Episode 1279

Air Date: March 15, 1973
Previous Episode: 1278
Next Episode: 1280

Mister Rogers arrives with some paper and crayons which he uses to demonstrate how to make rubbings. He shares a collection of various rubbings he brought with him. Taking out a book written in Braille, Mister Rogers talks about how some people who cannot see use their fingers to learn new things.

After singing You Are Special, Mister Rogers goes outside where Mr. McFeely has stopped by with a myna bird he is returning to the Neighborhood aviary. Mr. McFeely provides a rubbing of his own as a clue related to what he and Betty Aberlin will be doing in the variety show.

At Betty's Little Theater, final preparations for the variety show are underway. Mister Rogers learns that Joey Hollingsworth will be dancing in the show with two other people. When he finds that the bottom of Mrs. McFeely's dance show matches the rubbing he was given by Mr. McFeely, Mister Rogers realizes that Mr. Hollingsworth and the McFeely's will be dancing together.

Returning to the house, Mister Rogers considers several things he might contribute to the variety show -- possibly a story or a dance.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, King Friday XIII wants Prince Tuesday to be able to dance like Joey Hollingsworth and expects Mr. Hollingsworth to teach him to do so immediately. King Friday is frustrated when he is told that because Prince Tuesday is a baby, it will take time before he is able to dance or read. Through song and dance, Lady Aberlin and Joey Hollingsworth are able to teach Prince Tuesday to say the word "pat" -- much to the delight of King Friday.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers talks about learning by touch. He concludes by singing Many Ways to Say I Love You.

Notes

Mister Rogers suggests that the Braille book he shares was given to him by his friend Eric Kloss. Mr. Kloss was a regular guest on the Neighbohrood program.

Joey Hollingsworth, Mr. McFeely, and Mrs. McFeely call their tap dance trio The 3 Top Tappers.

Appearing In This Episode

• Betty Aberlin
• Bob Trow
• Daniel Striped Tiger
• Henrietta Pussycat
• Joey Hollingsworth
• King Friday XIII
• Lady Aberlin
• Lady Elaine Fairchilde
• Mister Rogers
• Mr. McFeely
• Mrs. McFeely
• Prince Tuesday
• X the Owl

Songs

• It's Such a Good Feeling
• Many Ways To Say I Love You
• The Weekend Song
• Won't You Be My Neighbor?
• You Are Special

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Betty Aberlin, Joey Hollingsworth, Betsy Nadas, David Newell, Bob Trow
Produced and Directed by Bob Walsh
Music Director: John Costa

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

© 1972 Family Communications, Inc.