Gordon introduces Sally
to Sesame Street

Air date: November 10, 1969
(series premiere)
Season 1 (1969-1970)
Directed by Neil Smith
Production: October 21, 1969
Sponsors: W, S, E, 2, 3
Syndication : Sesame Street Unpaved
Releases: Old School: Volume 1, 40 Years of Life on the Street, Sesame Street Classics, Paley Center Archive, & HBO Max

In the first episode of Sesame Street, Gordon takes a girl named Sally on a tour of Sesame Street, introducing her (and the viewers) to the various characters on the show. On the street, Sally meets the human cast -- Gordon, Susan, Bob, and Mr. Hooper -- as well as two Muppet characters, Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

Ernie and Bert appear for the first time and Kermit the Frog gives a lecture on the letter W, interrupted by an early version of Cookie Monster.

Also featured in this episode are the first installments of the "Number Song Series" and "Jazz" cartoons, the first appearance of a group of Anything Muppets, and the first performance of "One of These Things." Carol Burnett is the first celebrity guest to appear on the show.

In this episode, many sketches are introduced by the characters, even within the inserts. This reflects the fact that the show was initially conceived as a children's version of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. For example, Gordon asks Kermit to give his W lecture, and when the sketch begins, Kermit says that Gordon asked him to talk about the letter W.

New segments:
Show ID: Clay Arch
Bert and Ernie: Bathtub Bit (Rosie)
Solomon Grundy
You Can Clean...
Ernie & Bert: Ernie Dries Off & "Everybody Wash" film
Dot Bridge #1
Henson #3
"Hey Cow"
Henson Clay "S"
Over, Through, Around film
Dot Bridge #2
Baby Alice: Through
Dot Bridge #3
"Consider Yourself"
Dot Bridge #4
Henson #2
Animal films: Animal pairs
Jazz #2
Ernie & Bert: 2-E bit (street scene)
E Imagination
Buddy and Jim: Nail Sketch
Dot Bridge #5
W-Wanda
Kermit's Lectures: Kermit/Monster "W" Bit
Carol Burnett "Wanda" Tag
W-Worm
Kermit's Lectures: Kermit/Walking "W" Bit
Dot Bridge #6

Notes:
This episode can be viewed in its entirety at the Museum of Broadcast Communications Archives.