Episode 0004
Air Date: February 22, 1968
Previous Episode: 0003
Next Episode: 0005
Purchase/Stream: Amazon
Mister Rogers arrives with a playpen and a blanket which he sets up for a puppy he has waiting on the porch. After mentioning that the dog may not like the playpen, Mister Rogers sings a song about fences.
As the puppy rests, Mr. McFeely arrives with a delivery from King Friday who has sent a punch clock for Mister Rogers to demonstrate. After trying it out, Mister Rogers opens up the clock to look at its inside.
Using the tin can phone to call King Friday, Mister Rogers learns that the punch clock is intended to be used. King Friday is requesting that all people who come and go must use the punch clock.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, punch clocks have been installed everywhere as King Friday's orders to check in and out include those in Make-Believe, as well. Handyman Negri is installing a punch clock at Daniel's clock as Mr. McFeely delivers another clock to be installed at the Eiffel Tower.
At the castle, Edgar Cooke continues his duties as a border guard while Handyman Negri visits Grandpere to install the punch clock at the Tower. Confused by the term, Grandpere literally punches the clock.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers is visited by Carol Saunders and three young friends. Sitting together around the kitchen table, they sing some traditional chidrens' songs: Where is Thumbkin and Fly Through My Window. As everyone leaves, they punch the punch clock.
Notes
After Handyman Negri installs Daniel's clock, it falls as Daniel moves by it. Clearly attached with a weak adhesive, Handyman Negri reinstalls it only to have it fall again as he is walking away.
A similar difficulty is found in securing Grandpere's clock not just because Grandpere keeps punching it, but because of the clearly weak adhesive used to hang the clock.
A fly is seen moving around Daniel Striped Tiger as he talks with Handyman Negri. Rather that reshoot the scene, or ignore the fly, Fred Rogers (as Daniel) acknowledges the fly and shoos it away.
As he talks with Grandpere, Handyman Negri seems to take on a bit of a French accent himself.
After singing songs with Mrs. Saunders and the children, Mister Rogers mentions that next time he will have a snack for the them. He awkwardly explains that the refrigerator is bare because the electricity had gone out: "And you know what happens when that happens."
The three boys who sing with Mister Rogers and Mrs. Saunders are Rich, T.T., and Kevin.
A screenshot from this episode has gone viral on the internet. As Mister Rogers sings Where is Thumbkin, he extends his middle finger to represent "tall-man." Of course, this image circulates online and is taken very much out of context.
After Mister Rogers' call to King Friday, Be Brave Be Strong plays in the background.
The time clock demonstrated by Mister Rogers is a Cincinnati 4000 Series Jobmaster model.
[Image courtesy of timeclockworld.com]
Appearing In This Episode
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
Produced by WQED - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for National Educational Television
Neighbors: Joe Negri, David Newell, Carol Saunders
Producer: Fred Rogers
Director: David Fu-Ying Chen
Executive Producer: Paul K. Taff
Production funds for this series were provided by a grant from The Sears-Roebuck Foundation and a children's program fund established by N.E.T. affiliated stations.
© 1968 National Educational Television and Radio Center