Muppet Vision Props Auctioned at D23!

Heritage Auctions unveiled the Disney props they will auctioned off at this year's D23 convention.

Limited to just 50 handpicked lots from Disneyland, Walt Disney World and other Disney destinations, these unique park and resort-used treasures will be available to D23 Event attendees and registered Heritage Auction bidders. 

This mini auction will serve as a preview for the massive Disney Experiences Auction which will offer over 1500 lots from Disneyland, Walt Disney World and other Disney destinations being held October 23rd through the 25th.

Of intertest to Muppet fans is this event are a few former Muppet*Vision 3D props including a Kermit that used to sit atop the theater's doorways:

"Muppet*Vision 3D" Original Park-Used Theatre Ornamentation

Scale

Were is was originally used

Walt Disney World® Resort – "Muppet*Vision 3D" Original Park-Used Theatre Ornamentation (The Walt Disney Company, 1991 – 2025).

 "Kermit the Frog here, and welcome to ‘Muppet*Vision 3D!'" Ready to call "Action!" and start the show, Kermit the Frog makes an enchanting appearance with this architectural ornamentation that once adorned the inner theater of "Muppet*Vision 3D" at Disney's Hollywood Studios®. This recently closed beloved attraction was Disney Legend Jim Henson's final major project before his death in 1990, created in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering. Sometimes referred to as a "4-D" show, this attraction also utilized Audio-Animatronics®, a live Muppet character, and other similar effects for a truly immersive experience. This faux marble architectural element featuring Kermit holding a megaphone and crowned with laurels was one of several, each of which could be seen perched atop the double doors leading into and out of the main theater and mirroring a similar second Kermit holding a clacker board with comedy/tragedy masks of Fozzie Bear positioned between them. This cheerful ornamentation has been crafted from fiberglass and sculpting epoxy with hand-painted detail, giving it a marble-like Greco-Roman appearance, measuring approximately 15" x 32" x 20" overall. With typical handling and edge wear from park use, display, and storage, including minor paint wear with a break in his collar and megaphone handle, overall, this park-used architectural ornamentation featuring "Muppet*Vision 3D's" Kermit the Frog is in Good to Very Good condition. Accompanied by a Disney Certificate of Verification.

A Miss Piggy Theater Column

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Walt Disney World® Resort – "Muppet*Vision 3D" Original Park-Used Theatre Ornamentation 66" (The Walt Disney Company, 1991 – 2025). "And our demonstration includes a little song from Miss Piggy. Little? Uh, did I say ‘little'? I meant to say it's a huge showstopping major song from Miss Piggy!" Huge, showstopping, and major certainly highlight the features of the striking 66" tall Miss Piggy theater caryatid from high on the walls of "Muppet*Vision 3D" at Disney's Hollywood Studios®. A masterful collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and The Jim Henson Company, this recently retired attraction was Disney Legend Jim Henson's final major project before his passing in 1990. "Muppet*Vision 3D" attraction also utilized Audio-Animatronics®, a live Muppet walkaround character, and other similar effects for a truly immersive experience sometimes referred to as a "4-D" show. This faux marble architectural element mimics Greco-Roman caryatids (sculpted female figures serving in place of a support column) with emblematic Muppet flair and could be spotted high on the walls on either side of the stage. Hand-painted and crafted from fiberglass and sculpting epoxy, Miss Piggy has a staggering size of approximately 66" x 30" x 13" (that's 5.5 feet tall!) with a substantial weight of 78 lbs. With typical handling and edge wear from park use, display, and storage, including minor paint wear/chipping and faint surface debris, overall, this park-used architectural ornamentation featuring "Muppet*Vision 3D's" Miss Piggy is in Good to Very Good condition. Please note that due to size and/or weight, additional shipping arrangements may be necessary. Accompanied by a Disney Certificate of Verification.


"Muppet*Vision 3D" Original Park-Used 3-D Glasses Distribution Bin

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Walt Disney World® Resort – "Muppet*Vision 3D" Original Park-Used 3-D Glasses Distribution Bin (The Walt Disney Company, 1991 – 2025). "Lookee Here! Can't see 3-D?? Then stop by the Muppet Vision Center today!" It's time to start the music, light the lights, and grab your 3-D glasses with this original park-used distribution bin from "Muppet*Vision 3D" at Disney's Hollywood Studios®. Delighting guests since 1991, this memorable, recently retired attraction was Disney Legend Jim Henson's final major project before his passing, with the legendary Muppets creator serving as the show's director as well as Kermit the Frog's puppeteer and voice actor. With its use of Audio-Animatronics®, a live Muppet walkaround character, and other similar effects, "Muppet*Vision 3D" was a truly immersive experience, sometimes even referred to as a "4-D" show. This distribution bin would have been found in the prop warehouse themed pre-show area, topped with a tray of 3-D glasses ready for waiting guests to snag a pair. Composed of wood with hand-painted detail, this bin measures approximately 20" x 24" x 31" overall with a 4" deep inset at the top to hold a tray of glasses (not included) and an open backside that allowed for the storage of up to 4 additional trays of refills. With typical handling and edge wear from park use, display, and storage, including minor scuffing, some edge chipping, and slight debris, overall, this park-used distribution bin from the "Muppet*Vision 3D" pre-show area is in Good to Very Good condition. Accompanied by a Disney Certificate of Verification.


Heritage Auctions presents The Disney Experiences Auction - Rare and Remarkable Finds! Will take place during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event at the Anaheim Convention Center on Sunday, August 16 at 5:30pm PT.

You can see the entire collection at Heritage Auctions.

Happy Birthday, Steve Whitmire!

Today is also Steve Whitmire's birthday. While he may not be working with The Muppets anymore, he is out and about talking about his Muppet work at conventions around the country.

Check out a few of his most recent appearances below:

Make sure you go and see Steve Whitmire when he's at a convention near you

FaerieCon 2018!

The other weekend I took a trip to huntsville Maryland to check out Faerie Con. I had heard of the con before, but it didn't really appeal to me, that is until this year, when the theme was The Dark Crystal.  

 

Many booths had recently released Dark Crystal merchandise, including some Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth, and Storyteller items.

While there was good amount of official products, the con itself had much more handmade items. 

These Labyrinth and Dark Crystal inspired stained glass items were made by RockCrest glass owner Susan Humphrey.

She made this stained glass Jareth during the weekend of the show and people would stop in to check on the progress. 

Minds Eye Creation, another artist booth, created this extremely detailed Aughra mask.

It wasn't all crafts though. the con had a few celebrity guests as well. Caseen Gaines, author of The Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History, was there promoting his books as well as Dark Crystal Tales illustrator and author Cory Godbey, Shadows of the Dark Crystal and Song of the Dark Crystal author J.M. Lee, and Wendy and Toby Froud! All were there for the fans and graciously signed items for free. 

Photo courtesy of Caseen Gaines

Wendy had a few of her amazing hand made troll and fairies for sale. 

Throughout the weekend, there were numerous panels discussing the film, puppetry, and the upcoming Netflix series. 

Toby Froud talking to a packed house about The Dark Crystal .

Caseen Gaines, Cory Godbey, and J.M. Lee  also participated in a panel about writing and illustrating both your own works and someone else's creations. 

One of the panel rooms included a display of fan Amy Baker's memorabilia. 

The con was small, especially after attending recent shows like NYCC, but it had a lot of interesting things to see as well as fun activities for kids. If you're into fantasy worlds and near Baltimore, I would recommend checking the con out. I'm hoping the do a Labyrinth themed version soon!

Great Philadelphia Comic Con Round Up!

The Great Philadelphia Comic Con roared into the Philly suburbs this weekend bringing Henson performers Caroll Spinney, Hugh Spight, and Steve Whitmire with it.

You may not be familiar with Hugh, but he was inside the Mystic UrAmaj the Cook, as well as one of the Landstriders.

I had a great conversation with Hugh were he informed me that soon after closing the landstrider costume something happened and smoke started to fill the costume. Thankfully they were able to contain the issue, get the smoke out, and continue filming, but he said it was a very harrowing incident that he wasn't sure at the time he would escape from. 

Below is Hugh sticking his head out from his Mystic, and the full cast and crew of The Dark Crystal.

The always wonderful Caroll Spinney was there as well as part of a farewell tour. He's having a hard time health wise these days. I'm glad he's made plans to let fan's get to meet him one last time, but it's easy to see why this is his final round of cons. If you're able to do so, be sure to get to one of his stops.

Speaking of Caroll, this Saturday the Henson Studios is hosting a celebration of Carol's career as part of fundraiser for The Center for Puppetry Arts. 

The con was severely lacking Muppet merch, though there were a few items to be found it you looked closely enough.

Of course at cons like this there's cosplay. The best, by far though, was this amazing Sprocket puppet made by a fan named Stephanie. The detail and shear massiveness of it was amazing. 

 

A comic con wouldn't be much be with out comic artists and the talented Jay Fosgitt was there to fill the Henson comic niche.

Finally, Steve Whitmire not only had a booth at the show, but was the star of a panel as well. 

While I was not at the con the day of his panel, William L. Bozarth was nice enough to record the whole thing.

The con even included Steve and Hugh, but not Caroll for some reason, in a deck of con guest cards. 

Here's hoping The Great Philadelphia Comic Con gets more great Henson performers next year!