Episode 0027 [1968]

These early episodes have already started to serve the exact purpose I had hoped they would in that we're gaining a clearer picture of the origins of many familiar Neighborhood characters. Much like myself, I would guess that a majority of you reading likely were not introduced to the Neighborhood until the mid- or late-1970's -- maybe even later. By that point, the show had been on for about a decade -- many of the characters established in the first few years of broadcast. Once the early "outdated" episodes began to be pulled from broadcast rotations, the backstories of the Neighborhood were lost.

So one by one we go -- sifting through each of these individual episodes. It may seem like a long and tedious process and it is. But it's fun. It's fun to learn that Donkey Hodie originally wanted to live behind the castle but moved to Someplace Else as a result of King Friday's ego. It's fun to watch the characters develop much like fans of other movies and television series enjoy watching the evolution of their favorite characters.

While there will be more coming at some point in the future, this is it for the 1968 episodes that I have on hand; however, in the days to come, I'll be moving on to the first 20 episodes from 1969, the first five of which have already been covered. You'll see more of the Neighborhood origins -- Sara Saturday's arrival in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, the royal wedding, the births of Prince Tuesday and Ana Platypus. To round things out I'll share the last of the operas yet to be covered as well. Still quite a bit to do with what I have on hand, but for now, here is the last of the black-and-whites...

Original Air Date: March 26, 1968

  

Mister Rogers arrives with a doll bed which he puts together on the floor as he sings I'd Like To Be Like Mom and Dad. After he is finished, Mister Rogers adds a small mattress and blanket before he puts a sleeping baby doll to bed. Picture Picture shows a film of a "fast bed maker" and then plays the film in reverse.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Elaine Fairchilde is trying to take Edgar Cooke's special soft pillow when Nurse Miller arrives to settle the situation. She explains that there are some things that people should not be expected to share and Lady Elaine leaves in frustration. Even though he is not at fault, Edgar Cooke feels badly about the conflict and is comforted by Nurse Miller who sings Please Don't Think It's Funny.

Moving on to the clock, Nurse Miller finds that Daniel Striped Tiger has grown a new stripe. Daniel continues singing Please Don't Think It's Funny before he and Nurse Miller decide that Lady Elaine Fairchilde needs something soft and special to call her own.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers continues singing when Mr. McFeely arrives with a teddy bear he has found. Mister Rogers quickly recognizes the lost bear as belonging to his young friend, Becky. Mr. McFeely speeds off to return the special toy to Becky before Mister Rogers takes the sleeping baby doll to the kitchen for a bath.

For details and more screenshots from Episode 0027 of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, visit the Neighborhood Archive.