The Muppet Show

Filmed at Elstree Television Studios (not to be confused with the film studios in the same town), then owned by ATV, between 1976 and 1981; It was indeed "the most sensational, celebrational, inspirational, muppetational" thing on earth, and has had some impact on our culture Louise Gold joined Jim Henson’s team as a puppeteer in 1977, during the second season of this extraordinary show, she did not however receive a place in the credits until the third season. She was the first British puppeteer to work for The Muppets on a regular bases, indeed the only British puppeteer regularly employed on The Muppet Show. Ms Gold is one of the eight muppeteers specifically featured in Christopher Finch’s book "Of Muppets And Men The Making Of The Muppet Show". - Incidentally the picture on page 87 of that book is flipped (Louise is left-handed).

In December 1978 as The Muppet’s "newest recruit" the (then 22 year-old) actress-cum-puppeteer summed up the show by saying:

 "Around here, scenery is always falling down - but luckily it’s usually part of the show" Louise Gold to Richard Tippett, TV Times Look-In Magazine, Issue No 51, 16 December 1978

 

Please note that this page is not meant to be in any way a comprehensive reflection of The Muppet Show as a whole (there are several other sites on the web to do that), It is purely an attempt to highlight Louise Gold’s notable contribution to this legendary television programme.

 

Puppeteers (from Episode 31 onwards, plus Episode 28)

 The Muppet Show Eight

Jim Henson

Frank Oz

Jerry Nelson

Richard Hunt

Dave Goelz

Louise Gold

Steve Whitmire (Series 3, 4 & 5)

Kathryn Mullen (Series  4 & 5)

 

Additional Puppeteers

Cynthia Adler

Betsy Baytos

Peter Friedman (series 3 only)

Rollin Krewson

Brian Muehl (Series 5)

Bob Payne

Karen Prell (Series 5)

 

Dancers

Betsy Baytos

Graham Fletcher

John Bottoms

Michael Coleman

Julian Hosking

 

Guest Stars

Series 2

Episode 28,   Richard Little,            recorded 14 to 16 June 1977

Episode 31,   Edgar Bergan,            recorded 12 to 15 July 1977, first aired 10 October 1977

Episode 32,   Steve Martin,             recorded 19 to 21 July 1977, first aired 31 October 1977

Episode 33,   Madeline Kahn,         recorded 26 to 28 July 1977, first aired 3 October 1977

Episode 34,   George Burns,            recorded 2 to 5 August 1977, first aired 19 September 1977

Episode 35,   Dom De Luise,           recorded 9 to 11 August 1977

Episode 36,   Bernadette Peters,     recorded 16 to 18 August 1977

Episode 37,   Rudolph Nureyve,      recorded 18 to 21 October 1977

Episode 38,   Elton John,                 recorded 25 to 27 October 1977

Episode 39,   Lou Rawls,                 recorded 1 to 4 November 1977

Episode 40,   Cleo Laine,                 recorded 8 to 10 November 1977

Episode 41,   Julie Andrews,            recorded 23 to 25 November 1977

Episode 42,   Jaye P. Morgan,        recorded 29 November to 2 December 1977

Episode 43 (or 46),   Peter Sellers,  recorded 29 November to 2 December 1977

Episode 44,   Petula Clarke,            recorded 13 to 16 December 1977

Episode 45,   Bob Hope,                  recorded 22 November 1977

Episode 46,   Teresa Bower,            recorded 12 July 1977

Episode 47,   John Cleese                recorded 9 to 11 August 1977

Episode 48,   Cloris Leachman        recorded 6 to 9 December 1977

 

Series 3

Episode 49,   Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge,            recorded 14 to 16 February 1978 / 23 November 1978

Episode 50,   Leo Sayer,                  recorded 21 to 23 February 1978,        first aired 7 December 1978

Episode 72,   Cheryl Ladd,              recorded 9 to 12 May 1978,                first aired 9 November 1978

Episode 51,   Roy Clark,                  recorded 28 February to 2 March 1978,           first aired 28 September 1978

Episode 52,   Gilda Radner,             recorded 7 to 9 March 1978,               first aired 14 December 1978

Episode 53,   Pearl Bailey,               recorded 14 to 16 March 1978,           first aired 16 November 1978

Episode 54,   Jean Stapleton,          recorded 21 to 23 March 1978,           first aired 5 October 1978

