Flickr/David Pinkerton/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Kohler, both the company and the Village, is certainly a neighborly place. And never was that more evident than back in 1997 when the show featuring America’s favorite neighbor to millions of children (and adults) came to town. A video crew from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood visited the Pottery to record associates making toilets for a segment to educate children how toilets are made and work.
The episode aired on February 18, 1998, and featured Fred Rogers talking to children about learning to use the potty, and reassuring them in song that, indeed, you can never go down the drain.
It’s no surprise that Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which was a mainstay of public television, decided to utilize Kohler’s resources for the episode.
“One of the reasons we chose to come to Kohler was because of the company’s support for the arts,” said Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood associate producer, Casey Brown.
The day-long video shoot featured associates making slip, doing slip casting work, spraying glaze, preparing the bowls for the kiln, unloading, then testing and assembling the toilet bowls.
Although Mister Rogers himself didn’t make an appearance in Kohler, it was quite the memorable experience for all those involved.
Scott Mayer, Sr. Product Development Technician, was a Class C Ware Caster at the time and fondly remembers his participation.
“It was so neat to watch the show with my wife and three boys at the time, and now I can watch it with my grandson,” says Mayer. “When I see my co-worker Bruce Blumenstein who is retired now, we still talk about being on the show.”
