YOUR TOY COLLECTION
Ann Evans meets a lifelong collector, who's a bit of an Animal!
Usually, Collectors Gazette photographer, Rob Tysall is taking photographs of collectors and collections. But this month the spotlight is on Rob, as we take a closer look at his collection of that wild and frenzied character, Animal of The Muppets.
As well as taking photos, Rob has for most of his adult life been a drummer/ percussionist and lead and backing singer, a job that’s taken him all around the UK and to far flung places such as Dubai and a stadium gig opening for the Stereophonics in front of 50,000 people.
Rob started playing drums at the age of 14 (1973) and was heavily influenced by beat music and The Beatles until the start of glam rock and hard rock. So, by the age of 15 he was in his first band – Static! Jokingly, he says that was the perfect name for it, as that’s precisely where it went!
With hard rock music in his soul and something of an animal behind the drum kit, Rob happened to spot on TV a certain crazy character named Animal in a pilot for The Muppets Show in 1975. The episode was called Sex and Violence, and there was Animal chained in a basement when not on stage performing with the fictional band, Dr Teeth and the Electric Mahem Band. Rob instantly felt an affinity with him!
The Muppets were created by Jim Henson, an American cartoonist, puppeteer, actor, animator and inventor. Following on from the successful pilot show, The Muppet Show was aired from 1976. Although in fact, some of Jim Henson’s Muppets were originally in his series Sam and Friends which ran from 1955 to 1961 – not Animal though. He was created by Michael K Frith, a British artist and TV producer. He was also an editor in chief at Random House Publishing Company who started publishing the Sesame Street books. Jim Henson invited Michael Frith over and so started a 21-year career leading to him becoming Executive Vice President and Creative Director of The Jim Henson Company. Animal was just one of the crazy-eyed characters Frith created that we know and love today.
“I remember sitting there watching The Muppet Show from day one,” said Rob. “There had been many puppet shows on TV before, but nothing like the Muppets. And as for Animal – every time you see him there is a chain around his neck which is a reminder that he used to be chained to a wall after every concert he played with the band, and after every appearance on The Muppet Show.”
The drummer behind most of Animal’s drumming appearances was Ronnie Verrell, (1926 – 2002), an English jazz drummer who played with top showbands such as The Ted Heath Orchestra. In 1980 there was a memorable episode of The Muppet Show when Animal did a drum duel with the legendary drummer, Buddy Rich.
Rob continued, “Buddy
Rich was a highly regarded, top ranking drummer, so for him to appear on what was a fun puppet show competing with a Muppet showed a different side to his nature, which I appreciated. The duel was just brilliant, with Animal, finally unable to keep pace with Buddy Rich, sitting open-mouthed and then (supposedly) throwing a snare drum at Buddy which landed on his head!
“What I loved about Animal, was how they had created a fun character that epitomised people’s general outlook as to what a drummer is all about – wild, crazy, loud, unpredictable. No wonder kids love him! He generally wore a colourful waistcoat, trousers that were all tatty at the bottom, he never wore shoes, and of course, always with a chain around his neck. Most drummers seem to get the nickname, Animal. Although in reality of course, many drummers are technicians who can be quiet and unassuming – although I prefer the image of Animal!”
Back in the 1970s and early 80s toys and models of Muppet characters were hard to find – no internet in those days. So, Rob asked a neighbour – a seamstress who made soft toys for friends and family, if she would make him an Animal doll. He found a couple of pictures of Animal, but she had little to go on. Nevertheless, Mrs Jinks came up with a soft Animal Muppet doll which sat on Rob’s drum kit for many gigs over the next few years.
“There were many times that Animal came into danger of being snaffled!” said Rob. “But somehow I kept him safe! And he now sits smiling in my man shed with other treasures from my memorabilia collections.”
However, that wasn’t the highlight of Rob’s appreciation for Animal. On one occasion he adapted an outfit he’d had made for gigs, into an Animal costume, complete with a papier mâché head that had a moving jaw on a spring, weighted with batteries that opened and closed as he moved. Sadly, we have no photographs – if only mobile phones had been around in those days!
As the popularity of The Muppets Show grew, so more and more merchandise became accessible. And whenever Rob spotted an Animal collectable, he bought it – not actually thinking about starting a collection, just simply buying a little toy, to add to the toys from his childhood which he still treasured – things such as sci-fi models, weapons and spacecraft, particularly from the Gerry Anderson TV productions.
He also tried his hand at sculpting his own Animal figurine and was quite pleased with his plaster of Paris model of Animal on the bongos, which also now has a spot in his man shed.
Reporting on toy fairs for Collectors Gazette has been a bonus for Rob, as there are often stalls selling soft toys and collectables from TV shows. Plus, shops started putting Animal onto all kinds of clothing and accessories. Whilst not out to deliberately create a collection, he seems to have amassed Animal soft toys from a couple of inches tall to about 2ft tall; also figurines, a wallet, a clock, mugs, a money box that will never get used as it would have to be smashed to get the money out! Lots of T-shirts, casual trousers, socks, slippers, underpants, cushions, an apron, belts, birthday cards, a Muppet tie (always worn when taking official photographs at weddings!) a film cell from a Muppet’s film and lots of other fun Animal bits and pieces – many being birthday and Christmas presents. Family and friends knowing they can’t go wrong with an Animal themed gift.
He added, “I’m sure there are people with bigger and better collections, but this is purely for fun and something I’ll keep adding to. I can’t say I’m particularly looking for anything Animal specific – just something I haven’t seen yet.”