Oscar's trash can



Flip Wilson : Are you  trying to tell me t h at down there,  you  ' ve got f lood light s , a tennis court & a swimming pool ?

 OSCAR THE GROUCH  : You ' d be surprised what peo ple throw away. 

-The Flip Wilson Show

 OSCAR ' s  TRASH CAN  is the private home of  OSCAR THE GROUCH  on SESAME STREET & is situated between BIG BIRD ' s NEST & the stoop of 123 SESAME STREET. Just like Snoopy ' s dog house,  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH CAN  is actually considerably deeper than 1 would initially suspect. The seemingly bottomless domain also houses a variety of diverse  GROUCH  amenities & luxuries. 1 tradition is, whenever  OSCAR  sing s "  I LOVE TRASH  " , h is  signature  song  ,  he  is always seen singing at  his   TRASH CAN  , & nowhere else.

History
In the earliest season 1 episode s, the  TRASH CAN  was atop a big blue crate adjacent to a wooden crate a t right , w / a few more  TRASH CAN  s around ; later on in season 1 till 1 9 74 , the base & the crate s were replaced , the latter by a trunk , with a  TRASH  pail on top of another crate at left.

 OSCAR  shares his   TRASH CAN  w / several  P E T S .  OSCAR  ' s diverse menagerie includes goat s , a horse , elephant s ( notably  FLUFFY  ) , a dolphin & , of course  his  favorite  pet  of all time ,  his  beloved extreme ly loved  pet   WORM  ,  SLIMEY .  OSCAR  ' s niece,  IRVINE  , as well a s his  girl friend  GRUNDGETTA  & several other  GROUCH  friend s &  relatives  are frequent visitor s.

For the most part very few of the " nice " residents of SESAME STREET dare venture into the bowels of the municipal  WASTE CONTAINER . How ever, key exceptions have occurred over the year s. While BIG BIRD was helping get ready for Miles ' arrival on SESAME STREET, a lonely '''[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Snuffleupagus Mr. Snuffleupagus ] entered the  TRASH CAN  to play catch w /  FLUFFY ''' in episode 2122. Wanda Cousteau sought refuge in the  TRASH CAN  in episode 3161 as a hiding place from the hungry Wolfgang the Seal. When Gina is studying to become a vet in episode 3787 she goes down into the  TRASH CAN  through t he back door & successfully removes a splinter from  FLUFFY  ' s foot w/ some elephants ' tweezers. In a season 19 insert, Linda sat  in the  TRASH CAN  when filling in for an "  Ask   OSCAR  " segment. In a season 12 segment ( found in  SESAME   STREET  : 40 Years of  Sunny  Days ) in which  OSCAR  &  BRUNO  go to the movie s, the various hum ans ( & Barkley ) arrive from inside the  TRASH CAN  a s well.

Also, the inside of  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH CAN  was depicted on - camera for the 1 st time in  The Adventures of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  l and .  OSCAR  has a door in his   TRASH CAN  to take peo ple to  GROUCH  land U S A. Elmo enter s in search of his blanket & later a rescue part y follow s suit : BIG BIRD, Cookie Monster , Gordon , Maria , Telly Monster , Zoe , & BIG BIRD in particular has a hard time fitting inside the  TRASH CAN  ' s narrow opening.

The inside of  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH CAN  was later shown in episode 3997 , though t his time , the inside was a lot more like the normal inside of a  TRASH CAN . In episode 0799,  OSCAR  install ed an Olympic - size swimming pool in his   TRASH CAN .

The 1989 book   What ' s i n  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH   CAN  ? &amp; Other Good - Night Stories  mentions the swimming pool a s well as a n ice - skating rink ( which, on the  series  , has been used by Peggy Fleming ) & a bowl ing alley. According t o  SESAME   STREET  Unpaved other items include a piano, art gallery & hearth & a train s e t ( "  GROUCH  Central Stat i on " ). A 1970 article in Look Maga zine also note s a pastry kitchen & a rococo stair case. In the  Elmo  ' s World in stall ment Episode 40 6 4,  Elmo  ' s World : " Farms "  OSCAR  gives Elmo a tour of his  farm (  with only the pa ir  ' s eyes visible ). Also, as established on various occasion s ,  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH CAN  also h as a back door.

