First off, you studied theater well before Mr Rogers – I’m not sure how many knew that. What got you interested in acting in the first place?
My grandfather used to take me to plays. The first play I ever saw was from a touring company that come through Pittsburgh. The play was called “Harvey” – Jimmy Stewart made it into a movie. The play starred comedian Joe E. Brown – I think he was related to a former manager of the Pirates.
The play was in a grand old theater – the atmosphere of that Saturday matinee – it was enchanting. I came home after that and redid the play in our basement using crates and curtains and played every part. That’s what got me started!
What did you do after that to pursue you career?
I went to school after a two-year break. I went to work at the Pittsburgh Playhouse – they had a school there and taught production. I was more interested in production than acting – that was fascinating to me, putting together a play. After that two-year school I went on the University of Pittsburgh and got my degree in English Lit.
Television then was the new thing. I volunteered at the local public television station – WQED. In the Spring of 1967 I went to visit my cousin in London – he was in the Navy. I toured Europe after with a friend, when I got a telegram from my friend Bob McCully – he was a writer and producer who knew Fred Rogers. He said Fred was starting a national show and wanted to interview me to be his production assistant. He told me the date to meet with Fred when I got back.
Fred and I talked for an hour – it wasn’t so much about the job – just talking about who I was. After that he asked when I could start.
What was that start like for you?
I started a week later. He gave me some scripts and we met the following week. Before I left he said “By the way, I’m writing in a delivery man into the program that will come on occasionally, and I’d like you to play that part.” I was happy to do that, but the emphasis was on the production. I was in charge or props and costumes then.
We did 130 programs that first year – it was intense. He did the writing and we did the production work. I thought it was a one-year job and here I am talking to your 50 years later!
The company was first named the Family Communications Inc. The shows are still on now – on Pluto and elsewhere. We produce Daniel Tiger, Donkey Hodie as well. We’d been very careful not to sell to kids – Fred was very careful about that. The only thing ever sold to kids was music that was from the show. It all had to have merit that supported the development of children.
It was all fascinating – I learned so much about children and television and how to take an idea and put it into motion.
How did growing up in Pittsburgh influence you as an actor and person?
Fred had a lot of offers to move the show to New York or L.A.. He told me once that he visited a national network in New York and they wanted him to wear a costume. He said he wasn’t a performer – he wasn’t going to pretend to be something he wasn’t.
That’s just what Pittsburgh is about. Pittsburgh is a lot of ethnic neighborhoods all throughout the city that form a community. It’s a friendly city that has a vibe. I hate that word but I think it explains what I mean. It’s an honest city – people are warm and caring for the most part.
I had a friend in Atlanta who said the thing they remember most about their career was how friendly Pittsburgh was. I think that atmosphere enabled Fred to create something that resonated with Children all over the country. He cared more about kids then he did TV. That comes from the warmth of the city I think.
Even when you look at the Steelers. I’m generalizing some, but they could lose every game and the city would still be loyal to them. They are part of the community. Pittsburgh is faithful to it’s own.
Any fun stories on set from Mr. Rogers?
Fred was always open to new ideas. One I mentioned was one he ran with right way. Every year the Wizard of Oz was shown on TV and we’d hear how adults and kids would be scared of the witch! I mentioned this to Fred and asked if there was a way to help kids deal with things they were scared of – to help them process scary images.
Well, he told me that if I could find Margaret Hamilton – the actress who played the witch – he’d write the script! She was doing commercials then and on tour, but I managed to find her agent. Her agent said she’d love to be on the show – that she’d get letters telling her how scary she was.
She came in and told the audience that she always wanted an outlet to talk about her role. She talked about how it was all pretend -she showed her hat and costume on the show. That was very helpful to the kids. We got letters thanking us for that show. That’s what Fred wanted – for the program to be a vehicle for parents to talk to their kid about things. He would say the space between the TV set and the kids is holy ground. There’s a big responsibility to put positive images in that space.
Margaret was wonderful too. She became friends with my wife and I and would call on Sundays and we’d chat.
There was also a documentary on your travels called Speedy Delivery. How did that name come about and how much fun was that for you?
That was a lot of fun. When we first started the delivery man idea, he was to be named Mr. McCurty. But the day of the first show, about 10 minutes before the show, Fred got a call from Sears Roebuck who was underwriting the show. The man’s name was Mr. McCurty – he was the one who approved the funding for Seats Roebuck. He told Fred he loved the show but asked if we could change the name of the delivery man since it sounded too self-serving!
So Fred walked up to me and said we had to change the name. Then he said “I know, we’ll call you Mr, McFeely!” That was his mother’s maiden name!
My first delivery on the show was an armadillo! After the delivery I ad-libbed and said “Speedy delivery to you Mr. Rogers!” That stuck and I ended up being the Speedy Delivery Man! Over time the character calmed down. Fred flushed it out and I got my own house, a wife, grandchildren… We started doing flashbacks of my deliveries as a young man. My first was a picnic basket I delivered in a canoe to an island in the Monongahela! All of those adventures – visiting different places – those became part of the show and played a part in something bigger
You were recently inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Gold Circle – what did that mean to you?
Oh boy I didn’t know anything about it. It turns out I was nominated for my 50 years in television. I was dumbstruck – I never expected it. I was very honored – in fact I’m looking at it right now as we’re talking!
But what matters most is what those 50 years represent. I feel like I was an integral part of those shows.
Are you a sports fan? Any good sports experiences in the city?
My father and grandfather were big sports fans – I picked some of it up but I always wanted to play baseball and was never good enough! I have three kids who played hockey, basketball and swim. Going to their swim meets, basketball and hockey games helped me to relive sports.
My father was obsessed with the Pirates. He managed a little league team in Greentree. He passed away when I was 14 and they renamed the field for him – Newell Field. That made me feel good. It feels like the equivalent of the Gold Circle Award – we both got to do what we loved to do. I could do my passion full-time though.
Now I love taking my kids to games and seeing their love of sports – I love seeing that more than the sports themselves.
One time I got to throw the opening pitch for the Pirates. I walked to the mound and saw the catcher – it looks so far away when you get out there! I thought I’d never get the ball to home plate, so I pretended to do a special delivery halfway there before I threw it!
It was daunting – I still have that game ball!