Episode 1702

Topic: Helping
Air Date: July 23, 1996
Previous Episode: 1701 - Helping
Next Episode: 1703 - Helping
Purchase/Stream: Amazon

Mister Rogers arrives with a small toy synthesizer. He thinks about learning to play the piano and how he needed help from his teacher. Mr. McFeely arrives and shares a videotape about how people make vacuum sweepers. As Mr. McFeely sings the Speedy Delivery song, Mister Rogers plays along on his synthesizer.

It is night time in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and Handyman Negri is up before the sun enjoying the night sky.

Meanwhile, Lady Elaine Fairchilde is outside guarding her Museum-Go-Round after being disturbed earlier by Neighbor Aber and his vacuum. Falling asleep, she dreams of herself dancing throughout the Neighborhood with a vacuum sweeper. When she wakes up, she vows to Handyman Negri that she will rid the world of all vacuum sweepers.

Vacuuming near Daniel's clock, Neighbor Aber visits the Museum-Go-Round intending to apologize to Lady Elaine for disturbing her. Instead, she uses her boomerang to take make his vacuum sweeper disappear. Handyman Negri goes with King Friday to the castle's Q (Question) Room to talk about Lady Elaine's actions.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers visits Negri's Music Shop where a music group called Jabali Afrika is rehearsing. After an explanation of their music and a demonstration of their instruments, they perform a few songs including Tree Tree Tree.

Notes

Lady Elaine dreams of herself the size of a real human being. In 2019, Matt Meko confirmed via social media that he was the performer who played Lady Elaine in this human-size role.

This episode is included on the Would You Be Mine Collection (DVD).

Appearing In This Episode

Guests

Jabali Afrika

Songs

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Chuck Aber, Joe Negri, David Newell
Special Thanks to: Dirt Devil Inc.
Speical Thanks to: Jabali Afrika - Joseck Asikoye, Justo Asikoye, Evans Chagala, Bernard Kapima, Peter Mbole, Robert Otieno, Victor Elolo, Steve Wafula
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Producer: Margaret Whitmer
Associate Producer: Adrienne Wehr
Music Director: John Costa