Every Color Of Cardigan Mister Rogers Wore From 1979–2001

May 22, 2017 8:24 AM

Some sweaters were worn once and then never again, like the neon blue cardigan Rogers wore in episode 1497. Others, like his harvest gold sweaters, were part of Rogers’ regular rotation and then disappeared. And then there were the unusual batch of black and olive green sweaters Rogers wore exclusively while filming the “Dress-Up” episodes in 1991. To this day, members of the Neighborhood Archive message board claim those are the only sweaters Rogers wore that were store bought. The rest were hand knit by his mother. [Every Color Of Cardigan Mister Rogers Wore From 1979–2001 via The Awl]
posted by chavenet (16 comments total)

Now that every episode is being shown on Twitch, :):) including many for the first time, I'm guessing that there will be a LOT more TMTOTH-style articles devoted to things like "how many times did King Friday XIII say 'I presume?'," etc.)

We're on 1971 now, absolute prime time for me. I am happy.
posted by Melismata at 8:31 AM on May 22, 2017 [2 favorites]

This is unreasonably irritating. Screw the colors; I want to see the cardis themselves.
Also, I want to see an interview with his mother.
posted by SLC Mom at 8:45 AM on May 22, 2017 [5 favorites]

What they need to do is to train Rogers' sweaters to drive cars in GTA5 and compete against each other.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 9:07 AM on May 22, 2017 [2 favorites]

Fun fact*: Fred wore that olive sweater when he was a sniper in 'Nam.

*Utterly untrue.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:15 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]

"fuckmook"

That's a keeper.
posted by leotrotsky at 9:48 AM on May 22, 2017 [2 favorites]

I've been watching Mr. Rogers with the kids via Amazon Prime, and it turns out I had *no memory whatsoever* of the Purple Panda or its associated planet. Man, that panda is weird.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:51 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]

"fuckmook"

That's a keeper.

Seconded, especially given the recipient of said title.
posted by Samizdata at 9:52 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]

Ever since I first saw this a couple of days ago, I have felt a very strong urge to do a Doctor Who style scarf out of the chronological sweater graphic.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:25 AM on May 22, 2017 [7 favorites]

Here is one of the sweaters, in the Smithsonian.
posted by dfm500 at 12:12 PM on May 22, 2017

Another highlight of the MisterRogers Marathon is this remix made by PBS Digital Studios that gets played inbetween some episodes... but like any other good song, it wears on you after the hundredth playing (I am SO SICK of that "Tomorrow (Snappy!)" song he closes with and eagerly await when he changes it in a couple more seasons). There is another MisterRogers remix they can use...
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:13 PM on May 22, 2017

Twitch marathon of Mister Rogers, previously.
posted by ckape at 1:18 PM on May 22, 2017

Ok, stop me if I told this story before. About 35ish years ago, I went skiing for the first and only time. Went with a bunch of friends from high school when we were either finishing college or just out of college. One of the friends who attended Carnegie Mellon brought along one of his friends. So about 8 of us are sitting in this rented ski house when the friend of my friend from Carnegie Mellon says in a voice that was seemingly quite familiar although I know I have never met this guy before, says, "Do you want to smoke a joint?" Someone responded, obviously, "Yes". He said back, "I knew you would" in that oh too familiar voice again. So we get to smoking and talking when he is finally introduced to us. Time has made me forget his first name. But when he said his last name was Rogers, it hit me. The soothing calm voice with the nasal tone. "Are you Fred Rogers son?" One of us dared to ask. "Yup" was the reply. By now, we were pretty baked so inhibitions started dropping. "Where does you Dad get those slip ons?" "What about the sweaters?" "Have you ever actually been to the magical kingdom?" On it went. He just had this grin on his face. He was either really high or was a really mellow person because he did not seem to care we were teasing him about his dad. He was probably a little of both.

So, whenever Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, or Fred Rogers himself is brought up in conversation, and you would be surprised how often it is, I tell the people listening that I smoked a fatty with Fred Rogers' son.
posted by AugustWest at 10:44 PM on May 22, 2017

This Twitter thread by Anthony Breznican tells one of the sweetest stories about meeting Mr. Rogers. It's a good story for today.
posted by bibliowench at 8:03 AM on May 23, 2017 [7 favorites]

Aww, man, that Anthony Breznican link that bibliowench posted has me just sobbing.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:32 AM on May 23, 2017

Man, that panda is weird.

Ignoring for a moment the two talking felines, one of whom lives in a clock, some crazed harridan in a revolving theater museum and a sentient trolley who seems to serve no real purpose, being even too small to engage even the diminutive despot family; sure the purple pandas were a bit unusual. This show is preceded by one where alien mops descend from space to interrogate cows and telephones (yupyupyupyup) and its viewers have an earnest belief in the universe maybe being magical.

It was a strange, wonderful time for children's entertainment.

I too picture Fred as a red-sweater guy. I'm not sure where that comes from. Stills, maybe. I am glad for this thread because I'd forgotten his middle name was McFeeley and never known that the double pumper image is in fact, real though -- of course being Mr. Rodgers -- inadvertent.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 9:27 AM on May 24, 2017

and a sentient trolley who seems to serve no real purpose,

What?? Bite your tongue. It was just as alive as the puppets, speaking through John Costa's amazing music.
posted by Melismata at 5:28 PM on May 26, 2017