Jim Henson, The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)
As Ebenezer Scrooge reflects on his childhood with the Ghost of Christmas Past in the Muppets Christmas Carol, he is transported to his old classroom. Four busts adorn the walls, including one of Dante. The original Dante bust from the Henson estate was eventually sold at auction; the description below comes from the auction house’s website:
“Another of the four busts of great writers on the shelf in Ebenezer Scrooge’s (Michael Caine) old schoolhouse in The Muppet Christmas Carol (Disney, 1992). This bust depicts the Italian poet, Dante, with a Muppet-esque facial appearance. Along with the other busts – Aristotle, Molière, and Shakespeare – this Dante bust slides when the shelf is broken, squashing The Great Gonzo (performed by Dave Goelz) and Rizzo the Rat (performed by Steve Whitmire) before they are pushed off and everything crashes to the floor. […]” –Julien’s Auction House
Watch the scene from the movie on YouTube.
Sighting Citation:
“Jim Henson, The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992).” Dante Today: Citings and Sightings of Dante’s Works in Contemporary Culture. Elizabeth Coggeshall and Arielle Saiber, eds. February 4, 2026. https://www.dantetoday.org/sightings/jim-henson-the-muppets-christmas-carol-1992/.Related Sighting
Onorio Ruotolo, Bust of Dante at The University of Virginia (1921)