The backstory, embellished by Ryan and others in various media during the 1990s, traces Elmo's history from beginnings in pre-film flip books through widespread stardom in the 1920s and 1930s, and recurring reappearances and reboots in ensuing decades.

[1] According to the fictional account in Wild Cartoon Kingdom, Elmo was created by artist Terwilliger Ryan in 1889, in a series of popular flip books for a Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper.

[3] Terwilliger Ryan and producer Gabriel Kintner launched Snappytoon Productions, beginning a 1930s golden era in which Elmo's adventures—singing, dancing, clowning, and playing his signature instrument, the ukulele—became a major icon of the Great Depression.

[2] The account concluded with glowing testimonials by various famous names in on the joke, including actors Michele Lee and Anita Page and animated filmmakers Linda Simensky and John Kricfalusi.

Ryan and writer Phil Lollar developed a film treatment for a mockumentary tracing Elmo's fictional history as a cartoon character, from pre-film origins to the present day some hundred years later.