They suggested that to balance out the episode, they might include a more positive segment that showed a modern take on witches. Interestingly, another letter of criticism they received was from a member of the Wiccan community who disliked the negative portrayal of witches. Ultimately, they determined that they couldn’t properly assess the children’s reactions in their test environment, but because of the outcry and their preliminary observations, it would be best if the episode not be re-run. According to the Muppet Wiki, which looked at the CTW Archives, they held extra test screenings, “to assess children’s reactions to the Wicked Witch of the West.” What they found is that kids were indeed fascinated by the Margaret Hamilton segments and were especially drawn to her green face makeup. But almost instantly they started to receive letters from concerned parents who claimed their children were so freaked out by the episode that they were refusing to watch ANY episodes of Sesame Street. In fact, there were promotions in many papers hyping this episode. The production company who makes Sesame Street, The Children’s Television Workshop (CTW), didn’t seem to think that the Witch segments of this episode would do anything but entertain and educate when they released them. I also would have been intrigued and like many young people would have obsessed over its weirdness, especially as I got older. Overall, if I had seen this as a kid, this would have stuck with me and probably freaked me out a bit. It causes the Witch to be electrocuted, and they use this great effect. First there is a storm that sets an uneasy tone, then when the witch appears they use an electric guitar as an audio indicator that is simple, yet ominous.Įven scarier is the visual effect that they use when the Witch tries to take her broom back. Perhaps scarier is the audio and visual effects in these segments. You could certainly see how it would capture a child’s attention and put their focus completely on the Witch character and not on the important lesson of treating people with respect. She is assisted in her spookiness by the addition of the famous green witch face makeup, which while not film-quality, is eye-catching. This is the same Wicked Witch, played by the same actor from the original film, and she does a great job. To adults, definitely not, but to a kid? I could see it. While not lost media, both are worth checking out. The second is on the delightfully campy, Paul Lynde Halloween Special. That appearance cannot be more tonally different from her appearance on Sesame Street. The first is in another fine children’s show, Mr. Other Appearance by Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch in the 1970sīesides her appearance on Sesame Street, in the 1970s, we get two other amazing appearances of Hamilton in her most memorable role. When she tries to grab it, we learn that the witch cannot pick up the broom as long as another person is holding it without getting electrocuted. Her tone is angry and disrespectful, so David refuses to give it back. That’s when the green-faced Wicked Witch appears and demands to have her broom back. It’s a broom, and after he catches it, the storm dies down. Hooper’s store to spot an object hurtling towards him. It is a stormy afternoon on Sesame Street, and David emerges from Mr.
There it was met with enthusiasm and excitement that manifested in lots of sharing, up-voting, and people taking it upon themselves to mirror the video on various other sites. He would often lament that this appearance by Margaret Hamilton, who originated the role of the witch in the film, would never be seen again.įortunately for that guy and for other curious parties, Reddit user sarsaparilla170170 was able to procure a copy of the episode and posted it and the abridged version of just the Wicked Witch segments to the amazing Subreddit, lost media. A fan of The Wizard of Oz would come in regularly to display expertise on the subject. I remember hearing about this segment when I worked at a video store, years ago. Unfortunately, the episode was not appreciated by parents who claimed it terrified their children, and the Wicked Witch’s appearance was never put into re-runs. It was a fun guest appearance that, like most episodes of the show, attempts to entertain and educate. Blown in by an unusual storm, the Wicked Witch of the West and her broom landed right in front of Mr. On February 10, 1976, an unexpected visitor showed up on Sesame Street.
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