Bionic Buzz® covered the Our Orlando Neighbor, Mister Rogers All star panel at the Lonely Dog Immersive Experience in Orlando, FL.
The panel featured the original Mr. McFeely, David Newell, show producers Margy Whitmer & Hedda Sharapan along with costume designer Julie Saltman.
They shared stories of Mister Rogers Neighborhood from how they all got their start on the iconic serious, the connection with Mister Rogers to Orlando Florida, behind the scene stories of iconic episodes and much more. Full panel in video. Afterwards David Newell signed Mr. McFeely glosses for everyone.
About Mister Rogers’ Week of Kindness
Fred Rogers was an icon of kindness and encouragement for many Americas while they were growing up, from the start of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in October 1966 until the airing of the final episode on August 31, 2001. His famous sweaters, gentle teachings and catchy tunes captivated and affirmed our evolving personalities, as he told us that we “made today a special day, just by being you”. Many Central Floridians are unaware of Fred Rogers’ devotion to, and love of, the Central Florida community. First arriving here in 1948 to tour the Rollins Campus as a possible transfer student from Dartmouth, it was on the tarmac of today’s Orlando Executive Airport that Fred met another Tar student who would later become his wife, Joanne Byrd. Fred and Joanne’s son John, Fred’s sister Elaine, and her son Dan would also subsequently become students at the Winter Park college. More importantly, the Rogers fell in love with Central Florida and returned each January for Fred to write scripts and music when working on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, authoring and composing about half of the content for the TV program here locally. Fred’s shows taught millions the values of being kind to our neighbors, to loving ourselves and those around us, and to the human need and benefit of being a part of a neighborhood of inter-connected, yet diverse, people…every one of who was special in their own way. Mister Rogers’ Week of Kindness is an opportunity to reflect back on those messages, and introduce others to world of Mister Rogers, through a series of activities and events in the Orlando area hosted by members of the cast and crew of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
From Left to Right: Margy Whitmer (Producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood), Hedda Sharapan (Producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood), actor David Newell (Mr. McFeely on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood) and Julie Saltman (costume designer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood).
Steve Sievers of Bionic Buzz with David Newell (Mr. McFeely).