Rare Great Muppet Caper & Muppet Movie Poster Images!

In honor of Drew Struzan's passing, we present some behind the scenes images used in the making of The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper posters.

Above is the reference image Struzan used to create the classic Great Muppet Caper poster. 

Drew posted images of his original art, showing more detail then we've previously seen. 

Here's a few more photos of Frank Oz and Jim Henson posing Kermit and Miss Piggy for The Muppet Movie poster.

We previously highlighted other behind the scenes photos from Drew's Muppet poster art  which you can see here and here. 

Thanks again Drew for all your iconic Muppet movie posters.

Fozzie's Restored Studebaker Unveiled at The Studebaker National Museum!

After an 18-month restoration process Fozzie Bear’s ride is back in its natural habitat the Studebaker National Museum.

Over the weekend, the museum unveiled the restored 1951 Studebaker Commander  famously borrowed from Fozzie's uncle in The Muppet Movie.

Photo: Southbend Tribune

International Academy Award-winning costume, prop house and custom car builder Razorfly Studios in Sylva, North Carolina, was commissioned to do the restoration.

Restorers sandblasted the car down to the bare metal before coating the frame in a sealant to prevent further rust. then tried to replicate the specific psychedelic paint job Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem gave it. 

Photo: Southbend Tribune

Museum Curator Kyle Sater said he started choking up seeing the car roll out of its trailer "This car is more than a car," t's cross-generational — it's an icon... It symbolizes friendship and memory and nostalgia."

The film actually features two identical 1951 Studebaker Commanders. One car was used for long shots, while the second was modified so the puppeteers could control the Muppets from under the dashboard while a professional driver steered the car from the trunk using custom controls.

Following production, the car sat outdoors for years on a Warner Bros. backlot, until the Studebaker National Museum acquired it in 2004 as a donation from the Orange Empire Chapter of the Studebaker Driver’s Club in California.

A full restoration was always the intent when the museum first acquired the car, but it took time to get the money to do it. In January 2022, The museum  launched a crowdsourcing campaign hoping to get $175,000

Photo: Southbend Tribune

After raising around $100,000 from various donors, including private donors, a donation of replacement parts from Studebaker International and other contributors Stephen Allen’s LLC, Westmoreland Studebaker, Studebakers West and Midwest Studebaker, the work began in January 2024 and the car returned to the museum Thursday, July 10 2025.

Photo: Southbend Tribune

Part of the restoration included a "meticulous recreation of the psychedelic paint scheme" and restoring the car's mechanical systems and remote cockpit, which was used to operate the vehicle during filming. This was one of the greatest challenges, Zoran said.

Muppet Movie Cinematographer Isidore Mankofsky testing the car 

Razorfly aimed for perfection when renovating the 1951 Studebaker Commander by maintaining the spirit of the movie as well as the spirit of the vehicle design, Zoran said. The company conducted hours of research and even reached out to Disney to view behind-the-scenes footage of the film to make the vehicle drive again, rather than have it be a prop.

“We had to find out what they removed, what they modified," Zoran said. "All of those changes we had to then reverse and almost reverse engineer. We actually had to manufacture some parts to make the car back to (its) normal usability."

Below are some before and after photos:

Photo: Ed George

 

Photo: Ed George

UPDATE:

Here's Mid-Michigan Now's story on the unveiling as seen on FOX66 and NBC25:

More information about The Studebaker National Museum and Fozzie's car can be found here: https://studebakermuseum.org/exhibition/fozzies-studebaker

Coming Soon "The Muppet Movie" Picture Book!

As The Muppets celebrate their 70th anniversary, they're making sure to highlight their biggest hits including their first blockbuster feature, The Muppet Movie, with a new picture book. 

Kermit, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and more move right along to make their dreams come true in this humorous officially licensed adaptation of the classic cult film, The Muppet Movie!

Kermit the Frog has a big dream: to go to Hollywood so he can sing, dance, and make people happy. On his journey to the West Coast, he finds a new friends: Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, the Great Gonzo, The Electric Mayhem, and more! They all share his dream. The new friends face their fears and stand up to bullies on their way to Hollywood, proving that teamwork can help overcome any obstacle standing in one’s way.

Join The Muppets in making dreams come true! Regain your love for The Muppets and introduce younger fans to Kermit and the gang in this delightful, officially licensed picture book of a classic film.

I'm not sure calling the 6th highest grossing movie the year it was released, that was nominated for an academy award, and still has broad, timeless appeal a "cult classic" is an accurate use of the term, but I digress.

The Muppet Movie picture book adapted by Heather Schwartz and illustrated by Cesar Samaniego will be released September 16, 2025.

It's available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, and more.

Note: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Behind The Scenes Muppet Movie Poster Images!

Recently some behind the scenes photos of the Muppets posing for the The Muppet Movie posters were listed on ebay. 

Each slide went for a good chunk of change, but you don't have to be the winning bidder to enjoy them. 

Most Muppet fans should find these images instantly recognizable as they were the basis for Drew Struzan's iconic poster art. The images show the Muppets on stands set in what looks to be the Henson offices. 

I particularly liked how Fozzie's tie has been wired so it appears to be blowing in the wind!

The images also show close ups of the characters and angles not used in the final image. 

There was even a slide of the Studebaker for reference as well. Notice how both versions of the Studebaker, both a painted and unpainted version are parked next to each other. 

And who could forget floating above all the Muppets in the Studedebaker was Kermit and Miss Piggy spoofing Gone With The Wind. 

The images above were used to create the classic poster for The Muppet Movie that was "More Entertaining Than Humanly Possible!"

But that wasn't the only poster Drew Struzan designed for The Muppet Movie.  There was also this one with Kermit and Miss Piggy in a row boat. 

Below you can see Jim Henson and Frank Oz performing Kermit and Miss Piggy for the refence photo.

Coincidently Struzan has been posting images of his original painting for the posters on social media. 

Below is his original painting for this version of the poster.  

And here's a close up of the final image of Kermit and Miss Piggy.

I hope more behind the scenes refence photos like this pop up. It's always great to see how these classic Muppet posters were created. 

iam8bit Exclusive Muppet Movie Vinyl Soundtrack!

iam8bit is releasing an exclusive remastered vinyl record of The Muppet Movie soundtrack. 

The classic soundtrack with songs by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher has been completely remastered and reimagined for the first time in over 40 years specifically for vinyl. 

After the success with their Muppet Christmas Carol vinyl soundtrack in November iam8bit has once again teamed up with Kevin Wilson to produce art work for the release. Unlike the re-use of Wilson's already produced Muppet Christmas Carol art work though, his art for this release seems to to brand new. 

The front features Kermit on his log singing "Rainbow Connection", the back features Kermit and Fozzie in Fozzie's uncle's Studebaker at the fork in the road next to a Doc Hopper's Frog leg's billboard.

The inside sleeve features Kermit and Miss Piggy dining by candlelight on one side,

while the other features Gonzo in the desert singing "I'm going to go back there someday."

The inside labels feature Scooter with his clapboard denoting each side of the record.

Below is the official description:

Keep believing, keep pretending;

We've done just what we've set out to do,

Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and YOU!

It’s an absolute dream come true for iam8bit to collaborate with The Muppets Studio and Walt Disney Records to release this completely remastered revival of The Muppet Movie soundtrack on vinyl. (That feels sooooo good to say.) More than 40 years since it’s original release in 1979, we’ve rummaged backstage at The Muppet Theatre to dust off timeless recordings like the Oscar-nominated “Rainbow Connection” and the road trip ditty, “Movin’ Right Along,” sparing no executional detail to give this album the treatment it deserves.

The music by legends, Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher, is undisputedly excellent, charming in its love of lyricism, with perfectly-honed harmonies and arrangements. These are the songs that rocketed The Muppets from mere TV stardom to the realm of rockstars, featuring outstanding performances by Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem (with Animal on wicked drums), and so many more. Statler and Waldorf would even approve of the outstanding album artwork by Kevin Wilson, who approached this design not merely as a commission, but as a lifelong obsession with The Muppets.

That's not all, iam8bit is releasing 4 variants of their Muppet Movie LP:

Kermit Green (iam8bit exclusive)

Miss Piggy Pink (iam8bit and in the UK at Just For Games)

Scooter Yellow (Light in the Attic Records exclusive)

Animal Red (Zavvi)

And, best of it's available to pre-order TODAY at 9am PST / 12PT EST using the links above. 

Expect them to arrive sometime in July. 

Help Restore Fozzie's Studebaker from The Muppet Movie!

The Studebaker National Museum, home to the iconic1951 Studebaker Commander driven by Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Movie is looking for help from fans to help restore it. 

Fozzie's Studebacker in its current condition 

According to their funding page "After filming ended, the Studebaker spent years on the Warner Brothers back lot; eventually, the car was gifted by the Studebaker Driver’s Club Orange Empire Chapter to the Museum in its current condition. The Museum is seeking funding to undertake an intensive restoration of the vehicle, which will bring back the psychedelic paint scheme fondly remembered by millions across the globe."

Fozzie's (hopefully restored) Studebacker

Before you get worried about the restoration the museum clarified that "besides restoring the eye-catching design, the car will be restored to operable condition and the special effects modifications, necessary to show the Muppets driving the car, will be preserved."

"By restoring the car, we will not only be able to preserve a valuable piece of movie history, but also engage visitors in the complex mechanical systems and effects that often go into some of their favorite films. The story of the car will appeal to young and old alike. In addition, having an eye-catching operable vehicle will allow us to loan out the vehicle for other museum exhibitions and car shows."

In the event that fundraiser is a success, the restoration process will take about two years and the museum will documented the process on social media.

Also, "in the unfortunate event that this donation campaign does not reach its goal, the money raised will be put into the restricted Muppet Car Restoration fund until sufficient funds have been raised to complete this project."

Let's not let that happen and help The Studebaker National Museum, move right along and get Fozzie’s (uncle's )Studebaker back on the road!

"Supporting this project will allow the car to delight and educate generations to come."

You can donate to the Studebaker National Museum's GoFundMe page.

RIP Bruce Kirby (1928 - 2021)

In January Bruce Kirby, character actor and father of actor Bruno Kirby died.

 

Kirby's career spanned five decades and included a recurring roles on Car 54, Where Are You? and Columbo.

He also made appearances on a variety of classic TV series including I Dream of Jeannie, Bonanza, Hogan's Heroes, The Patty Duke Show, The Rockford Files, Kojak, Barney Miller, M*A*S*H, Night Court, Murphy Brown, Matlock, The Golden Girls, L.A. Law, Punky Brewster, Murder She Wrote, The West Wing, The Sopranos, Chicago Hope, Scrubs, and many others.

His film credits include Catch-22, How to Frame a Figg, Throw Momma from the Train, Stand By Me, and best picture Oscar winner Crash.

However, Bruce Kirby is best probably known to Muppet fans as the World Wide Studios security guard the beginning of The Muppet Movie. This role made him the very first human to speak in a Muppet movie!

You can watch him tell Statler and Waldorf where they can heckle The Muppet Movie below:

Bruce Kirby was 95.