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	'''Jon Arthur Stone''' (April 13, 1932 – March 30, 1997) was an American writer, director and producer, who was best known for being an original crew member on '']'' and is credited with helping develop characters such as ], ] and ]. Stone won 18 television ]s.<ref>, Helmore, Edward, The Independent. April 22, 1997.</ref> Many regard him as one of the best children's television writers.<ref name="NYTimes" />		'''Jon Arthur Stone''' (April 13, 1932 – March 30, 1997) was an American writer, director and producer, who was best known for being an original crew member on '']'' and is credited with helping develop characters such as ], ] and ]. Stone won 18 television ]s.<ref name=":0">, Helmore, Edward, The Independent. April 22, 1997.</ref> Many regard him as one of the best children's television writers.<ref name="NYTimes" />

	==Biography ==		==Biography ==
	Born in ], Stone ~~graduated~~ ~~from~~ ] in 1952. He received a master's degree from the ] in 1955, at which time he joined a CBS training program.<ref name="NYTimes" /> It was then that Stone began his work in children's television, as a writer for '']'' before moving on to '']'' as writer and ~~executive~~ producer.~~{{Citation~~ ~~needed\|date~~=~~November~~ ~~2021}}~~ He also worked on several other Muppet projects before and during his time on ''Sesame Street'', and was the author of several children's books, particularly '']'', published by ] as a ].<ref name="NYTimes" />		Born in ],<ref name="NYTimes" /> to a physician,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web\|last=Brennan\|first=Patricia\|date=18 June 1989\|title='Sesame Street's' Guiding Hand\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1989/06/18/jon-stone-sesame-streets-guiding-hand/74ef72a7-9e75-487c-bd18-95f7b56dab45/\|url-status=live\|website=]}}</ref>Stone attended ] and entered ], graduating in 1952. He received a master's degree from the ] in 1955, at which time he joined a CBS training program.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="NYTimes" /> It was then that Stone began his work in children's television, as a writer for ''].'' He also worked on ]. before moving on to '']'' as writer and producer.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He also worked on several other Muppet projects before and during his time on ''Sesame Street'', and was the author of several children's books, particularly '']'', published by ] as a ].<ref name="NYTimes" />

	==Producing and writing ==		==Producing and writing ==
	Stone's earliest association with ] came in ~~1965~~, working on fairy tale projects with writer ], such as a proposed Snow White series. This was turned into a Cinderella pilot, which was shot in October of that year but never aired, and eventually became '']''. Stone also appeared in Henson's 1967 short film Ripples, as an introspective architect.		Stone's earliest association with ] came in the early 1960s,<ref name=":1" /> working on fairy tale projects with writer ], such as a proposed Snow White series. This was turned into a Cinderella pilot, which was shot in October of that year but never aired,{{Citation needed\|date=November 2021}} and eventually became '']''.<ref name=":0" /> Stone also appeared in Henson's 1967 short film Ripples, as an introspective architect.

	In 1968, Stone brought Henson and ] (who also worked on ''Hey, Cinderella!'') to the attention of the Children's Television Workshop (now known as ]) president ] when she started putting together ''Sesame Street''.{{Citation needed\|date=November 2021}} He wrote the ], and was one of the three original producers of the program; he later served as an executive producer for many years.<ref name="NYTimes" />		In 1968, Stone brought Henson and ] (who also worked on ''Hey, Cinderella!'') to the attention of the Children's Television Workshop (now known as ]) president ] when she started putting together ''Sesame Street''.{{Citation needed\|date=November 2021}} He wrote the ] upon the request of Cooney, despite initially being reluctant: '']'' wrote in an obituary that Stone had intended to leave television.<ref>{{Cite news\|date=5 April 1997\|title=Jon Stone\|work=]}}</ref> and was one of the three original producers of the program; he later served as an executive producer for many years.<ref name="NYTimes" />

	Stone wrote specials including '']'' and '']''.<ref name="NYTimes" />		Stone wrote specials including '']'' and '']''.<ref name="NYTimes" />

	==Directing ==		==Directing ==
			Stone was director of ''Sesame Street'' until 1996.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=JON STONE, 65, `SESAME STREET' CREATOR, WRITER\|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-04-04-9704040138-story.html\|access-date=2021-11-11\|website=Chicago Tribune\|language=en}}</ref> He also directed the 1995 ] '']''.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Heffley\|first=Lynne\|date=1995-12-06\|title=Muppets and Friends Search for Perfect 'Christmas Tree'\|pages=145\|work=The Los Angeles Times\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88716480/muppets-and-friends-search-for-perfect/\|access-date=2021-11-11}}</ref> Stone directed ], a special that brought Sesame Street to the ] and won the Prix Jeunesse International.<ref name=":1" />
	Stone eventually became director of ''Sesame Street'' from 1969 until 1994. He also directed the 1995 ] '']''.

