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Good-bye Mr Rogers...
Cnn Radio News | 02/27/03 | NA

Posted on 02/27/2003 1:34:28 AM PST by prisoner6

Fred Rogers dead at 74...no other info yet.

prisoner6


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: fred; goodbye; mrrogers; neighborhood; obituary; pbs; pittsburgh; rogers; wqed
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To: dawn53
I saw that episode, and was looking to see if anyone would post about it. I'm glad you did. I remember that Mr. Funt kept trying to get Mr. Rogers to be irritated, but he just was as nice as ever and just kept saying that everything was just lovely and would be just fine. I remember at the time thinking that he was just the nicest person ever.

I'm sure God loves Mr. Rogers and they are now in each other's company.
41 posted on 02/27/2003 4:06:14 AM PST by Mrs. P
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To: prisoner6
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"/>

The New York Times Sponsored by Starbucks


February 27, 2003

Fred Rogers, host of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,' Dies at 74

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Web Site: Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

PITTSBURGH ó Fred Rogers, who gently invited millions of children to be his neighbor as host of the public television show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for more than 30 years, died of cancer early Thursday. He was 74.

Rogers died at his Pittsburgh home, said family spokesman David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely on the show. Rogers had been diagnosed with stomach cancer sometime after the holidays, Newell said.

From 1968 to 2000, Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister, produced the show at Pittsburgh public television station WQED. The final new episode, which was taped in December 2000, aired in August 2001, though PBS affiliates continued to air back episodes.

Rogers composed his own songs for the show and began each episode in a set made to look like a comfortable living room, singing "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood," as he donned sneakers and a zip-up cardigan.

His message remained a simple one throughout the years, telling his viewers to love themselves and others. On each show, he would take his audience on a magical trolley ride into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where his puppet creations would interact with each other and adults.

Rogers did much of the puppet work and voices himself.

The show gained a wide audience among children and parents who appreciated its simple lessons and Rogers' soothing manner.

Rogers taught children how to share, how to deal with anger and even how not to fear the bathtub by assuring them they'll never go down the drain.

During the Persian Gulf War, Rogers told youngsters that "all children shall be well taken care of in this neighborhood and beyond -- in times of war and in times of peace," and he asked parents to promise their children they would always be safe.

Rogers came out of broadcasting retirement last year to record four public service announcements for the Public Broadcasting Service telling parents that children might be confused by the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"They don't understand what an anniversary is, and if they see the tragedy replayed on television, they might think it's happening at that moment," he said.

The series remained popular through the years, including with children of baby boomers who watched the show growing up. Its ratings peaked in 1985-86 when approximately 8 percent of all U.S. households with televisions tuned in. By the 1999-2000 season, viewership had dropped to about 2.7 percent, or 3.6 million people.

One of Rogers' red sweaters hangs in the Smithsonian Institution.

As other children's programming opted for slick action cartoons, Rogers stayed the same and stuck to his message.

"It looks like nothing much happens," Hedda Sharapan, an associate producer with the show, said in 2001. "Listening has been one of the main focus points."

Rogers was born in Latrobe. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1962 with a charge to continue his work with children and families through television.

He studied early childhood development at the University of Pittsburgh's graduate school and consulted for decades with the late Dr. Margaret McFarland, an eminent child development expert at the university. The show examined the tribulations of childhood, including anger, fear, even a visit to the dentist.

At a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the show in 1993, Rogers said, "It's not the honors and not the titles and not the power that is of ultimate importance. It's what resides inside."

Off the set, Rogers was much like his television persona. He swam daily, read voraciously and listened to Beethoven. He once volunteered at a state prison in Pittsburgh and helped set up a playroom there for children visiting their parents.

Rogers was an unseen puppeteer in "The Children's Corner," a local show he and Josie Carey launched at WQED in 1954. In seven years of unscripted, live television on the show, he developed many of the puppets used in "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," including King Friday XIII, Daniel Striped Tiger and Curious X the Owl.

Rogers accepted an offer to develop his own 15-minute show in Canada. He brought the show, called "Misterogers," back to Pittsburgh and in February 1968 began its public broadcasting debut.

Rogers' gentle manner was the butt of some comedian's jokes. Eddie Murphy parodied him on "Saturday Night Live" in the 80's with his "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood," a routine Rogers found funny and affectionate.

Rogers is survived by his wife, Joanne, a concert pianist; two sons and two grandsons.


Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy

42 posted on 02/27/2003 4:08:50 AM PST by Mia T (SCUM (Stop Clintons' Undermining Machinations))
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To: chance33_98
Opened this thread, my 3 yr old son saw the pictures and said 'Look! Mr. Rogers!'...

I fondly remember watching Mr. Rogers and now my 3 yr old enjoys watching his show...I'm at a loss for words...

43 posted on 02/27/2003 4:22:19 AM PST by Severa
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To: prisoner6
'Mr. Rogers'. . .he served and preserved the integrity of childhood.

