Fay Ray (1984-1995) was the Weimaraner dog most often used by photographer/filmmaker William Wegman in segments on Sesame Street.
Wegman, who had had success with his dog Man Ray from the 1970s until Man Ray's death in 1982, bought Fay, then known as "Cinnamon Girl", as a puppy in 1985. Wegman first began photographing Fay in 1986, and she made her screen debut in Wegman's 1986 short Dog Baseball.
In November 1987, Wegman was contacted by Sesame Street producer Arlene Sherman, who invited him to supply short films for the series. Fay was the natural choice to star. Wegman, in voice-over, would narrate and give instructions, and Fay would demonstrate everything from math skills to letter concepts. Beginning in 1992, Fay was joined by her three pups, all born in 1989: Batty (aka Battina), Crooky, and Chundo. The following year introduced a number of sketches based on fairy tales and rhymes, and also introduced the "Farmer McFay" series (amongst the first in which the dogs' heads were posed over a man's arms and body, usually assistants Jason Burch or Andrea Beeman). Other segments, such as "ABC," let the dogs be dogs.
The dogs also starred in a series of Sesame Street sponsored videos, both compiling earlier sketches and new material, notably Alphabet Soup (1995) and Fay's Twelve Days of Christmas (1995). In the latter, Fay, in a wig and posed over an apron clad model, poses as a loving mother preparing Christmas meals and presents for her family.
In late spring of 1995, Fay suddenly contracted leukemia, and passed away at the age of 11 on June 7. Her children, however, have continued to appear on Sesame Street. Fay's grandson Chip was a later addition to the menagerie.
Sketch Segments[]
Original films[]
Picture | Description | ||
---|---|---|---|
Subtraction (4 Balls) (First: Episode 2586)
Fay demonstrates subtraction by removing 4 balls. | |||
Clockwise (First: Episode 2597)
Fay moves clockwise and ticks, until an alarm rounds. | |||
One of These Things (First: Episode 2604)
One of these balls is not like the other. | |||
Subtraction (3 Balls) (First: Episode 2608)
Fay Ray subtracts 3 balls from a table. | |||
Addition (4 Balls) (First: Episode 2612)
Fay demonstrates addition by placing 4 balls on a table. | |||
Walkman (First: Episode 2614)
Fay listens to a Walkman. | |||
Addition (3 Balls) (First: Episode 2615)
Fay demonstrates addition by placing 3 balls on a table. | |||
On Top (First: Episode 2620)
Fay gets on top of a box. | |||
Subtraction (1 Ball) (First: Episode 2634)
Fay demonstrates subtraction by removing blue balls from a table. | |||
On and Off (First: Episode 2635)
Fay gets on and off a rug. | |||
Animal Disguises (First: Episode 2639)
Aping earlier photographs of Man Ray, Fay disguises herself as various animals, including a ladybug, a moose, a green elephant, and a frog. Two girls, in voice-over, refer to the latter as "Kermit the Dog." | |||
Over and Under (First: Episode 2653)
Fay demonstrates "over" and "under." | |||
On and Under (First: Episode 2707)
Fay gets on and under a rug. | |||
Left to Right (First: Episode 3034)
Fay Ray's head moves across the floor from left to right. Two segments later, her head moves from right to left. | |||
Near (First: Episode 3061)
Fay rolls balls near the camera. | |||
Near and Far (First: Episode 3401)
Fay Ray moves from far to near the camera. | |||
Farmer McFayA series of shorts in which Fay, posed in overalls over Jason Burch's arms, demonstrated numbers using fruits and vegetables from her crop, with Chundo playing her son. A subset of the series, The McDoubles, had Fay's female pups Batty and Crooky dressed in overalls joined at the waist. | |||
Picture | Description | ||
Farmer McFay: 3 (First: Episode 3189)
Farmer McFay has 3 fruits. | |||
Farmer McFay: Green Apples (First: Episode 3208)
