It’s hard to imagine a time when Fred Rogers wasn’t around
or as most called him Mr. Rogers. There’s been more than one generation that
has grown up with his programs on the air. And while there have been some
successful children’s programming on PBS nothing was quite like his show. The
new documentary WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? gives us a look at the man behind the
TV screen. It’s an entertaining and informative film.
The movie uses plenty of footage of Rogers as we learn about
where he came from and how he got where he ended up. From a well to do family
he was studying to be a pastor when something new came along, an invention
called television. Already seeing the potential of the TV he ended up
abandoning his first career and pursuing what became his passion.
Having seen children’s programming on TV he thought
something more than pratfalls and pies in the face would do more good. He
learned his craft first and then went about creating a show he thought would do
more good. Using free film footage to fill some of the time a mishap led to one
of his most beloved creations. One day a film broke and thinking fast on his
feet Rogers popped on a hand puppet and thus was introduced Daniel Striped
Tiger. It was so popular it became a regular character.
And it was through Daniel that Rogers found a way to
communicate with children. While an adult might be intimidating the world of
imagination in the mind of a child allowed children to talk to the puppet as if
he actually existed unto himself. Rogers describes an encounter with a group of
children while crafting the show where a question from one child and a response
from Daniel opened up the doorway of communication between Rogers ala Daniel
and the entire group of children.
Any documentary could have focused on what went on behind
the scenes at MR. ROGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD and those moments are included here. But
rather than focus on just that we get a glimpse at the man himself and what he
brought to the table. It is that concept that makes this movie come alive in both
interviews with him and the many people who worked with him.
It wasn’t enough for Rogers just to entertain children he
wanted to help them. He wanted to focus on the issues that children face from
their point of view rather than from the point of view of adults. It also
becomes apparent while watching that he had a certain amount of disdain for
most children’s programming feeling they had zero concerns about what children
were watching and instead were more concerned with selling a product. As years
passed that meant selling not just the show but the tie ins with toys, cereal
and more.
Rogers also found a way to incorporate those issues that
children would face in the most subtle of ways possible. It was never about
getting in your face but about helping children to cope with the things they
were being exposed to. A great example is racism. He didn’t tackle it using the
words of going overboard. Instead while soaking his feet in a kiddie pool on a
hot day in the neighborhood he invited Officer Clemmons to join him. Clemmons
was played by Francois Clemmons, an African American. Here we had a white man
and a black man sharing the same pool and later a towel as well. While you
might think yeah, so what today at the time it was groundbreaking. It allowed
children to see that while we might look different we are all the same.
As the movie progresses we get to see Rogers appearing
before congress battling for funding for public television. He was passionate
on the subject and through his efforts it was saved. The same holds true for
other topics he was passionate about, all revolving around children and trying
to help them cope with the real world.
Watching Mr. Rogers through the eyes of an adult I know
we’ve all thought he was quaint and I have little doubt most of us were bored
with his slow speech and oversimplified choice of words. Now, look through the
eyes of a child and see how he seems. He’s not threatening. He’s safe. He’s
calm. He’s talking how you talk. It was using this method, so easy and yet so ignored
by anyone else, that he reached children for years and years and taught them so
much.
This documentary was a joy to watch and it’s easy to see why
it’s been talked about by so many. It’s played festivals and been highlighted
on a number of shows. Rogers may have passed on but his legacy remains. Some
have learned the techniques he used and applied them while others have
completely missed the boat. But at one time we had him and his neighborhood.
And those shows are as relevant today as they were when first aired.
As public broadcasting stations ask for donations on a
regular basis many tend to tire of the constant requests. They tire of the
politicization of some shows. If they truly wanted to bring in money perhaps
their best bet would be to run this film. Remembering what Rogers brought would
be the way to recruit people to donate there is.
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