Jon Stone
The creative architect behind Sesame Street's magical reality, who gave Big Bird his heart and Oscar the Grouch his can.
1931–1997 (age 66)·American writer, television producer and director·Birthday: April 13·The Silent Generation
Biography
Jon Stone didn't just work on Sesame Street; he was instrumental in building its very foundations. As a founding producer, director, and writer, he translated the show's revolutionary educational goals into a warm, funny, and slightly gritty urban streetscape. Stone was the principal director for the show's first two decades, shaping its visual style and direct-camera address that made kids feel spoken to, not down to. He co-created and defined iconic characters, writing the Emmy-winning script that introduced Big Bird and developing Oscar the Grouch's lovably cranky persona. His vision extended to specials like 'John Denver and the Muppets' and the beloved animated film 'The Point!' A relentless perfectionist with a deep respect for children's intelligence, Stone crafted the joyful, inclusive neighborhood that became a daily ritual for generations.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Jon was born in 1931, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1931
#1 Movie
Frankenstein
Best Picture
Cimarron
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1931Born
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1936Started school
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1944Became a teenager
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Could drive
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1949Could vote
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Turned 21
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1961Turned 30
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 40
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 50
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 60
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1997Died at 66
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Won 18 Daytime Emmy Awards for his writing, directing, and producing work on Sesame Street and related specials.
- As a founding producer and director, established the show's signature visual style and direct-address technique for over 20 years.
- Co-created and developed core Muppet characters including Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Cookie Monster.
- Wrote and produced the classic animated television film 'The Point!' featuring music by Harry Nilsson.
Did You Know?
He provided the voice of the Storyteller in the animated segments of 'The Electric Company.'
Stone was a graduate of Williams College and the Yale School of Drama.
He initially wanted to be a playwright for adults before finding his calling in children's television.
He wrote several children's books, including 'The Monster at the End of This Book,' starring Grover.
“Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street? I built it.”
