David Newell

Actor / Public Relations
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-hour interview, David Newell describes his early career in theater and his eventual association with Fred Rogers. He talks about starting on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as props manager and with the then-small role of "Mr. McFeely," the "speedy" deliveryman. Newell discusses the inner workings of the program and speaks about his then-current work as public relations manager for Rogers' company, Family Communications, Inc. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 23, 1999 in Pittsburgh, PA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I'd like to be remembered as somebody who helped Fred Rogers get his message out to his audience, as somebody who is a very important cog in that wheel. It's Fred's creation, and his words, and his weaving of this symphony of words. I want to be remembered as being a very important part of that."

People Talking About ...
David Newell
Highlights
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:35
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
02:09
David Newell on the cultural impact of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the legacy of the show
08:43
David Newell on his involvement with The Pittsburgh Playhouse and teaching acting to children
05:08
David Newell on how working for Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers Neighborhood changed him
04:33
David Newell on going to work for the local version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
04:45
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early years and influences; on radio shows he listened to and the impact of World War II on his family; on his early memories of television
On watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers; on his involvement with The Pittsburgh Playhouse and teaching acting to children

Chapter 2
On joining Pittsburgh's public television station WQED; on going to work for the local version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood; on his initial meeting with Fred Rogers about working on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as prop master, writer, and actor
On a typical workweek early on for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood; on developing the scripts for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood; on Fred Rogers' management style in the early days of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Chapter 3
On working with Fred Rogers; on how working for Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood changed him; on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
On the neighborhood of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood; on Fred Rogers leaving the neighborhood on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood; on Chuck Aber, Betty Aberlin and various other actors on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
On his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"; on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"

Chapter 4
On his favorite "Mr. McFeely" delivery on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, guest star Margaret Hamilton; on Family Communications, Fred Rogers' production company; on doing public relations for Family Communications and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
On Eddie Murphy's impression of Fred Rogers on Saturday Night Live; on the cultural impact of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the legacy of the show
On how he would like to be remembered; on various people with whom he has worked in his career
Shows

Children's Corner, The

View Show Page
David Newell on watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers
03:39

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

View Show Page
David Newell on going to work for the local version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
04:45
David Newell on his initial meeting with Fred Rogers about working on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as prop master, writer, and actor
05:52
David Newell on a typical workweek early on for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
01:41
David Newell on developing the scripts for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:52
David Newell on the budget for props on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and the general budget for the show
04:42
David Newell on Fred Rogers' management style in the early days of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
05:37
David Newell on working with Fred Rogers
03:09
David Newell on how working for Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers Neighborhood changed him
04:33
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:35
David Newell on the neighborhood of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:30
David Newell on Fred Rogers leaving the neighborhood on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood  
03:53
David Newell on Chuck Aber, Betty Aberlin and various other actors on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
05:30
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:42
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
02:09
David Newell on his favorite "Mr. McFeely" delivery on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, guest star Margaret Hamilton 
01:52
David Newell on Family Communications, Fred Rogers' production company
04:43
David Newell on doing public relations for Family Communications and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
06:00
David Newell on Eddie Murphy's impression of Fred Rogers on Saturday Night Live
02:06
David Newell on the cultural impact of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the legacy of the show
08:43
David Newell on how he would like to be remembered 
01:39
David Newell on various people with whom he has worked in his career
03:53

Saturday Night Live

View Show Page
David Newell on Eddie Murphy's impression of Fred Rogers on Saturday Night Live
02:06
Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:35
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:42
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
02:09

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
David Newell on how World War II impacted his family
01:51

Pop Culture

View Topic
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:35
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
03:42
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
02:09

War

View Topic
David Newell on how World War II impacted his family
01:51

World War II

View Topic
David Newell on how World War II impacted his family
01:51
Genres

Children's Programming

View Genre
David Newell on watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers
03:39
David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 1)
25:29
David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 2)
29:01
David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 3)
28:56
People

Eddie Murphy

View Person Page
David Newell on Eddie Murphy's impression of Fred Rogers on Saturday Night Live
02:06

Fred Rogers

View Interview Page
David Newell on watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers
03:39
David Newell on going to work for the local version of Fred Rogers'  Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
04:45
David Newell on his initial meeting with Fred Rogers about working on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as prop master, writer, and actor
05:52
David Newell on a typical work week early on for Fred Rogers' Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
01:41
David Newell on developing the scripts for Fred Rogers' Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
02:52
David Newell on the budget for props on Fred Rogers'  Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and the general budget for the show
04:42
David Newell on Fred Rogers' management style in the early days of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
05:37
David Newell on working with Fred Rogers
03:09
David Newell on how working for Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers Neighborhood changed him
04:33
David Newell on Fred Rogers leaving the neighborhood on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
03:53

All Interviews

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