The picture below shows only a portion of my Muppet Show collection. It keeps growing, and growing...

Fisher-Price

From 1976 to 1982 Fisher-Price produced a popular series of toys and puppets of the Muppet Show characters. With the exception of Rowlf the Dog and Kermit, this was the first time these characters were merchandised in North America.

Fisher-Price Puppets and Dolls

Kermit the Frog Puppet and Fozzie Bear Puppet

These two puppets were each sold in boxes. The Fisher-Price Kermit puppet was so well made that it performed just like a "real" Muppet. In fact, it was used by the Henson people to train puppeteers during the production of Fraggle Rock in 1982! In 1969 the Ideal toy company produced a doll-like Kermit puppet, but this was before the character had become a frog with the trade mark collar and flippers for feet. Therfore, this Fisher-Price puppet is the first "Kermit the Frog" puppet to be produced, however it did not have any legs. It is very similar to the Fisher-Price Kermit doll which was procuded at the same time, with flippers.

Next to the Kermit puppet is the Fozzie Bear puppet, which is also similar to the doll version. Kermit and Fozzie were the only characters in this original line of Muppet plush toys to be available as both a puppet and a doll. Fozzies's hat is made out of moulded plastic and is attached to his head. Fozzie puppets that have been played with are often missing the hat.

Scooter Doll, Kermit the Frog Doll, and Fozzie Bear Doll

I've noticed variations for Kermit and Fozzie. Kermit's mouth and collar were originally made with felt, and later replaced with a more durable leather-like fabric. The same is true for the inside of Fozzie's ears! Scooter's shoes are molded in very hard plastic (and when swung overhead, came in handy as a weapon to keep my pesky older bother away! Therafter I need only say the words "You'd better stop that or I'm going to go get Scooter." That is, of course, until I got a dose of my own Muppet.).

Rowlf the Dog Puppet

This shows the open box packaging that was used for the other dolls and larger puppets in this series. In 1969 the Ideal toy company released the first ever toy Rowlf puppet. This Fisher-Price version is the second Rowlf puppet to be produced. The size and style of puppet is similar to the Ideal version.

Miss Piggy Puppet

This is the first toy Miss Piggy puppet ever produced. Like Rowlf, Miss Piggy was available in an open style box. The box was later changed to have a clear plastic cover so that the puppet's face and hair would stay clean while still on store shelves. After 25 years, this puppet is the first casualty of the series. Boxed or not, it is difficult to find these Miss Piggy puppets without some amount of deterioration. The plastic used for the face has often already begun to break down leaving a sticky coating. (Yucka!) The foam used to make the body is almost always dissolved and turned to powder!

Animal Puppet (my favourite of the series!)

Animal is perhaps the most popular puppet of the series. Fisher-Price made an early (and very rare) variation of this puppet that had ripped pant leg edges, and velcro on the feet. The head for this puppet was reissued a few years ago (around 2002) on a redesigned doll-like body. I believe it was made by Nanco toys, and was a variation of their Animal doll. (scroll down to see a photo below)

Fisher-Price Muppet Show Players

Below are the first Muppet show action figures ever to be made. They were produced by Fisher-Price in the late 1970s and early 1980s, in conjunction with the puppet and doll series above. Figures were sold separately on cards or in a boxed set. Animal and Scooter were not included in the boxed set and are more difficult to find. Miss Piggy is a finger puppet. Kermit, Fozzie, and Rowlf have only one ball-like joint for the legs and their heads don't turn. Gonzo and Scooter are regular action figures with moveable head, arms and legs. Animal's head and arms move, but his legs don't. All characters came with a white control rod for "puppet-like" action.

Gonzo, Rowlf, Fozzie Bear, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Scooter, and Animal

Rowlf the Dog in single "card" package showing some wear and tear.

Fisher-Price Dress Up Dolls

Gonzo as "The Great Gonzo" and Kermit in his Newsman Outfit

These dolls were produced by Frisher Price in the early 1980s, and sold standing up in tall boxes with a window on the front. Each doll had a removable costume, and additional outfits were sold separately. These included pirate, cowboy and space outfits. (Not shown) They were made slightly smaller than the first series of Fisher-Price Muppet dolls. The Great Gonzo pictured above originally had silver shorts but they have faded to white. Kermit is dressed in his reporter outfit and is missing his hat. Miss Piggy (not pictured) has a purple dress.

Fisher-Price Bean Bag Dolls

Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear

This Kermit and Fozzie have seen better days. Fozzie is missing his hat and has had his ears chopped. Gonzo (not shown) was a later addition to the series and is very difficult to find! He has a plastic head and is dressed as "The Great Gonzo".

Other Puppets and Dolls

Here is the "Original Kermit the Frog" sold in the early 1980s just after Fisher-Price stopped making their line of Muppet plush toys and puppets. It is very similar to the Fisher-Price version only the head and body are rounder in shape. This kermit was sold in a window box, and I recall he was posed in the box to be lying on his side with his legs crossed.

This Kermit doll was made by Dakin in 1981 and is a rare find in any condition. I've been collecting Muppets since the mid 1980s and only recently managed to add this one to my collection (in 2008). It is made with soft fuzzy green fur with a bean filled body. The hands, feet, collar, and toungue are made of felt. It is about the same size as the Fisher-Price Dress Up Kermit doll.

This plush Fozzie is a mystery. I'm not sure who made him or when, but my guess would be that it is also by Dakin in the 1980s. He's missing his neck tie.

Here is a very rare Gonzo puppet made by Dakin in 1988. It was sold exclusively at the Muppet Stuff stores.

