Maybe when you get older and you put away your dreams of childhood, television shows like Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood are excised from your life. You give up all the times you sat in front of the TV set at 5:00 p.m., watching Fred Rogers walk into his studio house, put on a sweater, feed his fish, and later visit the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. You make some snide comments about the reason why Mr. Rogers wears a sweater on his show – supposedly it covers up his tattoos from his days as a sniper in Vietnam. Please. Mr. Rogers never fought in Vietnam, and just for the record, the guy who played Captain Kangaroo was not one of the soldiers who landed at Iwo Jima.
As for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, I really enjoyed watching that show when I was young. For me, Fred Rogers was a calming voice in a turbulent childhood. Even today, I still own a stuffed Daniel Striped Tiger plush toy. And I’m not ashamed to admit it. I can’t embed this video clip, but click here to see the first appearance of Daniel Striped Tiger, as a puppet in a 1954 TV show called The Children’s Corner. And here’s another clip, from pbs.org, where Daniel Striped Tiger talks about some seriously emotional issues that are far above the norm for children’s programming.
In fact, let’s take a trip back in time, you and me, and watch a clip that I can embed into my blog.
Part of every show involved Mr. Rogers taking his television viewers to a place called the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, which was either accessed by operating a remote-controlled trolley from Mr. Rogers’ living room, or – in this rare instance – we visit the Neighborhood of Make-Believe via a set of sculpted scale models.
http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/x7wmye?width=320&theme=denim&foreground=%2392ADE0&highlight=%23A2ACBF&background=%23202226
Neighborhood of Make-Believe from 1487
Uploaded by jpatterson22. – Full seasons and entire episodes online.
And Mr. Rogers was not above breaking down the television “fourth wall,” as can be seen in this clip – as he explains to his young audience that he’s really on a television stage, and introduces the viewers to his cameramen and musical director!
If you didn’t know, today – March 20th – is designated as “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” day. You probably won’t find it on any calendar, but if you think about it – just take the time today to say hello to someone. I’m sure they would appreciate it.
Here’s something else that’s kinda cool. This video clip is from the Idlewild amusement park in Ligonier, Pa. It’s a simple trolley ride – and as you go through a quiet tunnel, you suddenly find yourself in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
The amusement park has actually recreated the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, complete with King Friday’s castle, the Museum-Go-Round, the rocking chair factory and – yes – Daniel Striped Tiger’s grandfather clock. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
And believe it or not, the ride is still part of the Idlewild Amusement Park, so if you happen to travel to Western Pennsylvania this summer, you should check it out.
Fred Rogers passed away in 2003, and everybody who grew up watching his gentle lessons lost a good friend. And the world of television lost a true pioneer.
So if you get a chance, be a good neighbor to someone today. I’m sure they’d appreciate it.
Chuck The Writer 
I think I heard that the music was done live back stage for the show. He was one of a kind for sure.
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I remember when X the Owl changed the Z on his front door to an X… and when Lady Elaine moved in… and when the platypus family moved in…
Also, the models weren’t a “rare” way to get into the Land, just not as frequently used as the train.
Thanks for the earworm, I’m going to hear “meow meow special… meow meow nice…” all day!
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Hello, neighbor.
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