ELMO, CLASH AND MARKS SPEND THE DAY IN LONDON

Ankh Entertainment’s, Stones In The Color of Rare, had  a quick chit, chat with Elmo  ala Kevin Clash and Director, Constance Marks at the London Hotel in West Hollywood this past week. The two were in town to promote their witty, comical and well researched documentary.  Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey.”  I was awed at meeting everyone face to face. After all, this was Puppeteer royalty.
Here we were gathering a few rare stones, and came up with two.  The bright sparkle from each one glistened as we made the proper introductions, and finally, our chat began. www.beingelmo.com   The meal was hearty and well earned.   I had to go for it, and although there were slight signs of not enough sleep, their happy smiles and laughter, filled the air.

How, why, who was Constance Marks, where had she come from? How did she and Kevin cross paths?  Connie, as she is sometimes called, told her story. Her husband, DP, James Miller,  was set to shoot at the set of Sesame Street.  “Our daughter, Sophia was around two years old, so we sent a brag book, via James, to the set. Kevin, was so kind to offer a VHS of he and James looking through the brag book, as if they were talking to Sophia, while looking.”  It was then that their relationship began and thus sprang the documentary.   www.beingelmo.com. and www.submarine.com.

As they continued to eat lunch in the London, I asked Kevin how he kept his voice and arms in good shape. Is there some sort of process involved, I said or no?  He smiled and said, “my throat is insured, I’m serious, my throat and arms are insured.”  “Caroll Spinney,” “Big Bird,” is still being “Big Bird” at age seventy eight.  I plan on being Elmo for a very longtime.”  While the smell of fresh salad and hot bread filled my nostrils,  I switched as quickly as I could from Kevin to Connie.  Connie had been influenced by Kevin, who had been influenced by Elmo.  “Kevin taught me how to be a better parent.  After I met Ms. Gladys and Mr. George, Kevin’s mom and dad, I was changed forever.

He himself is a wonderful parent.”   I continued to use my, Nancy Drew technique, I was dying to try it out on a few real people, soooo, slurring, Kevin, who by the way, is adorable.  So adorable that when he and Connie first met, she told her husband that she had a crush on him, well who wouldn’t, he could certainly keep a girl laughing.   Kevin, how is your daughter , Shannon Elise, affected by all of this?  A famous father. A Puppeteer who lives in a land of liberty owned and run by little people. “She stopped asking me to go to some of her events, he said, I finally realized that she wasn’t a baby anymore.  “Elmo,” the me, the Kevin is Elmo who is me, at 3/1/2 years old.   He seemed happy and honored that he was free to express himself in Elmo’s world.

A very special stone had surfaced, his name, Kevin Jeffrey Clash, hers, Constance Marks.

Together, they spark a fire that touches the lives of children and their families; from all over the world.
The journey from Kevin to Being Elmo should teach us, that even a child, can be housed inside of a man. A man who stands, six feet tall, and calls himself, Elmo.