View source for Chicago Black Hawks 2-3 Sesame Street (partially found footage of ice hockey game; 1975)

{{InfoboxLost 
|title=<center>Chicago Black Hawks 2-3 Sesame Street (1975)</center> 
|image=Chicagoblackhawks2-3sesamestreet1.png
|imagecaption=Image of the game.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> 
}}
On 21st December 1975, five players of the NHL team the Chicago Black Hawks (now Chicago Blackhawks) competed against a rather unique side: ''Sesame Street'', at the Chicago Stadium. Despite the Black Hawk's generally successful 1975-76 season, they ultimately were unable to replicate their strong Smythe Division performances, being edged out 3-2 thanks to a late goal from Grover. Intended as an exhibition game held during the Black Hawks' Christmas party, it is known that '''the match was recorded as part of an ABC News broadcast'''.

==Background==
The Chicago Black Hawks' 1975-76 season was generally successful, at least within the Smythe Division.<ref name="results">[https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CBH/1976_games.html ''Hockey Reference'' detailing the results of the Chicago Black Hawks' 1975-76 season.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="season">[https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1976.html ''Hockey Reference'' detailing the 1975-76 NHL season.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref> They won 32 games, lost 30 and tied 18, topping the table with 82 points, one point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks.<ref name="season"/><ref name="results"/> However, their campaign became unglued in the Stanley Cup playoffs, losing 4-0 in a series against eventual champions the Montreal Canadiens.<ref name="chief">[https://www.thesportschief.com/new-blog/2022/12/21/chicago-blackhawks-took-on-the-sesame-street-on-this-day-in-1975 ''The Sports Chief'' summarising the game and listing the Black Hawks players involved.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="results"/><ref name="season"/> Meanwhile, ''[[Sesame Street (partially lost children's educational TV series; 1969-present)|Sesame Street]]'' was beginning its seventh season, which ran from 1st December 1975 to 28th May 1976 and was two months away from airing the infamous [[Sesame Street "Episode 847" (found "Wicked Witch of the West" episode of children’s educational TV series; 1976)|Episode 847]].<ref>[https://toughpigs.com/50-in-50-s7/ ''ToughPigs'' summarising the seven season of ''Sesame Street''.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref>

The unusual clash between an NHL team and the famous puppets occurred during the former's Christmas party held on 21st December 1975.<ref name="nhl">[https://www.nhl.com/news/black-hawks-sesame-street-1975-tbt-287761256 ''NHL'' summarising Esposito's memories of the game.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="chief"/> According to Black Hawks goaltender Tony Esposito, the team chanced upon the ''Sesame Street'' crew as the latter geared up for some holiday shows in Chicago.<ref name="nhl"/><ref name="chief"/> Realising the good publicity and overall fun an encounter would create, a five-a-side exhibition game was scheduled at the Chicago Stadium.<ref name="nhl"/><ref name="chief"/> The Black Hawks consisted of Esposito (35), Alain Daigle (17), Dale Tallon (19), Darcy Rota (18), and Ivan Boldirev (12).<ref name="chief"/><ref name="results"/> Meanwhile, ''Sesame Street'' fielded Bert, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Grover.<ref name="wrkr">[https://wrkr.com/chicago-blackhawks-sesame-street-game/ ''WRKR'' summarising the game and noting it was Grover, not Oscar the Grouch, who scored the winning goal.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="nbc">[https://www.nbcsportschicago.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/1975-blackhawks-battle-big-bird-cookie-monster-and-other-sesame-street-crew/273188/ ''NBC Sports Chicago'' summarising the actions of some of the ''Sesame Street'' players.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="chief"/><ref name="nhl"/> Another contributing factor to the game's successful hosting is that the costumes likely originated from the touring Ice Follies shows, thus also giving the ''Sesame Street'' team some strong ice skaters of its own.<ref>[https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/217122/big-favorites-with-the-kiddies-at-the-ice-follies-show-in-ma ''Toronto Public Library'' providing a photo of Bert and Ernie at an Ice Follies show in January 1977.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref> Also in attendance were Esposito's children, who naturally enjoyed the game between their father and their favourite characters; ''The Chicago Tribune'', who took photos of the encounter; and ABC News, who filmed the match for a news report.<ref name="cfa">[https://www.chicagofilmarchives.org/collections/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/12980 ''Chicago Film Archives'' detailing the 2:49 reel of the match within its archives.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="nhl"/>