Episode 55,   Alice Cooper,             recorded 28 to 30 March 1978,           first aired 2 November 1978

Episode 56,   Loretta Lynn,             recorded 4 to 7 April 1978,                  first aired 26 October 1978

Episode 57,   Liberace,                    recorded 11 to 13 April 1978,              first aired 19 October 1978

Episode 58,   Marisa Berenson,      recorded 18 to 20 April 1978,              first aired 21 December 1978

Episode 59,   Raquel Welsh,            recorded 25 to 27 April 1978,              first aired 30 November 1978

Episode 60,   James Coco,               recorded 2 to 5 May 1978,                  first aired 12 October 1978

Episode 61,   Helen Reddy,             recorded 9 to 12 May 1978,                first aired 21 September 1978

Episode 62,   Harry Belafonte,        recorded 8 to 10 November 1978,       first aired 15 February 1979

Episode 63,   Lesley Ann Warren,  recorded 14 to 16 November 1978,     first aired 8 February 1979

Episode 64,   Danny Kaye,              recorded 21 to 23 November 1978,     first aired 1 February 1979

Episode 65,   Spike Milligan,           recorded 12 to 14 December 1978,      first aired 18 January 1979

Episode 66,   Leslie Uggams,          recorded 5 to 7 December 1978,          first aired 5 July 1979

Episode 67,   Elke Sommer,             recorded 12 to 14 December 1978,      first aired 25 January 1979

Episode 68,   Sylvester Stallone,     recorded 9 to 11 January 1979,            first aired 22 February 1979

Episode 69,   Roger Miller,             recorded 16 to 18 January 1979,          first aired 10 May 1979

Episode 70,   Dale Evans & Roy Rogers,  recorded 23 to 25 January 1979,          first aired 17 May 1979

Episode 71,   Lynn Redgrave          recorded 30 January to 1 February 1979,         first aired 24 May 1979

 

Series 4

Episode 73,   John Denver,              recorded 24 to 26 April 1979,                          first aired 20 September 1979

Episode 74,   Crystal Gayle,            recorded 1 to 4 May 1979,                              first aired 11 October 1979

Episode 75,   Shields & Yarnell,      recorded 8 to 11 May 1979,                            first aired 4 October 1979

Episode 76,   Dyan Cannon,            recorded 15 to 17 May 1979,                          first aired 31 Janaury 1980

Episode 77,   Victor Borge,              recorded 22 to 24 May 1979,                          first aired 1 November 1979

Episode 78,   Linda Lavin,               recorded 29 to 31 May 1979,                          first aired 27 September 1979

Episode 79,   Dudley Moore,           recorded 12 to 14 June 1979,                           first aired 25 October 1979

Episode 80,   Arlo Guthrie,              recorded 19 to 21 June 1979,                           first aired 4 December 1979

Episode 81,   Beverly Sills,              recorded 26 to 28 June 1979,                           first aired 8 November 1979

Episode 82,   Kenny Rogers,           recorded 3 to 5 July 1979,                                first aired 18 October 1979

Episode 83,   Lola Falana,               recorded 10 to 12 July 1979,                            first aired 22 November 1979

Episode 84,   Phyllis George,           recorded 17 to 19 July 1979,                            first aired 29 November 1979

Episode 85,   Dizzy Gillespie,          recorded 24 July & 29 October to 1 November 1979,  first aired 28 February 1980

Episode 86,   Liza Minnelli,             recorded 30 July to 2 August 1979,                  first aired 15 November 1979

Episode 87,   Anne Murray,            recorded 8 to 11 January 1980,                        first aired 6 March 1980

Episode 88,   Jonathan Winters,      recorded 15 to 18 January 1980,                      first aired 13 March 1980

Episode 89,   Star Wars,                  recorded 15 to 18 January 1980,                      first aired 21 February 1980

Episode 90,   Christopher Reeve,   recorded 22 to 25 January 1980,                      first aired 7 February 1980

Episode 91,   Linda Carter,              recorded 29 to 30 January 1980,                      first aired 14 February 1980

Episode 95,   Carol Channing,         recorded 11 to 16 February 1980,                    first aired 8 May 1980

Episode 93,   Doug Henning,           recorded 4 to 8 February 1980,                        first aired 1 May 1980

Episode 94,   Andy Williams,           recorded 29 January to 1 February 1980,         first aired 20 March 1980

