The Image of Beauty

I went to school with a beautiful girl who looked like Lady Elaine - I called her "Lady Elaine".

(She is) candid

During an interview, Fred Rogers was asked what word, if only one, came to his mind when someone said the name Lady Elaine; he replied, "honesty".

At last...

Finally: Fairchilde's legs.

Crazy Lady

Lady Elaine in Collinwood?

It has been rumored that Fred Rogers was a big Dark Shadows fan: Lady Elaine was inspired by Professor T. Elliot Stokes. Take note of their fascinations with both the magical and unexplained.

Visions

When I close my eyes, this is what I see.

RARE >>>

Here is a rare photo of Meg Seeley, Lady Elaine's original design artist.

LADY ELAINE IN REALITY

Lady Elaine is a noble soul disguised in a devil's cloak. She is often seen insulting, confusing, or manipulating various characters in the Neighborhood of Make Believe - usually King Friday (notice that she is the only character to call him simply "Friday"). If the majority says "YES", she will inevitably say "NO". She detests authority. Lady Elaine was introduced into the Neighborhood primarily to teach children how to deal with cantankerous people in the neighborhood of life.

Fred Rogers taught kids how to deal with frustrating folk, depicted through the conflicts caused by Lady Elaine: Practice patience with difficult people - and at times it is necessary to call them out when they've crossed the line. Lady Aberlin was especially gifted in this area. Fred created a character - though a turd and sometimes hard to deal with - who is genuinely likable deep-down and worth getting to know, in spite of her harsh persona. At the heart of Lady Elaine is a beautiful individual.

Log Lady

The Log Lady Reminds me of Lady Elaine

Lovin' the Lady

L - Lark-like
A - Alarming heckler
D - Domineering
Y - Yarn expert

E - Electrifying!
L - Lambaster
A - Art aficionado
I - Instigator
N - Nouveau
E - Ergonomically-correct hand puppet

Trivia

Did you know?

King Friday and Lady Elaine Fairchilde were not related. According to Fred Rogers, her title was simply to designate her as a Lady.

Friendly Chit-Chat

Just got off the phone with Lady Elaine.
"How in the world are you today, Toots?"

PermaGrin

A VERY HANDY LADY

The darker side of Lady Elaine can be problematic. She relishes mischief. She detests authority. In short, she can be a turd. She will often sets characters against each other just to see what will happen next and she loves scaring Daniel Tiger for pleasures' sake.

The Neighborhood is her cage: the inhabitants, her pets. When she noticed how pompous and narrow-minded King Friday was (the day she brought him home from her personal pet store), she assigned him the role of king - so she could gloat over what a stooge he makes of himself. She rounded up other pets that would obey Friday's every word. An owl, pussy-cat, platypus, a Cornflake Especially. If it starts to get a little dull in her cage, she stirs it up a bit and takes in the show gleefully. All the time, Lady Elaine dominates. Maybe that is why she was made with a permanent grin.

Lady Elaine Explores the U.S.S.R

Remember the 1970's & 80's: The Cold War. Democracy 'good' vs. Communism 'bad'. Can you remember how these sentiments were reflected in television and film of the time? During this period, Lady Elaine Fairchilde traveled in a rocket ship to the Planet Purple. She blasted-off from The Neighborhood of Make-Believe: where anything is possible, creativity is supreme, and everyday is wonderfully different. Upon arrival, she discovered a planet where everything is purple, everything is dull, everything is boring. The boys are all named Paul, and likewise, the girls are all named Pauline. Life there is exactly same everyday. The Neighborhood of Make-believe represented the U.S.: land of free, the unsuppressed, where dreams became reality. In contrast Planet Purple's (Communist Russia's) citizens were not allowed to think outside the box, stuck in their boring lives, drones. Lady Elaine traveled to the U.S.S.R not simply as an adventurer, but really as an American agent to instruct children of the folly and dibilitating nature that communisim has on the creative mind. The parallels between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. are clear to see.

Fairchilde Cares

Underneath Lady Elaine's tough red skin is a gentle softie. I'll tell you about it later.

Fairchilde vs. Friday

If you stare deep into Lady Elaine's eyes you get a glimpse at the fiery beauty of her soul. She speaks to me. She tells me King Friday will soon be finished: her domain is now.

Say It Isn't So

One of the original Lady Elaine hand-puppets recently sold for over 3 million at a local auction house.

Essential Fairchilde

Lady Elaine is perfect: the matted hair, the long nose, her rosy glow. She's smart as whip too - she sees things we can't see.

PP

Puppet Master

In the beginning, Fred Rogers created Lady Elaine Fairchilde.

Lady Elaine is the unforgettable diamond amongst the lost and confused dwellers of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Though merely a hand-puppet, she commands. She is the true puppet-master. Even high and mighty King Friday finds it difficult to manage her. She spars with him whenever the opportunity comes. King Friday is supposed to be the Ruler; but he is no Ruler. He is a jealous, self-obsessed, melodramatic, power-monger, who never had an original thought in his life. King Friday's jealousy of Lady Elaine is strong, and rightfully so.

Lady Elaine is pure creativity: risk-taker, instigator, trouble-maker, beautiful, sensitive, rebellious. She mirrors so many things in humanity: real life. Lady Elaine is that bizarre, combination of love and hate found in all humans.

One Spunky Puppet

A Handy-Lady.

All Things Lady Elaine

"Hey there, Toots. When I want something to happen, I wave my Boomerang Toomerang Soomerang and—it happens."

Lady Elaine