Massachusetts
Massachusetts “Sesame Street” Performer Also Appeared on “Bozo'
Sesame Street is a mythical, magical place where millions of American pre-schoolers have gathered for decades through television, video, film, books, music and elsewhere. We’ve met countless wonderful souls on Sesame Street, some real, some fictional but all memorable.
Sesame Street, created for public television by Joan Ganz Cooney, Lloyd Morrisett, Jon Stone and Jim Henson, premiered on November 10, 1969.
My colleague Phil Devitt recently wrote about Waltham, Massachusetts native Caroll Spinney, the man behind – and inside – Sesame Street‘s Big Bird character from 1969 to 2018. Phil had the great fortune to interview Spinney in 2014.
The article is a must-read for anyone who spent time alone or with their children watching Sesame Street on television.
READ MORE: Massachusetts Was Home of Humble “Sesame Street” Legend Behind Big Bird
But there is more and I am here to tell you the rest of the story.
Not only did Spinney immortalize Big Bird, but he was also the voice of Sesame Street fan favorite Oscar the Grouch and was the puppeteer who controlled Oscar’s movements.
How’s that for a little Street cred?
86th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
According to his autobiography The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch), during the 1960s, Spinney played several characters on the Boston television version of Bozo’s Big Top, which featured the late Frank Avruch as Bozo.
On Bozo, Spinney performed as several costumed characters including Flip Flop the Rag Doll, Mr. Rabbit, Kookie the Boxing Kangaroo and Mr. Lion.
Spinney also appeared on Boston television on the Judy and Mr. Goggle Show in 1958.
Spinney married twice and had three children. He retired from Sesame Street in 2018 and died a year later in Woodstock, Connecticut. He was 85.
LOOK: Guess the Iconic TV Show Locations
Test your TV home knowledge! We’ve found iconic homes from the ’60s to today. Can you guess which shows they’re from?
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
Famous Television Moms
From the 70s to today, TV moms that made us laugh!
Gallery Credit: KEVIN MILLER
Fire broke out at an apartment building in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, sending a column of smoke high into the air.
NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports the smoke was visible from miles away from the building on Juniper Road.
More details were not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.
The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.
State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.
The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.
In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.
Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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