After years of speculation, it's finally easy to get to Sesame Street as New York City unveils a new street sign in its honour.
On 1 May, the intersection between Broadway and West 63rd Street was officially renamed Sesame Street. A host of famous characters from the show joined Mayor Bill de Blasio for the unveiling, which marks the show’s 50th year in broadcasting. A similar change happened in 2009 for the 40th anniversary, but was just temporary while this sign will be a permanent addition.
Despite its worldwide appeal, Sesame Street has always been intrinsically linked with New York Since the 1990s, it has been filmed in a studio in Astoria, leading many to declare it was in the Queens borough. The sign, however, is on the Upper West Side, close to the Sesame Workshop headquarters.
In a statement, Mayor de Blasio praised the impact of the show. “Sesame Street changed this country. And for everyone who has been a part of it, I hope you feel that – that what you’ve done has been profoundly important. A lot of us up here raised our kids with the help of Sesame Street and it made them better, stronger, more self-confident, So, this is something to celebrate today.”
The 50th anniversary celebrations won’t just be confined to New York. On 1 June Sesame Street is going on a summer road trip through ten cities in the USA, crossing the country and ending in Los Angeles on 3 August. The 50th season will air in November, with a promised “star-studded primetime special”.
It’s not all about the celebrities either. A local version of the show is also planned for the Middle East, aimed at displaced Syrian refugee families and their neighbours in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. They’re also expanded initiatives to reach vulnerable children and families in the USA.
