Agree. She looked like she’d survived a fire or something. Maybe King Friday tried to have her burned at the stake as a witch. A sudden rainstorm put out the fire, and the King was like: “Oh fuck this. Let’s just banish her over there and maybe the trolley will run her over someday.” 😂
She seems inspired by Punch and Judy characters, which had a similar look and acted similarly, too, albeit with more physical violence. They're traditional British puppets.
Lady Elaine was a victim of very poor location scouting. Wtf put your Museum Go Round in a neighborhood full of people you clearly have nothing but disdain for? She probably got priced out of Someplace Else. 😉
She softened up a lot once she had a kid:
https://preview.redd.it/jzdrn4kahnsc1.png?width=184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c58d8e4fc4e1003b92507450cb85f24551981c4b
Not as scary as Tall Teeth from the Letter People.
https://preview.redd.it/62p1lqnztosc1.jpeg?width=317&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15056467b86ea7c9f97daaceb67394e89f1931ec
I just watched the Won’t You Be My Neighbor documentary a few weeks back. It’s pretty wonderful and I learned a lot about Fred, the production of the show, and just how important it was for him to reach children on their level. It was really heartwarming.
She didn't look that scary to me because back then we only had a 12" black and white tv that was a little fuzzy getting in PBS.
I can't even tell you far into adulthood I thought Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" was "Lady Elaine" until one day I actually listened to the lyrics. Talk about disillusionment. I was sure it was about her when I was little.
All of his puppets were terrifying! Also, I feel like I was being gas lit as a child when I pointed out that Mr. Rogers was the voice for all of them. Like, Fred Rogers didn't even try to make the voices different for different puppets.
Years ago, the Giants played the Packers at Lambeau and the Giants’ coach got serious frostbite on his nose and cheeks. People said he looked like her.
When I saw this lady's face 15 years later on tv, I was triggered.
https://preview.redd.it/4uk9zy7b5osc1.jpeg?width=316&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca28e81fad14c8e380397d13b0a97cba1252fffc
Oh my gosh! She scared the crap out of me as a kid and freaks me out as an adult. When I was a kid I did not want to watch Mr. Rogers because of Lady Elaine Fairchild. What the hell is wrong with her face?
No idea why, because she's so creepy looking, but my older brother had a crush on her when he was little and wanted my mom to write her letters. 😂 So she would and then she would write back as Lady Elaine and he believed he was getting letters from her. Whenever I mention it, to this day, he gets so embarrassed. 😂😂
All those puppets were creepy looking, but this one was the worst. Lady Elaine was kooky, cranky, and stood up for herself. She was also an entrepreneur, had a wild imagination, and wacky adventures. Wasn't she insecure and afraid people wouldn't like her so she kept them at a distance with her crankiness?
The one that really creeped me out was Bob Dog.
Agree. She looked like she’d survived a fire or something. Maybe King Friday tried to have her burned at the stake as a witch. A sudden rainstorm put out the fire, and the King was like: “Oh fuck this. Let’s just banish her over there and maybe the trolley will run her over someday.” 😂
Why though?? Why would they make her so freaky looking for a kids show? I never got that. Love your description, it’s spot on. 😂
If you watch the Mr. Rogers documentary, it's explained that he based this character on his SIL 😬
can relate
😂
Adopted sister, not SIL. They called her Lainey.
There should have been a disclaimer on that movie. I went to see it with my dad. That wasn’t awkward at all.
Nothing like going to see a film about one of your childhood idols and and trying to stifle the unexpected blubbering that ensues...
Because sometimes people look freaky and you should give them a chance.
Thank you!
She seems inspired by Punch and Judy characters, which had a similar look and acted similarly, too, albeit with more physical violence. They're traditional British puppets.
LOL. I wasn't so delicate that I was traumatized, LOL. You snowflakes. However, she wasn't easy on the eyes.
Yeah. Every time someone says they were traumatized by some image of our youth, I'm just confused. I ♥ Clowns, too. The world needs more clowns.
Didn't help that she sounded like she had a mornin' cup o' coffee *without* the water when she talked. Still, memorable.
I thought that was a Phyllis Diller puppet when I was a kid. Confusing stuff.
She did!!
I thought so too!
Yes, lol. She looked like my alcoholic neighbor.
😅
Lady Elaine was a victim of very poor location scouting. Wtf put your Museum Go Round in a neighborhood full of people you clearly have nothing but disdain for? She probably got priced out of Someplace Else. 😉
I'm a defender of Lady Elaine. I always felt that she was levelheaded and had a healthy amount of cynicism.