These next two Kermit plush toys were made by Child Dimention in the early 1990s. They also made a Miss Piggy as shown on the back of the box. The clothes for the Kermit with the blue hat are sewn onto the doll.

In the mid to late 1990s Eden Gift produced several Kermit the Frog Plush Toys in various sizes, as well as the BEST Kermit toy puppet ever made. (I forgot to take the picture of the puppet so I'll add it soon!) These Kermits were the first to look identical to the actual Kermit puppet with special care given to shape the body and legs. The plush toy had wire inside the arms and legs allowing for Kermit to be posed, while the puppet of the same size did not have the wire inside. Eden Gift also made Gonzo, Fozzie and Miss Piggy plush toys for this set, but they did not have wire in them for posing. Unfortunately, I do not believe puppets of these other characters were made.

Eden Gift aslo made a larger plush version of Kermit (without wire in arms and legs) for Christmas, with Kermit wearing a nice red vest with a long scarf. The head of this Christmas version is essentially the same size as the real Kermit, but the body is much smaller than the original puppet. (My dream came true in 1995 when I got to visit the Muppet Workshop in New York and saw the real Kermit there, in the flesh...uh, fleece!) Finally, a small music box plush toy was made which plays "The Rainbow Connection" as Kermit's head tilts side to side. If you are a die-hard fan of Kermit and don't already own this music box Kermit, I would highly recommend it as a "must have item" for your collection. It was produced shortly after Jim Henson died, so perhaps I'm also a bit sentimental about this one. A very nice Kermit item. A back view of the wind up key is shown.

Here is a Talking Kermit by Applause which I recall was produced in 1999. It is very much like the Eden Gift version.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nanco produced Kermit plush toys (these did not have costumes, see below) that were available in various sizes as exhibition or carnival prizes. These have wire in the arms and legs for posing. During the same time period, Nanco also made Kermit Slinky pets in two sizes, shown below. I've also seem Animal as a Slinky pet.

Nanco produced several sets of Muppet plush toys based on themes (with different costumes). This is the Vacation Kermit complete with camera. I have also seen Valentines, Halloween, Christmas, and many other versions of this Nanco Kermit.

One of the weirdest Muppets dolls I've seen is this Gonzo dressed in a Hawaiian outfit made by Nanco in 2003. He has a guitar and ruffled necklace. Similarly dressed Kermit and Miss Piggy were also made for this series.

Here are a few dolls of one of my favourite Mupets, Animal! The one on the left without the chain is by Applause, from the mid 1990s. It has wire in the arms and legs so it can be posed. The other two are by Nanco and made around 2000. These were available as prizes from regional exhibitions and fairs. A jumbo version that is about four feet tall was also produced (both Animal and Kermit were made in the jumbo size). The body for the middle doll was also used for the reissued Animal puppet that was originally made by Fisher-Price.

Here is an awesome set of Electric Mayhem dolls by Sababa Toys made in 2003. This was the first time these characters were made as plush toys, and they are very well made with lots of detail. The set was released shortly after Sababa Toys released their line of Muppet beanie-style dolls (I have the whole set of those and will post pictures eventually). The back of the package indicates that a Pigs in Space set and Veterinarian's Hospital set are "Coming Soon". The latter is below, however I have never seen the Pigs in Space set. If in fact it was produced I would say that it is somewhat rare.

Muppet Show PVC Figures

This is the complete series of Muppet Show PVC figures made by Schleigh in the late 1970s. There are 13 figures in all.

Gonzo, MissPiggy, Kermit the Frog, and Fozzie Bear

Sam the Eagle, Rowlf the Dog, and Scooter

Sweetish Chef, Animal, and Zoot

Sweetums, Statler, and Waldorf

Here are some assorted PVC Muppet Show figures. The four cars in the front are by Corgi during the 1970s. These cars were re-issued by Corgi around 2004 (give or take a couple of years) to mark the 25th anniversary of the Muppet Show. The PVC figures by Schleigh are seen in the centre of the picture. Variations of the Sweetish Chef are seen in the back row. I believe the remaining figures in the back row were made by Applause in the mid 1990s, except for Kermit sitting on the log, which is from Germany and made by another company.

Action Figures

There have been several series of Muppet action figures produced following the first Fisher-Price set of action figures shown above. Here are some Bendy figures from the early 1990s: Gonzo, Animal and Miss Piggy. The set also included Kermit and Fozzie.

Here is the first series of the popular Muppet Show figures that were produced by Palisades. There are now well over 100 figures in this collection with many rare or exclusive variations.

Other Muppet Show Stuff

I have some very odd things in my Muppet collection. This is one of the weirdest, a pair of Kermit slippers! They are from the 1990s. Wow! These are bad...and I mean bad as in awful!

Another weird thing is this paper Kermit party hat from the 1980s. I used to wear this around the house when I was a kid... a fact that I shouldn't really be publishing on the Internet!

Ceramic mugs aren't as weird, but they do make me wonder why a mug was chosen as the object, as if someone would ever use one of these? Why not just make a ceramic figure or bust? Still, they are very nice collectable pieces. These two are from the 1990s.

Of course the collection would not be complete without a piggy bank, so here is a plastic Kermit bank. There are Miss Piggy piggy banks out there, which would be more appropriate, but I have yet to get one (I like Kermit, can you tell?). This Kermit bank is from the 1990s. I've shown a few views of it as it is shaped so well. Its a very nice Kermit figure.

Questions, please e-mail Mike Artelle at
artellephant@webruler.com