Farmer McFay subtracts green apples from 5 to 3 to 1 and is bothered by a fly. | |||
The McDoubles: Helping (First: Episode 3213)
The McDouble twins know how to help each other. | |||
Farmer McFay: 5 (First: Episode 3215)
Farmer McFay is tired because she only slept for 5 hours. | |||
Farmer McFay: Subtraction (First: Episode 3216) | |||
The McDoubles: 2 (First: Episode 3217)
The McDoubles twins display pairs of things. | |||
The McDoubles: Counting to 10 (First: Episode 3224)
The McDoubles count to 10 with their fingers. | |||
Farmer McFay: Lemons (First: Episode 3225)
Farmer McFay juggles 3 lemons, then two. | |||
Farmer McFay: 40 (First: Episode 3228)
Farmer McFay counts 40 fruits from the season's bumper crop. | |||
Farmer McFay: 6 (First: Episode 3230)
Farmer McFay counts six lemons and limes. | |||
Farmer McFay: 4 (First: Episode 3244)
Farmer McFay counts a bumper crop of 4 fruits. | |||
Nursery RhymesVarious nursery rhymes and fairy tales enacted by the dogs. | |||
Picture | Description | ||
Goldilocks (First: Episode 3269)
The dogs re-enact the classic tale, with Crooky in a wig as Goldilocks, and the other three as the bears. | |||
Old King Cole (First: Episode 3448)
Chundo as Old King Cole.
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Little Miss Muffet (First: Episode 3449)
Crooky, in a wig as Little Miss Muffet, deals with a spider.
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Little Jack Horner (First: Episode 3460)
The nursery rhyme is recited with some help from the dogs.
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Jack and Jill (First: Episode 3464)
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Pat-a-Cake (First: Episode 3467)
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Little Bo Peep (First: Episode 3468)
Batty as Little Bo Peep, seeking her sheep (three parts).
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Old Mother Hubbard (First: Episode 3488)
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Jack Sprat (First: Episode 3522)
Jack Sprat and his wife eating a meal | |||
Jack Be Nimble (First: Episode 3526)
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The Ten O'Clock Scholar (First: Episode 3529)
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Rub-a-Dub-Dub (First: Episode 3530)
The dogs reenact the nursery rhyme.
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To market, to market (First: Episode 3543)
The dogs play out the nursery rhyme.
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Cock-a-Doodle-Doo (First: Episode 3572)
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Jack-a-Nory (First: Episode 3615)
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The AlphabetSegments where the dogs form the letters of the alphabet. Beginning in season 28, most of the segments would include footage from Wegman's own video, Alphabet Soup, which featured the dogs displaying various words beginning with a letter. | |||
Picture | Description | ||
Dog Alphabet (First: Episode 3266)
The dogs form all the letters of the alphabet.
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A (First: Episode 3292)
The dogs form an A. | |||
A (First: Episode 3534)
The dogs form an A, for artist and art, and an airplane. | |||
B (First: Episode 3536)
The dogs form the letter B, and Fay Ray balances a boat on her head. | |||
E (First: Episode 3267)
The dogs form a letter E. | |||
H (First: Episode 3291)
The dogs form an H. | |||
J (First: Episode 3280)
The dogs form a J. | |||
J - Jester (First: Episode 3527)
The dogs make a J and dress as a jester. | |||
K (First: Episode 3296)
The dogs form a K, as in King. | |||
L (First: Episode 3270)
The dogs form an L. | |||
M (First: Episode 3276)
The dogs form an M. | |||
M - Milk (First: Episode 3545)
The dogs form the letter M for the word milk, which Chundo sips a glass of.
