On this episode of Our American Stories, Brian Jay Jones, author of Jim Henson: The Biography, tells the story of how some of America's most beloved characters, The Muppets, got their start -- in advertising and commercials!

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, Brian Jay Jones, author of Jim Henson: The Biography, tells the story of how some of America's most beloved characters, The Muppets, got their start -- in advertising and commercials!
<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate">Support the show</a> (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

The Story of How The Muppets Began as a TV Commercial

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6a6b7696-4310-47e1-afa6-b13a014c482c/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, most people do not set out to make history, or even to live through it. More often, history simply happens to them.

Gulf War veteran and Our American Stories regular contributor Richard Muniz, from Colorado, shares two stories about living through historic moments without realizing it at the time, and reflects on what he learned from those experiences.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, most people do not set out to make history, or even to live through it. More often, history simply happens to them. Gulf War veteran and&nbsp;Our American Stories&nbsp;regular contributor Richard Muniz, from Colorado, shares two stories about living through historic moments without realizing it at the time, and reflects on what he learned from those experiences.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

We Live Through History Without Even Realizing It

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3d350841-d19a-468a-bb1d-b44201500f13/transcript

Marker 01

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he became president of the United States, Ronald Reagan was a young radio announcer in Des Moines, Iowa, calling sports for WHO Radio during the golden age of broadcasting. Armed with little more than a microphone and his imagination, Reagan recreated baseball games from telegraph reports, covered football and track events, and learned how to captivate an audience through storytelling.

In his own words, Reagan reflects on the early days of radio, how he got his start at WHO, and the broadcasting career that helped shape one of the most recognizable communicators in American political history.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he became president of the United States, Ronald Reagan was a young radio announcer in Des Moines, Iowa, calling sports for WHO Radio during the golden age of broadcasting. Armed with little more than a microphone and his imagination, Reagan recreated baseball games from telegraph reports, covered football and track events, and learned how to captivate an audience through storytelling. In his own words, Reagan reflects on the early days of radio, how he got his start at WHO, and the broadcasting career that helped shape one of the most recognizable communicators in American political history.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Before Hollywood, Young Ronald Reagan Worked as a Sports Broadcaster

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/10aab9b9-e812-42e7-9eaf-b44201500f14/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the brand-new Saturday Night Live first took the airwaves by storm, it was Chevy Chase’s clumsy impression of Gerald Ford, an All-American athlete turned commander in chief, that changed the way Americans saw their president. The sketch also helped shape the future of political satire, presidential impersonations, and even the 1976 election itself.

Peter Funt, author of Playing POTUS: The Power of America's 'Acting Presidents', tells the story behind one of comedy’s most consequential impressions.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the brand-new&nbsp;Saturday Night Live&nbsp;first took the airwaves by storm, it was Chevy Chase&rsquo;s clumsy impression of Gerald Ford, an All-American athlete turned commander in chief, that changed the way Americans saw their president. The sketch also helped shape the future of political satire, presidential impersonations, and even the 1976 election itself. Peter Funt, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPlaying-POTUS-Americas-Acting-Presidents%2Fdp%2F173762673X&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C065e3266415841867ebc08deab850bbe%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639136785133460601%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=7eaAp0S90SA8gyRogqrAJiARfG1J2CXYII9TjaGNUi4%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Playing POTUS: The Power of America's 'Acting Presidents'</a>, tells the story behind one of comedy&rsquo;s most consequential impressions.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

How Chevy Chase’s Gerald Ford Impression Changed a Presidency

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/80db2ec2-3980-409f-9d3a-b44201500f13/transcript

The Story of How The Muppets Began as a TV Commercial

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