Mister Rogers' Neighborhood


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About

About Fred Rogers

Fred McFeely Rogers, better known to millions of American children as Mr. Rogers, is the creator and executive producer of the longest-running children's program on public television, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. While commercial television most often offers children animated cartoons and many educational programs employ the slick, fast-paced techniques of commercial television, Rogers' approach is as unique as his content. He simply talks with his young viewers. Although his program provides a great deal of information, the focus is not upon teaching specific facts or skills but upon acknowledging the uniqueness of each child and affirming his or her importance.

Rogers did not originally plan to work in children's television. Rather, he studied music composition at Rollins College in Florida, receiving a bachelors degree in 1951. He happened to see a children's television program and felt it was so abysmal that he wanted to offer something better. While he worked in television, however, he also pursued his dream of entering the ministry, continuing his education at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. In 1962 Rogers received the Bachelor of Divinity degree and was ordained by the United Presbyterian Church with the charge to work with children and their families through the mass media.

Rogers began his television career at NBC but joined the founding staff of America's first community-supported television station, WQED in Pittsburgh, as a program director in 1953. His priority was to schedule a children's program; however, when no one came forward to produce it, Rogers assumed the task and in April 1954, launched The Children's Corner. He collaborated with on-screen hostess Josie Carey on both the scripts and music to produce a show that received immediate acclaim, winning the 1955 Sylvania Award for the best locally produced children's program in the country. Rogers and Carey also created a separate show with similar material for NBC network distribution on Saturday mornings. With only a meager budget their public television show was not a slick production, but Rogers did not view this as a detriment. He wanted children to think that they could make their own puppets, no matter how simple, and create their own fantasies. The important element was to create the friendly, warm atmosphere in the interactions of Josie and the puppets (many of whom are still a part of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood), which has become the hallmark of the program.

In 1963, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in Toronto provided Rogers another opportunity to pursue his ministerial charge through a fifteen-minute daily program called Misterogers. This was his first opportunity to develop his on-camera style, gentle, affirming, and conversational. The style is grounded in Rogers' view of himself as an adult who takes time to give children his undivided attention rather than as an entertainer.

Rogers returned to Pittsburgh in 1964, acquired the rights to the CBC programs, and lengthened them to thirty minutes for distribution by the Eastern Educational Network. When production funds ran out in 1967 and stations began announcing the cancellation of the show, an outpouring of public response spurred the search for new funding. As a result of support by the Sears, Roebuck Foundation and National Educational Television, a new series entitled Misterogers' Neighborhood began production for national distribution. Currently there are 700 episodes in the library, and since 1979 Rogers has produced a few new segments each year, adding freshness and immediacy to the series.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is unique because it provides a warmth and intimacy seldom found in mass media productions. The show is designed to approximate a visit between friends and is meticulously planned in consultation with psychologists at the Arsenal Family and Children's Center, under the direction of Margaret B. McFarland until her death in 1988. The visit begins with a model trolley which travels through a make-believe town to Rogers' home. He enters, singing "Won't you Be My Neighbor?", an invitation for the viewer to feel as close to him as to an actual neighbor. He also creates a bond with his audience by speaking directly to the camera, always in an inclusive manner about things of interest to his viewers. As he speaks, he changes from his sport coat to his trademark cardigan sweater and from street shoes to tennis shoes to further create a relaxed, intimate atmosphere.

The pacing of the program also approximates that of an in-depth conversation between friends. Rogers speaks slowly, allowing time for children to think about what he has said and to respond at home. And psychologists studying the show verify that children do respond. He also takes time to examine objects around him or to do simple chores such as feed his fish. Although he invites other "neighbors," such as pianist Van Cliburn, to share their knowledge, the warm rapport also allows him to tackle personal subjects, such as fears of the dark or the arrival of a new baby.

Recognizing the importance of play as a creative means of working through childhood problems, he also invites children into the Neighborhood of Make Believe. Because Rogers wants children to clearly separate fantasy from reality this adjacent neighborhood can only be reached via a trolley through a tunnel. The Neighborhood of Make Believe is populated by a number of puppets who are kindly and respectful but not perfect. King Friday XIII, for example, is kind but also somewhat pompous and authoritarian.

Human characters also inhabit this neighborhood and engage the puppets on an equal level. Since Rogers is the puppeteer and voice for most of the puppets, it is difficult for him to interact in this segment. This movement away from "center stage," however, is a conscious choice. His lack of visible participation underscores the separation between the reality he creates in his "home" and these moments of fantasy. The trolley then takes the children back to Rogers' home, and the visit ends as he changes back into his street clothes and leaves the house, inviting the children back at a later date.

In 1971, Rogers formed Family Communications, Inc., a non-profit corporation of which he is president, to produce Mister Rogers Neighborhood and other audio-visual, educational materials. Many of these productions, such as the prime time series Mister Rogers Talks with Parents (1983) and his books Mister Rogers Talks with Parents (1983) and How Families Grow (1988), are guides for parents. He has also recorded six albums of children's songs. However, these activities are viewed as educational endeavors rather than profit-generating enterprises, and most of the funding for his productions still comes from grants.

Mr. Rogers has succeeded in providing something different for children on television and in acknowledgment of his accomplishments has received two Peabody awards, a first for non-commercial television. Rather than loud, fast-paced animation or entertaining education, he presents a caring adult who visits with children, affirming their distinction and value, understanding their hopes and fears.

