OUR NEIGHBOR FRED ROGERS (TV)
Summary
This documentary chronicles Fred Rogers's television career and offers a profile of the man whose long-running public television series has gently helped small children to cope with a complex world. Narrated by David Hartman, the program examines Rogers's interest in child development and examines the positive influence that his work has had on generations of children. Highlights include a glimpse of Rogers's childhood and formative years in Latrobe, Penn.; his early work in television production on several NBC programs, including "The Kate Smith Hour," and "The Gabby Hayes Show"; his early days at WQED-TV in Pittsburgh, where he served as musician, puppeteer, and producer for "The Children's Corner," with host Josie Carey; another children's program, which he created for CBC in Toronto, Canada, that became an early model for "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"; his ordination as a Presbyterian minister; his return to WQED-TV to produce the series "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"; and the important role that music has played in both his life and work. Interviews with the soft-spoken Rogers are complemented by interviews and glowing praise from Rogers's one-time colleague, Carey; Peggy Charren of Action for Children's Television; Joan Gantz Cooney of the Children's Television Workshop; Tom Shales, television critic from "The Washington Post"; T. Berry Brazelton, pediatrician and author; and Johnny Costa, the musical director of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" since its inception. In addition to photo stills and film footage of Rogers as a boy and a young man, the documentary features numerous highlights from his shows, including excerpts with cellist Yo-Yo Ma; jazz trumpet player Wynton Marsalis; and Jeff Erlinger, a spirited young boy in an electric wheelchair. Other clips include segments from "The Children's Corner," with Carey; footage from a 1960s documentary in which Rogers appears with his former teacher and respected child development psychologist, Dr. Margaret B. McFarland; and the "Saturday Night Live" parody, "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood" with Eddie Murphy.
Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: March 5, 1990 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:35
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:29404
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Puppets; She Made It Collection (Peggy Charren)
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1990
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nancy Lavin … Executive Producer
- Gregory Andorfer … Executive Producer
- Rick Sebak … Producer, Writer
- Chris Fennimore … Project Director
- Johnny Costa … Music by
- David Hartman … Narrator
- T. Berry Brazelton
- Josie Carey
- Peggy Charren
- Joan Gantz Cooney
- Johnny Costa
- Jeff Erlinger
- Gabby Hayes
- Yo-Yo Ma
- Wynton Marsalis
- Margaret B. McFarland
- Eddie Murphy
- Tom Shales
- Kate Smith