Rogers is the name! (Part II)
Welcome back to the neighborhood, my loyal readers. I am so glad you are here. You make every day a special day. Ok let’s get back to the neighborhood and Fred Rogers um let’s see where did we leave off - - h m m m m oh yes to reiterate a bit: Fred’s first appearance as “Mister Rogers” was in the early 1960’s on a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
show that was called “Misterogers”. Now Canada wasn’t where the Fred and his wife wanted to raise their two sons. A short time later they moved back to Pittsburgh where, in 1966, Fred created his popular show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”. Then in 1968 that show appeared on PBS stations throughout most of the United States.
OK boys and girls it’s music lesson time let’s all sing Mister Rogers theme song. Now I know that you know it as some of you probably sang it when you were a kid. All together now - - ah one - - ah two - - ah three - - It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood A beautiful day for a neighbor Could you be mine?
Would you be mine?
It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood
A neighborly day for a beauty Could you be mine?
Would you be mine?
I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you
Let’s make the most of this beautiful day Since we’re together, might as well say Would you be my, could you be my Won’t you be my neighbor? MISTER ROGERS THEME SONG: words and music by Fred Rogers.
Oh that sounds so o o o o nice and neighborly of you and you were in good voice.
“The world is not always a kind place,” Fred said when talking about his show. “That’s something all children learn for themselves, whether we want them to or not, but it’s something they really need our help to understand.”
Over the course of his over 10 year-long run, the show varied little. He approached his young audience with respect and a directness about issues that children faced every day and were rarely touched on by other children’s programs. Fred’s ritual of familiar appearances of some of TV’S most enduring characters - - including the deliveryman Mr. Mcfeely, (Fred’s middle name)
X the Owl, Queen Sara (Fred’s wife’s first name) Saturday and King Friday - - helped keep the show fresh for many generations of kids.
Fred was really as kind and gentle and caring person off camera as he appeared to be on his show as his life extended beyond that fictional setting on the set. Away from the cameras, his relationship with his wife, Joanne, was a focal point of his world. Despite facing some problems, the couple shared a long-lasting friendship and were married for more than 50 years. Joanne has continued to promote her husband’s work and legacy in the wake of Fred’s 2003 death. He suffered from stomach cancer.
Tune in to the neighborhood in two weeks as we will focus on Fred’s wife Joanne, how they met and how he asked her to be his wife. H m m m m sounds romantic doesn’t it?
HAVE A GREAT GOD BLESS WEEK and MAY POP QUIZ: fill-in the blanks of these comic book characters - - Mutt and _ _ _ _, Little _ _ _ _, and _ _ _ _ _ the cat. If you are lucky enough to complete this quiz you might win this fabulous prize which is an all expense paid trip to Quaziland where you can help them make a mountain out of a molehill.
ANSWER TO THE LAST POP QUIZ: the question was - - In what year did England finally give recognition to America as a FREE republic? ANSWER: On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed between Great Britain and the United States, recognizing the United States, making peace between the two nations, and formally ending the American
Revolution. YOUR PRIZE: I have gone to great expense and traveled far and wide (about two blocks) to procure this outstanding prize - - IF you get the answer correct. The prize is - - TA DA! a full box of used facial tissue once used by Betty Boop. Well, that’s it for now . . . So until next time . . . This is my view from the Pilot house.