Sesame Street Closing Sequence

On the American children's television show Sesame Street, the closing sequence is used at the end of every episode of the program.

When the first episodes aired nationwide on NET in 1969, the sponsors for the episode were the letters "W", "S" and "E", and the numbers "2" and "3". Mr. Hooper (portrayed by Will Lee) had done a voiceover for the first episode sponsors.

The letters and numbers were in captital letters and in white. However, if there is something in the scene that is white, a dfferent color will be used. Or in some cases (usually when a Sesame Street episode ends at night), there the letters are in lowercase form.

From 1969-1985, the letters and number that sponsored each episode were shown smack in the center of the screen. However, later seasons had these characters appearing in other locations of the screen, as though on an invisible 3x3 square grid.

Other characters that have done voiceovers throughout the still logos of some of the cast holding the Sesame Street sign and the Children's Television Workshop's U.S.A-styled card from season 1 to season 14 included Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Gordon Robinson, Ernie and Bert, Cookie Monster, Susan Robinson, Maria Rodriguez and Little Bird. However, in at least two instances, the Honkers have done voiceovers, honking rather than actually speaking. And in at least one other case, Linda Bove has done the sign-off in American Sign Language; she was therefore seen on-screen for this purpose. While she and the Honkers did the sign offs, subtitles appear on the screen saying:

"SESAME STREET HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU TODAY BY THE LETTERS , AND BY THE NUMBER __"

"SESAME STREET IS A PRODUCTION OF THE CHILDRENS TELEVISION WORKSHOP"

If the folding Sesame Street sign is used, the sign will fold outward first. Then, the words "IS A PRODUCTION OF" will fade in, then the "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" line will slide in.

For example: Gordon Robinson is holding up a sesame street sign, and the announcer says "Sesame Street is a Production of....", we then cut to Big Bird holding up the Children's Television Workshop card, and the announcer says "....the Children's Television Workshop".

The "Sesame Street" sign is a green rectangle with a yellow border and "SESAME STREET" in white letters. On the top is a green half-circle with a yellow border and the letters CTW also in white.

From 1969-1977, the still logos were on a blue background. Starting in about 1977, the still logos were now outdoors.

In 1983, the still logos were replaced with an orange or white Sesame Street logo (with SESAME STREET in a different font) anywhere on the screen. After the announcer says "Sesame Street is a production of...". The Sesame Street logo turns into the CHILDRENS TELEVISON WORKSHOP logo in the same font as the CTW Sparks logo.

In 1984, a Sesame Street sign on the top of the screen fades in, after the announcer says "Sesame Street is a production of...", the words "CHILDREN'S TELEVISON WORKSHOP" fade in below the sign. This style is very similar to the folding Sesame Street sign described below.

In 1986, the same Sesame Street sign as the 1984 version was introduced. This time, the sign folded outward, then the words "CHILDREN'S TELEVISON WORKSHOP" slide in to the left one by one. As with the letters and number sponsors, the sign could appear anyplace on the screen. On most episodes, the sign would appear on any of the four corners of the screen. Sometimes it would be shown on either the left side or the right. On very rare occasions, the sign appeared in the very CENTER of the screen! For this purpose, the words "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" appeared on the bottom of the screen. This practice was discontinued after the 1994-95 season.

For example:

* If the sponsors are located on the left side of the screen, the sign will fold outward first, then the words "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" slide to the left. Like this:

SESAME STREET

CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP

* If the sponsors are located on the right side of the screen, the sign will fold outward first, then the words in reverse form "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" slide to the right. Like this:

SESAME STREET

CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP

* However on the very rare occasion, if the sign was in the center of the screen, the sign would zoom in, instead of folding outward. Then after the announcer says "Sesame Street, is a production of..." the words, "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" appear on the bottom of the screen. Its appearance is as follows:

SESAME STREET

CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP

In still other instances, if the last shot was of the actual sign on the lamppost prop, just the words "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" would appear on either the top or bottom of the screen (assuming there was enough room for these words). If the sign appeared on the bottom, but still within camera range, the words would appear in the middle of the screen.

