46 years ago today: ‘Sesame Street’ premiered

46 years ago today, “Sesame Street” aired its first episode.

Back then, in 1969, Oscar the Grouch was orange, Big Bird was the village idiot, and Elmo and Abby Cadabby weren”t even a glimmer in anyone”s eye. Soon Jim Henson introduced us to the green monster living in a trash can we all know, Big Bird”s character was reworked to be a curious, 6-year-old child, and more new Muppets came to populate that street where the air is sweet. 

The educational program has aired in over 120 countries and remains a staple in childhoods all around the world.

Other notable November 10 happenings in pop culture history:

• 1931: The 4th Academy Awards were held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Honoring films released between August 1, 1930 and July 31, 1931, the ceremony awarded Best Picture to “Cimarron,” the first Western to win the award and the only one to do so until “Dances with Wolves” in 1990.

• 1961: The satirical anti-war novel “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller was published.

• 1967: The Moody Blues” single “Nights in White Satin” was released.

• 1973: David Essex”s single “Rock On” was released.

• 1979: The Eagles” “Heartache Tonight” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

•  1994: At an Aerosmith concert in Costa Rica, one fan was killed when the crowd rushed into the stadium as the gates opened for the show.

• 1999: “Pokémon: The First Movie” opened in U.S. theaters.

• 2011: The Steve Miller Band played inside the Boeing factory to celebrate the 747-8 program. They opened the set with “Jet Airliner.”

Birthdays: “Grey”s Anatomy” actress Ellen Pompeo (turns 46 today), “Downton Abbey” actor Hugh Bonneville (52), “Kingsman: The Secret Service” actor Taron Egerton (26), “Independence Day” writer-director Roland Emmerich (60), rapper Eve (37), “Interstellar” actress Mackenzie Foy (15), “The Sandman” writer Neil Gaiman (55), “Justified” actor Walton Goggins (44), country artist Miranda Lambert (32), “The Princess Diaries” actress Heather Matarazzo (33), “30 Rock” actor Tracy Morgan (47), “Grandfathered” actor Josh Peck (29), “Mad Men” actress Kieran Shipka (16)

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