Episode 1238

Air Date: April 19, 1972
Previous Episode: 1237
Next Episode: 1239

Mister Rogers arrives with various plastic molds which he takes to the sand table in the back yard. Filling some of the molds with wet sand, he begins making a small sand castle when he is interrupted by a phone call from Chef Brockett who stops by a moment later. With him, Chef Brockett brings cookies shaped like a boy wearing a chef's hat. He remembers a time when he once made the same design in the sand when he and Mister Rogers were swimming at the beach.

Forming the sand into other structures around the sand castle, Mister Rogers prepares for Make-Believe.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Corney is having sale on rocking chairs which are being tested by Mr. and Mrs. McFeely. As they rock, a large purple package drops from the sky. At the Museum-Go-Round, Mr. McFeely and Lady Elaine Fairchilde find that the package contains a large purple platter -- an electronic encyclopedia -- with details about Planet Purple. A printed word is to be placed on the platter and information is provided when the "answer" button is pressed.

Through the purple platter, it is discovered that every boy on Planet Purple is named Paul and every girl is named Pauline. Mr. McFeely asks about chairs on Planet Purple and learns that all chairs are the same -- purple and the kind that do not rock.

Chef Brockett arrives with some cookies as Lady Elaine asks the enyclopedia about clothes on Planet Purple. Learning that everyone there wears "purple pedal pushers", Lady Elaine cannot wait to get some of her own. She also finds that everyone on Purple Planet eats only "purple peanut butter and purple jelly sandwiches, purple pop, and purple pumpernickel pudding." When she is offered a cookie by Chef Brockett, Lady Elaine declines as she has decided to start a "purple diet."

Stopping by the tree, Chef Brockett shares Lady Elaine's plans with X the Owl and Henrietta Pussycat. They all sing I'm Glad I'm the Way I Am as they agree that they would not like living in a place where everything is the same.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers also expresses that he would not like living in such a place. Using a paper plate, he makes his own "purple platter" and sings You Are Special.

Notes

Instead of a lab coat, Mister Rogers puts on an old shirt and a towel to protect his clothing when he goes outside to the sand table. He makes a special point to mention this as he heads outside.

Let's Be Together Today and A Place of Our Own play in the background during the film of Chef Brockett and Mister Rogers at the beach.

The film of Mister Rogers and Chef Brockett at the beach is also seen in Episode 1241.

Mister Rogers returns the "whirpool tape" to Chef Brockett -- a film seen a few days earlier in Episode 1236.

As Mr. and Mrs. McFeely try out Corney's rocking chairs, the Trolley can be seen parked just inside the tunnel.

Appearing In This Episode

• Chef Brockett
• Cornflake S. Pecially
• Henreitta Pussycat
• Lady Elaine Fairchilde
• Mister Rogers
• Mr. McFeely
• Mrs. McFeely
• X the Owl

Songs

• I'm Glad I'm the Way I Am
• It's Such a Good Feeling
• The Weekend Song
• Won't You Be My Neighbor?
• You Are Special

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Don Brockett, Betsy Nadas, David Newell
Film: Christopher Chapman
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

© 1972 Family Communications, Inc.