Episode 1198
Air Date: February 23, 1972
Previous Episode: 1197
Next Episode: 1199
Mister Rogers arrives with a box of rubber bands which he takes to the kitchen where he shows how to wrap them into a ball. He sends the ball to Make-Believe where it has turned into a star upon the Trolley's arrival.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Queen Sara is searching for a star at the request of King Friday. She and Handyman Negri are delighted to discover the star on top of Trolley.
X the Owl shares with Handyman Negri that he in afraid to share his poetry at the castle for fear of being laughed at. Talking about his feelings helps X to feel better and gain the confidence to share his work.
At the castle, in front of a small audience of friends, X shares a poem about learning to fly. His second poem is written in a much more unconventional style and is mocked by Lady Elaine Fairchilde. Much to her surprise, Lady Elaine's attempt to immitate X's poem is met with appreciation by the others as they very much enjoy the style. Queen Sara shares a poem about queens and King Friday presents X with a star for his poetic contributions.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers visits Negri's Music Shop to find a book about using rubber bands to make musical instruments. While he is there, he meets Stuart Raynolds -- a juggler who has stopped by the shop to select some music for his performances. Mr. Raynolds demonstrates his juggling talents and talks about the importance of practice.
Returning to his house, Mister Rogers sings a juggling version of You've Got To Do It as he attempts to juggle the small rubber band balls he made earlier.
Notes
X the Owl's first poem about learning to fly:
When I was just a little bitty ittsy bittsy owl
I often wondered how
I'd ever learn to fly
I used to ask my mother if I'd ever really be
Old enough to leave that tree
And she would answer "why
Sure"I tiptoed to our big knot hole
It was right beside our kitchen
I opened it up and looked outside
And way way down I saw a ditchen
A big flower bed
I jumped right in the air so soft
And spread my feathery wings
All at once I was falling
As fast as a court full of kings
I fell, I fell, I fell, I fell
But don't worry my friends, don't fret
I didn't get hurt on that very first flight
As you can see, I'm flying yet
X the Owl's second poem in a "new style" titled "Getting Up in the Morning and Seeing Your Cousin First Thing":
Niffty galiffty, flap-a-tap glub
The goose is in the sunrise, the owl is in the tub
It's a cloppity morning shining, without a trace of drub
So niffty galiffty, flap-a-tap glub
Queen Sara's poem about queens:
A queen's supposed to be beautiful
A queen's supposed to be gay
A queen's supposed to be lady-like
A lady who smiles every day
But even a queen can be bad sometimes
And even a queen can be sad
I'm glad, I'm glad my friends all know that so
Because I'm a queen who's real, you know
Tigers and kings can look at me
It's the real Sara Saturday queen they see
Transitioning from Mister Rogers' house to Negri's Music Shop, You Are Special and You've Got To Do It play in the background. At the Music Shop, Mr. Raynolds juggles to instrumental music including Everybody's Fancy and You've Got To Do It.
Upon his arrival at the Music Shop, Mister Rogers finds Joe Negri offering a few records to Mr. Raynolds to consider. One of the records is is Mister Rogers' 1970 album You Are Special.
Joe Negri tells Mister Rogers that juggling is Mr. Raynolds hobby -- he is actually a chemist by trade. According to a 1979 issue of Fortune magazine, Mr. Raynolds was, at one time, a research fellow at DuPont responsible for creating fiberglass clubs popular among other jugglers.[1]
On Episode 1223, Mister Rogers has a book about science experiments that can be done with rubber bands and asks viewers: "Remember that time we used rubber bands to make a bouncing ball?"
Appearing In This Episode
- Daniel Striped Tiger
- Handyman Negri
- Henrietta Pussycat
- Joe Negri
- King Friday XIII
- Lady Elaine Fairchilde
- Mister Rogers
- Prince Tuesday
- Queen Sara Saturday
- X the Owl
Guests
- Stuart Raynolds
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Joe Negri, Stuart Raynolds
Music Director: John Costa
Directed by Bob Walsh
Produced by Family Communications, Inc. in association with WQED, Pittsburgh
The people who gave the money to make this television visit are the people of The Sears Roebuck Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
© 1971 Family Communications, Inc.
References
- Keeping Them Up in the Air. https://www2.bc.edu/~lewbel/jugweb/Fortune%20Juggling.pdf. Retrieved 2015.08.09.