Fred Rogers

The Rev. Frederick McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003) was the host of the internationally acclaimed children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, in production from 1968 to 2001. Mister Rogers, as he became known to millions, was an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who lived and worked in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area for most of his life.

Life and work

In 1954, he began working at WQED Pittsburgh as a puppeteer on a local children's television series, The Children's Corner. For the next seven years, he worked with host Josie Carey in unscripted live TV, and developed many of the puppets, characters and music used in his later work, such as King Friday the XIII, and Curious X the Owl.

Related Topics:
1954 - WQED - Puppeteer - Children's television - Josie Carey

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During this period, for eight years he gave up lunch breaks to study theology at nearby Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He had planned to enter seminary after college, but had been diverted into television. In 1962 he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister, and specifically charged to continue his work with children's TV.

Related Topics:
Theology - Pittsburgh Theological Seminary - Television - 1962

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In 1963, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation contracted him to develop a 15 minute children's show, Mister Rogers' Show.

Related Topics:
1963 - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

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In 1966 he moved the show back to WQED in Pittsburgh, incorporating parts of the show into a show he developed for the Eastern Educational Network to cities including Boston, Massachusetts, Washington, DC and New York City.

Related Topics:
1966 - Boston, Massachusetts - Washington, DC - New York City

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In 1972 Rogers was the commencement speaker for the graduation ceremony at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Related Topics:
1972 - Ypsilanti

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In 2002 Rogers gave the Commencement Address at Dartmouth College.

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In 2003, a month before his death, Rogers was a Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade, serving with Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby.

Related Topics:
Tournament of Roses Parade - Art Linkletter - Bill Cosby

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Distribution of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood began on National Educational Television on February 19, 1968. The following year the show moved to the PBS network, where it continues to be broadcast today. The last set of new episodes was taped in December 2000 and began airing on August 2001.

Related Topics:
National Educational Television - February 19 - 1968 - PBS - December - 2000 - August - 2001

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After returning to Pittsburgh, he was an active congregational member in the Sixth Presbyterian church of Pittsburgh until his death.

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