Episode 92,   Alan Arkin,                 recorded 11 to 16 February 1980,                    first aired 22 May 1980

Episode 96,   Diana Ross,                recorded 18 to 22 February 1980,                    first aired 15 May 1980

 

Series 5

Episode 98,   Loretta Swit,               recorded 10 to 13 March 1980,           first aired 15 November 1980

Episode 99,   Joan Baez,                  recorded 17 to 20 March 1980,           first aired 6 December 1980

Episode 100, Shirley Bassey,          recorded 24 to 27 March 1980,           first aired 4 October 1980

Episode 101, James Coburn,           recorded 1 to 3 April 1980,                  first aired 11 October 1980

Episode 201 (should be 102),          Brooke Shields,          recorded 7 to 10 April 1980,    first aired 18 October 1980

Episode 103, Glenda Jackson,        recorded 21 to 24 April 1980, first aired 8 November 1980

Episode 104, Senor Wences,           recorded 28 April to 2 May 1980,        first aired 30 May 1981

Episode 105, Deborah Harry,         recorded 4 to 6 August 1980,               first aired 21 February 1981

Episode 106, Jean Pierre Rampal, recorded 12 to 15 May 1980,              first aired 17 January 1981

Episode 107, Paul Simon,                recorded 19 to 23 May 1980,              first aired 25 April 1981

Episode 108, Melissa Manchester,            recorded 1 to 4 July 1980,                    first aired 8 June 1981

Episode 109, Tony Randall,             recorded 3 to 5 June 1980,                   first aired 25 October 1980

Episode 110, Mac Davis,                recorded 16 to 19 June 1980,               first aired 22 November 1980

Episode 111, Carol Burnett,            recorded 23 to 27 June 1980,               first aired 20 September 1980

Episode 112, Gladys Knight,           recorded 3 to 7 July 1980,                    first aired 2 May 1981

Episode 113, Hal Linden,                recorded 8 to 10 July 1980,                  first aired 7 February 1981

Episode 114, Marty Feldman,         recorded 14 to 17 July 1980,                first aired 23 May 1981

Episode 115, Christopher Langham,          recorded 5 to 8 August 1980,               first aired 31 January 1981

Episode 116, Wally Boag,               recorded 28 to 31 July 1980,                first aired 9 May 1981

Episode 117, Johnny Cash,             recorded 11 to 15 August 1980,           first aired 14 February 1981

Episode 118, Buddy Rich,                recorded 11 to 15 August 1980,           first aired 16 May 1981

Episode 119, Linda Rondstadt,       recorded 27 to 30 May 1980,              first aired 1 November 1980

Episode 120, Roger Moore,            recorded 29 April to 2 May 1980,        first aired 27 September 1980

Episode 91 (should be 97), Gene Kelly,                recorded 19 to 21 August 1980,           first aired 28 February 1981

 

 

Production Team

Produced by – Jim Henson

Executive Producer – David Lazer

Additional producer – Lord Lew Grade

Writers

Head Writer – Jerry Juhl

Writing Team – Joseph A. Bailey, Don Hinkley, Chris Langham, Marc London, David Odell, James Thurman, and, Jim Henson

Directed by  - Philip Casson, and, Peter Harris

Workshop

The Muppet Designers – Sherry Amott, Leslee Asch, Cheryl Blalock, Ed Christie, Lyle Conway, Barbara Davis, Sal Denaro, Bonnie Erickson, Faz Fazakas, Nomi Fredrick, Dave Goelz, Jane Gootnick, Joanne Green, Marianne Harmes, Cheryl Henson, Larry Jameson, Mari Kaestle, Ann Keeba-Tannenbaum, Rollin Krewson, Janet Kuhl, Kermit Love, Tom McLaughlin, Wendy Midener, Tim Miller, Bob Payne, Tim Rose, Jan Rosenthal, Debbie Schneider, and, Caroly Wilcox,

Special Puppets by – Don Sahlin

Muppet Costumes By – Calista Hendrickson, and, Polly Smith

Muppet Workshop Supervisors – Amy Van Gilder, Robert McCormack, and, Sara Paul

Muppet Design Consultant – Michael K. Frith

Creative Consultant – Frank Oz

Choreographers – Norman Maen, and, Gillian Lynne,

Music

Orchestra Conducted by – Jack Parnell

The Band – The Jack Parnell Orchestra

Drums – Ronnie Verrell

Trumpet (Gonzo) – Kenny Baker

Trumpet (Lips) – Tommy McQuater

Saxophone – Frank Reedy

Piano (Rowlf) – Derek Scott

Musical Associate – Derek Scott

Music Consultants – Larry Grossman, and, Ray Charles

Art Directors – David Chandler, Su Chases, Bryan Holgate, Richard Lake, Leigh Malone, Richard Plumb, and, Malcolm Stone

