NTV Flashbacks - Margaret Hamilton on “Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood”(1975)

One of the most iconic (and scary) film performances was that of Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West in 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz”; it would be the source of kindertraumas for generations. In today’s #NTVFlashback, Ms. Hamilton visits her friend Mr. Rogers to help small children to understand that she was an actor, and that kids had no need to fear her character. This episode was able to help children understand how to differentiate reality from fiction, and our neighbor Fred (remember, we are Pittsburgh-based) gave her the perfect platform to do it gently.

[@billyskittles1036]

Admit it: you have a smile on your face while watching this.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

Yes, I do - I absolutely love her.

[@nickwerner7983]

This comment put a smile on my face. 😁😁😁

[@farrellmcnulty909]

@@nickwerner7983 She always puts a smile on my face.

[@TheHManShow]

Such a sweet and wonderful lady she was! Margaret Hamilton actually requested she do this episode with Fred in an effort to help them not feel afraid of the Wicked Witch which scared a lot of people

[@aarondaguio7179]

This shows she was a former kindergarten teacher - her tone is gentle and precise, nothing you would expect from someone who played the Wicked Witch of the West.

[@dab7271]

This episode was a great way to explain to young kids, who might have been afraid of the wicked witch of the west, that it was make believe and playing dress up, just like kids enjoy make believe and playing dress up, for example on Halloween. But in real life she’s just a regular lady, just like their mom or grandma!

[@farrellmcnulty909]

It was nake-believe, playing dress up and shrieking that incredible dialogue as only she could. My favorite shot of her is in the crystal ball driving poor Dorothy insane "I'LL GIVE YOU AUNTIE EM, MY PRETTY..."

[@GreatDayEveryone]

Even witches have to have pockets - she's my spirit animal

[@JustPippaNY]

I'll get you, my pretty- OMG IT HAS POCKETS!!!

[@farrellmcnulty909]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@CO2isfake]

I’m privileged to have grown up in a beautiful time. Those were the best decades.

[@AnthonyWilliams-li5mz]

I had the opportunity to meet this sweet actress in the early 1970s for a maxwell house commercial I was doing, at the time she played Cora for the Maxwell house commercial campaign

[@capricornk9033]

This. Is. Adorable. Mr. Rogers was such a remarkable man; the respect he had for children was so pure and real that I felt it as a child; I see it as a mother, but I FELT it as a child.

[@brianoneill4910]

I think Mrs Hamilton’s analysis of the witch must have provided the inspiration for ‘Wicked’. Also, fashion-forward witch wearing a skirt with pockets!

[@rickiedeesnutz7318]

My gosh i love mrs Hamilton

[@MichaelLlaneza]

We did not deserve Fred Rogers.

[@iheartbunniesteehee]

She was such a treasure and deserved so much better from the acting industry :( ❤️‍🩹

[@doke5851]

I vaguely remember seeing this episode as a kid. It was always a treat when Mr. Rogers had someone waiting for him on his porch.

[@drrjim]

She did that Wicked Witch voice on the spot and perfectly...

[@reynoldsblackwater113]

I have to say I take my hat off to her for going through that role and what was said about her make up and how she went through it to bring that character life mad respect to Miss Hamilton

[@kevinelliott5823]

Testament to just how great she portrayed that role. Several generations of kids feared her and this was a great thing to do to assuage those fears💚

[@brightbite]

I sat in rapt attention as a girl watching this. It was so fascinating to get inside the wicked witch character, discuss her frustrations and the reasons behind her apparent wickedness.

[@toplaycool21]

Behind the green was a heart of gold.

[@user-ho6gl7ih3h]

4:18 I love her laugh for wicked whitch

[@BonafiedCheesegriddle]

I always thought that mr rogers was the best show as a kid. I remember watching this every morning. To know that kids in the 70’s were experiencing the same thing i was 20 years later in 99 is insane

[@lucabrazi3067]

Such a lovely charming woman ❤

[@xianli6488]

She's a sweet nice lady who play wicked witch on wizard of oz and sesame street after this year?

[@curleed85]

I read about how much Margaret Hamilton really wanted to do this, to show the audience that she was just pretending. This was especially when kids would ask her, “Why were you so mean to Dorothy?”

[@riod7559]

That hat is still scary 50 years later 😂😮

[@gwmgbwi]

I like to imagine if the wicked witch met the Sanderson sisters. Bow down girls!

[@nickwerner7983]

One year later on Sesame Street, she reprised her role as The Wicked Witch of the West.

[@heythatskyle14]

this episode comforted me, the flying monkeys still scare me today lol

[@ElwyndasRaven]

Same! Flying🐒 😅

[@tigerguy1013]

A day doesn’t go by when I wish I could’ve had a cup of coffee or a glass of lemonade on the porch with Mr. Rogers and just talk

[@poopsyko]

It’s sad to see she passed in 1985 and I know we can’t beat the clock but when I look at this and see just how nice of a person she was!!
but this is amazing that Mr Rogers would do this ❤❤❤❤❤

[@mickjames5388]

I’m not crying, you’re crying! ❤️

[@treygood6371]

Love that movie

[@lisaboyle72]

She had pockets omg

[@user-ho6gl7ih3h]

And mr rogers too 4:23

[@katieb1300]

People were just sweeter back then. Way better role models to look up to. 🥲

[@robyn051]

Rogers and Hamilton were really exceptions rather than the rule. Humans are humans :/

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

@@robyn051Hamilton was, but after research not Rogers.

[@stonenegron]

​@@EmilyGloeggler7984 care to expand upon your statement or are you just going to throw around blanket accusations?

[@Mooms]

@@EmilyGloeggler7984maybe don’t smear Fred Rogers’s name

[@junbh2]

There are sweet people to look up to in every time, you just have to find them.