Pre-Production
1976
Jim Henson sees an image of Brian Froud’s art that appeared on the cover of a book of British Illustrators called Once Upon A Time. Henson has someone from his office meet Froud about a possible collaboration.
May 24, 1977
Begin shooting Season 2 of The Muppet Show in London.
1978
The Henson Organization (ho!), a production division in London, is formed.
January 10, 1978
Jim interviews Wendy Midener in New York and hires her to help develop characters for his fantasy film.
January 16, 1978
Brian Froud comes to NY to live and work. Begins a series of meetings on the Froud film.
February 6, 1978
Jim and Cheryl are snowed in at the Howard Johnson’s at Kennedy International Airport; he writes the basic story of The Dark Crystal.
March, 1978
Begin Season 3 of The Muppet Show.
Summer, 1978
Shoot The Muppet Movie in Los Angeles. David Odell begins working with Jim.
October 17, 1978
Short fantasy test for the “The Dark Crystal” made in Bedford, NY.
November, 1978
Development of Yoda for
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
November, 1978
David Odell writes his first treatment based on Jim’s outlines Mithra and The Crystal.
1979
Jim purchases 1B Downshire Hill, Hampstead. The building becomes headquarters for development, and will eventually become the home of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
January 1-3, 1979
Fantasy film meetings. David Odell joins.
April 13, 1979
Second videotape test of the fantasy film.
May, 1979
Muppet Show Season 4 begins
July 27, 1979
Jim flies to NY to pitch The Dark Crystal to Paramount.
December 17-19, 1979
Videotape test for The Dark Crystal in London.
January 1980
Jim is in London interviewing cameraman for both The Dark Crystal and The Great Muppet Caper. Meets Ossie Morris.
March, 1980
Begin Muppet Show Season 5.
September 4, 1980
Begin shooting The Great Muppet Caper.
September 23, 1980
Jim meets composer Trevor Jones.
February 10, 1981
Week of meetings on The Dark Crystal in London.
Filming begins.
Production
April 15, 1981
The first scenes shot are: Mystic Valley, Dying Emperor and Crystal Chamber.
June 26, 1981
The Great Muppet Caper opens in the US.
September 11, 1981
First unit finishes Dark Crystal shooting.
October 6-8, 1981
Location shoot for The Dark Crystal in Yorkshire.
September 13, 1981
Wrap party at Stringfellows restaurant in London.
October 24, 1981
Meeting on Dark Crystal costume project.
December 17, 1981
Final screening of The Dark Crystal.
1982
The Dark Crystal novelization is published.
January 12-14, 1982
London Symphony Orchestra records score for The Dark Crystal.
February 8-22, 1982
Sound dub for The Dark Crystal.
February 8-22, 1982
Begin shooting Fraggle Rock in Toronto.
March 19, 1982
First preview of The Dark Crystal in Washington DC.
July 12, 1982
Preview The Dark Crystal in Detroit.
September 5, 1982
Jim Henson and Gary Kurtz attend and present at the World Science Fiction Convention.
September 13-23, 1982
Last mix of The Dark Crystal.
September 30, 1982
The World of The Dark Crystal exhibit opens at the Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center in NY.
October 20 – November 21, 1982
The Art of the Dark Crystal exhibits at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in LA.
November 7-9, 1982
Videotape The Magic Behind The Dark Crystal documentary for PBS.
The film is completed.
December 13, 1982
New York premiere of The Dark Crystal.
December 14, 1982
Los Angeles premiere of The Dark Crystal.
December 15, 1982
San Francisco premiere of The Dark Crystal.
December 17, 1982
Henson Associates purchases The Dark Crystal from Associated Communications Corporation and the film premieres across the U.S. on the same day.
1983
The Making of The Dark Crystal book by Christopher Finch published.
January 9, 1983
The World of The Dark Crystal documentary airs on PBS.
January 16, 1983
The Dark Crystal wins the grand prize for Best Fantasy Film at the Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival in France.
February 17, 1983
UK premiere of The Dark Crystal.
March 22, 1983
Paris premiere of The Dark Crystal.
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