In addition to being able to store a wide variety of items in his   TRASH CAN ,  OSCAR  has also put holes into t he bottom & can walk w / his legs outside of the bottom. He 1 st walked like this in episode 0276. He has continued to travel like this for many year s, though  he  has also frequently been seen outside of the  TRASH CAN . Outside of the show  he has traveled w /  his  legs sticking out of the bottom in Christ mas Eve on  SESAME   STREET , the  SESAME STREET  Live stage show s &  DON ' T  Eat the P i c t u r e s. This feature was also utilized in the opening dance number in Julie on  SESAME   STREET , where a series of dancing  TRASH CANS  w / fuzzy  GROUCH  leg s dance d w / Julie Andrews.

Apparently, in season 46 ,  OSCAR ' S   TRASH CAN  change d location s for the 1 st time in the  show  ' s history , moving into a dumpster unit with a recycling bin in the low wall outside of 123 SESAME STREET under Elmo ' s apart ment ,  OSCAR  also has the ability to pop from multiple  TRASH CAN  & recycling bin s around the STREET. Designer David Gallo explain s :

" W e wanted to make him  much more central . So not only is  he  in t his fancy - schmany recycling  TRASH  zone,  he  ' s now on the corner .  He  ' s pretty much dead - center so  he  can see what ' s going on . "

Visitors

 *  MRS . GROUCH  :


 * Episode 2982 ( 199 2 )
 *  EPISODE 30 23  ( 1992 )
 *  EPISODE 31 41  ( 1993 )
 *  EPISODE 42 37  ( 2010 )
 *  GRUNDGETTA  :


 *  Elmo  Save s Christ mas ( 199 6 )
 * Episode 1736 ( 198 3 )
 * Episode 1952 ( 198 4 )
 * Episode 2107 ( 198 5 )
 * Episode 3103 ( 199 3 )
 * Episode 3121 ( 199 3 )
 * Episode 3763 ( 1998 )
 * Episode 4143 ( 2007 )
 * Episode 4160 ( 2007 )
 * An octopus : Episode 0335 ( 1 972 )
 * Bernie the piano tuner : Episode 2107  ( 1985 )
 * M r . Snuffleupagus :
 * Episode 2122 ( 198 5 )
 * Episode 3806 ( 199 8 )
 * Episode 3960 ( 200 1 )
 * Sonny Friendly : Episode 3037 ( 1992 )
 * Wanda Cousteau : Episode 3161 ( 1993 )
 * Gina : Episode 3787 ( 1 99 8 )
 * Miles & his band : Episode 4079 ( 2 00 4 )
 * Olivia, David , Mr . Hooper , Buffy , C ody & Barkley in a Season 12 episode
 * Natasha : Episode 3049 ( 199 3 )
 * Telly Monster :


 * Episode 4188 ( 200 9 )
 * Episode 4283 ( 201 1 )
 * Elmo :


 * Episode 4064 ( 2 00 4 )
 *  Elmo  ' s World : Farm s ( Episode 3 8 7 9 ) ( 2 000 ) )
 *  The Adventures of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land  ( 1999 )
 *  The Adventures of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land : Sing &amp; Play  ( 1999 )
 * Zoe :


 * Episode 4064 ( 200 4 )
 *  The Adventures of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land  ( 1999 )
 * Linda ( substitute for an " Ask   OSCAR  " segment in Season 19 ( Episode 2 44 0 ) ( 1 9 8 8 ) )
 * Leela ( Episode 4409 ) ( 2013 )
 * BIG BIRD :  The Adventures of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  l and  ( 1 999 )
 * Granny Bird ( soon )
 * Nani Bird ( soon )
 * Abby Cadabby :


 * Episode 4173 ( 200 8 )
 * Episode 4248 ( 201 0 ) ( repeat of episode 4173 ( 2008 ) )
 * Episode 4315 ( 2 013 ) ( repeat of episode 4173 ( 2008 ) )

T V / Movie s / Special s

 *  SE SAME STREET  ( 1 9 6 9 - present )


