Did you know that the names Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street were rumored to be plucked from the iconic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”? Do you remember Bert and Ernie, the policeman and the taxi driver of fictional Bedford Falls? Do you know the famous Muppets, Bert and Ernie? I adore both sets of buddies; partners in adventures and friendship and it really matters not if one set inspired the other. They make me grin and feel good and are a reminder of friends sticking together, no matter what, like setting up a honeymoon for George and Mary or involving a rubber ducky on Sesame Street.
The Sesame Street Bert came to mind yesterday as I headed home from the library, listening to our local public radio station, WBEZ, where a discussion aired on Rick Kogan’s program about a news segment exposing the deportation of some seventy (70) pigeons from a Chicago neighborhood. In short, a Chicago alderman had arranged for an Indiana farmer to net and remove pigeons from his ward, stirring up questions of whether or not this was legal, what would happen to the pigeons, who paid for the pigeon transport, the crossing state lines, etc.
Pigeons can be problematic. If one lives or works or visits Chicago, or any metropolis, he or she is a target for random pigeon poop; a plop on the shoulder or, horrors, one’s hair, is a risk one takes walking in the Big City. A short sit upon a park bench is enough to attract a flash mob of pigeons, cooing in unison, bobbing about for morsels of bread, popcorn, or whatever crumbs may congregate in a coat pocket or purse corner. There are even monetary fines in some places for feeding pigeons on street corners, by golly by gee, but a posse herding pigeons like a Wild West show seems a bit drastic from my dove cote here on the Cutoff.
The radio segment finished as I tossed my mail into the drive-up box. As I headed home, I found myself humming “Doin’ the Pigeon”, thinking about Bert and Ernie, and Bert and Ernie, how pigeons stick together, and of how, when our girls were little, Jennifer, Katy and I would bob our heads and pump our knees and dance around the living room, doing the Pigeon.
C’mon, folks. How about clicking on the video above, sit through the pigeon clip, and do the Pigeon with Bert. C’mon. You can do it!
Bert and Ernie, from It’s a Wonderful Life. Image courtesy of Wikepedia
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
I love Bert and Ernie, Penny, and no, I didn’t realize the names came from the two characters in It’s a Wonderful Life! What a great piece of trivia! I don’t see pigeons in the quantity you describe. Occasionally I’ll be reading a book and they’ll be referred to as “flying rats” and I always cringe. They seem so maligned! Ha! I would like to know how it is possible to deport pigeons. Normally this is where I’d suggest they send them to California for the winter, but we are so cold, they probably won’t be interested. I wish you had a video of you and the girls “Doin’ the Pigeon.” 🙂
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I cringe at that term as well, Debra. While pigeons can be pesky, they are not anywhere near rat status. The method of deportation was a big net that shot out over them. Another cringe. Actually, they are quite abundant here in the cold weather, especially in Chicago weather that can be bitterly cold, particularly near the Lake. They’ve adapted quite well. Ha! That would be something to see, I’m sure, especially with my head bobbing up and down. It might make a good aerobic video, however . . .
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Pigeons are not maligned everywhere. I was here in 2009, where they are accepted; loved even. I was not brave enough to offer up food, so they did not get quite so up close and personal with me. 🙂
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What a wonderful sight to see, Karen! I’m not sure I would want them actually on me, but, I know I would love this San Juan Pigeon Park. Thank you so much for providing the link – and the warmth of Puerto Rico.
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I don’t mind pigeons here, but I can understand how they are a nuisance, particularly in the poop department. And, I love Bert and Ernie. I never knew the connection with It’s a Wonderful Life.
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Well, it is a rumored connection, but, I’m going with as I love both the movie, the character, and Bert and Ernie. I think it has become an urban legend. Ah yes, the poop department – nothing quite like a big blob in one’s hair.
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I have a vivid memory, from the summer of 1969, of visiting Venice as part of a package holiday to Italy with my mother. We made friends with another mother/daughter combo from Northern Ireland (we were from England) on the trip, and the 4 of us decided to have tea at one of the cafés on St Mark’s Square (VERY expensive, even then!) We sat at an outside table, without noticing the vast number of pigeons around, until Charlotte (the other daughter) was severely ‘bombed’ – hair and dress liberally splattered. She was incandescent with fury – but all we could do was laugh and then try to clean her up with the hot water that had come with the tea and our paper serviettes. Fortunately, the mothers were sitting under an awning, and I had a sun hat on and only got a small amount of ‘fallout’! I’ve been extremely wary of pigeons – and other, larger birds like seagulls – ever since. (As someone once said, it’s a good job that cows don’t fly!!) And pigeons aren’t my best friends, either, for another reason, as they eat the green veg growing in our garden for us to munch!