-Suzanne Williams

 

FURTHER READING

Barringer, Felicity. "Mister Rogers Goes to Russia." The New York Times, 21 September 1987.

Blau, Eleanor. "Rogers Has New TV Series on School." The New York Times, 20 August 1979.

Berkvist, Robert. "Misterogers Is a Caring Man." The New York Times, 16 November 1969.

Briggs, Kenneth A. "Mr. Rogers Decides It's Time to Head for New Neighborhoods." The New York Times, 8 May 1975.

Collins, Glenn. "TV's Mr. Rogers--A Busy Surrogate Dad." The New York Times, 19 June 1983.

Fischer, Stuart. "Children's Corner." Kids TV: The First Twenty-Five Years. New York: Facts on File Publications, 1983.

"Fred M(cFeely) Rogers." Current Biography. Moritz, Charles, editor. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1970.

"Fred McFeely Rogers." Broadcasting & Cable (Washington, D.C.), 26 July 1993.

McCleary, Elliott H. "Big Friend to Little People." Today's Health (New York), August 1969.

O'Connor, John J. "An Observer Who Bridges the Generation Gap." The New York Times, 23 April 1978.

_______________. "Mr. Rogers, a Gentle Neighbor." The New York Times, 15 February 1976. "

The Man Kids Believe." Newsweek (New York), 12 May 1969.

"TV: On Superheroes." The New York Times, 4 February 1980.

Ziaukas, Tim. "Kid Video." Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), July 1986.

Highlights
Fred Rogers on his WQED show The Children's Corner starring Josie Carey and featuring the puppet "King Friday XIII"
04:08
Fred Rogers on the trolly and Land of Make Believe on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:06
Fred Rogers on the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character "Lady Elaine" (with puppet)
01:51
Who talked about this show

Allan Blye

View Interview
Allan Blye on performing on Misterogers, Fred Rogers' CBC precursor to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, early in his career
04:46
Allan Blye on Fred Rogers' legacy in television
00:56

Josie Carey

View Interview
Josie Carey on how Fred Rogers evolved from The Children's Corner to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
01:45
Josie Carey on the legacy of Fred Rogers
01:40

James L. Loper

View Interview
James L. Loper on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and the Sears Foundation
03:13

David Newell

View Interview
David Newell on going to work for the local version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
04:45
David Newell on his initial meeting with Fred Rogers about working on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as prop master, writer, and actor
05:52
David Newell on a typical workweek early on for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
01:41
David Newell on developing the scripts for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:52
David Newell on the budget for props on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and the general budget for the show
04:42
David Newell on Fred Rogers' management style in the early days of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
05:37
David Newell on working with Fred Rogers
03:09
David Newell on how working for Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers Neighborhood changed him
04:33
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:35
David Newell on the neighborhood of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:30
David Newell on Fred Rogers leaving the neighborhood on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood  
03:53
David Newell on Chuck Aber, Betty Aberlin and various other actors on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
05:30
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:42
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
02:09
David Newell on his favorite "Mr. McFeely" delivery on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, guest star Margaret Hamilton 
01:52
David Newell on Family Communications, Fred Rogers' production company
04:43
David Newell on doing public relations for Family Communications and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
06:00
David Newell on Eddie Murphy's impression of Fred Rogers on Saturday Night Live
02:06
David Newell on the cultural impact of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the legacy of the show
08:43
David Newell on how he would like to be remembered 
01:39
David Newell on various people with whom he has worked in his career
03:53

Fred Rogers

View Interview
Fred Rogers on the trolley and Land of Make Believe on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:06
Fred Rogers on the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character "Lady Elaine" (with puppet)
01:51
Fred Rogers on the trolly and Land of Make Believe on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:06
Fred Rogers on having Michael Keaton as a floor manager on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:15
Fred Rogers on his CBC series Misterogers, a precursor to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
03:21
Fred Rogers on starting Misterogers on the CBC in Canada, a forerunner to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
07:32
Fred Rogers on creating Misterogers, the Canadian forerunner to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
03:16
Fred Rogers on casting Betty Aberlin and Emily Jacobson for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:45
Fred Rogers on casting Joe Negri, Robert Trow, and Chuck Ebert for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
05:03
Fred Rogers on creating the puppets eventually used for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and on their puppeteers
05:13
Fred Rogers on the process of putting together an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
05:46
Fred Rogers on the format of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
01:58
Fred Rogers on his outside of the studio segments on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
01:47
Fred Rogers on the trolley on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
00:33
Fred Rogers on addressing the assassinations of President Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
04:40
Fred Rogers on doing episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood that dealt with serious topics like death and divorce
03:31
Fred Rogers on doing Mister Rogers' Neighborhood episodes about television
05:05
Fred Rogers on the music of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
05:32
Fred Rogers on starting to do subjects across several episodes on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:25
Fred Rogers on taping the Land of Make Believe segments on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
03:06
Fred Rogers on the behind-the-scenes crew of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:47
Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood executive producer Peter Taft and on getting the show funded
03:01
Fred Rogers on the then-current production schedule for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
03:25
Fred Rogers on taking Mister Rogers' Neighborhood to the Soviet Union in 1987
02:06
Fred Rogers on what he envisions is the then-future of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:59

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