From 1969 until 2002 the closing sequence with production crew were only seen on Fridays. Beginning with Season 30 the closing sequence was used for the season premiere. Starting with Season 34 the closing sequence was used at the end of every episode, which was the first time to use the copyright in the sequence instead after the closing sequence.

Starting in 1995, the voiceovers that close the show were discontinued, and only a person/muppet or more on-screen will say the sponsors and the CTW announcement.

Some episodes contain a character (like Little Bird and Cookie Monster) saying "Sesame Street has been a production of The Children's Television Workshop" instead of "Sesame Street is a production of...", this was usually a different way to say "This has been a production of the Children Television Workshop".

Funding Credits
Between seasons 1-3 (1969-1972), the program's funding credits were silent, without using any audio or voiceover, which was finally used from seasons 4-22 (1972-1991) for the audio, and season 23 for the voiceover, typically used by the character Gordon. Between 1972 and 1993, the background for the credits became a funky, upbeat tune with many vocal instruments
, followed by a tune arranged with the Sesame Street opening theme song. For season 27 (1995-1996) a new Sesame funding credits bumper was launched, with the character Big Bird coming on a purple background and saying "Toodle-loo!" to the audience, after the copyright zoom to the left. During this season, Sesame Street was then sponsored by the "Viewers Like You" personal message; therefore, Gordon says, "Funding for Sesame Street is made possible by annual financial support of PBS Viewers Like You."

Closing (1969-1970)
*Sesame Street is made possible by grants from:
*The Carnegie Corporation
*The Corporation For Public Broadcasting
*The Ford Foundation
*Headstart
*The Markle Foundation
*The United States Office of Education

Trivia
During the earliest Sesame Street episodes (1969-1970), the creators and producers never had any idea on how many letters or numbers to sponsor in each episode. Episode 59 (January 29, 1970) is the last known episode to be sponsored by more than one letter and one number at the same time. For January 1970, the rest of the episodes were sponsored by three letters and one number only, when it was cut down.

Closing (1970-1971)
(Note: During this season, the sponsors were one letter and one number.)

*Sesame Street has been brought to you courtesy of United States Office of Education's National Center for Educational Research and Development, the Ford Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Trivia
Episode 131 was the first known episode of the series to have been sponsored by only one letter and one number (e.i. F, 10), which is currently being done in today's Sesame Street episodes. Between 1971 and 1995, the majority of episodes, starting with the 280th episode, would only be sponsored by two letters and one number, which is not usually done nowadays.

Monday-Thursday Closing (1971-1979)

(*With the brand-new funky, upbeat, musical theme (not used until season four), but no voiceover)

*Sesame Street has been funded in part by the United States Office of Education's National Center for Educational Research and Development, the Ford Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

*"Sesame Street and the Sesame Street Sign are trademarks and service marks of the Children's Television Workshop.
(C) 197X Children's Television Workshop.

Friday Closing (1971-1979)
(*With the brand-new funky, upbeat, musical theme (not used until season four), but still no voiceover)

*Recorded at Reeves Teletape 81st St. Studio.

*Major funding for this program is provided by a grant from the U.S. Office of Education, the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and by public television stations.

*Additional funding was provided by grants from the Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

*Sesame Street and the Sesame Street Sign are Trademarks and Servicemarks of the Children's Television Workshop.
(C) 197X Children's Television Workshop.

Trivia
From the 1950s to the 1970s, the "U.S. Office of Education" provided major support for many N.E.T and PBS programming, when it was reformed as the United States Department of Education in 1979; while the Corporation for Public Broadcasting decided not to continue support for Sesame Street, having to do so again starting with season 23 in 1991-1992.

Closing (1979-1991)
(*With the funky, upbeat, musical theme, but again, no voiceover)
*Funding for this program was provided in part by public television stations.