==The Game==
For this high-stakes game, the Black Hawks retained their usual formation.<ref name="chief"/><ref name="nhl"/><ref name="cfa"/> ''Sesame Street'', who would seemingly be making their ice hockey debut, had Cookie Monster as goaltender; Grover (who ABC News' Greg Dobbs mistakenly refers to as Oscar the Grouch) as the centre player; Big Bird on the defence; and Bert and Ernie, unsurprisingly considering their history together, as the wingers.<ref name="chief"/><ref name="wrkr"/><ref name="cfa"/> Based on the available footage, Boldirev started the inaugural face-off against Grover, but his shot was wide of the ''Sesame Street'' goal.<ref name="club">[https://www.avclub.com/in-1970-the-sesame-street-gang-took-on-the-chicago-bla-1798281170 ''AV Club'' summarising the action and the final goal.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref> Big Bird's attempt to clear the puck was intercepted by Daigle, who exchanged passes with Rota.<ref name="cfa"/><ref name="club"/> Rota's cross to Boldirev in the centre was expertly blocked by Bert, allowing Cookie Monster to safely contain the puck.<ref name="club"/> However, the goaltender accidentally confused the puck with one of his favourite treats, much to the amusement and slight annoyance of everyone else on the rink.<ref name="nbc"/>

Later on, Big Bird and Bert had an altercation with Esposito, which resulted in the latter accidentally redirecting the puck into his goal. However, the Black Hawks fought back with a strong play; a pass from Daigle beat Ernie and Grover and reached Boldirev, who exploited Bert's poor positioning to give Rota a one-on-one opportunity against Cookie Monster. Rota beat the blue Muppet, who proceeded to consume the puck once more.

It is known Gerry Pinder, Pat Stapleton, and Ray McCray also featured later in the encounter, whereas ''Sesame Street'''s line-up remained unchanged.<ref name="nhl"/><ref name="cfa"/> Big Bird in particular received praise for his remarkable agility and defensive might despite his large size.<ref name="chief"/><ref name="nbc"/> However, his temperament did let him down somewhat, as a collision between him and Daigle in the second period triggered his second altercation of the game.<ref name="club"/><ref name="nhl"/> Nevertheless, he did manage to intercept Boldirev, before passing to Ernie to set up another challenge.<ref name="club"/><ref name="chief"/> Thanks to Bert controversially blocking Esposito, Grover had an open goal-scoring opportunity, which he swiftly converted for 3-2.<ref name="cbs">[https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/video-sesame-street-takes-on-1970s-chicago-blackhawks/ ''CBS News'' reporting on the recovery of the available footage.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="wrkr"/><ref name="chief"/><ref name="club"/> This remained the final score for the remaining two minutes of the clash.<ref name="wrkr"/><ref name="chief"/>
       
Despite the disappointing result, Esposito fondly recalled the encounter during a March 2017 interview with NHL.com, proving there was no long-lasting bitterness between the two sides.<ref name="nhl"/> The Black Hawks likely used this loss as motivation for their clash against the New York Islanders later that day.<ref name="nhl"/><ref name="chief"/> While down 2-0 after two periods, the Black Hawks fought back strongly thanks to two goals apiece from John Marks and Rota, with Pit Martin making the final score 5-2 in the host's favour.<ref name="newyork">[https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/197512210CBH.html ''Hockey Reference'' detailing the result of the Black Hawk's game against New York Islanders later that same day.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="nhl"/><ref name="chief"/>

