Remembering Mister Rogers
New documentary focuses on host’s kindness, compassion.
Wouldn’t we all like to have Fred Rogers as a neighbor?
The gentle host of the popular television program created magic for families for more than three decades — not by sleight of hand or fancy technical illusions, but by demonstrating the ways in which kindness can make a difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us. When Mister Rogers donned his cardigan sweater and sneakers,
we all knew we were in for a treat.
This year marks 50 years since the premiere of the educational halfhour show, which debuted nationally in 1968 and ran through 2001. Past episodes can still be seen weekly on ThinkTV and the animated “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” is a spin-off created by Fred Rogers productions. Tom Hanks will be portraying Fred Rogers in the upcoming feature film, “You are My Friend.”
The Morgan Neville documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is currently playing at The Neon in downtown Dayton and will come to the Little Art in Yellow Springs, July 6. We thought it would be fun to learn more from one of the film’s producers and to invite readers to share thoughts and reminiscences.
A producer’s perspective
Fred Rogers has touched the life of Nicholas Ma through most of Ma’s 35 years. As a preschooler growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ma was a devoted fan. His father, famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, was a frequent guest on the program and Nicholas appeared on the show twice with his dad — at ages 6 and 16. He’s one of the producers of the new documentary.
“It’s a film about Fred, not Mister Rogers,” he explains. “And it’s not a children’s show; it deals with adult questions. I think Fred always believed that the greatest evil was to make someone feel less than they are and the greatest good is to let people know they are loved and capable of being lovable. That was the bottom line for him.”
Ma remembers feeling incredibly close to the show host as a viewer. “When I met him it was intimidating; he was a different person than the two-dimensional personality I had come to understand. He was Mister Rogers and more so. The first time I appeared on the show I was scared of Mister Rogers; the second time I was more scared of playing with my dad.”
The new film, he explains, combines archival material — clips from the show, interviews with Rogers — with current conversations with those who knew Fred Rogers intimately, including family members, those who appeared on the program and staffers who worked behind-thescenes.
He says some “big tidal waves” conspired to create “Mister Rogers Neighborhood.” Rogers began playing the piano at a young age and graduated with a degree in music composition. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister, had a master’s degree in child development and landed a television job in programming at WQED in Pittsburgh.
Many of the puppets and marionettes from the Land of Make Believe — King Friday XIII, Queen Sara Saturday, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, Daniel Striped Tiger, X the Owl, Henrietta Pussycat — were dreamed up and voiced by the show host.
Rogers wanted to talk about any issue a child might confront but might not otherwise be discussed on the air, whether it was divorce, death, disability, race, assasination. “He brought those with special needs on the show at a time they weren’t talking about that on television. You didn’t see people with special needs anywhere. He talked about race and brought an African-American on as a police officer at a time when race was complicated in this country. He led by example.”
Although the film is obviously attracting those who watched the TV show for years, Ma says some of the most powerful reactions are coming from people who are getting to know Fred Rogers for the first time. “You have a choice at the moment of all these superhero movies,” he concludes. “If you want to see a movie about a superhero who really existed, see this documentary on Fred.”
Thoughts from our readers:
“I worked at WQED in Pittsburgh 1986-1997, and knew Fred a bit, and knew his producer and director even better.
“In short, what you saw on TV was what you got in person. He was the genuine article, and a man who taught life lessons strictly through his acts. Everyone had the utmost admiration and respect for him. The studio crew there, which didn’t suffer fools and egotistical talent gladly, revered him like he was Father Flanagan, and they were his boys.”
Jim Wiener, Chief Programming Officer, ThinkTV
“I loved watching the show as a kid — I’m now 35 — and now I have two kids. The older one is almost three and she really likes Daniel Tiger, so whenever he does the closing song, tears come to my eyes. I don’t really understand why. I think it reminds me of childhood and when my dad was fully healthy. He enjoyed the show.
“My most memorable episode was when they went to the crayon factory. I found that fascinating. Another story that I hear my mom tell but don’t actually remember personally is about an episode where a member of the cast referred to God as ‘she.’ My mom was a professor and minister and worked diligently to encourage people not to refer to God only as ‘he,’ so she was thrilled when she heard this on the show. She wrote to them to say how great it was. They responded and told her hers was the only positive comment about that episode. Many more were not so happy. They sent her a copy of the show too. She’s very proud of this interaction and of the show for putting something on that’s potentially controversial. I, of course, am proud of her for supporting them with her comments.
“I can still hear the ding-ding of the trolley.”
Alexandra Bohler, Dayton
“Growing up I LOVED watching Mr. Rogers. I especially liked the land of make believe and Mr. McFeely. Mr. Rogers always had such great messages to share with kids and was so much better than Saturday morning cartoons.
“I had the great fortune of having the chance to meet him in person. He was given an honorary doctorate in literature at my college graduation from Bowling Green. I was so excited he was there. As soon as the ceremony was over, I weaseled my way up to the front and got to introduce myself, thank him for his wonderful show, and shake his hand! It is a memory I will always treasure.”
Mary Cook, Brookville
The takeaway
Concludes Nicholas Ma: “If audiences are inspired to leave the film hoping to be true to the best within them, that would be amazing and exciting.”