| |||
P (First: Episode 3330)
The dogs form a P. | |||
T (First: Episode 3318)
The dogs form a T. | |||
Train (First: Episode 3565)
The dogs form a T, which is for train. | |||
V (First: Episode 3532)
The dogs form the letter V, for violin and valentine. | |||
W (First: Episode 3277)
The dogs form a W. | |||
X (First: Episode 3535)
The dogs form an X, and Fay Ray gets an X-ray. | |||
The People in Your Neighborhood | |||
Picture | Description | ||
Waiter (First: Episode 3786)
The dogs show what a waiter's job is like. | |||
Auto Mechanic (First: Episode 3801)
The dogs demonstrate the job of an auto mechanic. | |||
Truck Driver (First: Episode 3813)
The dogs show what a truck driver does in the construction field. | |||
Hairdresser (First: Episode 3814)
The dogs show the job of a hairdresser. | |||
Painter (First: Episode 3821)
The dogs portray a house painter. | |||
Fisherman (First: Episode 3872)
The dogs show what a fisherman does. | |||
Tailor (First: Episode 3875)
The dogs inhabit a clothing boutique. | |||
Conductor (First: Episode 3945)
The dogs show an orchestra conductor and a pianist. | |||
Miscellaneous | |||
Picture | Description | ||
Sleeping (First: Episode 3010)
Fay, Battina and Chundo are really sound sleepers - neither an alarm, nor a jackhammer, nor an elephant will wake them up. | |||
Next To (First: Episode 3011)
The dogs get next to each other in pictures. | |||
Sliding Dogs (First: Episode 3068)
The dogs slide past each other, counting to 3. | |||
One of These Things (1st version) (First: Episode 3105)
One dog (a terrier) is not like the others. | |||
One of These Things (2nd version) (First: Episode 3114)
One dog (a poodle) is not like the others. | |||
Dog Numbers: 1 to 9 (First: Episode 3272)
Similar to the above, the dogs form the numbers 1-9. | |||
Dog Numbers: 1 to 8 (First: Episode 3293)
The dogs form the numbers 1-8. | |||
3 (First: Episode 3312)
The dogs show the number 3 in a variety of poses. | |||
ON (First: Episode 3321)
The dogs form the word ON. | |||
Popcorn (First: Episode 3726)
The dogs cook popcorn in three different ways. | |||
Eye Exam (First: Episode 3739)
Dr. Peeve, portrayed by one of the dogs, gives an eye examination to a canine patient. | |||
Peanut Butter Sandwich (First: Episode 3740)
The dogs make a peanut butter sandwich. | |||
Making a Sandwich (First: Episode 3749)
The dogs make their own peanut butter and jelly sandwich. | |||
Baking a Cake (First: Episode 3756)
The dogs bake a pineapple cake. | |||
Doctor (First: Episode 3759)
The dogs act out a visit to the doctor's office. | |||
Baseball (First: Episode 3851)
The dogs get their exercise by playing baseball. | |||
Rowboat (First: Episode 3882)
Batty and Crooky row a rowboat. | |||
Painting (First: Episode 3924)
Battina poses for a painting. | |||
Musical Instruments (First: Episode 3930)
The dogs play various instruments. | |||
Clay (First: Episode 3962)
The dogs make things out of clay. | |||
6 (First: Episode 3985)
The dogs rides canoes to illustrate the number 6. | |||
1 (First: Episode 4000)
Batty and Crooky stack wooden blocks to form the number 1. | |||
Stop and Go (First: Episode 4008)
The dogs show stop and go during a race. | |||
4 (First: Episode 4010)
The dogs sit in 4 theater chairs. | |||
In and Out (First: Episode 4020)
The dogs show in and out with a swimming pool. | |||
2 (First: Episode 4025)
Two dogs. | |||
Mud Pies (First: Episode 4034)
The dogs make 4 mud pies. | |||
4 Cups of Fruit Punch (First: Episode 4047)
A dog makes 4 cups of fruit punch. |
Credits[]
- Director: William Wegman
- Assistant Director: Andrea Beeman
- Cameraman: Alan Cohen
- Lights: Edgar Gil
- Arm Models: Jason Burch, Andrea Beeman
Videos[]
References[]
- Wegman, William. Fay. New York: Hyperion Books, 1999.