THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARCHIVE - All Things Mister Rogers
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Episode 1294

Air Date: April 5, 1973
Previous Episode: 1293
Next Episode: 1295

It's a rainy day in the Neighborhood as Mister Rogers enters with an umbrella and wearing a raincoat. He shares a film about rain and talks about the beauty of a rainy day. A flash of lightning and clap of thunder startles Mister Rogers and he talks about how the suddeness of the two can be frightening. He sings I Hope It Will Rain.

Francois Clemmons invites Mister Rogers to his studio where a group of children are playing the violin. When the children leave, Mister Rogers tries out a new electric piano.

It is also raining in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe where Lady Elaine Fairchilde is trying to play a piano louder than the sound of the thunder. As Lady Elaine challenges the thunder, Handyman Negri explains to her that thunder is not a person who can hear her.

Meanwhile, Elsie Jean Platypus is upset because the rain has caused the colors of her painting to run together into a purple mess. Purple Panda finds the painting to be beautiful -- a "picture of the Neighborhood all in purple." A clap of thunder frightens Purple Panda who is comforted by Handyman Negri's offer to hold his hand. Elsie Jean gives Daniel an early birthday present -- the painting of his clock she was working on earlier in the week.

Back at the Francois Clemmons studio, Audrey Roth arrives to clean and introduces Mister Rogers to her helper, David Tompkins. She's happy to report that the rain has stopped.

Returning to his house, Mister Rogers talks about how thunder and lightning can be less frightening when you're with your favorite grown-up. He thinks about how many drops of water it might take to make a rain shower.


Notes

Lightning effects are seen through the window behind Mister Rogers as he sings I Hope It Will Rain.

Francois Clemmons mentions that he was sometimes called "Little Franky" when I was young.

Audrey Roth is talking about her booming business and mentions that she'll "see [Mister Rogers] over the weekend" suggesting that Audrey Cleans Everything cleans his house at the end of each week.


Appearing In This Episode


Guests

  • Bruce Lebovitz
  • Freda Foster
  • Monica McCormick
  • Serena Blackman

Songs


Images

                


Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: William P. Barker, Francois Clemmons, Joe Negri, Dave Nohling, Audrey Roth, David Tompkins
and Serena Blackman, Freda Foster, Bruce Lebovitz, Monica McCormick
Rain Showers a Dimension Film
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, 1973 Family Communications, Inc.

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Corner image by Spencer Fruhling. Used with permission.
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