Theme Music by – Sam Pottle

Lighting Directors – John Rook, and, Phil Hawkes

Audio – Roger Knight, and, Ted Scott

Video Tape Editors – John Hawkins, and, Tim Waddell

Senior Floor Manager – Richard Holloway

Floor Managers – Martin Baker, Guy Frazer-Jones, and, Stephen Springford, Nigel Lythgoe

Stage Managers – Caryl Cruickshank, and, Katie Coley

Costumers – Ann Hollowood, James Dark, and, Sue Lecash

Makeup by – Mary Southgate, Shirley Muslin, and, Sheila Mann

Assistant To The Producer – Joan Chaplone, and, Sue Paul

 

Louise Gold’s Muppet Show Characters

Louise Gold's regular Muppet Show characters

 Annie Sue Pig - a little Pig with frizzy ginger hair, the cute girl-singer who was Miss Piggy's Sweet young talented admirer and rival. In the Muppet Central Interview, Ms Gold says that this is the character she likes to think is most like her. Annie Sue is Ms Gold's best known Muppet character. She was specially designed for Louise, and as a result it was very rare for anyone else to perform her. (Although Frank Oz once did)

 Lou-the-Jugband-Lady - If Louise Gold were to dress up as a hippie she would probably look like this character, (whose hair has been variously liked to both Edie Brickell and Louise Gold!). She was (of course) named after her Muppeteer

 Big Mamma - a big brown monster, who usually causes chaos. In the 1978 Look-In Magazine interview Louise herself refers to the monster as Big Mamma. Apparently (well according to Muppet Wiki) some of the Workshop staff allegedly refer to the character a Mean Mama. Sometimes other puppeteers performed her, but Louise Gold is the puppeteer with whom she is most closely associated (it was Louise her gave her her distinctive character). One of those Muppet monsters with an insatiable appetite, she once ate Miss Piggy! Her biggest claim to fame is probably that she once hugged the Prince of Wales!

 

Some Louise Gold's Miscellaneous Muppet Show character roles

 Fish Singer – puts her big Merman-like voice to good use with I’m Gonna Catch Me Some Blues

 

During the first series of The Muppet Show, The Muppets had had among their guest stars the mighty Ethel Merman. During the second series they acquired their very own Merman-Style singer.

In 1977 at the end of the first series Eren Ozker left the show to return to the USA to get married. It was decided to advertise for "a tall British actress" to replace her. The job was advertised in The Stage newspaper, which is where Louise Gold’s agent spotted it, and said to Louise "would you like to go along and audition to be a Muppet?" Louise went along “and auditioned with a lot of other people". She was one of three candidates who were asked to "try-out" with the show, each of the three worked on one episode early in Series Two. In Louise was the last of the trio, her audition stint taking place in the week of 14 to 16 June 1977. After this ‘second audition’ Louise was hired to help out (starting on 12 July 1977 – she would probably have been at the script read-through on 11 July 1977), and has been "a sort-of puppeteer" ever since. Actually a fairly major British puppeteer.

Indeed about five years after making her puppeteering debut, Louise Gold was hired as Leading Puppeteer on Spitting Image, where she was only the second choice the for job (after Muppet Show colleague Jim Henson turned it down).

Contrary to popular myth Ms Gold was not in the Milton Berle episode (that was Abby Hadfield), although she subsequently sang a number from it on the Muppet hits album. Nor was she in the "What Do Simple Folk Do" number in the Zero Mostal number (that was Richenda Carey). These were the other two contenders for the job. She was however in the Richard Little episode, where she sang Chan’son’D’Amour - triple tracked with herself and performed Mildred in the Richard Little press sketch.         

