Fun Trivia : Rogers, Fred

Structure Sub-topic of: Celebrities Q-S Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 15 general entries. Special Topics Mr. Rogers: The Man, The Myth, The Sweater

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Rogers, Fred

Now that we have established his real name, what was his middle name? (Hint: A name familiar to those who have watched the show.)

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McFeely. Indeed, his full birthname was Fred McFeely Rogers, the middle name drawn from his beloved maternal grandfather's surname. McFeely, as fans of the show will recall, was also the name of the neighborhood mailman, Mr. McFeely, aka 'Speedy Delivery'.



Mr. Rogers was born in a small town in western Pennsylvania, not far from Pittsburgh. In which PA town was Mr. Rogers born?

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Latrobe. Latrobe is a small town, 40 miles east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Not only is it the birthplace of Mr. Rogers, but it's also the hometown of Arnold Palmer and Rolling Rock beer.



After spending a year at Dartmouth College, Mr. Rogers settled at Rollins College where he received a bachelor's degree in which area?

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Music. Mr. Rogers received his degree in music in 1951 at Rollins College, which is located in Winter Park, Florida. This should come as no shock to those who love his program, full of wonderful and inspiring little songs from beginning to end.



Mr. Rogers married in 1952 to Sara Joanne Byrd. How many children did he have with his lovely wife Joanne?

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2. Joanne was also at Rollins College, where she also majored in music. Joanne specialized in playing the piano.



With which broadcasting company did Mr. Rogers first acquire a job in 1951?

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NBC. Mr. Rogers began work at NBC in 1951 as a gopher, but quickly moved up the ranks, becoming an assistant producer and later floor director for such shows as 'The Voice of Firestone', 'The Lucky Strike Hit Parade' and 'The Kate Smith Hour'.



In 1953, Mr. Rogers decided that a change of venue would be more appropriate for his interests, which primarily included entertaining and educating children. He left for Pittsburgh where he began his association with which local station?

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WQED. Mr. Rogers was more or less associated with WQED for the rest of his broadcasting career. Originating in Pittsburgh, WQED was the first public station wholly supported by community funding in the United States.



The first children's television show produced by Mr. Rogers also saw the debut of several of his famous puppets. What was this television show, debuting in 1954, called?

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The Children's Corner. 'The Children's Corner' featured Josie Carey as host and aired for seven years in the Pittsburgh area. Mr. Rogers never appeared on this show, but his puppets did, capturing the imaginations of children throughout the Pittsburgh vicinity.



Which Mr. Rogers' puppet, that lived in a clock, was the first to make its television debut?

Mr. Fred Rogers and His Neighborhood


Daniel Tiger. Daniel the Striped Tiger was the first of many very popular puppet characters that Mr. Rogers developed for 'The Children's Corner'. The Daniel puppet made its first appearance in 1956. Most of his little puppet characters were carried on to his later television shows.



In 1962, Mr. Rogers fulfilled a lifelong dream, becoming a licensed minister ... but for which faith?

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Presbyterian. In 1962 Mr. Rogers completed work at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, at which time he was ordained a Presbyterian minister. During his time in Pittsburgh he also attended graduate courses in child development at the University of Pittsburgh.



The television show we call 'Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood' began airing nationally on National Education Television (NET) in which year?

Mr. Fred Rogers and His Neighborhood


1968. We know the NET better as the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). The national broadcasting of his wonderful children's show beginning in 1968 followed three more years of more local broadcasting by the Eastern Educational Network (EEN). His half-hour program on the EEN became 1-hour long on the NET.



On the show 'Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood' children were taken daily to a place called the 'Land of Make Believe'. What was the full name of the King in this mythical land?

Mr. Fred Rogers and His Neighborhood


King Friday XIII. The name King Friday XIII attests to Mr. Rogers subtle and sweet sense of humor. One of my favorite 'make-believe' moments was to hear King Friday's version of the familiar tune 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat'. It went: 'Propel, propel, propel your craft, lightly down the liquid solution, ecstatically, ecstatically, ecstatically, ecstatically, existence is but an illusion.' Simply awesome...



Which item(s) featured on Mr. Rogers television shows was donated to the Smithsonian Institute?

Mr. Fred Rogers and His Neighborhood


Sweaters. Several of Mr. Rogers' famous cardigan sweaters were requested by the Smithsonian, and are now on display there. All of the sweaters that Mr. Rogers wore on the show were knit by his mother. He donned the sweaters during every show as a way of waving hello to his dear mother.