skit so can’t
comment)
Well I may
have possibly caught half the skit inadvertently.
Nestrapolitan Opera Presents: Charmin’ (a parody
of The Habanera from Bizet’s Carmen) [1994]
Puppeteers: Charmin’ – Louise Gold, Phil Harmonic – Jerry Nelson
(Puppeteers identified by? – well LG confirmed her own identity. Not
sure who identified Jerry Nelson)
A parody of
the Bizet opera Carmen. Sesame Street’s writers. The
plotline involves Philharmonic introducing the opera Charmin’ live from the
Nest. In it the heroine, Charmin’ has to say goodbye to Jose, someone she cares
for very much. To the rather wonderful tune of Bizet’s
The Habanera, she sings, explaining to him about “This machine which is called
a fax”. He goes away, and she is delighted to receive a fax from him. So
delighted that she caresses the fax machine (needless to say with this
live-hands puppet’s right hand). The fax “says that he is coming back today”, but
when he returns Charmin’ sends him away so she “can get a fax again”. The
curtain comes down, there is an end speech by Phil; this is interrupted by
Charmin’ coming out front. Phil tells her “You were Charming, Charmin’”. She
hands him a piece of paper (out of her fax machine) saying “You mother sent you
this. She wants to buy her milk on the way home.” To which Phil says “How many
times do I have to tell her not to fax me at work”.
Louise’s vocals on this number are very
impressive. It’s a wonderful parody. Sesame Street’s writers really will go
anywhere, including where other people, like Demitri
Shostakovich would be afraid to tread. It’s altogether a charming and very
funny parody from
Prunella The Grouch Visits
Puppeteers: Caroll Spinney as Oscar, Louise
Gold as Prunella (unconfirmed, but that is what it
says on Muppet Wikki, and who would do a British
female-sounding character on
Can’t
comment not having seen the sketch. Apparently Prunella
was driving through
Renata Scottie Dog The Most Famous Dog
Opera Singer In The World
Puppeteered by Louise Gold, (In an interview
LG conflated this character with Diva LaDiva, saying
that her favourite Sesame Street character was “Renata
Scottie Dog The Loudest Singer In The World, Muppet Fan TW has identified the
two characters as being separate)
I’ve never
seen a sketch involving this character, and so don’t know what it actually sang
or did. Does anyone know?
Roxanne – Cyranose
DeBergerac’s Beau
Louise Gold’s resume has sometimes referred to her as performing a
character named Roxanne on
Haven’t
seen a sketch involving her, so I don’t know what she actually did.
Sally Messy Yuckyael Episode 3120
Live Actors: as LG was being a live actor this doesn’t need confirming.
There is a distinctive picture on Muppet Wiki of this
cameo.
Puppeteers: Caroll Spinney as Oscar, Louise
Gold as Sally Messy Yuckyael
I haven’t
seen the episode, so can’t really comment. Muppet Wiki
has an extensive account of this episode. Louise Gold did a cameo as the owner
of a lost kitten. According to Muppet Wiki she also puppeteered Sally Messy Yuckyael
the grouchy chat show host on whose show Oscar is a guest. From the photograph
on Muppet Wiki is does kind of look as if Sally is
holding her microphone in her right hand (which would suggest she might be puppeteered left-handed , thus evidence that LG may have
performed her).
Some Enchanted Lunchtime (a parody of Some Enchanted Evening from
Puppeteers: Louise Gold and Kevin Clash (unconfirmed. However, your
webmaster says that the female character’s voice and puppetry is totally
characteristic of Louise Gold – left-handed for a start. Muppet Fan TW points
out the female sounds just like Annie Sue Pig. Other Muppetfans
have identified the male character as performed by Kevin Clash)
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Something Always Comes Between Us [Mid 1990s]
Puppeteers: some Muppet fans, including Muppet Fan TW seem to think Louise
Gold and Jerry Nelson did it. Your webmaster initially thought to too, but
isn’t certain; Muppet Fan SH is sure it is not Gold & Nelson, while
Puppeteer RL reckons it is probably Stephanie D’Abruzzo
and Marty Robinson, but he isn’t sure either.
Two characters
(male and female) try to hold hands, but whenever they do something always
comes between them, such as: A High School Marching Band, A Creature From The
Planet Venus (which lands right there on the beach), and Two Shepherds playing
concertinas, who bring their sheep.
There’s Nothing We Women Can’t Be
Puppeteers: ? - Tiny Dancer’s website seems to think Louise Gold was one
of the women, but as the song was done back in 1974, some 20 years before LG’s stint on
Wouldn’t It Be Yucky (a parody of Wouldn’t It Be Luverly
from My Fair Lady)
Puppeteers: Caroll Spinney as Oscar the
Grouch, and Louise Gold as Prunella The Grouch
(Unconfirmed. This one is according to Muppet Wiki.
I’ve never seen the number. But I suppose a British sounding female character
at the time of Episode 3119 in which this number appeared is likely to have
been LG).
Haven’t
seen it, so can’t comment.
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