51 Years Ago Today

Check out today’s Google Doodle. Anybody happen to see Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

On this date, September 21, 1967, 51 years ago, Fred Rogers walked into the television studio at WQED in Pittsburgh to tape the very first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which would premiere nationally on PBS in February 1968. He became known as Mister Rogers, nationally beloved, sweater wearing, “television neighbor,” whose groundbreaking children’s series inspired and educated generations of young viewers with warmth, sensitivity, and honesty.

Today’s stop-motion, animated video Doodle celebrating Mister Rogers was created in collaboration with Fred Rogers Productions, The Fred Rogers Center, and BixPix Entertainment. Set to the iconic opening song of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (“Won’t You Be My Neighbor”), the Doodle aims to be a reminder of the nurturing, caring, and whimsy that made the show feel like a “television visit” between Mister Rogers and his young viewers.

5 Replies to “51 Years Ago Today”

  1. I just had a fantasy that youtube might have a Mister Rogers rant, a behind-the-scenes Christian Bale prima donna ragefest.

    Nope!

    I’ll keep you posted on my psychopathology.

    1. The only revelation I can report from the documentary is that, when he got pissed at his kids, he yelled at them in Lady Elaine’s voice.

      That’s fucking weird.

  2. I remember being 5 or 6 years old and at a new neighbor’s house, and his mom sat us down to watch Mr. Rogers, who I had never seen, and I thought, What is this shit? This kid’s weird.

Leave a Reply to Fat Elvis Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *