Mister Rogers' neighborhood : children, television, and Fred Rogers

The pieces included in this volume address the enduring influence and importance of Fred Rogers's work in children's television. The contributors, representing a wide range of disciplines - art, psychology, medicine, social criticism, theology, music, and communications - include David Bianculli, Lynette Friedrich Cofer, Nancy E. Curry, Ellen Galinsky, George Gerbner, William Guy, Lynn Johnson, Jeanne Marie Laskas, Susan Linn, Mary Rawson, Mark Shelton, Roderick Townley, Paula Lawrence Wehmiller, and Eugenia Zukerman interviewing Yo-Yo Ma. Born in 1928 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Fred Rogers began his television career in 1951 at NBC. He became program director in 1954 for the newly founded WQED-TV in Pittsburgh, the first community-supported television station in the United States. From 1954 to 1961, Rogers and Josie Carey produced and performed in WQED's The Children's Corner, which became part of the Saturday morning lineup on NBC in 1955 and 1956. It was after Fred Rogers was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1963, with a special charge of serving children and their families through television, that he developed what became the award-winning PBS series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The Pieces Included In This Volume Address The Enduring Influence And Importance Of Fred Rogers' Work In Children's Television. The Contributors, Representing A Wide Range Of Disciplines - Art, Psychology, Medicine, Social Criticism, Theology, Music, And Communications - Include David Bianculli, Lynette Friedrich Cofer, Nancy E. Curry, Ellen Galinsky, George Gerbner, William Guy, Lynn Johnson, Jeanne Marie Laskas, Susan Linn, Mary Rawson, Mark Shelton, Roderick Townley, Paula Lawrence Wehmiller, And Eugenia Zukerman Interviewing Yo-yo Ma. Born In 1928 In Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Fred Rogers Began His Television Career In 1951 At Nbc. He Became Program Director In 1954 For The Newly Founded Wqed-tv In Pittsburgh, The First Community-supported Television Station In The United States. From 1954 To 1961, Rogers And Josie Carey Produced And Performed In Wqed's The Children's Corner, Which Became Part Of The Saturday Morning Lineup On Nbc In 1955 And 1956. It Was After Fred Rogers Was Ordained As A Presbyterian Minister In 1963, With A Special Charge Of Serving Children And Their Families Through Television, That He Developed What Became The Award-winning Pbs Series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Foreword: Born Again In Rogers / Bob Garfield -- Fred Rogers And The Significance Of Story / George Gerbner -- What Is Essential Is Invisible To The Eye / Jeanne Marie Laskas -- The Myth, The Man, The Legend / David Bianculli -- The Reality Of Make-believe / Nancy E. Curry -- Fred's Shoes: The Meaning Of Transitions In Mister Rogers' Neighborhood / Roderick Townley -- Musical Notes: An Interview With Yo-yo-ma / Eugenia Zukerman -- With An Open Hand: Puppetry On Mister Rogers' Neighborhood / Susan Linn -- The Theology Of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood / William Guy -- Mister Rogers: Keeper Of The Dream / Paula Lawrence Wehmiller -- Make-believe, Truth, And Freedom: Television In The Public Interest / Lynette Friedrich Cofer -- Mister Rogers Speaks To Parents / Ellen Galinsky -- Other Viewers, Other Rooms / Mary Rawson -- A Neighborhood With Forest And Trees: Allies, Coalitions, Kids, And Mister Rogers / Mark Shelton -- A Very Special Neighborhood: A Photo Essay / Lynn Johnson -- Afterword: A Nation Of Neighborhoods / Marian Wright Edelman. Mark Collins And Margaret Mary Kimmel, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 231-246) And Index. This collection of essays addresses the enduring influence and importance of Fred Rogers' 40 years of work in children's television. The 14 essays explore his message of tolerance, courtesy, and self respect, and its influence on children and adults as a counterbalance to social pressures increasingly impinging on children today. The essays are: "Foreword: Born Again in Rogers" (Bob Garfield); (1) "Fred Rogers and the Significance of Story" (George Gerbner); (2) "'What is Essential Is Invisible to the Eye'" (Jeanne Marie Laskas); (3) "The Myth, the Man, the Legend" (David Bianculli); (4) "The Reality of Make-Believe" (Nancy E. Curry); (5) "Fred's Shoes: The Meaning of Transitions in 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'" (Roderick Townley); (6) Musical Notes: An Interview with Yo-Yo Ma" (Eugenia Zukerman); (7) "With an Open Hand: Puppetry on 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'" (Susan Linn); (8) The Theology of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'" (William Guy); (9) "Mister Rogers: Keeper of the Dream" (Paula Lawrence Wehmiller); (10) "Make-Believe, Truth, and Freedom: Television in the Public Interest" (Lynette Friedrich Cofer); (11) "Mister Rogers Speaks to Parents" (Ellen Galinsky); (12) "Other Viewers, Other Rooms" (Mary Rawson); (13) "A Neighborhood with Forest and Trees: Allies, Coalitions, Kids, and Mister Rogers" (Mark Shelton); (14) "A Very Special Neighborhood: A Photo Essay" (Lynn Johnson). With the exception of the photo essay, each article is preceded with an introduction from the editors. "A Nation of Neighborhoods," and an afterword by Marian Wright Edelman, highlights some of the most significant aspects of the changing context in which Fred Rogers has been enriching children's lives. (Contains chapter notes and 292 references.) (HTH) Contents 8 Foreword: Born Again in Rogers - Bob Garfield 10 Preface - Mark Collins and Margaret Mary Kimmel 18 Fred Rogers and the Significance of Story - George Gerbner 24 "What Is Essential Is Invisible to the Eye" - Jeanne Marie Laskas 36 The Myth, the Man, the Legend - David Bianculli 58 The Reality of Make-Believe - Nancy E. Curry 72 Fred's Shoes: The Meaning of Transitions in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Roderick Townley 88 Musical Notes: An Interview with Yo-Yo Ma - Eugenia Zuckerman 100 With an Open Hand: Puppetry on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Susan Linn 110 The Theology of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - William Guy 122 Mister Rogers: Keeper of the Dream - Paula Lawrence Wehmiller 144 Make-Believe, Truth, and Freedom: Television in the Public Interest - Lynetter Friedrich Cofer 166 Mister Rogers Speaks to Parents - Ellen Galinsky 184 Other Viewers, Other Rooms - Mary Rawson 196 A Neighborhood with Forest and Trees: Allies, Coalitions, Kids, and Mister Rogers - Mark Shelton 204 A Very Special Neighborhood: A Photo Essay - Lynn Johnson 216 Afterword: A Nation of Neighborhoods - Marian Wright Edelman 236 Notes 248 Bibliography 252 Index 268