 * Episode 0001 ( 1969 )
 * Episode 0054 ( 1970 )
 * Episode 0518 ( 1973 )
 * Episode 0792 ( 1975 )
 * Episode 1755 ( 1983 )
 * Episode 1859 ( 1983 )
 * Episode 2107 ( 1985 )
 * Episode 2159 ( 1986 )
 * Episode 2269 ( 1987 )
 * Episode 2399 ( 1988 )
 * Episode 2402 ( 1988 )
 * Episode 2538 ( 1989 )
 * Episode 2571 ( 1989 )
 * Episode 2579 ( 1989 )
 * Episode 2630 ( 1989 )
 * Episode 2648 ( 1989 )
 * Episode 2746 ( 1990 )
 * Episode 2776 ( 1990 )
 * Episode 2895 ( 1991 )
 * Episode 2899 ( 1991 )
 * Episode 3023 ( 1992 )
 * Episode 3085 ( 1993 )
 * Episode 3119 ( 1993 )
 * Episode 3120 ( 1993 )
 * Episode 3141 ( 1993 )
 * Episode 3152 ( 1993 )
 * Episode 3164 ( 1993 )
 * Episode 3185 ( 1994 )
 * Episode 3200 ( 1994 )
 * Episode 3300 ( 1995 )
 * Episode 3383 ( 1995 )
 * Episode 3459 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3460 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3480 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3482 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3483 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3486 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3522 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3609 ( 1997 )
 * Episode 3695 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3744 ( 1996 )
 * Episode 3751 ( 1998 )
 * Episode 3763 ( 1998 )
 * Episode 3811 ( 1998 )
 * Episode 3815 ( 1998 )
 * Episode 3838 ( 1999 )
 * Episode 3866 ( 2000 )
 * Episode 3891 ( 2000 )
 * Episode 3899 ( 2000 )
 * Episode 3950 ( 2001 )
 * Episode 3959 ( 2001 )
 * Episode 3997 ( 2002 )
 * Episode 4041 ( 2003 )
 * Episode 4104 ( 2005 )
 * Episode 4118 ( 2006 )
 * Episode 4134 ( 2006 )
 * Episode 4143 ( 2007 )
 * Episode 4160 ( 2007 )
 * Episode 4237 ( 2010 )
 * Episode 4260 ( 2011 )
 * Episode 4514 ( 2015 )
 * Episode 4516 ( 2015 )
 * Episode 4517 ( 2015 )
 * Christ mas Eve on  SESAME   STREET  ( 1 9 7 8 )
 * A Special  SESAME   STREET  Christ mas ( 1978 )
 * A Walking Tour of  SESAME   STREET  ( 1979 )
 * The Great Muppet Caper ( 1 98 1 )
 * Follow That  BIRD  ( 1 9 8 5 )
 * Learning About Letter s ( 1 98 6 )
 * The Muppets : A Celebration of 30 Years ( 198 6 )
 * Getting Ready to Read ( 1 98 6 )
 * Getting Ready for School ( 198 7 )
 * A Muppet Family Christ mas ( 1 987 )
 *  SESAME   S TREET  : 20 and Still  Count  ing ( 1 98 9 )
 *  BIG   BIRD  ' s Birth day or Let  Me  Eat Cake ( 1 99 1 )
 *  SESAME   STREET  Jam : A Musical Celebration ( 1 99 3 )
 *  SESAME   STREET  All - Star Birth day : Stars and Street Forever ( 1 994 )
 *  Elmo  Save s Christ mas ( 199 6 )
 *  BIG   BIRD  Sin g s ! ( 199 6 )
 * Do t he Alphabet ( 1996 )
 * Learning to Share ( 1996 )
 *  Elmo  palooza ( 199 8 )
 *  The Adventure s of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land  ( 1 999 )
 * The  STREET  We Live On ( 200 5 )
 *  Elmo  ' s Christ mas  Count  down ( 2 00 7 )
 * The Muppets : Operation STS ( Save the Swamp )

