Elmo's Rise to Stardom 🤩 This Object in History | Smithsonian Channel

With his bright red coat, big orange nose, and wide eyes, Elmo is arguably the most famous of the Sesame Street muppets-but he didn’t always have it this good. Elmo began as an ‘Anything Muppet’-an extra, if you will, until Kevin Clash refashioned his character into the one we know-and kids love-today. Throughout the '80s his star continued to shine, eventually becoming an international icon and best-selling Christmas toy. Forty years later, he’s still going strong, enshrined in a popular exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
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[@Suerte619]

Dang! The first Elmo sounds like he smokes a pack of cigarettes everyday 🤣

[@kellygrubbs915]

I’m 52 and I’m still madly in love with Elmo!!!! Lol

[@mangaboss1411]

For clarity, this is a photo puppet used for photoshoots with Elmo. You'll probably find him on the cover of VHS tapes. It's not a wearable puppet, hence the armatures inside that help it stay in that dynamic pose. There is also no arm hole in the back. Still incredible to see such an old photo puppet (especially if it's really from 1984), but it's important to note that this was never on the show or used by Kevin Clash.

[@officialbrdillin]

Elmo was my all-time favorite growing up. Miss watching the VHS DVDs of the 1990s when I was younger in the 2000s. I miss the old Elmo though...

[@MichelleIbarraMHAEdD]

I had a Tickle Me Elmo in my 40s! Was my fav. 😍

[@EyesOfByes]

Tickle Me *EMO* is one of the best skit of all time

[@killapicklepiratepanda7373]

I honestly didn't know Elmo was almost as old as me. I thought he came out when Elmo's world got made

[@neversometimesalways]

Love Elmo! Interesting to know where it all started

[@dustintacohands1107]

No please Elmo don’t tickle me there!!!

[@WillyTheComposerOfficial]

Lol

[@plushbatfan]

Elmo’s age is still only three and a half years old.

[@oscar0006]

3:41 Oscar's Can

[@victoriaespinoza1280]

Love Elmo 💕

[@Spiral.Dynamics]

I was 9 in 84 and so I was too mature for sesame street lol

[@hharquitectos4514]

You have almost 50 years now Wow😮

[@jaicotterill5226]

I would love to try them on

[@maxenestainrod5077]

Cool

[@johnylitalo4163]

I had started to like Kevin Clash in Being Elmo, until he betrayed me.

[@gracie99999]

🤩

[@seanwebb605]

Elmo is bigger than Jesus! Boom.

[@mucgilbe]

Rrrrrrrrrrrrr right

[@Mdriver1981]

Why did Elmo stop aging at three?

[@maxenestainrod5077]

And early 90s

[@maxenestainrod5077]

Can I borrow

[@maxenestainrod5077]

Why is he smoking

[@caligirlinreno5255]

Funny... no pun intended. See the writing on the wall friends. Manipulate your children through puppetry. God speed

[@lflagr]

I actually liked Sesame Street a lot more before Elmo took over and it became The Elmo Show.

[@joshberman3659]

How do you think I feel about Mickey Mouse's laugh? 😡

[@SkeletorTclaws]

Why can we buy tv acurate elmo Muppets? The toys are never as good as the one on the show.

[@maddjeff8799]

FIRST

[@alansnow1129]

Elmo was way too popular and it should been stopped