THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARCHIVE - All Things Mister Rogers

X the Owl

First MRN Appearance: 0001
Last MRN Appearance: 1761
Performed By: Fred Rogers

X the Owl is a blue-feathered owl who lives in the oak tree found at the center of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. X is happy, inquisitive and eager to learn[1]; however, he is also known to become frustrated when things do not go his way.[2][3][4]

One of X the Owl's main talents is printmaking -- a trade he appreciates due to his admiration of Benjamin Franklin. He has printed various documents throughout the Neighborhood including invitations[5], admission tickets[6], and pretend money.[7]

X's admiration of Benjamin Franklin goes far beyond printmaking. At times, X has been known to dress in costume as Ben Franklin[8][9][10][11][12][13] and involve himself in a variety of "Ben Franklin experiments."[14]

Forever a student, X the Owl is an eager learner and frequently immerses himself into lessons delivered by the Owl Correspondence School on subjects ranging from counting[15] and safety[16] to Native American culture[17] and his hero, Ben Franklin.[18] When he finds something especially pleasing, X often describes the task/object/idea as "niffty galifty."

X loves poetry and often writes his own poems.[19][20] He also loves oranges[21] and occasionally gives the fruit to his friends as a gift.[22]

Another of X the Owl's passions is nature. While he greatly enjoys birdwatching,[23] his other scientific interests include astronomy,[24] botany,[25][26] and general people watching.[27] X finds great joy in teaching others.[28][29][30]

No stranger to hard work, X the Owl helped Handyman Negri build a balcony at the castle,[31] was once strapped to the Musuem-Go-Round to keep in moving,[32] and has occasionally served in business/sales roles.[33][34] When a tunnel was found under the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, X was sent to explore the uncharted ground.[35]

X the Owl's extended family includes Cousin Mary Owl, Cousin Stephen Owl, and a younger brother named Y.[36]

With a very helpful and caring spirit, X often looks to provide comfort to his fellow neighbors whether it be comforting a frightened friend[37] or offering shelter to a family in need.[38][39]

According to a Neighborhood census, X the Owl cannot whistle and his favorite color is blue.[40] He is a friend to Sesame Street's Big Bird[41] and once had a television show of his own -- Flying with X -- on Lady Elaine Fairchilde's MGR-TV.[42]

Images

         

Operas and Plays

X the Owl's experience with the Neighborhood operas and plays includes the following parts and duties:

Puppet Demonstration

Mister Rogers demonstrates the X the Owl puppet in Episode 1384 and Episode 1530.

X the Owl's Name and Background

X the Owl's name is based on the word "escape" as detailed in the 1954 Children's Corner book, Our Small World:[43]

"...my friend and true tame tiger pal, Daniel S. Tiger, let me out of my cage at the county fair...Daniel said to me 'X SCAPE' and I said, 'WELL, HOW ABOUT THAT.' I flew out and I've been his pet ever since and now I live in a tree right next to Daniel's Clock."

Family

A picture of X the Owl's parents is shown in a book called Fur, Feathers, and Hair shared by Mister Rogers in Episode 0047.

Songs

Merchandise

Notes

In Episode 0047, Marion and Nicholas Petrov dance for King Friday as they wear costumes of Henrietta Pussycat and X the Owl.

Lady Aberlin wears an X the Owl costume in Episode 0075.

In Episode 1514, as he flies over the Amaze in Time Game, a rare glimpse of X the Owl's full body can be seen.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

In Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, X lives in the Neighborhood with his nephew O the Owl.

Appearances

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

The Children's Corner

MisteRogers' Neighborhood (EEN)

Books

CDs, Records, and Tapes

Home Video

Other Video

References

  1. Episode 1088. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  2. Episode 1064. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  3. Episode 1528. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  4. Episode 1737. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  5. Episode 1045. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  6. Episode 1216. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  7. Episode 1369. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  8. Episode 0056. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  9. Episode 1024. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  10. Episode 1032. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  11. Episode 1055. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  12. Episode 1110. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  13. Episode 1125. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  14. Episode 0041. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  15. Episode 1326. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  16. Episode 1329. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  17. Episode 1517. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  18. Episode 1232. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  19. Episode 0018. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  20. Episode 1197. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  21. Episode 1067. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  22. Episode 1050. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  23. Episode 0009. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  24. Episode 0113. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  25. Episode 0123. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  26. Episode 1536. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  27. Episode 1593. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  28. Episode 0006. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  29. Episode 1024. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  30. Episode 1716. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  31. Episode 0091. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  32. Episode 1140. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  33. Episode 1491. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  34. Episode 1495. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  35. Episode 1680. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  36. Episode 1690. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  37. Episode 1081. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  38. Episode 1017. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  39. Episode 1018. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  40. Episode 1651. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  41. Episode 1483. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  42. Episode 1387. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
  43. Carey, Josie and Fred Rogers. Our Small World. Reed and Witting Company, 1954.

Content copyright © The Fred Rogers Company. Used with permission.
Corner image by Spencer Fruhling. Used with permission.
Do not duplicate or distribute any material from this site without the consent of The Fred Rogers Company.
The Neighborhood Archive participates in the Amazon Affiliate and eBay Partner programs. The site owner may be compensated if you make a purchase.