Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Season 11, Episode 15: Play is the Work of Childhood

Divorce

Mr. McFeely relives memories of his wedding. Previewing the Neighborhood of Make-Believe storyline, Prince Tuesday befriends a girl whose parents are divorced. This episode has 2 make-believe segments in one show.

Divorce: How People Make Pretzels

Rogers visits the Sturgis Pretzel House to see people making pretzels. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, King Friday and Queen Sara squabble about buying a new plane. It upsets Prince Tuesday to the boiling point.

30 min

Divorce

Rogers recalls the day he test-drove an electric car. Later he meets Jeff Erlanger, a boy in an electric wheelchair, who demonstrates his wheelchair and describes some of his physical handicaps. The Neighborhood of Make-Believe continues its all-out search for Prince Tuesday. When he is found, he has a mix of emotions.

Divorce

Joe Negri shows Rogers a rack of musical instruments that have either been repaired or are in need in repair. They meet Earl Grollman, a counselor who has written a book on divorce for children. Prince Tuesday finally shares his emotions with his family.

30 min

Divorce

Rogers wears a false-face to show that he is still himself inside. The Royal Electric Plane-Car arrives via a clown courier. Behind the mask is Chuck Aber, who has been divorced and doesn't see much of his children. Thus, Prince Tuesday can relate to Aber's feelings. Corny reveals his secret: he is now making rocking-chair-shaped pretzels. Mister Rogers shows viewers the ins and outs of an airplane.

Competition: Visit to the Crayon Factory

Rogers shows a film on how people make crayons. King Friday decrees a "Draw the Neighborhood" Contest, something which Lady Elaine wants to win.

Competition

Mister Rogers visits an art museum to look carefully at the various genres of paintings that are on display. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Henrietta is upset when she hears that Big Bird (from Sesame Street) will visit X.

30 min

Competition: Visit From Big Bird

Competition

30 min

Competition

Mister Rogers Talks About Play

In Make-Believe, Bob Dog gets hurt playing, and King Friday bans all play. Mister Rogers says no one can learn or grow without play, but it's important to play safely. He plays with a wooden riding toy and shows a video of how it is made.

Mister Rogers Talks About Play

In Make-Believe, everyone feels sad and upset that King Friday made a rule of "no play allowed" (because they might get hurt playing). Lady Elaine tries to change his mind, and when she can't, she packs up her Museum-Go-Round and leaves!

Mister Rogers Talks About Play

In Make-Believe, Lady Elaine and her Museum have gone. Even though there is "no play allowed" Ana, Prince and Daniel just have to play, and the Prince speaks up against his father's rule. A musician who is blind visits the Music Shop.

Mister Rogers Talks About Play

Mister Rogers visits an underground mushroom farm to see how mushrooms are grown. In Make-Believe, King Friday is reconsidering his "no play" rule, and Lady Elaine Fairchilde is enjoying her freedom to play at a real playground.

Mister Rogers Talks to Parents About Divorce

Rogers fields questions from parents about divorce.

Mister Rogers Talks to Parents About Competition

Rogers discusses with parents combative attitudes.

Mister Rogers Talks to Children and Parents About Violence

Prompted by news coverage of the death of John Lennon and the failed assassination attempts of President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, Rogers talks to children and their parents about violence in the media. Rogers shows video footage of himself at schools, discussing why people murder, with young children. The special aired only once but it was later uploaded to the internet 35 years later, during a time when its subject matter was again a much-discussed issue.