Episode 1624
Topic: Fathers & Music
Air Date: August 2, 1990
Previous Episode: 1623 - Fathers & Music
Next Episode: 1625 - Fathers & Music
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Mister Rogers arrives with a bag and a book. First, he looks at the book which was made by a teenage friend of his. The book, What is a Father, was made by Lani Droz for her father and talks about the many things that a father can do.
Taking the bag to the kitchen, Mister Rogers takes out a toy wolf that still needs to be stuffed. Before stuffing the toy, Mister Rogers uses it as a shy wolf puppet and sings Everybody's Shy Sometimes.
After Ella Jenkins calls to see if it would be okay to stop by, Mister Rogers shows a photo album of various Neighbors including Ms. Jenkins.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Aberlin listens as King Friday and Handyman Negri play a musical duet. Lady Aberlin decides to visit the school but is side-tracked by Lady Elaine on her way. Lady Elaine is very concerned about Prince Tuesday's rag doll as she worries that the children will pretend that all dolls are alive -- even toy wolves. Neighbor Aber arrives still dressed as a wolf and frightens Lady Elaine. Lady Elaine shares that she does not like wolves because someone once called her a "big bad wolf." Lady Aberlin puts her mind at ease: "Nobody could ever make-believe you into a big bad wolf because you don't want to be a big bad wolf...Nobody could ever make-believe you into anything you didn't want to be."
At the school, Daniel is still dressed in his wolf costume as well. Ana and Prince Tuesday talk about their fathers' musical talents but Daniel seems let down by the fact that no one played music for him. His thought, however, is interrupted by the arrival of Lady Aberlin and Neighbor Aber. The discussion of musical fathers continues as Lady Aberlin departs abruptly for the castle with an idea. Her idea involves fathers and music.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers begins stuffing the toy wolf when Ella Jenkins arrives with her ukulele. Ms. Jenkins talks about her family and sings a song called My Street Begins at My House. As she and Mister Rogers are singing the blues together, Chuck Aber arrives and joins Ms. Jenkins in singing a song called Annie.
Notes
Lani Droz is the step-daughter of Cathy Droz, Director of Special Projects for the Fred Rogers Company. Fred Rogers saw her homemade book as he was preparing the scripts for the Fathers & Music series of episodes and was interested in including it in the program; however, the book seen in this episode is not the original version. In order for the book to show up clearly on camera, Lani had to recreate her book on off-white paper.
In Episode 1549 and Episode 1550, a trio of trumpeters responsible for playing King Friday's fanfare are seen; however, in this episode, the "trumpeters" are hidden atop the castle except for their instruments.
This episode is included on the Would You Be Mine Collection (DVD).
Appearing In This Episode
- Ana Platypus
- Chuck Aber
- Daniel Striped Tiger
- Ella Jenkins
- Handyman Negri
- Harriett Elizabeth Cow
- King Friday XIII
- Lady Aberlin
- Lady Elaine Fairchilde
- Mister Rogers
- Neighbor Aber
- Prince Tuesday
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Chuck Aber, Betty Aberlin, Ella Jenkins, Lenny Meledandri, Joe Negri, Carole Switala, Bob Trow
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Producer: Margaret Whitmer
Director: Bob Walsh
Associate Producer: Adrienne Wehr
Music Director: John Costa
Produced in association with WQED/Pittsburgh
A production of Family Communications
©1990 Family Communications, Inc.