==Availability==
This unusual encounter remains an obscure piece of both ice hockey and ''Sesame Street'' media.<ref name="uproxx">[https://uproxx.com/sports/sesame-street-chicago-blackhawks-1970/ ''Uproxx'' summarising the footage and its possible purpose.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref><ref name="cbs"/><ref name="chief"/> The match's existence was first confirmed on 18th October 2011, when The Museum of Classic Chicago Television uploaded a few clips also containing the ''Sesame Street'' theme.<ref name="museum">[https://www.facebook.com/FuzzyMemoriesTV/posts/pfbid02kSA7xG6SUZypr4mQb5dh8cfSyX5yLA9z7QA1qHDGBauBrXsAWcDK2tXuk7s2ZnTWl Facebook post from ''The Museum of Classic Chicago Television'' summarising the footage it recovered as part of a March 1976 WFLD Channel 32 broadcast.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref> According to the museum, the footage aired during the Black Hawks' match against the Boston Bruins on 25th March 1976 broadcast on WFLD Channel 32.<ref name="museum"/> It suggested the game was partially aired as some kind of commercial for the children's show.<ref name="museum"/> Then, on 16th June 2015, a search of the Chicago Film Archives' Frank Koza Collection resulted in silent game footage being discovered, which attracted attention from the ice hockey and ''Sesame Street'' communities.<ref name="cbs"/><ref name="uproxx"/> Again, it was unclear as to the game's purpose, with the Chicago Film Archives deeming it most likely came from an obscure ''Sesame Street'' advertisement.<ref name="cbs"/><ref name="uproxx"/>

Esposito's March 2017 comments established the game was held during the Black Hawks' Christmas party.<ref name="nhl"/><ref name="chief"/> A photo of player Dennis Hull alongside two children and Ernie was uploaded to Facebook by the official Chicago Blackhawks account on 7th January 2019.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/nhlblackhawks/photos/a.263811874257/10157163451244258/ Official Chicago Blackhawks Facebook account providing a photo of Hull and Ernie with two children.] Retrieved 28th Sep '23</ref> On 5th May 2020, the Chicago Film Archives uploaded a 16mm reel of its original footage.<ref name="cfa"/> The first part initially consisted of commentary from ABC News' Greg Dobbs, with the second half showcasing the footage and its raw audio.<ref name="cfa"/> Alas, when combined with The Museum of Classic Chicago Television's clips, only around 90 seconds of game footage has been found and made publicly available. The whereabouts and survival status of the uncut tape currently remains unclear.   
  
==Gallery==
===Videos===
{{Video|perrow  =1    
  |service1     =youtube
  |id1          =g0QR7ahy89Q
  |description1 =All currently available footage of the game.
}}

{{Video|perrow  =3    
  |service1     =youtube
  |id1          =qAO6ZW5VqrA
  |description1 =''The Museum of Classic Chicago Television'''s highlights of the game (7:25-7:55).
  |service2     =youtube
  |id2          =JImYNSPq0mQ
  |description2 =''Chicago Film Archives'' providing silent footage of the game.
  |service3    =youtube
  |id3          =ON0rj2brDlA
  |description3 =''Chicago Film Archives'' providing HD footage from the game, with commentary from ABC News' Greg Dobbs.
}}
 
==See Also==
===Ice Hockey Media===
*[[Victoriaville vs. Hull QMJHL 5OT Game (lost footage of Canadian ice hockey game; 1999)]]

===Sesame Street Episodes===
*[[Sesame Street (partially found test pilots of children's educational TV series; 1969)]]
*[[Sesame Street (partially lost children's educational TV series; 1969-present)]]
*[[Sesame Street "Episode 847" (found "Wicked Witch of the West" episode of children’s educational TV series; 1976)]]
*[[Sesame Street "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce" (partially found episode of children's puppetry TV series; 1992)]]

