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MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD: ASSASSINATION SPECIAL (TV)
Summary
One in this series of programs for young children, hosted by Fred Rogers, which uses puppets and music to teach patience and cooperation, while providing guidance to help children cope with feelings and frustrations. This special program attempts to console children in the wake of the June 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy during this "disturbing time in our nation's history." Songs, sketches with puppets, and play sessions are aimed at helping children work through their anger and confusion about his violent death. Highlights include: tree trunk resident Lady Elaine Fairchild hectors a reluctant X the Owl into taking the part of assassin Sirhan Sirhan in a ghoulish game of make-believe; Lady Elaine, X, and Lady Aberlin discuss playing games and venting aggressions; a dancer leads a group of five children in a series of games in King Friday the XIII's castle, allowing them to channel their energy in positive, imaginative ways; Rogers croons the song "What Do You Do?" which deals with anger and aggression; Lady Aberlin comforts the sensitive, taciturn Daniel Striped Tiger, who fears that people, like balloons, can lose all their air, and asks her the meaning of assassination; and Rogers urges parents to protect and support their children from the graphic display of violence which has been shown frequently by the mass media.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: 1968
- RUNNING TIME: 0:29:34
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:29365
- GENRE: Children's programs; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Assassination; Assassination - Kennedy
- SERIES RUN: WQED (Pittsburgh, PA) - TV series, 1968-1970; PBS - 1971-2001
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Fred Rogers … Host
- Fred Rogers … Cast, Lady Elaine Fairchild, X the Owl, and Daniel StripŽd Tiger, Voice
- Betty Aberlin … Cast, Lady Aberlin
- Robert F. Kennedy
- Sirhan Sirhan