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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Captain Kangaroo Dies |
| 2004-01-23 |
| Bob Keeshan, who gently entertained and educated generations of children as television’s walrus-mustachioed Captain Kangaroo, died Friday at 76. Keeshan, who lived in Hartford, Vt., died of a long illness, his family said in a statement. Keeshan’s "Captain Kangaroo" premiered on CBS in 1955 and ran for 30 years before moving to public television for six more. It was wildly popular among children and won six Emmy Awards, three Gabriels and three Peabody Awards. The format was simple: Each day, Captain Kangaroo, with his sugar-bowl haircut and uniform coat, would wander through his Treasure House, chatting with his good friend Mr. Green Jeans, played by Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum. He would visit with puppet animals, like Bunny Rabbit, who was scolded for eating too many carrots, and Mr. Moose, who loved to tell knock-knock jokes. But the show revolved about the grandfatherly Captain Kangaroo, whose name was inspired by the kangaroo pouch-like pockets of the coat Keeshan wore. |
| Posted by:Chuck Simmins |
| #23 Bob Keeshan was a product of Western Civilization. He taught children to be better human beings. Yasser Arafat is a product of Islamic Culture. He teaches children to be better suicide bombers. This is further evidence of the superiority of Western Civilization. |
| Posted by: omvi 2004-1-23 10:52:51 PM |
| #22 Steve - the ones that'll really bring me down will be Clint Eastwood and Sean Connery **knocking on wood** but, God forbid, not soon |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-1-23 9:30:25 PM |
| #21 Yup, Captain Kangaroo was one of my earliest positive non-family influences aswell - his show, along with The Rifleman (with Chuck Conners) sort of set my standards of canduct for the next 40 years. It's funny - the single strongest memory I have is of one particular story read by Captain Kangaroo - "Stone Soup" by Marcia Brown. It laid out the story my life would take - starting off as a soldier, and then setting off to find a new way to survive. I now have a copy of that skinny book on my bookshelf, courtesy of my sister. Bob Keeshan - RIP. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2004-1-23 8:49:07 PM |
| #20 Two of the children's TV hosts I used to watch dead within a year of each other. I can't believe it. |
| Posted by: Korora 2004-1-23 8:07:08 PM |
| #19 I tell ya, I wanted to cry when I heard that today, I loved watching Captain Kangaroo as a kid. I hope he knew (and his family knows) how much happiness he gave us as children and how many fond memories today. |
| Posted by: TS 2004-1-23 7:56:35 PM |
| #18 This is a double blow. For any Rantbugers who lived in or around Chicago in the 1960's, Ray Rayner (WGN's Bozo The Clown and host of "Rocket to Adventure")died at the age of 84. Ray's shows were much like the Captain's, gabbing with Cudley Dudley and Garfield Goose, etc., plus showing cool serials and cartoons. I'm 40 years old and have great memories of both Ray and the Captain. Rest in Peace, guys, and thanks. |
| Posted by: JDB 2004-1-23 7:56:12 PM |
| #17 Cap'n K joins Mr. Rogers in Heaven today. And that makes Heaven an even better place to be. |
| Posted by: Mark 2004-1-23 6:47:05 PM |
| #16 Captain Kangaroo, the cereal train, and Battle Creek, Michigan. - you just new the day was lookin' up. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2004-1-23 5:39:53 PM |
| #15 Hell Captain K. was a Marine! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-23 5:24:51 PM |
| #14 I forgot to mention Crabby Appleton. . . "I'm mi-tey Manfred, the wonder doooooooog!!!" |
| Posted by: Doc8404 2004-1-23 5:19:35 PM |
| #13 Dancing Bear and Mr. Moose and Ping Pong balls. :( |
| Posted by: Doc8404 2004-1-23 5:17:38 PM |
| #12 I can still remember his show's theme. (it's also firmly planted in my head now, thanks...) |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-1-23 4:56:40 PM |
| #11 OF,he wore a Navel uniform if I remember right. |
| Posted by: raptor 2004-1-23 4:50:00 PM |
| #10 A truly sad day..... |
| Posted by: moreydee 2004-1-23 4:48:48 PM |
| #9 God bless him! Is it too late to have him promoted to General? |
| Posted by: OldeForce 2004-1-23 4:35:50 PM |
| #8 He would visit with puppet animals What? Mr. Moose was no puppet he the living breathing incarnation of every kid's willfullness, in short Mr. Moose was a proto-Rantburger. I may have to go fire off a few rounds. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-23 4:25:55 PM |
| #7 I have 10,000 ping-pong ready to deliver. Jeeeez... I was a fool for Tom Terrific and Mighty Manfred. :( |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-23 4:22:26 PM |
| #6 I have fond memories of watching The Captain--he came on after "Sunrise Semester" and was followed by "Romper Room." I'll take him (and Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Greenjeans and Dancing Bear) over the taxpayer-subsidized purple dinosaur any day. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-1-23 3:46:55 PM |
| #5 Mr. Green Jeans and Bunny Rabbit expressed sadness in his loss, the "Town Clown" could not be reached for comment. Loved the Capt. A kid show that wasnt about screaming every 10 seconds. |
| Posted by: Frank Martin 2004-1-23 3:04:43 PM |
| #4 Sigh, boy, do I remember his show. Makes me feel old at how many of the people I grew up watching are gone. There's gonna be a long roll of the dead at this year's Oscars. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-1-23 2:58:11 PM |
| #3 I loved Captain Kangaroo. |
| Posted by: Unmutual 2004-1-23 2:57:24 PM |
| #2 He was a good man, and I'll always remember watching his show growing up. It's a shame to see him go. Keeshan did serve in the Marines, but if you heard the rumor that he served on Iwo Jima with Lee Marvin, it just ain't so. He got into the Marines in '45, but a bit too late to see combat. |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-1-23 2:36:19 PM |
| #1 RIP Captain. A Life well lived. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2004-1-23 2:21:40 PM |