Background
"I'm very much concerned... about what's being delivered to our children... And I feel that if we in public television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great
service for mental health."
- Fred Rogers 1969 U.S. Senate Communications Subcommittee Statement on PBS Funding (American Rhetoric)
service for mental health."
- Fred Rogers 1969 U.S. Senate Communications Subcommittee Statement on PBS Funding (American Rhetoric)
Rogers' desire to create a children's show led him home to Pittsburgh in 1953. He co-produced The Children's Corner for WQED, the nation's first community-sponsored educational TV station. He worked behind the scenes as puppeteer and composer, eventually writing over 200 songs. |
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Rogers moved to Toronto to host Misterogers from 1961-64. He returned to Pittsburgh after 196 episodes and hosted 59 shows for commercial TV while waiting for WQED to secure funding for his new show. Finally, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood aired on WQED in1966 and debuted nationally in 1968. One year later, Rogers took a bold stand against President Nixon's proposed cuts to public television. His Congressional testimony resulted in increased funding from $9 million to $22 million. |
Senate Testimony 1969 (YouTube)
"Rogers' speech became one of the most iconic moments in the history of public media."
- Maxwell Strachan, Senior Editor 2017 (Huffington Post)
- Maxwell Strachan, Senior Editor 2017 (Huffington Post)
"I'm supposed to be a pretty tough guy, and this is the first time I've had goose bumps for the last two days... I think it's wonderful. Looks like you just earned the 20 million dollars." - Senator John Pastore 1969 (American Rhetoric) |
"Mr. Rogers is gone now. When the time comes later this year to eloquently argue for public media, he won’t be there to save the day. Of course, the question then becomes: Who will?"
- Maxwell Strachan, Senior Editor 2017 (Huffington Post)
"Mr. Rogers is gone now. When the time comes later this year to eloquently argue for public media, he won’t be there to save the day. Of course, the question then becomes: Who will?"
- Maxwell Strachan, Senior Editor 2017 (Huffington Post)
Banner Image: Rogers and Josie Carey Backstage on Children's Corner 1954 (The Fred Rogers Company)