If you happen to be watching The Muppet Show, here’s a few useful pointer’s to trying to spot Louise Gold:

i) Her glorious voice. Along with Jerry Nelson and Richard Hunt, Louise Gold was a strong featured vocalist in many Musical numbers, sometimes using her British accent, though she can sing in quite a variety of accents and often did American ones (usually at Jim Henson’s request).

ii) She is probably the only left-handed puppeteer on The Muppet Show (Mike Quinn is left-handed and puppeteers that way, but did not puppeteer on TMS. Marty Robinson is also left-handed but puppeteer’s right-handed, and, he didn’t usually puppeteer TMS. Contrary to oft quoted myth Jim Henson was not Left-handed. While although, right-handed, Jerry Nelson did for a time, due to injury, puppeteer left-handed, but that was not during his TMS days)

 

Along with her Muppet Show colleagues Louise Gold has of course featured on quite a number of albums singing songs from The Muppet Show.

Muppeteers Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, and Louise Gold all sang on The Muppet Show Music Hall, and on which Peter Harris, Phillip Casson, Jack Parenll, Derek Scott, Roger Knight and, Ted Scott also worked.

Muppeteers Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, and, Louise Gold along with Guest Stars Bernadette Peters, and, Peter Sellers. on The Muppet Show 2; For which Jerry Juhl, Joseph A Bailey, and, Don Hinkley wrote material; and on which Peter Harris, Phillip Casson, Jack Parnell, Larry Grossman, Derek Scott, Roger Knight, and, Ted Scott, also worked

The Muppet Show Eight: (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen) all featured on The Muppet Show Music Album; for which Jerry Juhl, Don Hinkley, Christopher Langham, and, David Odell wrote material; And with which David Lazer, Peter Harris, Phillip Casson, Jack Parnell, Ray Charles, Larry Grossman, Derek Scott, Roger Knight, and, Ted Scott were also worked.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, and, Peter Friedman all sang on  Jim Henson Presents Silly Songs, and, For What It’s Worth with both of which Jack Parnell was also involved.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, and, Karen Prell all sang on Favorite Songs From Jim Henson’s Muppets, Muppet Music Mix, and, Put Some Zing In Your Spring.

Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, and Louise Gold represented The Muppets on Jerome Kern The first 100 Years, on which Guest Stars Cleo Laine, Julie Andrews, and, Andy Williams can also be heard.

The Muppet Show Eight (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen) all sang on Muppet Music Sampler, and, Music Mayhem And More.

The Muppet Show Eight (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen) can all be heard on Muppet Hits, and, Muppet Hits 2, with both of which Peter Harris, and, Jack Parnell were also involved.

 

The Muppet Show itself was the subject of a Making-Of Tv documentary Of Muppets And Men, in which the eight main puppeteers and a good numbe rof other people around during Series 5 featured.

The Muppet Show puppeteers: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, and Louise Gold represented The Muppets on their very first appearance in a Royal Variety Performance, when they appeared on The Royal Variety Performance (1977), with Louise Gold infamously puppeteering one of the muppet monsters, Big Mama. Other participants on that year’s Royal Variety included Guest Stars Rudolph Nureyve, Cleo Laine, Julie Andrews, Bob Hope, and, Harry Belafonte. It should be noted that bandleader Jack Parnell, and producer Lord Lew Grade were also involved with the evening.

Some of The Muppet Show company, namely: Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Louise Gold, Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, Betsy Baytos, and, Christopher Langham appeared on stage in The All Time Get Around Sometimes Play Together Every Other Friday Night Vaudeville Show.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Brian Muehl, and, Bob Payne went on to puppeteer on The Great Muppet Caper, in which Guest Star John Cleese acted; for which Leslee Asch, Ed Christie, Lyle Conway, Barbara Davis, Faz Fazakas, Nomi Frederick, Michael K Frith, Jane Gootnick, Joanne Green, Calista Hendrickson, Larry Jameson, Ann Keeba-Tannenbaum, Janet Kuhl, Robert McCormack, Tom McLaughlin, Tim Miller, Tim Rose, Amy Van Gilder, and, Caroly Wilcox built puppets; Jerry Juhl wrote material, and with which David Lazer, and, Leigh Malone were also involved.

