NEW YORK — Fifty years ago today, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” made its debut nationwide.
Fred Rogers' goal with the show was to bring love and acceptance to every child. He saved — and responded to — every letter he received, and to this day every aspect of his show and the research and feedback associated is preserved in an archive.
When racial segregation was still a very real issue, Rogers brought on François Clemmons, who played Officer Clemmons — making him the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's TV show. Following the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, Rogers insisted on taping a special message to parents.
On May 1, 1969, Rogers stepped before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communication to to defend public television from budget cuts:
"This is what I give. I give an expression of care every day to each child, to help him realize that he is unique. I end the program by saying, 'You’ve made this day a special day, by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you, just the way you are.' And I feel that if we in public television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health. I think that it’s much more dramatic that two men could be working out their feelings of anger ― much more dramatic than showing something of gunfire."
Rogers produced, wrote and hosted “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for more than 30 years. He died in 2003 at 74 after battling stomach cancer. His message remained a simple one throughout the years, telling his viewers to love themselves and others.
The prolific television host will be honored through multiple endeavors in the near future.
'Mister Rogers: It's You I Like' PBS special
PBS will host a star-studded retrospective titled, "Mister Rogers: It's You I Like," on March 6.
The hour-long special will incorporate clips from the show, including the most memorable ones, such as his meeting with Koko the gorilla, who playfully removed Rogers' trademark sneakers; an appearance from "The Wizard of Oz"'s Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton, who eased kids' fears when she let out her famous cackle (without green makeup); and the tear-jerking friendship anthem "It's You I Like" in a duet with Jeff Erlanger, a quadriplegic boy.
Mister Rogers meet stamp
The U.S. Postal Service plans to issue a new stamp featuring Mister Rogers, the children’s television host known for his zip-up cardigan, sneakers and soothing manner.
The Forever stamp will be unveiled March 23 in the same Pittsburgh public television station where “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was produced. The stamp features Fred Rogers and the royal puppet King Friday XIII.
This image released by the United States Postal Service shows a postage stamp featuring Fred Rogers from the PBS children’s television series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” with his King Friday XIII puppet. (USPS via AP)
Tom Hanks to portray him in biopic
The upcoming biopic "You Are My Friend" will star Tom Hanks. TriStar Pictures announced it has acquired worldwide rights to the film, to be directed by "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" filmmaker Marielle Heller.
The film will focus on the friendship between the host of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and journalist Tom Junod. Junod reluctantly agreed to profile Fred Rogers only to find "his perspective on life transformed."
Production will begin in September, with a 2019 release expected.