Ideal Neighborhood of Make-Believe Playset

[earnhardtfan4life]

I think the airplane was the castle plane.  I remember something about Yoshi Ito piloting it.  That was back in the pre79 era.  The spiral thing looks like it has a knob on the top of it to turn something.  That is a weird looking Museum Go Around. 

[Neighborhood Archive]

The plane was Yoshi Ito's. She was the pilot of the plane in several NOM stories back in the 70s.

I'm stuck on the 20 accessories as well. The only thing I can think of would be that maybe the Museum Go Round is not attached and is considered to be an accessory. But still, that only brings the count to 17.

Here is a link to my original photograph taken directly from one of the puppet boxes. It's a bit larger and could offer some extra details for anyone wanting a closer look.

http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/blog/images/nomsetfull.JPG

[galenfott]

Thanks, the original is a BIG help and shows a lot more detail!

So I'm wondering about those cards in front, or whatever they are. The top one seems to have a large brown "X" on it...anything to do with the Owl? What would you do with those cards?

Also, it's odd that the castle has a cobblestone texture on the ground INSIDE it...I wonder if the playset was supposed to "work" from both sides? And if on the other side of the castle there's Corny's factory or something, which might help explain the weird spiraling pole, and the unidentifiable object at the bottom of it.

[earnhardtfan4life]

After staring, zooming in and out at that picture for what seemed like an eternity...

The X picture is the two birds on sticks - Memus and Trog, I believe. 

At first I had wondered if they were decals that go on the museum go round since the bottom of the museum has no decals.  I think those cardboard pictures are inserts that go on the castle.   

You really have to think outside of the box on this deal.  If the set came out in '77, the program has ceased production.  So it's 77 on backwards.

I do find it rather interesting that at least in the picture there is no trolley, Daniel's clock, mound, rockit factory, or effiel tower.  Maybe you had to purchase those elsewhere.

Mike

[Neighborhood Archive]

First X the Owl, and now Queen Sara...

http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/merch/toys/nom_playset77/index.html

[OperaLover]

Tim,
I would have told you I had her long ago, had I known she was on your missing list.
Since all figures from this wonderful playset have surfaced, my guess is that it was produced but on a very limited scale.
It looks like such a great toy, with tons of good play value for kids.
What a lucky couple of kids that got to be a part of this advertisement.

[Neighborhood Archive]

But the big question, which has been asked before, is what about the rest of the set?

The figures have surfaced -- a few of which I have seen multiple times -- however, I have yet to see any of the other "accessories" or the Neighborhood playset structure itself.

That, to me, is the mystery....

[OperaLover]

Yes, it is a huge mystery, indeed. The set looks so complete and well-thought.
But then again, that is Fred. He didn't do anything halfway. If it wasn't actually produced and distributed, the advertisement photo would have to be a prototype but it looks manufactured to me, and beyond the prototype stage.
Has anyone contacted IDEAL or even David at FCI about the whereabouts of this playset?

[Neighborhood Archive]

Ideal is no longer a company as it was sold to various companies throughout the 80s and 90s until fading away completely. In talking with the folks at the Fred Rogers Company, they were not positive but seemed to recall this was halted before it reached mass production.

Still...why are the figures out there and the rest of this set is seemingly non-existent?

[galenfott]

I wonder if they could have been sold separately, or as a 5-pack? Maybe they had already made the figures, halted production on the rest of the playset for whatever reason, and just decided to make the best of it and sell the figures alone?

[OperaLover]

Maybe Mrs. Rogers knows??

[Dais79]

This is totally intriguing!!!  A true mystery!!  Some figures also came with the trolley that was sold at one point in the 70's, right? . . .We have the plastic trolley that plays music, but no figures.
So, a totally nerdy idea. . .we just need a neighbor who is skilled in autoCAD to mock this up, then print it on a 3-D printer- BAM!!!  Instant playset.  :)  I still dream of seeing this at a flea market.  Has anyone ever posted on Freecycle looking for Mister Rogers play items?

[galenfott]

Right, Daniel and Lady Elaine came with the trolley. And the text on the trolley box specifies which two characters are inside, pretty much eliminating the chance that some trolleys were sold with different figures, which would help explain why the other characters turn up, yet no playset.

[Neighborhood Archive]

I think we're getting closer to figuring this thing out...thanks to a recent eBay listing.

The listing includes the Musical Trolley with its original box along with two figures -- Henrietta Pussycat and King Friday. According to the seller:

I am the original owner as this was bought for me when I was a child in 1977. I remember this was bought at a auto parts store back when some chains sold toys.....The package shows that a Daniel Tiger and a Lady Elaine figure is included. Mine did not come with those two even though they were pictured on the package. Mine came with King Friday and Henrietta the cat. I believe these were meant for a unreleased Land of Make Believe playset and were packed as replacements for whatever reason.

Interesting. Sounds like we've found our answer as to how these Playset figures found their way into the market.

Here's the auction listing if you're interested:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320736970108&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1361

[OperaLover]

Tim, I think this is the most revealing information ever disclosed.
Though the box states certain figures would be included, there were substitutions.
I am starting to believe that the only NOMB set that was ever produced, was in fact a prototype that we have seen only in photographs.
It must have ended up with someone!