“Won’t You Be STeVe’s Neighbor?”

Can You Say...Hero? - Mr. Rogers Profile Interview

Really is a great article, thanks for posting it.

My Mister Rogers story:

I was working at Universal, delivering accounting mail to various bigwigs on the lot, I usually cut in through the guard gate #2 (North) that was (still is) by the side of the bank building. There was an old guard that was there for many years, Heinz was his name, I think.

At any rate, one day, I was walking across the street to the lot and was cutting in through Heinz's entrance when, who should I see standing there talking to Heinz? Fred Rogers, in costume as MisterRogers! I really thought my eyes were deceiving me until I took a closer look. And then I realized that I had spoiled a long camera shot, apparently, somehow, as crazy as it seemed, Mister Rogers was visiting Universal for his program and Heinz and his little guard cubicle were going to be in the show.

I was tongue tied but I managed to say "Hello, Mister Rogers, I think I walked right into your shot. Very sorry."

He said "That's is perfectly alright, you have a job to do here and you were doing it the best and fastest way you know."

I thanked him and moved on. I actually wanted to watch but I had to be back at a certain time.

So, that was my quick and unexpected encounter with Fred Rogers. :^)

I assume that was this episode they were filming, where Fred visits Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigino who were filming The Incredible Hulk at the time.

Episode 1468 - The Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Archive

This would have happened around late 1979, right?

Yes, that is right. Have you seen the show? Does Mister Rogers enter through Heinz's guard gate? I'm sure he does. Would love to see that.