Mr. Rogers Was An Iconic Childhood Figure, Loved By ALL… How Did We NEVER Know THIS?

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood became a household classic on television when it first aired 48 years ago and is surprisingly still recognized today. Fred Rogers became an iconic figure on television with his children’s show and it was clear he cared tremendously about the kids and put his heart into every single episode.

Even after Fred Rogers passed away, a new show called Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood was aired, but was not nearly as successful because no one could replace Mr. Rogers. To show just how unique this man was, here are nine jaw-dropping facts you probably didn’t know about one of the nation’s favorite TV hosts!

1. Ever wonder why he was always wearing those sweaters?

The famous sweaters worn by Mr. Rogers became iconic of the show, but they have more meaning behind them than you would probably think. Each and every sweater Mr. Rogers wore on the show was hand-knit by his own mother and all of his siblings received them. Putting on the sweaters was like paying homage to his mother.

2. Did you ever notice how he always explained everything in intricate detail?

The reason Mr. Rogers explained everything so thoroughly was because he once received a letter from a blind girl asking him if he could make sure to explain things to her since she could visualize the set otherwise.

Ever since then, he made it a priority to describe everything in as much detail as possible. He cared so much about the children who watched his shows that he made sure to follow this little girl’s request on every episode!

3. Lady Elaine Fairchild also had a backstory.

A photo posted by Greg Tsiatis (@kidcoffee) on Jul 1, 2015 at 11:27pm PDT

Rogers decided to name this character after his adopted sister, Elaine Crozier. The two shared a close bond so it was no wonder he decided to name a character after her!   4. He wished he wouldn’t have ever named his mailman.    

Mr. McFeely

The mailman on the show was named Mr. McFeely, named after Fred Rogers’ own middle name. Rogers said he deeply regrets ever naming his mailman, not realizing how many inappropriate jokes would be made from the name.

5. Rogers was extremely tolerant.

One of the most refreshing things about Mr. Rogers is that he was pretty much the same person on and off the screen. He was a Presbyterian minister and taught tolerance first and foremost. Rogers’ always enforced the children who watched his show that “God love’s you just the way you are.” This sort of idea did upset some when he wouldn’t reprimand people who were gay or who weren’t Christian, but he always wanted to make sure children knew they should be accepted no matter what. 6. Though he didn’t attend school for very long, he had quite the list of degrees.

Fred Rogers received his degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, in music composition. However, over the course of his lifetime, he was awarded 40 honorary degrees.

7. Ever wondered why he got into television if he went to school for music?

Fred Rogers went into television because he hated television. After watching a show where two men angrily threw pies into each other’s faces, he was appalled at what this great technology was being used for. It was for this reason that he decided he wanted to unleash the full potential TV had to offer and make better use of it.  

8. He had a very set routine and watched every pound.   Rogers had a strict morning routine. Each morning when he would wake up, he would spend a significant amount of time praying for his friends and family and would then write and study before working out. His weight was always at a strict 143 pounds. The reason why? 143 is the number meaning “I love you:” One letter in “I,” 4 letters in “love,” and 3 letters in “you.”  

9. If you could not already tell, Fred Rogers cared about all the details.

A photo posted by Chloe (@chloefaline) on May 14, 2016 at 6:49am PDT

The set of his show meant everything to him. Everything on set needed to be perfect. Everything needed to be spot on because to him, the kids watching his show deserved nothing less than a perfect show.

Fred Rogers will forever be known as a major name in television and he definitely made an impact on the children who were fortunate enough to watch his show! Did you know any of these facts about Mr. Rogers?

Source: http://www.liftable.com/haleyjones/roger-that/