The Children's Corner: Episode 4094
Broadcast Date: Undetermined
Josie feels like laughing as she welcomes viewers to the Children’s Corner. When Daniel Striped Tiger gifts Josie a new bottle perfume, she cannot contain her laughter when a toy mouse springs from the perfume box. Josie and Daniel discuss recent events from the attic. Rhoda Dendron had been teased after writing an opera that no one else appreciated and she had vowed to leave the attic. Hischer Booptrunk and Bill Bookworm had offered Rhoda the lead in their own opera if she agreed to stay.
Moving on to the oak tree, Josie learns that X-scape the Owl has written a song and offers to give him a present if he will sing it for her. After X sings I Give a Hoot For You – a song he has written for his friend, Henrietta Pussycat – Josie joins him in singing it a second time. When Henrietta is invited outside to hear the song for herself, X needs a little bit of encouragement from Josie before he is able to overcome his hesitancy to share the song with his neighbor. Josie shares her “present” with X who is startled by the mouse that pops out of the box.
In the attic, Rhoda Dendron accepts the lead role in the upcoming opera and agrees to stay in the attic. The others audition for various parts in the opera by performing for Hischer Booptrunk and Bill Bookworm.
Back at the Eiffel Tower, Josie shares her “present” with Grandpere who teaches her to say “mouse” in French (la souris). At Grandpere’s request, Josie concludes her time with viewers by singing Goodnight God.
Screenshots
Appearing In This Episode
In order of appearance
- Josie Carey
- Daniel Striped Tiger
- X-scape the Owl (X the Owl)
- Henrietta Pussycat
- Phil O. Dendron
- Miss Foo Foo Fish
- Hischer Booptrunk
- Rhoda Dendron
- Lydia Lamp
- Gramma Victoria Ola Phone
- Bill Bookworm
- Lawrence Light
- Grandpere
Cast
Locations
- Josie’s counter
- Cuckoo Clock
- Oak Tree
- Schoolhouse
- The Attic
- The Eiffel Tower
Songs
- Why Hi Song
- I Give a Hoot for You
- [Undetermined song sung by Lawrence Light]
- Alouette (traditional)
- Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah (popular)
- Beautiful Dreamer (traditional)
- [Undetermined song sung by Lydia Lamp]
- Will You Remember (popular)
- Goodnight God
- So Long Song
Notes
- As Josie introduces Daniel, she mentions that he is the author of the book Our Small World.
- X mentions that he had a little help to write his song from Mr. Rogers, to which Josie responds, “Oh, Mr. Rogers at the organ.”
- Overcoming his nervousness, X concludes that he is “the bravest owl whoever wrote a song for a pussycat”.
- Contrary to their typical roles in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, in this era of The Children’s Corner Daniel seems to be more outgoing and even mischievous at times. Meanwhile, X is shyer and sometimes quite nervous/anxious. This episode is an excellent example as Daniel plays a joke on Josie while X is tangibly nervous about sharing his song with Henrietta.
- As usual, Daniel, Josie, and X all appear to be wearing Tame Tiger Torganization pins.
- Hischer explains that in the opera, the star “falls in love, finds out the man she loves loves another, is heartbroken, and then is placed in a spell.”
- As per usual, Lydia is in the process of planning a wedding.
- The voice parts for the opera include: Baritone - Lawrence, Contralto - Fufu, Contralto/Soprano - Lydia, Bass - Phil.
- Though Bill Bookworm appears in the episode, he does not actually speak except to whisper his comments to Hischer.
- Hischer informs Fufu that she must audition in English since the opera is in English. Fufu changes her audition piece from Alouette to Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.
- Near the end of the episode Josie notes that the time together has flown, “just like the mouse out of the perfume box”.
Episode Credits
The Childrens Corner [sic]
With Josie Carey
Produced by Fred Rogers
Directed by Carl Freeborn
Technical Supervision: Larry Flavin
From WQED -- First in community television
A presentation of the Educational Television and Radio Center
National Education Television