Episode 1450

Air Date: May 9, 1975
Previous Episode: 1449
Next Episode: 1451

Mister Rogers arrives with a sign he has made for King Friday's birthday and Mr. McFeely stops by with a delivery of party favors.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, X the Owl has made two signs announcing King Friday's birthday -- one large banner for the castle and one smaller sign for the Trolley. Handyman Negri attaches the smaller sign to the Trolley and hangs the larger one at the castle as Lady Elaine approaches. She hums a bit of her new birthday song for Handyman Negri and Lady Aberlin.

King Friday comes out and is very pleased with the sign but asks that it be moved to the castle's B Room where the celebration will take place. After Corney drops off his basket for the King (he is unable to stay due to a big order at the factory), Lady Aberlin helps Daniel put his bean bag gift in the basket before they enter the party.

Inside the castle, the guest are arriving as the party gets underway. Henrieta Pussycat receives a kiss from King Friday in thanks for the peanut butter sandwich she has made for him. Francois Clemmons sings Love is People before King Friday is presented with the basket from Corney. Vija Vetra offers a special dance performance as her gift before Digger Digorum directs the Kings attention to the inside of her own basket for a performance by the Zookeeni Brothers. Lady Elaine sings her new birthday song, You're Older Today, which flatters King Friday because he feels that he is older and wiser. Daniel begins to cry as the King has forgotten to recognize the bean bags in the basket. Of course, King Friday loves the gift when he sees it.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers talks about the party favors that Mr. McFeely delivered early and reminds young viewers that party favors should not be blown into the faces of others. He talks about the feelings Daniel Striped Tiger must have felt before he sings I'm Angry.

Notes

The performance by the Zookeeni Brothers is a longer version of the clip shown in Episode 1449.

Originally organized as a joke, the Zookeeni Brothers consisted of members of the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood floor crew including Frank Warninsky, Jim Seech, Joe Abeln, David Smith, and Michael John Douglas (later Michael Keaton). Peaches and Cream were played by Mary Rawson and Carol Stewart.

A sharp eye may notice that one member of the Flying Zookeeni Brothers is wearing a Rolling Stones shirt.

The credits for Episode 1449 refer to the " Flying Zookeeni Brothers" while this episode gets more specific and refers to the "Flying Zookeeni Brothers Daredevil Circus."

Appearing In This Episode

• All American All Star One Man Band
• Cornflake S. Pecially
• Daniel Striped Tiger
• Digger Digorum
• The Flying Zookeni Brothers
• Francois Clemmons
• Handyman Negri
• Henrietta Pussycat
• King Friday XIII
• Lady Aberlin
• Lady Elaine Fairchilde
• Mister Rogers
• Mr. McFeely
• Peaches & Cream
• X the Owl

Guests

• Vija Vetra

Songs

• I'm Angry
• It's Such a Good Feeling
• Love is People
• The Weekend Song
• Won't You Be My Neighbor?
• You're Older Today

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Betty Aberlin, Francois Clemmons, Anna Haworth, Joe Negri, David Newell, Vija Vetra, The Flying Zookeeni Brothers Daredevil Circus and The All American All Star One Man Band with Peaches and Cream
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Produced and Directed by Bill Moates
Music Director: John Costa
Bass: Ronald Fudoli
Percussion: Robert Rawsthorne
Written by Fred Rogers
Psychological Consultants: Margaret B. McFarland Ph.D., Albert V. Corrado M.D.
Film Producer: Laura Perkins
Associate Producers: David Newell, Nan Wheelock
Assistant Producer and Associate Director: Azriel Gamliel
Assistant to the Director: Terry Marie Baskot
Art Director: Jack Guest
Assistant Art Director: David M. Smith
Propmaster: Janus Purins
Assistant Propmaster: Norene Confeld
Lighting Director: Gregory King
Floor Manager: Nick Tallo
Assistant Floor Manager: Jim Seech
Technical Supervisors: Tom Knight, Ken Anderson
Video Tape Editor: Chet Bednar
Cameramen: Bob Vaughn, David Anthony, Jack Arthurs
Video: Don Williamson
Audio: Dick Lasota

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 Public Television Stations, Ford Foundation, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Sears-Roebuck Foundation, and Johnson & Johnson

© 1975, Family Communications, Inc.