An almost impossible task today it seems. . .

44 posted on 02/27/2003 4:39:27 AM PST by cricket
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To: Mia T
One thing not mentioned is that Mr. Rogers routinely featured some of the most outstanding jazz musicians of our time in a kids television show! V's wife.
45 posted on 02/27/2003 4:40:18 AM PST by ventana
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To: prisoner6
So sad. A man truly for the children.
46 posted on 02/27/2003 4:49:49 AM PST by PGalt
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To: prisoner6
Thank you and God bless you Mr. Rogers.
47 posted on 02/27/2003 4:53:36 AM PST by Corporate Law
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To: Mia T
There is a lonely closet somewhere containing a pair of white sneakers and limp hanging red sweater. The door will never be opened again and the sneakers and sweater will never again see the light of a " Good Day"; but, I can't help but believe that because a very good man named Fred Rogers opened that door for years to dress down and relax with his young friends, we are a better people. What greater contribution to society can be made by anyone? From somewhere, we can't possibly know where, we will continue to hear that voice of peace and reassurance whisper in the ears of each of us," Good Night Boys and Girls. Let's Talk Real Quietly and Hold Hands. We Won't Be Afraid Of The Dark, Will We, Boys and Girls?".
48 posted on 02/27/2003 4:53:51 AM PST by mict42
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To: All
Fred Rogers moved to the best neighborhood in the universe and got his own mansion.
49 posted on 02/27/2003 4:54:14 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: prisoner6
You know, Mr. Rogers was a great influence on a great many children and will be missed.
However, after reading through all the replies on this thread, I can't help but think that a lot of folks would have been better off taking advantage of the lessons given on Sesame Street. The spelling errors are horrendous. Try a spelling checker.
50 posted on 02/27/2003 4:56:56 AM PST by Mr. Creosote (Better give me a bucket...I'm gonna throw up.)
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To: Rasputin_TheMadMonk
The world will be a much colder place without the warmth and genuine affection that Fred Rogers had for the children and for mankind in general.

Yet the world will be a warmer place because he was here.

51 posted on 02/27/2003 4:56:56 AM PST by AppyPappy (Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.)
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To: mict42
Now your post finally has me crying.......you have a beautiful way of expressing the essense of Mr. Rogers and his show.
52 posted on 02/27/2003 4:59:08 AM PST by OldFriend
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To: prisoner6
He was a kind, gentle soul.

sw

53 posted on 02/27/2003 5:00:04 AM PST by spectre (spectre's wife)
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To: prisoner6
I love this guy...used to ease my hangovers in college by watching his show. I used to end my radio shows in the 80's by playing "You Are Special"...I'm really gonna miss Fred.
54 posted on 02/27/2003 5:02:29 AM PST by GodBlessRonaldReagan (where is Scotty Moore when we need him most?)
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To: Mr. Creosote
Piss off.

Did I spell that right?

I'll take a room full of illiterate, good and caring friends like Fred Rogers and Freepers over a nit picking bucket of puke like you.

55 posted on 02/27/2003 5:02:30 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Nous sommes du soleil.)
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To: prisoner6
Not to joke, but I had always heard a rumor that he used to be a sniper for the military. I guess that was just a rumor! He will be missed...
56 posted on 02/27/2003 5:03:39 AM PST by brazos.357
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To: GodBlessRonaldReagan
I love this guy...used to ease my hangovers in college by watching his show.

In the future, if you are in need of that type of respite from an evenings debauchery...in the absence of Mr. Rogers you might want to try Teletubbies. They have a strangely calming effect on the mind.

Godspeed Mr. Rogers. You were loved by more people than you can know.

57 posted on 02/27/2003 5:05:50 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Nous sommes du soleil.)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
Ewwww! The Teletubbies give me the creeps! Fortunately, I don't abuse my body with demon alcohol anymore, but if I did I'd tune in reruns of The Tree Stooges to ease the pain...
58 posted on 02/27/2003 5:08:03 AM PST by GodBlessRonaldReagan (where is Scotty Moore when we need him most?)
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To: GodBlessRonaldReagan
That should be the Three Stooges...unless Elway and the Tree Weasels have joined.
59 posted on 02/27/2003 5:08:45 AM PST by GodBlessRonaldReagan (where is Scotty Moore when we need him most?)
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To: prisoner6
Oh...crud. Crud. Crud. Crud.

I grew up with Mister Roger's Neighborhood; I started watching it as soon as KCET in Los Angeles began broadcasting the show. This 4-year-old was enchanted.

As an adult, I admired and respected Fred Rogers.
Though I have no kids, if I had, his show is one that I would have encouraged them to see.

Thanks, Mr. Rogers. I'd like to think that somehow you can see and hear the eulogies we write and speak today.

And I'll bet that you've already got the Neighborhood up and running in heaven.
60 posted on 02/27/2003 5:09:29 AM PST by petuniasevan (We'll miss your gentle spirit, Mr. Rogers)
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