*Support for for Sesame Street has also been provided by the United States Department of Education, The Ford Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

*Sesame Street and the Sesame Street Sign are Trademarks and Servicemarks of the Children's Television Workshop.
(C) 19XX Children's Television Workshop.

*Recorded at Reeves Teletape III. (Friday Only)

or

*Location Services provided by Rebo Associates, New York.

(*From 1979-1984, the credits were featured on a black background, with the text indented at the left side of the screen. From 1984-1991, the credits were featured on a dark blue background, with the text indented at the center of the screen. The words were a different font, as well.)

Closing (1991-1992)
(*With the funky, upbeat, musical theme, with voiceover by Gordon Robinson)
*Funding for this program is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by public television stations and their contributors.

(*without voiceover)
*Support for Sesame Street has also been provided by the United States Department of Education, The Ford Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

*Sesame Street and the Sesame Street Sign are Trademarks and Servicemarks of the Children's Television Workshop.
(C) 199X Children's Television Workshop.

*Facilities by Unitel Video, Inc. (Friday Only)

Closing (1992-1995)
(*With a new hybrid-calypso theme arranged with the opening credits, with voiceover by Gordon Robinson)
*Funding for this program is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by public television stations and their contributors.

(*without voiceover)
*Support for Sesame Street has also been provided by the United States Department of Education, The Ford Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

*Sesame Street and the Sesame Street Sign are Trademarks and Servicemarks of the Children's Television Workshop.
(C) 199X Children's Television Workshop.

*Taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios New York. (Friday Only)
or
*Facilities by Unitel Video, Inc. (Friday Only)

Closing (1995-1998)
(*"A Jazzy Version of the Sesame Street Theme is played, with a kid voiceover")
*Funding for Sesame Street is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by public television stations and their contributors.

After this, we go to the title card that says "SESAME STREET AND THE SESAME STREET SIGN, ARE TRADEMARKS OF THE CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP".

Trivia
Starting with season 24 in 1992-1993, Sesame Street had a new funding credits theme. During seasons 4-23, each episode ended with the same funding credits theme, having retained it for 20 years.

Description of closing sequences
From Season 1 and Season 3, the closing sequence is at the street scene. In Season 2 the closing sequence is with kid's paintings. Also in Season 2 The Copyright information appears on the bottom of the screen saying:

COPYRIGHT © CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP, 1970-1971.

In the middle of the 3rd season Sesame Street in 1972, one of the first live action closing sequences was introduced with drawings of pictures and the production crew on a brick wall.

This sequence was used until the premiere of season 8 in 1976-1977, when it was replaced by a sequence when a person was driving a bus. The driver's face is not shown, but the steering wheel was used when driving around a street in New York City while the credits run. The sequence was used until season 11.

*In 1980, Sesame Streeet introduced a new closing sequence using the 1969 closing theme.
First, we see an open field, and then Barkley comes on screen from the right and barks twice. Then, he runs away from the camera with a group of kids (perhaps seven or eight) chasing him. As the credits roll, we then see Barkley and the kids walking across an arch-shaped bridge (during which time Barkley momentarily stops running). After the bridge part, we see them running through the field again. Here, Barkley stops running long enough for the kids to run past him and out of camera range. Next comes the part where they get behind the tree, but they don't come out the other side. A moment later, Barkley arrives at the tree, looking for the kids. He paws the tree and moves onward. We then see them coming out from behind the tree (through split-screen photographic effects). The next shot is a long shot of Barkley leading the line of kids, who crawl on hands and knees. Finally, we see a panting Barkley lying down with the tired posse of kids surrounding him, after which time the "Sesame Street" sign and "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" are shown on the screen.

*There was also a closing sequence depicting New York City at night, beginning with a shot of the New York City skyline. Also seen in this sequence were the following images: traffic through the city streets; a slow-moving subway train; a full moon; a dimly-lit country road; a dimly-lit field with what appeared to be a combine harvester in the background; tall blades of grass swaying in the breeze. The last two images are of ocean waves crashing on the shore, after which time the "Sesame Street" sign and "CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP" appear on-screen.

