An episode of Sesame Street (#847) from 1976 was recently unearthed by the Reddit page r/lostmedia and man, it’s wicked.
The only once-played episode – which was pulled for being ‘too scary’ – featured actress Margaret Hamilton the O.G. Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz looking for her lost broom which was found when it dropped from the sky in a wind storm by corner shopkeeper, David.
Thus ensues a finders-keepers-losers-witches game of who’s broom is it with David looking to be treated with respect and dignity from the witch (good luck) and W3 just looking to get her lost broom back so she can return to Oz.
Sesame Street regulars Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird make cameos in the scene. With Oscar eavesdropping on the witch from his garbage can (creeper) and Big Bird playing a security guard/bouncer for the corner shop. Hamilton expertly chews up the scenery and plays a dual role of a kindly old lady and the wicked witch in the clip also.
I guess you could see why the segment would be a bit ‘triggering’ for those of us who were frightened by the Wicked Witch of the West as children (or adults) but in true Children’s Television Workshop form, you do learn a lesson when all is finished.
Can you tell me how to get to Surreal Sesame Street? The ‘lost’ episode is archived in the Library Of Congress. Or you could just watch the clip below.
[Reddit: r/lostmedia]