The Muppet Show Eight (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt,  Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen) sang on The Great Muppet Caper (Soundtrack album), with which Michael K. Frith was also involved.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Rollin Krewson, Brian Muehl, and. Bob Payne went on to puppeteer on The Muppets Go To The Movies, on which Guest Star Dudley Moore also appeared; for which Leslee Asch, Cheryl Blalock, Ed Christie, Barbara Davis, Nomi Frederick, Jane Gootnick, Joanne Green, Calista Hensrickson, Janet Kuhl, Amy Van Gilder, and, Caroly Wilcox also built puppets; For which Jerry Juhl, and, Christopher Langham wrote material; Peter Harris was also a director; And with which David Lazer, and, Martin Baker were also involved

The Muppet Show Eight (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen), along with Guest Star John Denver’s recording credits include  John Denver And The Muppets A Christmas Together, with which Calista Hendrickson, Michael K. Frith, Ray Charles, and, Martin Baker were also involved. Tracks from that album were included on the compilation albums Christmas For Kids, and John Denver Christmas, and on the single John Denver & The Muppets Merry Christmas 45RPM.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Brian Muehl, and, Bob Payne went on to puppeteer on The Dark Crystal, on which Jerry Nelson did some voice-work; for which David Odell wrote the screen play; On which Sherry Amott, Barbara Davis, Faz Fazakas, Marianne Harmes, Cheryl Henson Rollin Krewson, Tom McLaughlin, Wendy Midener, Tim Miller, Tim Rose, Polly Smith, and, Amy Van Gilder built puppets, and with which David Lazer, Malcolm Stone, and, Martin Baker were also involved.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, Rollin Krewson, and, Karen Prell, along with Cheryl Henson. and, Sherry Amott went on to puppeteer on Labyrinth, with which Martin Baker was also involved.

Jim Henson appeared in the documentary Inside The Labyrinth.

Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Karen Prell went on to puppeteer on The Tale Of The Bunny Picnic for which Ed Christie, Bonnie Erickson, Jane Gootnick, Cheryl Henson, Larry Jameson, Rollin Krewson, Jan Rosenthal, and, Polly Smith,  built puppets, and with which Martin Baker was also involved.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Louise Gold’s recording credits include Elmo’s Lowdown Hoedown, with which Sam Pottle was also involved

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, and, Karen Prell went on to take part in Jim Henson’s Memorial Service, as did writer Jerry Juhl, puppet-builders Michael K. Frith, and, Cheryl Henson; and Guest Star Harry Belafonte. It may be noted that Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, and, Louise Gold each puppeteered a character of theirs from The Muppet Show.

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Karen Prell went on to puppeteer on The Muppet Christmas Carol, on which Ed Christie, Barbara Davis, Michael K. Frith, Larry Jameson, Rollin Krewson, Tim Miller, Tim Rose, and, Polly Smith built puppets; Jerry Juhl wrote material; and with which David Lazer, Martin Baker, and, Anne Hollowood were also involved. The film was dedicated to the memory of Jim Henson, and, Richard Hunt.

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Karen Prell’s recording credits include The Muppet Christmas Carol (Soundtrack album).

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen and, Louise Gold went on to puppeteer together on Sesame Street in the early 1990s, of course several of the major puppeteers on The Muppet Show (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, and, Richard Hunt) had already honed their craft on Sesame Street.

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Louise Gold’s recording credits include Born To Add, with which Sam Pottle was also involved.

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Louise Gold went on to puppeteer on Muppet Treasure Island, on which Ed Christie, Barbara Davis, Michael K. Frith,  Jane Gootnick, Larry Jameson, Rollin Krewson, Janet Kuhl, Tim Miller, Tim Rose, and, Polly Smith built puppets, and for which Jerry Juhl wrote material, and with which Martin Baker was also involved.

Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Louise Gold went on to puppeteer on The Animal Show; on which Frank Oz made an appearance as a Guest puppeteer; and which Peter Harris also directed.

Jerry Nelson, and, Dave Goelz went on to do voices for outerspace segments for the UK version of the international Fraggle Rock, on which Louise Gold puppeteered, and with which Martin Baker was also involved

Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Louise Gold’s recording credits include The Count’s Countdown, with which Sam Pottle was also involved, although there has been some debate as to whether Louise Gold is actually performing on that album.

Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, and, Louise Gold went on to puppeteer together on The Secret Life Of Toys.

Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Karen Prell’s recording credits include A Green And Red Christmas.

Louise Gold, Richard Hunt, and, Karen Prell went on to puppeteer on The Ghost Of Faffner Hall, on which Guest Star Dizzy Gillespie also guested. In fact, Louise Gold was in a sense the star of that show, since she puppeteered the title role.

Guest Star Cleo Laine has gone on to appear in A Time To Start Living, Side By Side By Sondheim 25th Anniversary Gala, and, Side By Side By Sondheim 30th Anniversary Gala.