===Sketches===
*[[Batman: Clean and Dirty (found "Sesame Street" animated segment; 1970)]]
*[[The Count Orders a Hot Dog (found "Sesame Street" sketch; 1973)]]
*[[Cracks aka "Crack Master" (found animated "Sesame Street" short; 1975)]]
*[[Deena and Pearl (found "Sesame Street" sketches; 1980-1981)]]
*[[Ernie and the Pumpkin Seed Candy Salesman (found "Sesame Street" sketch; 1971)]]
*[[Granny Fanny Nesselrode (found "Sesame Street" sketches; 1970-1972)]]
*[[Handful of Crumbs (found "Sesame Street" short; 1982)]]
*[[Kermit's "Between" Lecture (found "Sesame Street" sketch; 1970)]]
*[[Leslie Mostly (found "Sesame Street" sketches; 1980-1981)]]
*[[Pixar's Made in Point Richmond DVD Rarities (found various Pixar footage; 1986-2000)|Luxo Jr (found "Sesame Street" animated shorts; 1991-1994)]]
*[[Professor Hastings (found "Sesame Street" sketches; 1969-1971)]]
*[[Sesame Street "Gymnast Segments" (found segments of children's educational TV series; 1973)]]
*[[Surprise! (found "Sesame Street" segment; 1970)]]
*[[Windy (found "Sesame Street" segment; 1970)]]

===Specials and Other Sesame Street Media===
*[[Batibot (partially found Filipino children's educational TV series; 1984-2002)]]
*[[The Grover Monster - Jean Marsh Cartoon Special (lost TV special; 1975)]]
*[[Humrush & Who Me? (found samples taken from Bert and Ernie "Sesame Street" sketch for "Mr. Hood" album singles; 1970-1991)]]
*[[Milton-Bradley Omni Entertainment System (found 8-track tape series of trivia games; 1980)]]
*[[Out to Lunch (partially found Sesame Street/Electric Company crossover special; 1974)]]
*[[Sesame Park (partially found Canadian co-production of Sesame Street; 1972-2001)]]
*[[Sesame Street At Night? (lost Sesame Street television special; 1977)]]
*[[The Sesame Street Experiment (partially lost documentary based on children's educational TV series; 1989)]]
*[[Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration (found deleted scenes of TV special; 1994)]]
*[[Sesame Street Live (partially found live stage shows; 1980-2003)]]
*[[Sesame Street Mecha Builders (partially found test pilot of Cartoonito CGI-animated spin-off series; 2020)]]
*[[View-Master Interactive Vision (partially lost VHS-based games; 1988)]]

===The Muppets and Other Jim Henson Company Media===
*[[Alligator Boots (partially lost pilot of cancelled Comedy Central sketch/puppet series by Kanye West; 2008)]]
*[[America's Next Muppet (lost test pilot of cancelled ABC reality parody show; 2006)]]
*[[Bear in the Big Blue House (found Playhouse Disney puppet series; 1997-2006)]]
*[[The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made! (lost production material of cancelled "Muppet" film; 1985-2009)]]
*[[The Dark Crystal (partially found high-quality version of workprint/director's cut of puppet fantasy film; early 1980s)]]
*[[Fraggle Rock (partially found British co-production of puppet children's television series; 1984-1990)]]
*[[Little Muppet Monsters (partially found puppet TV series; 1985)]]
*[[Monster Safari (lost production material of cancelled stop-motion animated film; 2009)]]
*[[The Muppet Show "Juliet Prowse" (partially lost unaired pilot version of episode of sketch comedy TV series; 1976)]]
*[[The Muppets (partially lost series of early TV commercials featuring puppet characters; 1962-1969)]]
*[[Muppets - 2007 presentation pilot (lost pilot of cancelled Muppet series; 2007)]]
*[[Muppets In Space (lost early drafts of "Muppets From Space" sci-fi family film; 1999)]]
*[[The Muppets Present (lost cancelled remake of "The Muppet Show"; early 2000s)]]
*[[The Power of The Dark Crystal (partially lost production materials from canceled sequel to "The Dark Crystal" fantasy film; 1982-2014)]]
*[[The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell (partially found David Bowie music video; 1999)]]
*[[Sam and Friends (partially found early Jim Henson puppet TV series; 1955-1961)]]
*[[The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing! (partially found web series; 2008)]]
*[[Tinseltown (lost LGBT sitcom pilot; 2007)]]
*[[Watch With Monkey (lost unaired pilot of scrapped BBC family comedy show; 2003)]] 
*[[Wilkins and Wontkins (partially lost series of Jim Henson commercials; 1957-1969)]]

==References== 
{{reflist}} 

[[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]