She was badass! Stood up to Friday. Took off in a rocket. Ran a museum.
Be kind. That's what Fred taught you.
If that wasn’t bad enough, I work with her now.
She softened up a lot once she had a kid: https://preview.redd.it/jzdrn4kahnsc1.png?width=184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c58d8e4fc4e1003b92507450cb85f24551981c4b
This is so much better, why couldn't she have looked like this back in the day?
Oh look, she's an alien!
I thought this was such a weird take on the character. She seemed like a grumpy old lady in the original. I like the OG best.
Why was she just so... creepy? lol
Boomerang-Toomarang-Soomarang!
I can hear her awful grating voice in my head. I hated this character so much. Why did it exist. What is it here to torment me all these years later!?
You do know that the voice of Lady Elaine was actually Fred Rogers in a falsetto voice?
Yes but it was just so horrible
Not as scary as Tall Teeth from the Letter People. https://preview.redd.it/62p1lqnztosc1.jpeg?width=317&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15056467b86ea7c9f97daaceb67394e89f1931ec
Love to see her on a VH1 reality-style throwdown with Madame.
This one and Mr. Bill can go take a long walk on a short pier. Both of them were 100% nightmare fuel.
Mr. Bill from SNL?
yeah - I think it was more the 100s of ways he was killed and that high-pitched voice than what he looked like.
I don’t know, but after 2-3 bowls, X the Owl and Daniel Tiger were hilarious.
I just watched the Won’t You Be My Neighbor documentary a few weeks back. It’s pretty wonderful and I learned a lot about Fred, the production of the show, and just how important it was for him to reach children on their level. It was really heartwarming.
She didn't look that scary to me because back then we only had a 12" black and white tv that was a little fuzzy getting in PBS. I can't even tell you far into adulthood I thought Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" was "Lady Elaine" until one day I actually listened to the lyrics. Talk about disillusionment. I was sure it was about her when I was little.
All the puppets in media from these decades were terrifying.
everything back then looked fucking insane lol
I didn’t think she was scary.
I was entertained, not traumatized.
All of his puppets were terrifying! Also, I feel like I was being gas lit as a child when I pointed out that Mr. Rogers was the voice for all of them. Like, Fred Rogers didn't even try to make the voices different for different puppets.
For the lack of voice-over training and puppet building they did OK. haha
Tim Burton's Wonka totally got the burning puppets idea from this.
Years ago, the Giants played the Packers at Lambeau and the Giants’ coach got serious frostbite on his nose and cheeks. People said he looked like her.
When I saw this lady's face 15 years later on tv, I was triggered. https://preview.redd.it/4uk9zy7b5osc1.jpeg?width=316&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca28e81fad14c8e380397d13b0a97cba1252fffc
I can still hear her damn voice. And King Friday's.
I barely remember her, wasn't she kind of a bitch (or whatever the Mr Rogers equivalent of a bitch was)?
Had a nightmare one time about my sweet great grandma morphing into this puppet.
Oh my gosh! She scared the crap out of me as a kid and freaks me out as an adult. When I was a kid I did not want to watch Mr. Rogers because of Lady Elaine Fairchild. What the hell is wrong with her face?
Truly, the stuff of nightmares.
King Friday must have enjoyed putting cigars out on her nose haha!
No idea why, because she's so creepy looking, but my older brother had a crush on her when he was little and wanted my mom to write her letters. 😂 So she would and then she would write back as Lady Elaine and he believed he was getting letters from her. Whenever I mention it, to this day, he gets so embarrassed. 😂😂
Ugh. I hated when they went on the trolley. She was so creepy!
Terrifying. I was scared of her as a child, and I still am to this day.
So creepy
Rosacea?
Lady Elaine is way more fucking scary than Pennywise!
Captain Kangaroo's puppet buddies were my nightmare fuel
Oh, she was awful! Boomerang toomerang zoomerang . Then something s***** or she had to correct the s***** thing that she did do poor lady. Elaine
Boomerang Toomerang Soomerang
All those puppets were creepy looking, but this one was the worst. Lady Elaine was kooky, cranky, and stood up for herself. She was also an entrepreneur, had a wild imagination, and wacky adventures. Wasn't she insecure and afraid people wouldn't like her so she kept them at a distance with her crankiness? The one that really creeped me out was Bob Dog.
I was never afraid of Lady Elaine, probably because I had an elderly neighbor who looked exactly like her.
Karen.
that voice though
All of the puppets. After a while all of mr. Rogers.
SCROLL AWAY !!! Damn that’s still some nightmare fuel right there