Book s

 * " Oskar Kraut und Rübengeschichten  " ( 1973 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s B o o k " ( 1 9 7 5 )
 * " How to Be a  GROUCH  " ( 1976 )
 * "  O SCAR  -  THE  -  GROUCH  ' s Alphabet o f  TRASH  " ( 1977 )
 * " A Day in the Life o f  OSCAR THE GROUCH  " ( 198 1 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s  ROTTEN  Birth day " ( 1981 )
 * " P ut & Play Yucchy Book  " ( 1981 )
 * "  Prairie   Dawn  ' s Up s ide - Down Poem " ( 1981 )
 * " The Missing  TRASH  Hunt  " ( 1982 )
 * " The City  WORM  & t he Country  WORM  " ( 1983 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s Bridge to Reading ( 198 5 )
 * " Goldilocks &amp; the Three  GROUCHES  " ( 1987 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s Silly A B C ' s & Other Stories " ( 1 98 7 )
 * " When  OSCAR  Was a Little  GROUCH  " ( 198 9 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s  GROUCHY  Sound s " ( 1990 )
 * " A  GROUCH  ' s C h rist mas  " ( 1990 )
 * " W hat ' s i n  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH   CAN  ? &amp; Other G oo d - Night Stories  " ( 1991 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s  GROUCHY  D ay " ( 199 1 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s New Neighbor " ( 1992 )
 * " From  TRASH  t o Treasure  " ( 1993 )
 * "  MY  Name I s  OSCAR THE GROUCH  " ( 199 4 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s  GROUCH  Jambor ee " ( 1994 )
 * " Mother  GROUCH  Nursery Rhyme s  " ( 1995 )
 * "  GROUCHES  o n Pa rade " ( 1995)
 * "  S C R AM  !  DON ' T  B oth e r  M E  ! " ( 1 998 )
 * "  OSCAR  ! " ( 1999 )
 * "  GROUCH  land Surprises " ( 1 999 )
 * " W her e ' s  MY  Smelly Shoe ?  " ( 1999 )
 * " A  V ERY   GROUCHY  C h r is t m a s !  " ( 2000 )
 * " Clap Yo ur Han ds ! " ( 2000 )
 * " What ' s in  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH   CAN  ?  " ( 2002 )
 * " Oskar hat Geburtstag  " ( 2 00 2 )
 * "  OSCAR  ' s Stinky Birthday " ( 2003)
 * "  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH CAN  T o u r " ( 2 00 7 )
 * "  B o o !  Scram  ! Happy Hallo ween  " ( 2008 )
 * "  Yucchy  !  Yucchy  ! " ( 200 8 )
 * " The Three Little  GROUCHES  " ( 2008 )
 * "  GROUCHES  Are  GREEN  " ( 2 011 )
 * "  GROUCHY  Hug s " ( 2012 )

SESAME STREET Live

 * Around t he World ( 1983 )
 *  BIG   BIRD  & the ABC s ( 1987 )
 *  BIG   BIRD  ' s  SESAME   STREET  S tory ( 1 988 )
 * Silly Dancing ( 1 989 )
 * Sleeping  BIRDIE  ( 1990 )
 * Let ' s P lay School ( 1 99 0 )
 * When I Grow U p ( 1993 / 1994 ; 1995 / 1996 )
 * Let ' s Be Friend s ( 199 4 )
 *  BIG   BIRD  ' s Sunny Day Camp Out (1 999 )
 * Everyone Make s Music ( 2001 )
 * Out of This World ( 2003 )
 * 1 - 2 - 3 Imagine ! ( 1996 )
 *  Super Grover  ! Ready for Action ( 2005 )
 * When  Elmo  Grow s Up ( 200 7 )
 *  Elmo  ' s  GREEN  Thum b ( 200 8 )
 *  Elmo  ' s Super Hero e s ! ( 2010 )

Behind the scene s & photo gallery
 OSCAR  ' s  TRASH CAN  is also a favorite photo op for celebrities & various other visitors to the set.

Inventory

 *  TRASH  :  SESAME STREET  ( 1969 - present )
 * A stereo set : Episode 0 812 ( 1974 )
 * " T he Queen  Muddy  " - a toy b oat : Episode 38 3 1 ( 1 999 )
 * A tran s it ( bus ) system : Episode 0560 ( 1 97 5 )
 * A vacuum : Episode 0 871 ( 197 5 )
 * Lighting : Episode 0666 ( 1974 )
 * A pool : referenced on many occasions & in books , including "  What ' s in  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH   CAN  ? & Oth e r Good - Night Stories  " ( 1 99 1 ) ; its splash is seen in Lead A w ay ! ( 1 996 )
 * A trampoline : Episode 4173 ( 2 008 ) ; Episode 4248 ( 2 0 10 ) ( repeat of episode 4 173 ( 2 0 0 8 ) ) ; Episode 4315 ( 2 013 ) ( repeat of episode 4173 ( 2008 ) )
 * A staircase, a pig pen , a play pen & China cabinet : Episode 3049 ( 1 99 3 )
 * A piano : Episode 2107 ( 198 5 ) & others

Trivia

 * "  OSCAR  ' s  TRASH CAN  " appears as a property on the Monopoly :  SESAME STREET  Edition game board i n place of Ventnor Avenue.
 * An animatronic   OSCAR  in  his   TRASH CAN  has previously been featured outside the  SESAME STREET  General Store.
 * There is a foot pedal on the set piece which helps lift the lid u p, but apparently  Caroll Spinney  has hardly used t h e foot pedal now , in 4 5 y ear s.