Synopses & Reviews
The story of one of the most important and beloved shows on television how it got started, nearly failed, and was saved by Elmo.
When the first episode aired on November 10, 1969, Sesame Street revolutionized the way education was presented to children on television. It has since become the longest-running children's show in history, and today reaches 8 million preschoolers on 350 PBS stations and airs in 120 countries.
Street Gang is the compelling and often comical story of the creation and history of this media masterpiece and pop culture landmark, told with the cooperation of one of the show's cofounders, Joan Ganz Cooney. Sesame Street was born as the result of a discussion at a dinner party at Cooney's home about the poor quality of children’s programming and hit the air as a big bang of creative fusion from Jim Henson and company, quickly rocketing to success.
Street Gang traces the evolution of the show from its inspiration in the civil rights movement through its many ups and downs from Nixon's trying to cut off its funding to the rise of Elmo via the remarkable personalities who have contributed to it. Davis reveals how Sesame Street has taught millions of children not only their letters and numbers, but also cooperation and fair play, tolerance and self-respect, conflict resolution, and the importance of listening. This is the unforgettable story of five decades of social and cultural change and the miraculous creative efforts, passion, and commitment of the writers, producers, directors, animators, and puppeteers who created one of the most influential programs in the history of television.
Review
"Davis tracks down every Sesame anecdote and every Sesame personality in his book....Finally, we get to touch Big Bird's feathers." James Panero, New York Times Book Review
Review
"Davis culls insights from the show's creators and cast to serve up this painstakingly detailed history of television's most famous address." Time.com
Review
"The author's swift narrative the product of hundreds of interviews is essentially a Dumpster dive into Oscar's trash can of cast stories...a sensitive, honest account that could jog fond memories even from the amnesiac Street denizen Forgetful Jones." Drew Toal, Time Out New York
Review
"Anyone who has ever seen Sesame Street as parent or child or both will love the detail and exuberance of this book." Booklist
Synopsis
"Davis tracks down every Sesame anecdote and every Sesame personality in his book...Finally, we get to touch Big Bird's feathers."—The New York Times Book Review Sesame Street is the longest-running-and arguably most beloved- children's television program ever created. Today, it reaches some six million preschoolers weekly in the United States and countless others in 140 countries around the world.
Street Gang is the compelling, comical, and inspiring story of a media masterpiece and pop- culture landmark. Television reporter and columnist Michael Davis-with the complete participation of Joan Ganz Cooney, one of the show's founders-unveils the idealistic personalities, decades of social and cultural change, stories of compassion and personal sacrifice, and miraculous efforts of writers, producers, directors, and puppeteers that together transformed an empty soundstage into the most recognizable block of real estate in television history.
About the Author
Michael Davis was a senior editor and family television columnist for TV Guide from 1998 to 2007. A Neiman Fellow, he has also worked for The Baltimore Sun and Chicago Sun-Times.