About
"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."
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.
Highlights
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
David Newell on the cultural impact of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the legacy of the show
David Newell on his involvement with The Pittsburgh Playhouse and teaching acting to children
David Newell on how working for Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers Neighborhood changed him
David Newell on going to work for the local version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Full Interview
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
David Newell on watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on going to work for the local version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on his initial meeting with Fred Rogers about working on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as prop master, writer, and actor
David Newell on a typical workweek early on for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on developing the scripts for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on the budget for props on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and the general budget for the show
David Newell on Fred Rogers' management style in the early days of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on working with Fred Rogers
David Newell on how working for Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers Neighborhood changed him
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
David Newell on the neighborhood of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on Fred Rogers leaving the neighborhood on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on Chuck Aber, Betty Aberlin and various other actors on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
David Newell on his favorite "Mr. McFeely" delivery on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, guest star Margaret Hamilton
David Newell on Family Communications, Fred Rogers' production company
David Newell on doing public relations for Family Communications and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on Eddie Murphy's impression of Fred Rogers on Saturday Night Live
David Newell on the cultural impact of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the legacy of the show
David Newell on how he would like to be remembered
David Newell on various people with whom he has worked in his career
Saturday Night Live
David Newell on Eddie Murphy's impression of Fred Rogers on Saturday Night Live
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
Historic Events and Social Change
David Newell on how World War II impacted his family
Pop Culture
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely"
David Newell on his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood character, "Mr. McFeely's," catch phrase: "Speedy delivery"
War
David Newell on how World War II impacted his family
World War II
David Newell on how World War II impacted his family
Genres
Children's Programming
David Newell on watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers
David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 1)
David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 2)
David Newell on working in various capacities on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Part 3)
People
Eddie Murphy
David Newell on Eddie Murphy's impression of Fred Rogers on Saturday Night Live
Fred Rogers
David Newell on watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers
David Newell on going to work for the local version of Fred Rogers' Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on his initial meeting with Fred Rogers about working on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as prop master, writer, and actor
David Newell on a typical work week early on for Fred Rogers' Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on developing the scripts for Fred Rogers' Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on the budget for props on Fred Rogers' Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and the general budget for the show
David Newell on Fred Rogers' management style in the early days of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
David Newell on working with Fred Rogers
David Newell on how working for Fred Rogers on Mister Rogers Neighborhood changed him
David Newell on Fred Rogers leaving the neighborhood on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood