Thanks to Mark Buzzitta, we can now share the complete as-produced “Springtime with Mister Rogers” special as it was seen in 1979. The special opens with Mister Rogers walking down the city, greeting his neighbors. When he arrives at his house, Mister Rogers is told that Betty Aberlin’s Little Theater has a leak in its roof. Everyone in the neighborhood starts to find a way to raise money, Mister Rogers even refinishes a cabinet he plans to donate. Eventually, the neighborhood decides to make a special musical springtime show for the event. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Elaine is sad that she can’t become a princess, and eventually fantasizes about being a princess. With Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangroo).
Mister Rogers explains how a ventriloquist’s dummy works and compares it to human beings and animals. He shows a video of all kinds of babies drinking milk. Mister Rogers visits an applesauce factory where he is shown how applesauce is made. He examines some apple seeds. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Queen Sara suggests that X the Owl play hide-and-seek while waiting for his seed order to arrive. Mr. McFeely has to look for X, who is hiding, in order to deliver the Speedy Seeds. Mr. McFeely plants the seeds in X’s planter. Henrietta, X, and Mr. McFeely watch them, but the seeds do not grow. Mr. Mc Feely talks about patience, and they decide to play hide-and-seek while waiting. Mister Rogers talks about waiting.
Mister Rogers makes bags of granola for his friends and talks about people who do not have enough to eat. He talks about growing up and Mr. McFeely shows him a film about the making of tofu.In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Queen Sara and Lady Aberlin are discussing the Queen’s “Food for the World” hunger project. The Speedy Seeds have grown, but Old Goat eats the plants; Bob Dog, Henrietta, X, and Lady Aberlin are puzzled by the plants’ sudden disappearance. Bob Dog, Henrietta and X decide to plant more seeds while Lady Aberlin investigates the missing plants. Lady Elaine, who has planted a garden in Betty Templeton’s backyard in Southwood, complains that her plants are also missing. Mister Rogers describes a time when he took cupcakes from his grandmother and how his grandfather guessed that he must have been feeling lonely. Mister Rogers talks about sharing.
Mister Rogers identifies several different kinds of fruit and talks about how some food is better than others. He also shows some examples of junk food and mentions that some people can’t eat some kinds of food at all, and that most people should eat in moderation. He disguises himself with a cape, glasses, and a big nose, then sings about being together. He takes off the disguise and goes to the bakery where Chef Brockett shows him how to make a tasty snack of peanut butter, raisins, and cracker crumbs. They talk about how people’s tastes change. As they go back home, Mister Rogers makes a similar treat with a banana. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, King Friday disguises Lady Aberlin, Handyman, and Bob Dog who are to guard the gardens. They discover Old Goat eating food from one of the gardens. Old Goat bleats his case that he is hungry because there is no food in Northwood, where he lives. The King decrees that the guards will now plant Speedy Seeds everywhere so that the Neighborhood of Make-Believe can help supply food for Northwood. Mister Rogers explains that the “all out effort” of Neighborhood of Make-Believe is a way of showing love, and that parents want their children to eat some foods and not others because they love them and want them to grow up healthy.
Mister Rogers shows a picture book of vegetables and tours a vegetable soup factory. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, seeds are growing in order to send food to Northwood. Daniel Tiger wants thinks he has a tree that grows cans of vegetable soup. Bob Dog doesn’t want him to be disappointing, so he makes a fake vegetable soup plant and puts it in Daniel’s pot.
Mister Rogers is excited to learn as he watches John Costa Jr. make spaghetti. Mister Rogers talks about accepting and liking food as an expression of love for the giver. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, everyone is gathering plants and food for the residence of Northwood. Bob Dog is worried about disappointing Daniel after he fooled Daniel into thinking that if you plant soup cans, they will grow into plants. Lady Aberlin and Handyman Negri tell Bob Dog that friends can help one another get over disappointment. Bob Dog apologizes to Daniel who is sad because he now has nothing to give the residents of Northwood. Bob Dog suggests that they offer their friendship. King Friday adds to the gift of plants by sending the longest spaghetti in the world. John Costa Sr. will go to play music for the residents of Northwood. Old Goat delivers a thank-you card from Northwood.
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.
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