Episode 1158
Air Date: March 24, 1971
Previous Episode: 1157
Next Episode: 1159
Mister Rogers arrives with an envelope he found on his porch. Opening the envelope, he finds a cassette tape which contains a message recorded by Bob Trow instructing Mister Rogers to call 311-555-4321 if he'd like to open the secret package from the previous day. When he calls the number, he learns from Mr. Trow that he is allowed to open the box only after he sings Sometimes People Are Good. Once he sings the song, Mister Rogers finally opens the secret package to find a magnifying glass.
After demonstrating how the magnifying glass makes things look bigger, Mister Rogers plays a game of "Do You Know What This Is?" with Picture Picture -- a close-up image appears and he is to guess what the object is.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Bob Dog is playing with a magnifying glass and King Friday thinks that it can actually make Prince Tuesday grow.
At the Platypus mound, Lady Elaine Fairchilde starts to open the package labeled "do not open" when the recorded voice of Dr. Bill Platypus is heard: "This is a recording. If anyone opens this trunk any further, that person will not get a present." Just then, Mr. McFeely arrives with more presents to be left at the mound and Lady Elaine is certain one must be for her.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers thinks about special places before Bob Trow stops by with a large sheet of paper. Mister Rogers lies down on the paper while Mr. Trow traces his outline.
Notes
As referenced in Episode 0079, Episode 0129, and Episode 1013, the phone number Mister Rogers calls -- 311-555-4321 -- belongs to Sara Saturday and not Bob Trow. According to Wikipedia, "in former times, 311 was sometimes used as a fictitious area code.
You've Got To Do It plays in the background during the game with Picture Picture.
Excited by the growing number of presents, Lady Elaine sings a variation of Tomorrow: "Tomorrow, tomorrow, the Platypuses come tomorrow and I'll be right here! Tomorrow: "Tomorrow, tomorrow, the Platypuses come tomorrow and I'll be full of cheer!"
A Place of My Own plays in the background as Mister Rogers thinks about special places.
The outline that Mr. Trow makes of Mister Rogers is eventually used as the basis of a detailed cardboard cut-out seen later in Episode 1166.
Appearing In This Episode
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
Produced by WQED Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in association with Small World Enterprises Inc. for N.E.T.
Created and written by Fred Rogers
Produced and directed by Sam Silberman
Neighbors: David Newell, Bob Trow
Film: Christopher Chapman
Production funds for this television visit were provided by a grant from the Sears Roebuck Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
© 1970 National Educational Television and Radio Center