Wednesday, December 27, 2023

MR DRESSUP AND MR ROGERS

      I was listening to a radio interview of a guy who's made a movie of Ernie Combs and his show MR Dress Up. Although the interview was to feature Ernie Combs, Mr Rogers had to sneak in. These two had awesome TV Shows for kids. Mr Dress Up featured puppets and humans interacting. Mr Rogers featured a neighborhood. 

      Both emphasized aiming all content and ideas at a child's level. 

     One of the features on the interview was the woman who had the puppets Casey and Finnigan . They did not have a script but talked back and forth with Mr Dressup.

      So today's interview was a reminder of these excellent shows. I immediately recognized the theme song that introduced Mr Dress Up. I would like to have heard Mr Rogers and My Neighborhood. 

       Now I didn't watch much of these shows but they had an impact on me and my kids. 

      I was also reminded that I had a Halloween costume of Mr Rogers. I quite often wore a green cardigan to school. It was exactly like the one Fred Rogers wore.

     The middle school kids had a Halloween dance and I was overseeing the door. I had gone home for supper and went back with the same clothes. Some kid got the idea that since was wearing the cardigan that they would make me Mr. Rogers. To make sure that everybody knew what was going on they Labelled me as Mr. Rogers. Too bad the scan was so poor and that you can't read what the label says.



     So today I enjoyed the interview about Ernie Combs and the reminder of my goofy Halloween costume. 

     Although these two shows were widely distributed some people in other countries may not be aware of them. 

33 comments:

  1. Well you sure made a handsome Mr. Rogers, Red. :-)

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    1. Well, thanks. Hard to believe that at one time I was young.

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    2. Believe me. I KNOW the feeling as I wrap a knee brace on and take an Aleve for my back.

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  2. The kids were quick to see you as Mr Rogers. i think it was a great compliment.
    I never heard of Mr Rogers until social media made him famous (more famous) and I haven't heard of Mr Dress -up

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    1. I assumed incorrectly that Mr. Dress up was on American TV.

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  3. Cute story and happy memories. Take care, have a great day!

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  4. Never heard of them Red but I love looking back at my days as a teacher and my interaction with the young people. I often wonder what they are doing now (I have been retired forty one years -( took early retirement at fifty) so many of them will be mums and dads and even grannies and grandpas. I can see from looking at you in your cardi and with your ;badge of honour' what kind of relationship you had with your pupils - so you too will look back on happy memories. Happy new year to you and your family.

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    1. I've been retired 26 years and still live in the community. One of my former students died Christmas Eve. He was 67 and had been a city councillor for 12 years. Have a great New Year and 2024.

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  5. I was compared to Mr Rogers at one of my retirement events.

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    1. Rogers was a good influence on kids and teachers if they cared.

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  6. You look quite happy in that picture, Red. I didn't watch or know about Mr. Dressup but I remember Mr. Rogers very well.

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    1. The kids were having such a great time that I couldn't hold it in. I'm surprised that Mr. Dress Up was not on American TV.

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  7. I have not heard about Mr. Dress Up but we loved Mr. Rogers. We watched him all the time when my kids were young and he would look right into the camera, straight at me and say, "I like you just the way you are." And some days, I really needed to hear that! :)

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    1. I thought Mr. Dressup was on American TV but I'm wrong.

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  8. Boston area television, I don't recall growing up hearing of Mr Dress Up.

    Lovely memories though of Captain Kangaroo.

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    1. I'm surprised Mr. Dress up was not on American TV.

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  9. You make a good Mr Rogers! Merry Christmas Red!

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    1. Thanks. Have a great New Years and all the best in 2024.

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  10. Happy memories, Red. Have a great day.

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  11. I watched both shows! Or my kids did! Casey was one of the first gender neutral figures. I like that. I have a gay granddaughter. Our Ottawa grandies have several friends who use they/them pronouns.

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    1. I rarely watched these shows but my kids did and I know the influence it had on them. You have a very positive attitude about your gay grand daughter and that is so important.

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  12. I certainly know of Mr. Rogers, but not Mr. Dress Up.

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    1. I thought Mr. Dress up was on American TV but I'm wrong. You missed a good show.

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  13. A nice memory. I was not aware of Mr. Dress Up, but my children were great fans of Mr. Rogers.

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  14. I guess Mr. Dress up was only in Canada . You missed a good show.

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  15. You look dandy as Mr. Rogers! So sorry you've lost a student; that's rough with so many years since you taught them. We had Mr. Green Jeans (farmer overalls) on Captain Kangaroo but I didn't think Canadians dress up because they've got to wear all of those winter coats. So much for my Kansas point of view, Linda

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  16. I enjoyed watching Mr. Dressup and listening to Cassie & Finegan. It was always fun when Mr. Dressup would open the tickle trunk.

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  17. I thought Combs and Rogers was a firm of solicitors.

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  18. I like this post looking back on the good ol' days of TV. You might enjoy this YouTube ...
    https://youtu.be/Mcq5oW0GvD8?si=Ud2VPz51WIlRlVFR
    Happy New Year to you and the MM!
    John

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  19. Mr. Dressup was on the air when I was growing up.

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  20. My kids loved Mr. Dress Up and I often watched it with them. I can remember watching it myself as a pre-teen and young teen if I was home sick from school. Along with The Friendly Giant :) Mr. Dress Up was such a kind and gentle role model, and I can't imagine any child not being drawn to Finnegan, the dog who didn't talk!

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