Attention Muppet Fans, Kermit Memorabilia is on Display at Library

Kermit the Frog once asked, “Why are there so many songs about rainbows?” and he explained how looking at such a unique object could inspire “the lovers, the dreamers and me.” For the month of September, the Hasbrouck Heights Public Library has several unique Kermit the Frog related objects on display to help inspire the lovers and dreamers in the visitors of the library.

Maywood resident and photographer, Denise Keegan Frawley has been collecting objects associated with the most famous Muppet in the world (next to Elmo perhaps?) and she explained she wanted to display her items because of the popularity of the character and with the new Muppet movie due out in November, she said now was the perfect time.

“There is just something about Kermit that appeals to everyone,” said Frawley. “He has a song called, ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’ and he laments about being different from the rest of the world. Yet he comes to accept himself for who he is.” 

In every episode of “The Muppet Show,” which aired from 1976 to 1981, Kermit worked as the host and manager and every week he would try to put on a successful show, but as always, circumstances worked against him. However, he ultimately puts on a successful show. “There really is something universal about him,” said Frawley.

Frawley explained she got into collecting Kermit the Frog related items when she was just a freshman in high school. “I got this t-shirt that had Kermit the Frog doing a parody of the Calvin Klein ads that were popular in the day,” said Frawley. “And from that, I just started collecting.”

In her time, she has amassed several t-shirts, glasses, toys, figurines, watches, and jewelry. “I bought a bunch of this stuff at Suncoast when it was still in business and I spend a lot of time on Ebay looking for items,” she said.

Frawley explained her other reason to share her collection was because of her excitement of the upcoming movie, “The Muppets” which was written and co-stars Jason Segal, of “How I Met Your Mother” fame. “This will be the first Muppet released in the theater in years,” she said.

 Kermit the Frog was made in the 1950s by an innovative puppeteer named Jim Henson. Henson made Kermit from an old green coat that belonged to his mother and he made the eyes by cutting a ping pong ball in half.

Henson did the voice of Kermit until his passing from pneumonia related complications in 1989.  “For the last 20 years, puppeteer Steve Whitmire has done the voice and I think he has done a great job as the second voice of Kermit, and I really am excited to see it,” said Frawley. “However, if people can’t wait for the new movie, stop by the library and get your Kermit fix!”

For more information, visit the Hasbrouck Heights Public Library .