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Oh, poor Charlotte! What a christening event that was and I’m quite sure I would have been in a fit of giggles as well. What a story to tell all these years later, and probably often in between. Yet another reason, isn’t it Julia/Helva, for wearing a hat? I cannot imagine what our lives would be like if cows did fly! Thank you for commenting. You made my day with your story of tea on St. Mark’s Square.
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I knew about the Bert and Ernie from It’s A Wonderful Life and always believed that was how the names of the Sesame Street characters came to be. It may not be true, but I have chosen to believe it. Watching Bert “Doin’ The Pigeon” makes me wonder what I look like dancing in Zumba class. I’m afraid Bert has more rhythm and coordination than I do.
Since I live in a rural area, I don’t mind pigeons at all. Our neighbor boy (who by the way lives in a barn…really) raises pigeons. One of his pretty tame pigeons hangs around here sometimes. He is friendly and, of course, I named him Walter. The only name for a pigeon.He he he. Do you remember the pigeon lady in Home Alone 2? I liked her.
My mind has wandered all over this blog. Your mention of poop and Julia from the comment above reminded me of the verse often told in our less than high class household when I was growing up.
Birdie, Birdie in the sky,
Dropped some white stuff in my eye.
I’m no baby, I don’t cry.
I’m just glad that cows don’t fly.
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I’ve chosen to believe it, too, Janet. An urban legend, or not, it is a good yarn to spin and does no harm. Haha! I bet you start laughing at your next Zumba class and remember Bert “doin’ the pigeon”.
Walter the Pigeon. Now, he sounds like a very nice neighbor to have stop by for some seeds – and of course I believe you that the boy lives in a barn. Tom almost lives in a barn. tee hee I do remember the pigeon lady in Home Alone 2 and whenever I see her in other movies I immediately think “there’s the pigeon lady”. I love those scenes of Central Park in winter.
I never knew the verse from whence the reference to cows flying came from, Janet. Thank you. I hope that Julia comes back and sees it, too.
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What a great companion piece to my post on Jan 8! Where can we meet to boogie? (Thanks for stopping by, Penny!) ;o)
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I thought so as well, Mike. I’d just posted this and thought I’d drop by your blog as I hadn’t been in awhile and was hoping to find you had posted there, delighted at what I found. Yes. Let’s meet in NYC and really make a scene with a boogie walk down 5th Avenue! We can do “the pigeon” in Central Park.
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Feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square in London was seen as a real treat when I was a child…….. They have all gone now…….moved on, presumably in a manner similar to that you describe. Of course, Mary Poppins sang about feeding the birds at 2d a bag….. And believe me, they would have been pigeons flying around St Paul’s Cathedral. Great post Penny.
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I am sitting her imagining the pigeons in Trafalgar Square, Janice. What a delight that must have been. I will humming Mary Poppins the rest of the day, now. All-in-all, not a bad way to ease into our settling dusk. Thank you, Janice.
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Bert is one of my heroes. Penny. I am a Sesame Street geek: I was still watching it aged 18.
But of course I did the pigeon. I must do the pigeon with a pigeon sometime.
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I will confess, Kate, that when no one is looking, I still watch Sesame Street, though it is much more fun watching with Kezzie and Ezra in my arms. Sigh. I think I need to go up and teach them the “pigeon”.
Now, wouldn’t that be something? Doin’ the Pigeon with a pigeon? You must take pictures.
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This one made me smile, Penny. What fantastic animation, to make him dance like that. (I’m catching up after another little burst on dealing with book proofs)
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I’m so glad to hear that, Juliet. Jim Henson and the Muppets are always fun to watch. He has, unfortunately, passed on, but, those Muppets have great staying power. I hope your book proofs are going well. I’m a bit behind, myself, and don’t have such a good excuse. Take care, Juliet.
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That was so cute! Thanks.
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Thank you, Jennifer, and you are very welcome. Come over and we can do the “pigeon” again (and you can pick me up off of the floor).
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Knew about the buddy name connection –but never heard about ” the pigeon”! We all used to watch the Muppets weekly show in the evening when it was on, but my kids are older than yours and were too big for Sesame Street!
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Wasn’t that show fun to watch, Sallie? It was on here on Saturday night and was always fun. I’m remembering the scientist, Beaker? Jim Henson was such a gifted man and it is amazing that those puppets, er muppets, are still around and morphing into new creatures to delight young children.
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I have to confess to never having watched Sesame Street, Penny as we didn’t have TV when our children were small. But I enjoyed your clip and thought about the homing pigeons we kept as pets when I was a girl. I’ve also experienced the pigeons in Saint Mark’s Square, Venice, but not at such close quarters as Helva’s friend. 🙂
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Having homing pigeons while growing up was certainly more fun than watching animated ones, Perpetua. What a great creature to have as pets for children. That soft cooing is always a comforting sound to me. If ever I should make it to Saint Mark’s Square, I will be sure to have a hat and umbrella.
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