Episode 1389 [1974]

Original Air Date: May 16, 1974

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

GUESTS: Chrissy Thompson

SONGS:

• Won't You Be My Neighbor?
• Witches Aren't Real
• You've Got To Do It
• It's Such a Good Feeling
• The Weekend Song

Mister Rogers arrives empty-handed but takes a shoe-shine kit out of the closet as he enters the house. Going out to the front porch, he quietly cleans a pair of shoes.

 

As he is doing so, Mister Rogers is pleasantly surprised when Chrissy Thompson stops by for a visit. Sitting on the porch with Mister Rogers, Chrissy shines her own shoes. After shining their shoes, Chrissy and Mister Rogers spend some time talking about the special braces that Chrissy wears on her legs. Chrissy tells a very personal story about another little girl who did not want to wear the braces she needed, but after seeing Chrissy on television, was inspired to do so. Mister Rogers expresses his gratitude for knowing Chrissy and tells her just how proud he is of her.

 

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Handyman Negri is shining a pair of King Friday's shoes as Queen Sara expresses her concern for Henrietta Pussycat. Henrietta had turned down the Queen when asked to babysit Prince Tuesday and said that she was never coming out of her house again. At the tree, Handyman Negri and X the Owl use a sign to subtly tell Henrietta that witches are not real.

 

Lady Aberlin stops by with a witch puppet which helps Henrietta to feel more comfortable with the fact that witches are just pretend. Together the foursome makes up a song called Witches Aren't Real.

 

Back at the house, Mister Rogers sings Witches Aren't Real before talking about the importance of playing. He concludes by singing You've Got To Do It.

 

COMMENTARY

Chrissy Thompson, and her sister Terri, are the television grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. McFeely. Chrissy wears braces on her legs as a result of a spina bifida condition. CLICK HERE to view a mid-1970's promotional picture of Mister Rogers with Chrissy Thompson.

The lyrics to the impromptu Witches Aren't Real are quite simple:

Witches aren't realWitches aren't realEven if they seem to beWitches aren't realWitches aren't realNot even in a tree Witches aren't realWitches aren't realEven if they seem to beWitches aren't realWitches aren't realNot even for you and me

CREDITS

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Betty Aberlin, Joe Negri, Chrissy Thompson
Directed by Bill Moates
Music Director: John Costa

Produced with a grant from The Sears Roebuck Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

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

© 1974, 1975 Family Communications, Inc.