I just spent a few glorious days at the Fred Rogers Center, an inspiring facility at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. It's a place devoted to the development of children, and worthwhile children's media, and it's populated by employees, executives, fellows and advisors that leave no doubt that Mister Rogers' mission is in the best of hands...
For one thing, they didn't name the place the Fred Rogers CENTRE, with snooty spelling. Fred would have wanted things plain and simple, and the Center is a warm and unstuffy environment indeed...
Much of what we were shown, or discussed, during the days of presentations was off the record, or left to the Center itself to announce and publicize. But one thing that knocked me out was a touch screen exhibit that allowed you to select and watch clips from Rogers' amazingly long and influential TV history.
I saw one clip I've never seen before, and from this point on will never forget: a scene from a prime-time special in which he and his puppets react to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
That one clip, that one chilling moment of pure honesty and genuine concern, drove it home, all over again, why Fred Rogers was unique, and invaluable, as a children's TV host.
If you have any personal memories of watching Fred Rogers' TV shows, as a child or parent, I'd love you to share them.