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 television commercials.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Brian Jay Jones, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FJim-Henson-Brian-Jay-Jones%2Fdp%2F0345526120&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd3a907e1bcbf4d008e3d08dd9ef860cb%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638841511819321486%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=jLXgkY%2F8Imsm2oXarj%2BwrsDR4BfA5%2BTnPkv64zWaqhk%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Jim Henson: The Biography</a>, tells the story of how some of America&rsquo;s most beloved characters&mdash;the Muppets&mdash;got their start in advertising and television commercials.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>&nbsp;

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/bc326408-8281-4046-8c31-b2ed01780484/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, in pool halls across St. Louis, there was a player people spoke about in hushed tones. They called him St. Louie Louie, a natural talent with a cue stick who could run a table clean and leave even seasoned players high and dry. But his reign didn’t last forever.

Mark O’Brien, a listener of Our American Stories and the author of Have Pool Cue Will Travel, shares the true story of St. Louie Louie’s rise, untimely fall, and enduring legend.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories,&nbsp;in pool halls across St. Louis, there was a player people spoke about in hushed tones. They called him St. Louie Louie, a natural talent with a cue stick who could run a table clean and leave even seasoned players high and dry. But his reign didn&rsquo;t last forever. Mark O&rsquo;Brien, a listener of Our American Stories and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHave-Pool-Cue-Will-Travel-ebook%2Fdp%2FB08CK1SPGZ%3Fref_%3Dast_author_dp%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C8616b31eef084039e8dc08dea18efe66%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639125832717590335%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6%2BRjN3oHCKcO3b9YOqH3RuXLZKAVhmAZ%2FpOosUDmNc0%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Have Pool Cue Will Travel</a>, shares the true story of St. Louie Louie&rsquo;s rise, untimely fall, and enduring legend.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

St. Louie Louie: The Rise and Fall of a Pool Hall Legend

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/84879095-afc4-454c-a105-b43601515f2c/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before he led the Union Army to victory in the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant was a man who seemed to be going nowhere. He graduated near the bottom of his class at West Point, struggled on remote frontier posts, and left the Army under a cloud of rumors about drinking. Back home, he failed in business and worked in his father’s leather goods store, with little to suggest he would one day change the course of American history.

Then came the Civil War.

Dr. John F. Marszalek and Eddie Rangel of the Grant Presidential Library in Starkville, Mississippi, share the story of how Ulysses S. Grant rose to command the Union Army and secure victory in America’s bloodiest conflict.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he led the Union Army to victory in the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant was a man who seemed to be going nowhere. He graduated near the bottom of his class at West Point, struggled on remote frontier posts, and left the Army under a cloud of rumors about drinking. Back home, he failed in business and worked in his father&rsquo;s leather goods store, with little to suggest he would one day change the course of American history. Then came the Civil War. Dr. John F. Marszalek and Eddie Rangel of the Grant Presidential Library in Starkville, Mississippi, share the story of how Ulysses S. Grant rose to command the Union Army and secure victory in America&rsquo;s bloodiest conflict.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

A Presidential-Sized Comeback: The Story of Ulysses S. Grant

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e8459d1d-759b-4ba0-b30d-b43601515f27/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Carlos Colon spent his early years searching for a father figure and found it in the streets of Chicago. Gang life gave him identity and purpose, but it also drew him into violence that followed him into prison after he took another man’s life. Inside those prison walls, something began to change. He committed himself to a different path and walked out a new man years later.

Here’s Carlos with his story, originally part of our documentary The Streets Were My Father.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, Carlos Colon spent his early years searching for a father figure and found it in the streets of Chicago. Gang life gave him identity and purpose, but it also drew him into violence that followed him into prison after he took another man&rsquo;s life. Inside those prison walls, something began to change. He committed himself to a different path and walked out a new man years later. Here&rsquo;s Carlos with his story, originally part of our documentary&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.salemnow.com%2Fproduct%2Fthe-streets-were-my-father%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C8616b31eef084039e8dc08dea18efe66%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639125832717568109%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=MLRLjsAp7Aee49B5zLKmmDSDRXH%2BauMJHLNYrlNxFrg%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">The Streets Were My Father</a>.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Streets Were My Father: A Chicago Gang Member’s Road to Redemption

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8d7a4f2b-4dd9-4cc2-9bb4-b43601515f29/transcript

The Story of How the Muppets Began as a TV Commercial

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