Guest Star John Cleese’s recording credits include Utterly Utterly Live Comic Relief.

Guest Stars Leslie Uggams, and Liza Minnelli’s recording credits include Encore The Very Best From The Musicals.

Like puppeteer Louise Gold, Guest Star Lynn Redgrave has a family connection with the Unity Theatre.

Guest Star Carol Channing’s recording credits include The Best of Broadway Musicals, and, Magic Of The Musicals.

Guest Star Carol Channing originated the stage role of Lorelei Lee in Gentleman Prefer Blondes, muppeteer Louise Gold is one of the few people to have also played that role with the original script.

Puppeteer Louise Gold went on to play the odd ‘Shirley Bassey style singers’ on Laugh...? I Nearly Paid My License Fee.

Guest Star Glenda Jackson went to appear in Kids At Heart.

Guest Star and Writer Christopher Langham went on to appear, along with puppeteer Louise Gold in The Pirates Of Penzance (Stage production); and as members of that company they appeared in The Pirates Of Penzance (Gala Performance), The Pirates Of Penzance (Gala Preview), The Pirates Of Penzance (Benefit Preview), and, The Royal Variety Performance (1982).

Guest Stars Cleo Claine and Leslie Uggams’s recording credits include 100 Hits Musicals.

Norman Maen has choreographed several Royal Varieties including much of The Royal Variety Performance (1982), which trumpeter Kenny Baker may have been a musician in The Drury Lane Orchestra on (well there is a musician named Kenny Baker in that orchestra)

Louise Gold, Phillip Casson, Tom McLaughlin, and, Malcolm Stone went on to use their The Muppet Show expertise on the Spitting Image Pilots.

Having learned her puppeteering craft on The Muppet Show, Louise Gold went on to become Leading Puppeteer on Spitting Image, for which Christopher Langham wrote material, Phillip Casson, and, Peter Harris directed

Guest Star Linda Rondstadt and puppeteer Louise Gold went on to appear together in The Pirates Of Penzance (Film).

Peter Harris, and, Phillip Casson was also involved with the album Spit In Your Ear.

Phillip Casson went on to directed episodes of Casualty, on which of which puppeteer Louise Gold made an acting appearance.

Larry Jameson, Tim Miller, and, Tim Rose went on to build puppets for Mopatop’s Shop, on which Louise Gold puppeteered.

It is possible that puppet-builder Tim Rose may have been puppeteering, along with Louise Gold, in the item about The Dark Crystal on Blue Peter.

Gillian Lynne went on to do some choreography for Will Aid.

Guest Star Leslie Uggams’s recording credits include Let’s Go On With The Show – Hit Songs From The West End & Broadway.

Drummer Ronnie Verrell went on to play in the band for the TV show For Four Tonight.

Puppeteer Louise Gold went on to represent The Muppet Show puppeteers in the documentary The Wonderful World Of Puppets, on which puppet-builder Tim Rose also appeared, as did Jim Henson’s son Brian.

Muppeteers: Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Louise Gold; along with Guest Stars: Julie Andrews, James Coburn, Alice Cooper, Dom De Luise, Deborah Harry, Cleo Laine, and, Leo Sayer; along with other TMS behind the scenes people: Peter Harris, Rollin Krewson, Chris Langham, and, Nigel Lythgoe took part in the documentary I Love The Muppets, which was basically a tribute to The Muppet Show.

Gillian Lynne went on to choreograph the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The London Palladium, which Louise Gold performed in for the last 18 months of that show’s run.

The Muppet Show was featured in ITV’s 50 Greatest Shows. Louise Gold spoke about working on The Muppet Show. There was also an appearance by Kermit The Frog (probably performed by Steve Whitmire), and also an appearance from Miss Piggy (but probably not performed by Frank Oz)

West End actress Louise Gold has gone on to pay tribute to The Muppet Show in an ‘Around The World With The Muppets’ segment in her cabaret act LOUISE GOLD...By Appointment.

Some thirty years after The Muppet Show, as their only British puppeteer, Louise Gold led a Puppet Walk around Hampstead, particularly focusing on that area’s contribution to The Muppet Show and The Dark Crystal.

 

 

Links about The Muppet Show (For more Links see Muppet Links)

Muppet Central/Tibby's Bowl Interview with Louise Gold (needless to say The Muppet show is mentioned in the interview) http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/gold.shtml

 

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