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Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam began construction in 1931 and finished in 1936. It is a concrete dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River on the border between Nevada and Arizona. -
Jim Henson was born
He was born in Greenville Mississippi. Drawn to the arts and his grandmother encouraged his creative passions. -
Pearl Harbor
The US becomes involved in WWII when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. -
First TV appearance
He got his first TV appearance on the Junior Morning Show in Washington DC -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court declared that "separate educational facilities" for black children were "inherently unequal." This was the final straw for the Jim Crow laws. -
Sam and Friends
His freshman year at the University of Maryland he scored a bi-weekly bit on the local NBC called Sam and Friends. This program would later score an Emmy in 1958. The Muppets including an early version of Kermit the Frog was born from Sam and Friends. -
Marries Jane Nebel
She worked with him on numerous projects and was a co-puppeteer on the show Sam and Friends. -
Presidential Election
Democrat John F. Kennedy wins the US Presidential Election after defeating Republican Richard Nixon. -
Sesame Street Premieres
Joan Ganz Cooney and the CHildren's Television Workshop approached Henson about creating and performing puppets on a new show aimed for preschoolers. This show would become Sesame Street and would introduce characters like Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Ernie, Count von Count and many more. He preformed Kermit the Frog, Ernie and Guy Smiley on the show. -
Moon Landing
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first men to arrive on the Moon during NASA's Apollo 11 mission. -
Watergate
The Watergate Scandal begins when White House operatives are caught burglarizing the Democratic National Committee. -
Jaws
The movie Jaws opens in theaters and is considered to be one of the first blockbuster films. -
Apple
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak create Apple Computer Company -
The Muppet Show Premieres
Henson felt puppetry should be for all ages including adults so when Lew Grade invited him to produce a half-hour show in England he agreed. This show was called The Muppet Show and became one of the most successful TV shows of all time. Kermit the Frog was the host and the show introduced new characters that would become very popular, such as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and more. -
The Muppet Movie Premieres
The Muppet Show was such a success that Jim Henson decided to create a couple different movies involving them. The Muppet Movie-1979
The Great Muppet Caper-1981
The Muppets Take Manhattan-1984 -
Wedding of the Century
Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer. -
Fraggle Rock
This was a new show aimed at children. Jim Hensons goal with the show was to promote understanding across cultures and around the world. This subject was near and dear to his heart. -
Challenger
The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates after being launched killing everyone on board. -
Radical Change
Jim Henson wanted a change in his career. He wanted to become less of a businessman and focus more on the creative side. He started talks with Michael Eisner to sell his company and characters to the Walt Disney Company. After his death negotiations went awry and Disney would not acquire the Muppets until February 2004. -
Jim Henson died
Dies in New York City due to quickly spreading pneumonia.