On July 8, 1975, construction started on a pool at the Henson home in Bedford, NY. Jim and his wife Jane enjoyed entertaining, so they were eager to invite their friends and colleagues over for a day of swimming and sunning as soon as the pool was ready. It was the kind of casual get-together that helped create comfortable connections and inspired laughter and silliness. The Hensons hosted their friends at their Bedford pool in the ensuing years, and when they spent the summer of 1978 in a house on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles during The Muppet Movie shoot, they invited the cast and crew over to enjoy the pool there.

A pool party at the Hensons’ Bedford home, 1976. (l. to r.) Caroll Spinney, Jim Henson, Rollie Krewson, Heather Henson, Christine Nelson, Jerry Nelson, Bonnie Erickson