The Children's Corner: Episode 4088
Broadcast Date: Undetermined
After welcoming the viewer with the Why Hi Song, Josie shows a collection of cards she has received in the mail from viewers in preparation for the Mother's Day contest the following day.
Daniel Striped Tiger interrupts to show her some mittens he received from a viewer (Pam). Pam sent them to him so he can keep his hands warm while he goes shopping for hamburger. Today, Daniel and his friends are having a party with roast hamburger and marshmallows to celebrate the anniversary of Peter Minuit's purchase of Manhattan.
In the Attic, Phil and Rhoda Dendron have a discussion over whether to name their new baby Nasturtium (after Phil's great-grandmother) or Chrysanthemum. In the meantime, Josie attempts to convert Gramma Phone into a television set, resulting in several rather dramatic explosions when the wrong wires are crossed multiple times. Several other inhabitants of the Attic offer their thoughts on Gramma Phone's conversion and the Dendrons' baby name, including Ino Horse, Bill Bookworm, Foo Foo Fish, Teop, Lydia Lamp, Lawrence Light, and F.E. (a toy fire engine that speaks only using the first letter of each word). Lydia seems to be planning a wedding. Finally, Hischer (who is being Thomas Alva Edison for the day) assists Josie in the successful conversion of Gramma Phone into a television set broadcasting "GP-TV."
Downstairs, Josie introduces Dr. Taylor...
[The surviving recording of this episode cuts out here and is missing Dr. Taylor's visit.]
Josie thanks Dr. Taylor for his visit before wishing several viewers a happy birthday and singing the traditional Happy Birthday song. She then sings Mairzy Doats for all the viewers and shows the new additions to her Scrap-o-graph book -- a scrapbook with pictures and mail from viewers.
King Friday wanders by, still looking for a kingdom. He has just come from Cleveland where he went to see if they wanted him to be their king. Unfortunately Cleveland is a city, not a country, and therefore does not need a king. A personal advisor did offer him a suggestion however, that he teach a course, so he decides he will teach a course on how to be a king.
At the request of viewers, Josie does an encore recitation of The Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Daniel pops back out of the Cuckoo Clock to let Josie know that he is on his way to buy hamburger and it is about 1 minute to six. Josie reminds viewers of the party tomorrow and then concludes with the So Long Song.
Screenshots
Appearing In This Episode
In order of appearence
- Josie Carey
- Daniel Striped Tiger
- Phil O. Dendron
- Rhoda Dendron
- Gramma Phone
- Ino Horse
- Bill Bookworm
- Foo Foo Fish
- Teop
- Lydia Lamp
- Lawrence Light
- F.E.
- Hischer Booptrunk
- King Friday XIII
Mentioned only
- Baby Dendron (Heard crying off camera)
- Nasturtium (Phil O. Dendron's great-grandmother)
- Josie's father (mentioned only)
- Lady Elaine Fairchilde (mentioned only)
- Prince Saturday XIV (King Friday's brother)
Cast
Guests
- "Dr. Taylor" [appears briefly on screen but the segment is mostly missing from the surviving recording of this episode]
Locations
- Josie's counter
- Cuckoo Clock
- The Attic
Songs
In order of appearence
- Why Hi Song
- Happy Birthday to You (traditional)
- Mairzy Doats (popular)
- So Long Song
Notes
- Daniel has a television set in his clock and viewed the opening of the program on it.
- Phil wants to name the baby Nasturtium (after his "branch" of the family) however Rhoda favors the name Chrysanthemum (because it starts with a C).
- Gramma Phone's maiden name was Victoria Ola.
- Lydia Lamp mentions that she hopes they finish converting Gramma Phone into a television so they can watch Lady Elaine Fairchilde's program; however, Lady Elaine does not appear in the episode.
- Lawrence's mother has been in an antique shop for six years but has not be sold.
- King Friday lost his kingdom when his brother Prince Saturday XIV took the throne while King Friday was gone on a "short" six year vacation.
- King Friday mentions that he never went to school (he only had a tutor), however in later episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood King Friday frequently mentions things he learned at "the Kingly School".
- Before reciting The Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, Josie explains that if the viewer's television audio system buzzes when she makes a loud noise, the sound issue is on her end, there is nothing wrong with their television.
- At the end of the episode, Daniel is clearly used as a device to signal to Josie that they are running out of airtime.
- The surviving footage of this episode also concludes with a pitch from the announcer to donate $2 to WQED (addressing the viewer as "Howdy, Neighbor") to "get the kind of television programs that you want."
- Another indication that this is a rather early episode is the announcer's explanation at the end of the episode that they will now show the WQED test patterns until 7:15 P.M. (presumably an hour and 15 minutes) before returning with "televisits".
Episode Credits
The Childrens' Corner [sic]
With Josie Carey
Produced by Fred Rogers
Directed by John Ziegler