Fred Rogers began his television career at NBC but joined the founding staff of America's first community-supported television station, WQED in Pittsburgh, as a program director in 1953. His priority was to schedule a children's program; however, when no one came forward to produce it, Rogers assumed the task and in April 1954, launched The Children's Corner. He collaborated with on-screen hostess Josie Carey on both the scripts and music to produce a show that received immediate acclaim, winning the 1955 Sylvania Award for the best locally produced children's program in the country. Rogers and Carey also created a separate show with similar material for NBC network distribution on Saturday mornings. With only a meager budget their public television show was not a slick production, but Rogers did not view this as a detriment. He wanted children to think that they could make their own puppets, no matter how simple, and create their own fantasies. The important element was to create the friendly, warm atmosphere in the interactions of Josie and the puppets (many of whom are still a part of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood), which has become the hallmark of the program.

     

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    Josie Carey on a typical production day hosting The Children's Corner with Fred Rogers, and on the letters they received

    06:39
    Thumbnail of Josie Carey

    Josie Carey on collaborating on the songs for The Children's Corner with Fred Rogers, and on their working relationship

    04:04
    Thumbnail of Josie Carey

    Josie Carey on Fred Rogers' puppets on The Children's Corner, and on the other characters on the show

    03:36
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    Josie Carey on guests who appeared on The Children's Corner, including Johnny Carson and Charles Schulz

    03:12
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    Josie Carey on hosting Josie's Storyland and The Children's Corner at the same time, for two years

    08:03
    Thumbnail of Josie Carey

    Josie Carey on the audience she and Fred Rogers were playing to on The Children's Corner

    02:50

    Josie Carey

    Josie Carey on going on the air with The Children's Corner, and hosting the show with Fred Rogers doing characters

    04:35

    Josie Carey on the audience she and Fred Rogers were playing to on The Children's Corner

    02:50

    Josie Carey on working with the cameras on The Children's Corner, and on the logistics of the show with Fred Rogers

    02:28

    Josie Carey on guests who appeared on The Children's Corner, including Johnny Carson and Charles Schulz

    03:12

    Josie Carey on a typical production day hosting The Children's Corner with Fred Rogers, and on the letters they received

    06:39

    Josie Carey on the creation of "Daniel Tiger" by Fred Rogers on The Children's Corner

    01:21

    Josie Carey on Fred Rogers' puppets on The Children's Corner, and on the other characters on the show

    03:36

    Josie Carey on how she worked with Fred Rogers' puppets on The Children's Corner

    02:38

    Josie Carey on the hosting NBC version of The Children's Corner, featuring Fred Rogers

    05:21

    Josie Carey on the differences between the WQED version of The Children's Corner and the NBC version

    01:52

    Josie Carey on her and Fred Rogers' dealings with NBC when The Children's Corner aired on the network

    04:03

    Josie Carey on collaborating with Fred Rogers on writing songs for The Children's Corner

    01:49

    Josie Carey on hosting Josie's Storyland and The Children's Corner at the same time, for two years

    08:03

    Josie Carey on the religious elements she and Fred Rogers brought to The Children's Corner

    01:45

    Josie Carey on collaborating on the songs for The Children's Corner with Fred Rogers, and on their working relationship

    04:04

    Josie Carey on how Fred Rogers evolved from The Children's Corner to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

    01:45

    Josie Carey on winning a Sylvania Award for her work on The Children's Corner, and various other awards

    02:47

    Josie Carey on educators' reaction to The Children's Corner, and on Fred Rogers' religion

    02:16

    Josie Carey on the end of The Children's Corner after seven years, and on Fred Rogers going to do a show for the CBC

    02:57

    Josie Carey on she and Fred Rogers signing the rights away to some of their early songs from The Children's Corner

    03:04

    Josie Carey on her favorite moments of The Children's Corner

    07:00

    Josie Carey on the cute rivalry between her and Fred Rogers on The Children's Corner

    01:16

    Josie Carey on the friendly rivalry between her and Fred Rogers on The Children's Corner, and on using things from her childhood on the show

    05:39

    David Newell

    David Newell on watching The Children's Corner, with Fred Rogers

    03:39

    Fred Rogers

    Fred Rogers on his WQED show The Children's Corner starring Josie Carey and featuring the puppet "King Friday XIII"

    04:08

    Fred Rogers on his duties as a programmer at WQED while he was also working on The Children's Corner and on the challenges of live television

    01:16

    Fred Rogers on Josie Carey, the host of The Children's Corner

    01:08

    Fred Rogers on composing songs with Josie Carey, host of The Children's Corner

    04:36

    Fred Rogers on the format of The Children's Corner

    03:19

    Fred Rogers on the puppets of The Children's Corner, including "Daniel Tiger," "King Friday XIII," and "Lady Elaine Fairchild"

    03:53

    Fred Rogers on the set of The Children's Corner and on Ernie Coombs

    02:54

    Fred Rogers on the educational aspects of The Children's Corner and on specific segments of the show

    03:34

    Fred Rogers on The Children's Corner moving over to NBC

    04:10

    Fred Rogers on the end of The Children's Corner and on parting ways with Josie Carey

    02:45

    Fred Rogers on his favorite memories of The Children's Corner

    04:43

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