Today it’s Won’t You Wear A Sweater day as part of Pittsburgh’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor 250th birthday celebration.
Today would have been Fred Rodgers’ 80th birthday. For those of you who may not know of Mr. Rogers, he was a gentle soul who hosted the children’s TV show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood that was filmed in Pittsburgh. Off screen he was a tireless advocate for children. He also testified during the Betamax hearings that let do the Supreme Court ruling that VCRs did not violate copyright.
Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood began airing in 1968 and ceased production at the end of 2001. At the beginning of every single episode, Mr. Rogers would take off his jacket and put on a sweater. He had a whole closet full of zippered cardigans knit by his mother.
So won’t you wear a sweater?
I think you can.
[ed. 03/22/08 1:32 — I obviously suck for getting the city wrong. Huge apologies to Pittsburgh. And since the correct city is entirely obvious in the video I have no excuse. I can only plead major brain fart. Please forgive me.]
I will miss Mr. Rogers for the rest of my life. What a wonderful man he was.
1(((hugs)))
Remark from Knitnana — Thursday, 3/20/2008 @ 11:23 AM
He filmed in Pittsburgh. I met him when I worked at a local gym where he would show up to swim at 6am on Saturdays and Sundays in his seersucker suit and a bow tie. He showed up in the suit and tie, not that he swam in them.
2Remark from Emily — Thursday, 3/20/2008 @ 12:23 PM
PITTSBURGH!!!!! it’s PITTSBURGH’S anniversary. NOT philly!
Sorry. That’s like telling someone from San Francisco that they live in Los Angeles. Or a Red Sox fan that they have been cheering for the Yankees.
I mostly lurk and enjoy your blog (and your magic cast-on. holy cow do I love the cast-on!). But I also had to defend my hometown against the … slander … of being called Philadelphia
3Remark from amy — Friday, 3/21/2008 @ 8:44 PM
You’re forgiven. Besides, I like Seattle … 😉
on a serious note, my favorite aunt lives in Portland and I haven’t visited since I was six (despite multiple trips to Corvallis and Eugene for work). Gotta fix that one of these days!
4Remark from amy — Saturday, 3/22/2008 @ 9:29 PM