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Rockets and Muppets
The saga of our Bert rockets continues to unfold.
In March 2007 we received an email from a Senior Research Scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory Remote Sensing Technical Working Group.
His credentails alone separated this email from most of the others we receive via our web site.
The other distinguishing factor is that this guy could spell.
In English.
This is what he wrote:
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Greetings guys!
First, let me compliment you on your web site and your imaginative rocket designs. Im a recently born-again rocketeer after a 30 year absence and Ive had a ball browsing your site.
Second, I wanted to share with you an interesting tidbit that involves your rocket-powered Berts. Back in high school I used to frequently check out G. Harry Stines Handbook of Model Rocketry out of the school library. There was a picture of a really cool Sci-Fi-like rocket that had been turned out of a solid block of balsa and hollowed out. I vowed that some day I would build something that cool.
Anyway, I recently purchased the 1967 edition of the handbook to get that picture (it had been deleted from subsequent editions at some point). The caption indicated it had been built by a TV puppeteer named Don Sahlin. Out of curiosity I googled his name and to my surprise I found that he was the creator of Bert, Ernie, and Big Bird, as well as a number of the other Muppets! Unfortunately, Mr. Sahlin passed away in 1979 so he didnt get the pleasure of seeing your rocket-powered Berts. I think he would have been very flattered to see his creation zoom skyward on a rocket motor.
Best regards,
Dave Roberts
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The caption to the photo reads: "This large model was made by TV puppeteer Don Sahlin. Construction involved turning the body from a solid block of balsa, cutting it apart, hollowing it out,and gluing the two halves together again"
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First, personal thanks go out to Dave, both for his kind words about the web site and for taking the time to let us know that the creator of our beloved Bert was also fond of building and flying rockets.
Dave also sent along the scans from his 1967 handbook -- the one above and this one below left. The caption to the photo reads "Television puppeteer Don Sahlin readies one of his beautifully constructed three-stage rockets for launch."
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Apparently Mr. Sahlin was quite the jokester and had a passion for creating explosions. For this reason, the pyromaniac muppet known as "Crazy Harry" was originally named "Crazy Donald".
The similarity to our own "Crazy Burl" Finkelstein is unmistakable.
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Click [HERE] for Construction details on the Evil Bert rocket!
Click [HERE] for Background on why this even started as an idea!
Click [HERE] for information on the rocket background of the muppet's orginal creator!
Click [HERE] for downloadable video of the Bert Drag Races -- AND MORE!
Click [HERE] details on the 2002 ORIGINAL Bert Drag Race!
Click [HERE] for a frame-by-frame replay of the 2002 Bert Drag Race!
Click [HERE] for details on the 2004 Bert Drag Race, this time with EIGHT Berts!
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