What Fred Rogers did for PBS....

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Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
This was 11 years before my time, but I grew up watching his program and never knew he was so involved in public broadcasting's funding....this man was amazing.

Link
 
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glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
1
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If I download this - what player will play it?
QT and Windows player don't work - maybe I have to update them.
 
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DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
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Rogers is quoted as saying, "I got into television because I hated it so. And I thought there was some way of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to those who would watch and listen."

He also studied to be a Presbyterian minister. It really is sad he died of stamch cancer, but he is in a better place now.

Guests were often surprised to find that Rogers was a perfectionist who did not allow ad-libbing; he believed that children were thoughtful people who deserved shows as good as anything produced for adults on television.
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Taken from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers

Apparently, Rogers had been driving the same car for years, an old second-hand Impala. Then it was stolen from its parking spot near the WQED studio. Rogers filed a police report, the story was picked up by local news outlets, and general shock swept across town. Within 48 hours the car was back in the spot where he left it, along with a note saying "If we'd known it was yours, we never would have taken it!"
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:)
 
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Shortcut

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2003
1,107
0
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Thanks for sharing this, OP. I was not aware that he had to go to such great lengths to sustain his life's work!
 
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GeneValgene

Diamond Member
Sep 18, 2002
3,884
0
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you know, without fred rogers, we wouldn't have tivo or dvr today:

During the controversy surrounding the introduction of the household videocassette recorder, Rogers was involved in supporting the manufacturers of VCRs in court. His 1979 testimony in the case Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc. noted that he did not object to home recording of his television programs, for instance, by families in order to watch together at a later time. This testimony contrasted with the views of others in the television industry who objected to home recording or believed that devices to facilitate it should be taxed or regulated. The Supreme Court considered the testimony of Rogers in its decision that held that the Betamax video recorder did not infringe copyright. The Court stated that his views were a notable piece of evidence "that many [television] producers are willing to allow private time-shifting to continue"; it even quoted his testimony in a footnote: "Some public stations, as well as commercial stations, program the 'Neighborhood' at hours when some children cannot use it ... I have always felt that with the advent of all of this new technology that allows people to tape the 'Neighborhood' off-the-air, and I'm speaking for the 'Neighborhood' because that's what I produce, that they then become much more active in the programming of their family's television life. Very frankly, I am opposed to people being programmed by others. My whole approach in broadcasting has always been 'You are an important person just the way you are. You can make healthy decisions.' Maybe I'm going on too long, but I just feel that anything that allows a person to be more active in the control of his or her life, in a healthy way, is important." The Home Recording Rights Coalition later stated that Rogers was "one of the most prominent witnesses on this issue." Rogers had been a supporter of VCR use since the very early days of the VCR -- in his final week of episodes of the original run in 1976, Rogers used a U-Matic VCR to show scenes from past episodes, as a way to prepare viewers for repeats that would begin the following week.
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Aharami

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
21,205
165
106
PBS is one of my favorite channels. Their programs are very eye opening. Last night, on PBS HD, I was watching a program on microcredit in third world countries. How its helping people break out of poverty. Very well done program and very educational
 
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Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
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Originally posted by: saymyname
Mr Rogers....sniffle....
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Ditto.

I'm as mad as the next person at all the lengths we go to censoring broadcast television, and yet I bemoan the loss of fantastic children's programming like his show.
 
iamme

iamme

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
21,058
3
0
wow, good for him. the world was worse off when he passed away. thank goodness he brought so much positive, that his legacy can last.
 
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DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
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In his interviews on Archive of American Television.

"How would you like to be remembered?"
"...I would just like to be rembmered for being a compassionate human being..." :)
 
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Lash444

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2002
1,708
64
91
Makes me a sad, sad man just watching it. I grew up watching his show almost every day, along with Sesame St. Not much in the way of available shows for kids back then available over the air waves. I'm sure I would have rather have been watching cartoons at the time instead, but just watching this man fight for a cause he believes in, brings tears to my eyes. Such a noble cause, and a god amongst men.
 
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