Episode 1074
Air Date: February 12, 1970
Previous Episode: 1073
Next Episode: 1075
Mister Rogers arrives with the materials needed to repair a wicket on the front yard fence. After using sand paper to make the wooden piece smooth, he takes a hammer and nails outside where he fixes the broken fence. Mister Rogers sings Fences as he works.
Joe Negri stops by with his guitar and plays for Mister Rogers. They talk about feeling proud of accomplishments like playing the guitar or fixing fences. After Mr. Negri teaches Mister Rogers a few basic guitar skills, they think about different kinds of fences that they have seen.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Bob Dog has eaten all of the pies from Lady Elaine Fairchilde's restaurant. Handyman Negri finds that Lady Elaine has caught Bob Dog and put him in a cage tied to the outside of the restaurant. Although he cannot make pies, Bob Dog agrees to make toast for the restaurant and is released from the cage. Everyone is confident that the pie and toast restaurant will be ready by tomorrow.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers checks on his fence to find that the repaired piece is sturdy before going inside to make some toast. He talks about the importance of finding time alone when you need it.
Notes
You Have To Learn Your Trade plays in the background as Mister Rogers uses sand paper on the wooden piece for the fence.
This episode is a good representation of the transition time when Handyman Negri becomes a make-believe character and Joe Negri in the real neighborhood a music shop owner. Mr. Negri comes to the house with his guitar and dressed in a shirt and tie. He mentions his shop -- seemingly refering to his music shop -- but Mister Rogers still calls him Handyman Negri.
Somewhat out of character when compared to his kind personality that eventually developed, Bob Dog barks and growls at Lady Elaine Fairchilde from inside the cage.
Appearing In This Episode
- Bob Dog
- Elsie Jean Platypus
- Handyman Negri
- Henrietta Pussycat
- Joe Negri
- Lady Elaine Fairchilde
- Mister Rogers
- X the Owl
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
Produced by WQED Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in association with Small World Enterprises, Inc. for N.E.T.
Creator and Producer: Fred Rogers
Associate Producer-Director: David Fu-Ying Chen
Musical Director: Johnny Costa
Neighbors: W.P. Barker, Joe Negri, Bob Trow
Film: Diana Dean, George Boyle
Executive Producer: Paul K. Taff
Production funds for this television visit were provided by a grant from the Sears Roebuck Foundation and a children's program fund established by N.E.T. affiliated stations.
© 1970 National Educational Television and Radio Center