“Try Wilkins Coffee … or Else!”: Jim Henson’s Early Advertising Career

Key Points

• The aim is to explore Jim Henson’s early works in advertising, particularly his creations for Wilkins Coffee.
• Analyzed television advertisements created by Jim Henson in the 1950s.
• Reviewed objects and collections related to Henson's advertising career at the National Museum of American History.
• Henson's ads for Wilkins Coffee were characterized by their subversive humor and unexpected violence.
• The advertisements challenged conventional norms in broadcast advertising and showcased Henson's creative style.