On this day 84 years ago, Fred McFeely Rogers – known to most of us simply as “Mister Rogers” – entered the world. Though he’s been gone for nearly a decade, his impact on the world remains.
Television was still a young medium when, in the early 1950s, Rogers, a musician and seminarian, first saw it and decided he could make it better. Appalled at images of people smashing pies into one another’s faces – demeaning one another, as he saw it – he wanted to bring a little kindness and sensitivity to the airwaves. And that’s just what he did for nearly 50 years, first taking a job at NBC before moving to public television, where he felt he could make more of an impact, a few years later.
Rogers began working at as a puppeteer in 1954 on the show The Children’s Corner, where he developed many of his trademark characters, before moving to Canada in 1963 to host his own show. Four years later, Rogers moved the show to WQED, the public television station in his native Pittsburgh.
Anyone born after the 1960s – or anyone who parented a child after then – can’t help but be familiar with the unique format of his show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Rogers’ characteristic plainspoken style made him a television icon. From changing his shoes and putting on his sweater at the beginning of the show to feeding the fish, riding the trolley off to amusing and instructive jaunts into the neighborhood of make believe, and singing his snappy, affirmational jazz tunes (each of which he wrote himself), everything on the show had a sense of order that was comforting to the young viewers who tuned in each day. Rogers took his TV neighbors on virtual field trips to such fascinating destinations as a crayon factory, a sneaker factory, and a guitar maker’s studio, and talked frankly with them about issues ranging from divorce to the loss of a pet. The show was deliberately slow moving, because Rogers wanted to stand in contrast to the “bombardment” he saw in more conventional programming.
Rogers continued making his show until August of 2001, just a couple of years before he died of stomach cancer. What many people don’t know is that Rogers was also instrumental in securing federal funding for public broadcasting. In 1969, he went before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications to speak about the importance of public television after President Nixon proposed cutting government support for PBS. If you have seven minutes to spare, watch how Rogers’ gentleness wins over Senator John Pastore, whose impatience with the proceedings at the beginning of Rogers’ comments seemed to verge on hostility:
What many commentators on Rogers’ life all agree on is that the person we all saw on television – full of endless kindness, patience, and simplicity – is who Fred Rogers really was. He had a limitless curiosity about people and a way of speaking that made everyone around him feel instantly accepted and cared for.
While many may dismiss this as corny, I believe the world would be a much better place if we could all live our lives with the same level of vulnerability, respect, and simplicity that Fred McFeely Rogers exhibited.
Happy Birthday, Mister Rogers!
Jaime McLeod is the Web Content Editor for the Farmers' Almanac. She is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, loves eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
7 comments
Born in 1963 I was a child that viewed Mr.Rogers and his wonderful world of make believe. I still remember many of the shows by heart because that kind of education really does stick with you when it is given to you in a way that is fun and without even knowing that you were being showed many of the things a person will need to be a good and decent person in this crazy world we were all being brought up in. Mr.Rogers showed us the world ….he showed us all the version of what he knew the world should be like. His gentle way he had about himself and the gentle way he showed us our world gave us the tools to grow up and become good honest people that wanted to be a part of the world and become the best person,friend to everyone we meet.I think back and remember watching my children watching his show and remember feeling lucky that my kids were able to be a part of his world and laugh and sing along with him when he sang songs to teach us to tie our shoes or maybe to go along with him to one of his many friends he knew in his neighborhood so we could see for ourselves how it is to go to the store to buy food or show us how something is made in a factory . He showed us life in a way that is still with each and every one of us that took a trip with him every afternoon. I will always miss my friend Mr. Rogers and will keep everything he taught me close to my heart as I am sure my kids and the rest of us will. I have to admit I have stoped the tv as I was going around the dial and watched a few minutes of his show on the reruns just to remember and feel good about knowing Mr.Rogers.
He’s been gone 10 years and as much fun as it is to make fun of him. I felt Mr. Roger’s was a calm moment I treasured every day during grade school escaping from the chaos of a grade school and you need to see how he calmed a hostile senato…r. Oh I still think we could all benefit from a 30 minute program addressing self control and self esteem. I’m sure we’ve come a long way in child development but believe it or not this AD/HD kid preferred his show to any cartoons (actually didn’t like them) or Bozo Circus. Mom can I have grilled cheese and tomato soup today!
Actually, MaryLou, that’s an urban legend. Mister Rogers was never in the military. He went directly from college to working in television and getting a seminary degree. He was always deeply religious. Here is the page on Snopes debunking that popular myth.
Thanks Jaime reminding me of Mister Rogers. I really enjoyed his show and how it made me happy. Mary Lou, my uncle Tex used to drive Mr. Green Jeans to the Capt. Kangaroo show every day. I thought Mister Rogers was a great influence. Nice to know all these things. Me and Chevyman are practicing the same simplicities he wanted to inspire people with.
did you know he was special forces and he was in the war with Caption Kangroo and Johnny
Carson ..He wore the sweater to cover up all the tatoos . I have so much more respect for Mr Rogers after finding out about this and he accepted the Lord savior because he felt so bad for what happen and what he had to do in the war
Happy celebration day my friend . i know they are throwing you the biggest party ever …
and i always wanted to say this but would you be mine ..would you be my neighbor
RIP YOU will always be missed
Thanks Mr. Rogers for teaching me respect for others, myself and showing me what a real man is in the 1970′s.
Thanks for teenage memories of what a dad that might have been,I went on to teach preschool I guess you inspired m e. Happy. Birhday
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