	==Personal life ==		==Personal life ==
			Stone was married to former actress ].<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Obituaries\|first=Telegraph\|date=2019-04-02\|title=Beverley Owen, actress who played Lily Munster’s wholesome teenage niece in ‘The Munsters’ – obituary\|language=en-GB\|work=The Telegraph\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/04/02/beverley-owen-actress-played-lily-munsters-wholesome-teenage/\|access-date=2021-11-11\|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> The couple had two daughters before ] in 1974.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web\|last=Henderson\|first=Cydney\|title=Beverley Owen, the original Marilyn on 'The Munsters,' has died at age 81\|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/02/25/the-munsters-actress-beverley-owen-has-died-age-81/2986491002/\|access-date=2021-11-11\|website=USA TODAY\|language=en-US}}</ref>
	Stone was married to former actress ]. The couple had two daughters before ] in 1974.

	Stone died in New York on March 30, 1997 of ] (ALS), which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Staff\|title=JON STONE DIES; A KEY FIGURE ON 'SESAME STREET'\|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/jon-stone-dies-a-key-figure-on-sesame-street/article_60a86c3b-3f42-5ea8-917a-206ed3ca157b.html\|access-date=2021-11-01\|website=The Buffalo News\|language=en}}</ref> Posthumously, a ] on the Literary Walk in ] was dedicated to Stone. The bench is located directly to the right of a bench dedicated to ].{{Citation needed\|date=November 2021}} In his '']'' obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney describes Stone as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America."<ref name="NYTimes" /> Season 29 of '']'' was dedicated in his memory.		Stone died in New York on March 30, 1997 of ] (ALS), which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Staff\|title=JON STONE DIES; A KEY FIGURE ON 'SESAME STREET'\|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/jon-stone-dies-a-key-figure-on-sesame-street/article_60a86c3b-3f42-5ea8-917a-206ed3ca157b.html\|access-date=2021-11-01\|website=The Buffalo News\|language=en}}</ref> Posthumously, a ] on the Literary Walk in ] was dedicated to Stone. The bench is located directly to the right of a bench dedicated to ].{{Citation needed\|date=November 2021}} In his '']'' obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney describes Stone as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America."<ref name="NYTimes" /> Season 29 of '']'' was dedicated in his memory.

Revision as of 03:20, 11 November 2021

American writer, television producer and director For the singer-songwriter and producer, see American Young. For the British poet, see Jon Stone (poet). Not to be confused with John Stones.

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Jon Stone
Born	Jon Arthur Stone (1932-04-13)April 13, 1932 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	March 30, 1997(1997-03-30) (aged 64) New York City, New York, U.S.
Education	Williams College (BA) Yale University (MFA)
Occupation(s)	Screenwriter, director, producer
Spouse	Beverley Owen (m. 1966; div. 1974)
Children	2

Jon Arthur Stone (April 13, 1932 – March 30, 1997) was an American writer, director and producer, who was best known for being an original crew member on Sesame Street and is credited with helping develop characters such as Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird. Stone won 18 television Emmy Awards. Many regard him as one of the best children's television writers.

Biography

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, to a physician,Stone attended Pomfret School and entered Williams College, graduating in 1952. He received a master's degree from the Yale University School of Drama in 1955, at which time he joined a CBS training program. It was then that Stone began his work in children's television, as a writer for Captain Kangaroo. He also worked on Kukla, Fran and Ollie. before moving on to Sesame Street as writer and producer. He also worked on several other Muppet projects before and during his time on Sesame Street, and was the author of several children's books, particularly The Monster at the End of This Book, published by Random House as a Little Golden Book.

Producing and writing

Stone's earliest association with Jim Henson came in the early 1960s, working on fairy tale projects with writer Tom Whedon, such as a proposed Snow White series. This was turned into a Cinderella pilot, which was shot in October of that year but never aired, and eventually became Hey, Cinderella!. Stone also appeared in Henson's 1967 short film Ripples, as an introspective architect.

In 1968, Stone brought Henson and Joe Raposo (who also worked on Hey, Cinderella!) to the attention of the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) president Joan Ganz Cooney when she started putting together Sesame Street. He wrote the pilot script upon the request of Cooney, despite initially being reluctant: The Economist wrote in an obituary that Stone had intended to leave television. and was one of the three original producers of the program; he later served as an executive producer for many years.

Stone wrote specials including Big Bird in China and Big Bird in Japan.

Directing

Stone was director of Sesame Street until 1996. He also directed the 1995 Christmas special Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. Stone directed Don't Eat the Pictures, a special that brought Sesame Street to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and won the Prix Jeunesse International.

Personal life

Stone was married to former actress Beverley Owen. The couple had two daughters before divorcing in 1974.

Stone died in New York on March 30, 1997 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Posthumously, a memorial bench on the Literary Walk in Central Park was dedicated to Stone. The bench is located directly to the right of a bench dedicated to Jim Henson. In his New York Times obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney describes Stone as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America." Season 29 of Sesame Street was dedicated in his memory.