Episode 1569
Topic: Playthings
Air Date: November 27, 1986
Previous Episode: 1568 - Playthings
Next Episode: 1570 - Playthings
Purchase/Stream: Amazon
Mister Rogers arrives with a small toy piano and talks about how he played on something similar when he was young. Reminding viewers of the importance of practice, he sings You've Got To Do It.
Mr. McFeely stops by with a delivery of "empty things" which Mister Rogers takes to the kitchen and uses to simulate the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Aberlin has the master key and shows X the Owl how it flies. Trying the key on both X and Henrietta's doors, they find that the master key will open both.
At the Museum-Go-Round, Lady Aberlin is greeted by H.J. Elephant but quickly moves on to the Platypus Mound where Ana is upset because she wants a new bicycle like Prince Tuesday but her family cannot afford it. Dr. Bill explains to her that it is "a matter of money, not a matter of love."
Lady Aberlin returns to the Museum-Go-Round with Ana where H.J. Elephant shows them a note from Lady Elaine Fairchilde who is visiting friends in Southwood. She specifies that no one use the master key until she returns. Ana is begining to understand the idea of patience as Neighbor Aber arrives and suggest that they all dance while they wait for Lady Elaine's return.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers returns the toy piano to Negri's Music Shop where Mr. Negri shares a collection of other toy instruments. In the back room, Bob Rawsthorne demonstrates a variety of musical instruments which he uses to create unique sounds. While Mr. Rawsthorne plays the stump fiddle, Mister Rogers sits at the toy piano and Mr. Negri plays the guitar to create a fun musical trio.
Returning to the house, Mister Rogers briefly plays his regular piano before concluding for the day.
Notes
Bobby Rawsthorne suggests that he had been using his unique instruments for a specific pupose: "I was just working on a children's program."
Although Chuck Aber is the voice and typically the puppeteer for H.J. Elephant, Neighbor Aber and H.J. appear on screen together in this episode.
This episode is included on the Would You Be Mine Collection (DVD).
Appearing In This Episode
- Ana Platypus
- Bobby Rawsthorne
- Dr. Bill Platypus
- Henrietta Pussycat
- H.J. Elephant III
- Joe Negri
- Lady Aberlin
- Mister Rogers
- Mr. McFeely
- Neighbor Aber
- X the Owl
Guests
- Bobby Rawsthorne
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Chuck Aber, Betty Aberlin, Bill Barker, Carole Muller, Joe Negri, David Newell, Bobby Rawsthorne
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Producers: Sam Newbury, Margaret Whitmer
Director: Paul Lally
Music Director: John Costa
Produced in association with WQED/Pittsburgh
A production of Family Communications
© 1986 Family Communications, Inc.