became a vegetarian in mid-80s

studied Catholic mysticism, Buddhism, Judaism in addition to Christianity

tax attorneys had to pressure nonprofit to pay Rogers more to be credible under tax laws

didn’t merchandise or expand internationally

parents very wealthy but generous around town

overprotective mom and Lindbergh kidnapping caused him to be isolated, playing with puppets and piano in attic

shy loner in high school until befriended by football player who vouched for him

went to Dartmouth to study languages but wasn’t good fit; transferred to Rollins in Florida to study music and met Joanne there

discovered television after graduating college and decided to pursue it

was a PA at NBC in New York for a few years before starting at WQED in Pittsburgh when it began

strongly desired to make serious educational television, elevated above the typical slapstick of the time

started The Children’s Corner with Josie Carey; daily hour-long show, mostly improvised, where puppets began

grew in popularity and acquired by NBC; Fred flew to New York every Saturday to film but didn’t allow ads to kids or merchandising, so canceled after 39 weeks

enrolled part time at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary while doing the show, then had 2 kids and got an M Div

skewed to progressive side of Presbyterian Church, but needed help convincing conservative elders to approve of television ministry

ended work at Children’s Corner in last year of studies to finish degree and work with Dr. Margaret McFarland in child development and storytelling

others saw parallels to Jesus with supreme kindness, no ego, storytelling

McFarland’s instructions for exposing children to art: “I don’t want you to teach sculpting. All I want you to do is to love clay in front of the children.”

got opportunity to produce daily 15-minute segments for the CBC in Toronto 1963-67 as “Misterogers”

did psychotherapy, focusing on Oedipal complex and boyhood challenges of navigating his parents’ styles

traumatic surgery for son John haunted and inspired him to help kids and parents deal with fears

returned to Pittsburgh in 1966 without a job but family wealth sustained him

Horne department store in Pittsburgh sponsored thirteen 15-minute episodes of what would be prototype of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Cobbled together funding to get back on WQED in 1966 with half-hour show, quickly popular then underwritten nationally by Sears

first episode in February 1968

Rogers: “You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices. And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are.”

took hiatus in late 70s to do more family- and adult-oriented interviews but didn’t last; went back to MRN for week-long topic tackling

family would only watch The Waltons, then Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, but also Monty Python’s Flying Circus

swimming and piano his main hobbies; would sometimes swim naked at Pittsburgh club