The first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, at that time spelled as one word, Misterogers, includes many of the same elements millions of people came to know about Mister Rogers, and some that are different as the program evolved. There is his care and understanding of children, his ability to help us see the world as children do and the playful twinkle in his eye. Mister Rogers enters in his coat and changes into his sweater, shows his viewers around his house in “this very special studio of ours,” and sends the Trolley into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
This playful, imaginative black and white episode, part of the first week of nationally distributed Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood programs, at that time spelled as one word Misterrogers, features a young Betty Aberlin. She visits Mister Rogers’ house and he dispatches her to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe to help King Friday who has made some unreasonable demands on all his neighbors.
This first week of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, at that time spelled as one word, Misterogers, includes so many of the same elements millions of people came to know and appreciate about Fred Rogers. Chef Brockett visits Mister Rogers where together, and without speaking, they bake a cake for King Friday. In Make-Believe Chef Brockett delivers his cake but his feelings are hurt when King Friday mistrusts his intentions.
Like much of early black and white television, in this early episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, at that time spelled as one word Misterogers, there’s lots of freewheeling fun and a fascinating look at the early days of a very creative, playful and imaginative Fred Rogers.
In this episode he sings one of his early unfamiliar songs, “Fences” with a consistent and familiar message: “the world is full of fences, some I do not like- the ones that keep me out and some I do – the kind that keep me safe.”
In these early episodes we see that as producer, writer, lyricist and star, Fred Rogers envisioned his Neighborhood programs as a half an hour when he would come to visit and play with his viewers – to talk directly with them, imagine with them, teach them new words and ideas, help them name and talk about their feelings, and to care about them. In a time of appointment television these historic episodes feature a delightful, joyful 39-year old Fred Rogers as he was introducing himself to America’s children.