Episode 1270
Air Date: March 2, 1973
Previous Episode: 1269
Next Episode: 1271
Mister Rogers arrives with a variety of sponge stamps. He takes them to the kitchen where he uses food coloring to apply the images to paper.
When he attempts to make a phone call, Mister Rogers finds that his telephone is not working. He goes across the street where he uses the Browns' phone to report the issue. While he is there, Bob and Judy Brown show Mister Rogers some of the marionettes and costumes they are currently working with.
Returning to his house, Mister Rogers is visited by the telephone repairman, Mr. Welsch. After checking the telephone and its connections, Mr. Welsch finds that the problem is outside the house. Before leaving, he offers to have Mr. McFeely deliver a film about telephones.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Corney sings I'm a Man Who Manufactures and mentions that he has sold all of his swings. X the Owl is asked to watch for new customers while Corney finishes working on a swing for King Friday. Happy to oblige, X sings a different version of I'm a Man Who Manufactures: "I'm an owl, who is a helper. Who helps, to sell the swings. I'm an owl who helps to sell the swings and every things. I'm an owl, who is a helper."
Back at the house, Mr. McFeely stops by with the film about telephones just as Mr. Welsch calls to say that the phone line has been repaired.
Notes
Mister Rogers mentions that he got the idea for the stamp art from some of Bob Trow's neighbors. He had stopped by Mr. Trow's house the night before to tell him how much he had enjoyed his son's music. This, of course, is in reference to the performance at Negri's Music Shop on Episode 1269.
The owl-shaped stamp reminds Mister Rogers of X the Owl.
The phone call Mister Rogers attempts to make early in the episode was intended to check on a film he would like to show about himself as a young boy. This film is shared on Episode 1271.
Let's Be Together Today plays in the background as Mister Rogers walks to the Browns' studio. I'm a Man Who Manufactures plays as he prepares for Make-Believe.
Mister Rogers dials 611 to report the problem with his telephone.
When asked about his family, Mr. Welsch mentions that he has nine children.
When Mr. McFeely goes to the tree to ask X the Owl if he'd like to help Corney, there is a noticeable delay before X opens his door. This is likely to allow time for Fred Rogers to move from the factory to the tree -- changing from the Conflake S. Pecially puppet to X the Owl.
Mr. Welsch reports that Mister Rogers' phone was not working due to a problem at the "central office."
Appearing In This Episode
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: David Newell, James R. Welsch
The Bob Brown Marionette Company with Bob and Judy Brown, Bob Payne, Laura Bennett
Telephone film courtesy of The Bell Telephone Company
Produced and Directed By: Bob Walsh
Music Director: John Costa
Psychological Consultants: Margaret B. McFarland Ph.D., Albert V. Corrado M.D.
Associate Producers: Betsy Nadas, David Newell
Assistant Producer: Laura Perkins
Production Assistant: Azriel Gamliel
Art Director: Jack Guest
Assistant Art Director: David Smith
Lighting Director: Frank Warninsky
Floor Manager: Nick Tallo
Technical Supervisors: Tom Knight, Ken Anderson
Video Tape Editor: Chet Bednar
Cameramen: Bob Vaughn, Dave Anthony, Dick Lasota
Video: Don Williamson
Audio: Chuck Sradomski
Produced by Family Communications 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.