We recently came upon a videotape of a one-hour special that is missing the first 15-20 minutes. Unfortunately, it is all we have of “Springtime With Mister Rogers,” which was produced in 1979. Below is a description of the missing opening section. The program begins with Mister Rogers walking down a city street greeting his neighbors. When he arrives at his house, he is told that Betty Aberlin’s Little Theater has a leak in its roof. Everyone in the neighborhood is getting together at the New Old Market to donate whatever they can to raise money to fix it. Mister Rogers refinishes a cabinet he plans to donate. A special musical springtime show is planned for the event. In the Neighborhood of Make Believe, Lady Elaine is sad because she can’t become a princess. This is where our video begins.
During this week of programs, Mister Rogers talks about divorce in a gentle and compassionate way. He reassures children that most parents get angry and argue sometimes, but that arguments do not mean that parents are going to get a divorce. And even if parents do decide to get a divorce, it is not the children’s fault. In a flashback sequence, we see Mr. and Mrs. McFeely’s beautiful wedding ceremony with all their friends and neighbors. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Prince Tuesday meets a new friend whose parents are divorced.
Mister Rogers takes a field trip to a pretzel factory to see how people make pretzels. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Prince Tuesday overhears his parents arguing, and he is afraid the argument is his fault. Mischievous Lady Elaine leads Prince Tuesday to think that maybe the King and Queen are thinking about getting a divorce, so a very worried Prince Tuesday runs away to the home of his friend Daniel Tiger.
One of the most talked about episodes of the Neighborhood series is this one when Jeff Erlanger, a young boy who uses an electric wheelchair, visits Mister Rogers. Together they talk openly and honestly about his disability and sing ” It’s You I Like.” In Make-Believe, the neighbors are searching for Prince Tuesday who has run away because he heard his parents arguing. The unhappy Prince is finally found and is reassured that his parents love him. It’s not easy to talk about some things, like divorce and disabilities, but the reality of such things is often less scary to children than the fantasies they may have about them.
Mister Rogers visits with Dr. Earl Grollman, author of books for parents and children about divorce, who helps children understand that some things – like musical instruments – can be fixed, but other things – like relationships — can’t always be fixed. What’s most important is to be able to talk about our feelings. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Prince Tuesday talks to his parents about his fears that their arguing was going to lead to their divorce. Mister Rogers reassures his viewers that when parents argue, it does not necessarily mean they are going to get a divorce.
Mister Rogers goes on an airplane and visits with the pilot and flight attendant who show him around the plane to help children feel more familiar when traveling by air. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe there’s someone dressed as a clown who learns to feel good about being himself, even if he is sad sometimes. And King Friday has a new electric plane-car delivered.
Donkey Hodie is inspired by the funny, quirky side of Fred Rogers and honors the legacy of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in more ways than one. Trolley debuted in Someplace Else in the Season 2 premiere, and as an extra special nod to the origins of the character, Trolley’s dings were recorded on the original Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood celeste. Take a look at this behind-the-scenes clip with the team who helped to make that a reality.
Watch full-length Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood programs. The first Monday of every month will feature programs from the early years 1968-1975. The third Monday of every month will feature programs from the “Theme Weeks” library 1979-2001.