In 1992, Sesame Street introduced a new closing animated sequence. It contained a mix of animation, live action, and puppets.

*We first see an animated Statue of Liberty on the left, along with New York City. The statue of liberty starts dancing as the credits begin to roll. Next, we see two windows open to reveal Elmo who is dancing on the right side of the window. After that, we zoom out from a building. On the left, we see the building dancing with some kids and elmo is with some kids, Next we see two kids on the background colors, the light green is on the girl side, and the dark light blue is on the boy side. Then we zoom out from the building, then on the right we see Big Bird and a Boy dancing together. Next we see a train going through the tunnel, we zoom in on the train for a few seconds, then we see the train leave the tunnel to a station where kids dance around the station. When the train stops, the doors open, and out comes kids running around. Then we see a bird puppet fly through the air, as the bird goes in the tunnel, we pan up to a building, to Elmo which is flying with balloons.

Next, we see some kids dance around the street above the building. In 15 seconds, we cut to a big yellow sign saying:

"CTW PROVIDES PARTIAL FUNDING FOR SESAME
STREET THROUGH ITS SELF-SUPPORT
ACTIVITIES."

Then we pan up as the Sesame Street sign reveals by itself,

*Big Bird walks underneath the sign saying "Sesame Street is a production of the Children's Television Workshop".

*Quick Zoom out to the city, were the Statue of liberty stops dancing a revert back to her position. A Toot-Toot is heard at the end.

Background Music
Over the years, a number of variations of the "Sesame Street" theme tune were played over the closing credit sequence. The most well-known of these was a rather blues-oriented tune played on either a harmonica or melodica. This rendition was used as recently as 1992 on many of the aforementioned sequences (the drawing on the brick wall, Barkley and the kids, the New York skyline, etc.).

There was also another version of the tune, played on an instrument called a celesta. One hears a generally faithful rendering of the tune, albeit in a quieter and rather dreamlike way.
This version could often be heard if episodes of "Sesame Street" ended at night. It has been used with both the skyline and even the Barkley/Kids sequence from Episode #1845 in 1983, although it seemed somewhat out of place in the latter sequence (then again, the harmonica version has been heard in the Skyline sequence in Episode #2615 in 1989). The celesta version has also been heard in instances where characters (most notably babies) are napping during the daytime, and at the end of the episode that featured the birth of Gabriela Rodriguez.

The skyline sequence has also been used for a version of the theme tune, played on the tuba by Hoots the Owl on Episode #2255 in 1986.

Modifications
When Children's Television Workshop became Sesame Workshop, the ending was shorten, meaning after the kids were dancing, we cut to the city with the Toot-Toot heard at the end. In 2001, Big Bird walking underneath the sign was removed. In 2003, the closing sequence was shortened. The flying bird puppet is removed, as is the elmo dancing in the window, and the train going in the tunnel is shortened.

Voiceovers
On Secondary Audio Program Channels at the end, not only Joel Snyder (the narrator of described video for Sesame Street) will say "Description made possible by a grant from the U.S Department of Education. Description created by NCI ("Described Media" starting in 2003)", he will describe the animated sequence until 2003, where he keep the "Description made possible by...". You can describe it starting in 2003.

Status
Only the short version of the current closing sequence can be seen at the end of today's Sesame Street episodes. The full version of the current and other closing sequences can be seen on some videotapes or DVDs of Sesame Street. This and the other closing sequences were already seen when Noggin aired classic Sesame Street from 1999-2003. The first 5 Friday closing credits sequences can be spotted as Sony Wonder released "SESAME STREET- Old School" on DVD. But you will not see the original copyright notice on there. Instead, the copyright reads:

(C) 2006 Sesame Workshop, Inc.
"KERMIT THE FROG (C) 2006 Muppet Holding Co., LLC."

You can also hear the funky chimes in the funding tags on the dvd.

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