Mr. Rogers has died...

CNN ^

[martin_fierro]

There goes the Neighborhood.

I always loved the John Costa jazz piano music at show's end.

	It's a 'Burgh Thing.TM
Send FReepmail if you want on/off BPT list
Learn Pittsburghese!

[xsmommy]

very sad. i loved him and my kids watched him too. Idewild still has MisterRogers neighborhood.

[11th_VA]

I guess it was time to go to the 'Magic Kingdom'. See you there some day.

[petuniasevan]

In 2002, President George W. Bush presented Rogers with the Presidential Medal of Freedom

[HungarianGypsy]

I was so sad to hear about this. I better tape episodes before our local PBS station yanks the show off the air. Just so my seven month old can see it.

I always thought we went through three phases with Mr. Rogers. As a child you loved the show (my husband's family still says it was his favorite), as a teen you thought Mr. Rogers was a dork, then as a parent you fell in love with the show all over again.

It was raining over night here too.

[RightWhale]

First class man. Highly skilled interviewer as well.

[irgbar-man]

I'm having a Chuckles the Clown moment as I read this thread. RIP, MisteRogers. Your memory will always be ... special.

[Willie Green]

Rogers began developing his ideas for children's programming in the 1950s. He is best known for "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," which began in its early form in 1963 as a show on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood actually originated as a local Pittsburgh PBS show called "The Children's Corner" in 1954. Mountaineer was kind enough to transcribe the lyrics to the opening and closing themes for this show on this thread: Memories of Growing Up in the 40's and 50's (and since, even). In fond childhood memory of The Children's Corner and Mr. Rogers, I am posting the lyrics to the closing theme here:

Goodnight, God

Goodnight, God, and thank you
For this special day.

Thank you, too, for helping us
at work and at our play.

Thank you for our family,
for each and every friend.

Forgive us, please, for everything
we've done that might offend.

Keep us safe and happy, God.
Tell us what to do.

Goodnight, God and thank you, God
for letting us love you.

Goodnight, God and thank you, God
for letting us love you.

God bless you and rest in peace, Mr. Rogers.
Your presence will be missed, but you leave behind many, many good memories.

[I Am Not A Mod]

Free Republic Highlights, 2/27/03

[CAPPSMADNESS]

Very sad day indeed - but also happy too. Me and the Hubby spent the morning drive into work remembering our younger years and all the programs we grew up with like H.R. Puffenstuff, Seseme Street, Captain Kangaroo and such. I hope Mr. Rogers knew how very many lives he touched.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

"...Idewild still has MisterRogers neighborhood."

OH my! Really?? I haven't been to Idewild in YEARS!

I might just have to take the kids there this summer.....

[xsmommy]

i love Idewild. My brother lives in Ohio now and i live in VA, but we meet in PA and take our respective kids to Idewild. it is such a nice wooded park. And the MisterRogers part is a ride on a trolley through the neighborhood.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

A good man has died. I knew several people that knew him personally and worked with him. No one ever said a bad word about the man. I believe that he was good to the core and was someone we should all try to be more like.

May he rest in peace.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

Yes, I am an Ohioan now as well - grew up in the panhandle of WV and spent alot of time in the Burgh. Kennywood was always a good time and beats the bigger parks hands down. I haven't seen Idewild since I was 10 or so.

[xsmommy]

Idewild is connected to Story Book Forest, and so is better for younger kids. My kids are bit bigger now and would probably like Kennywood better, because it has more roller coasters etc.

[gitmo]

Somewhere I have a biography of Mr. Rogers. I never saw his show growing up, and had never really watched it till I read the book.

A giant of a man. Congratulations on the promotion, Mr. Rogers.

[glory]

Oh my gosh, I had forgotten he tossed the coin and marshalled the parade. My goodness, he didn't look bad at all--an older man for sure, but he didn't "look sick". That was a pretty quick downturn and agressive cancer--not even 2 months! RIP Fred Rogers!

[ggekko]

I hate to be the skunk at the Garden Party but Mr. Rogers gave me the creeps.

Does anyone else feel this way?

[Yaron]

I'm with you. Looking back at the show now I am an adult, it seems weird and too good to be true. Not suggesting anything for a moment, but I wouldn't want him left alone with my children.