Captain Kangaroo Dies at 76

[Elkhunter]

Captain Kangaroo Dies at 76
Jan 23, 1:43 PM EST

QUECHEE, Vermont (AP) -- Bob Keeshan, who gently entertained and educated generations of children as television's walrus-mustachioed Captain Kangaroo, died Friday at 76.

Keeshan died of a long illness, his family said in a statement.

Keeshan's "Captain Kangaroo" debuted on CBS television in 1955 and ran for 30 years before moving to public television for six more. The program 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.

"I was impressed with the potential positive relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, so I chose an elderly character," Keeshan said.

 

[RogueWarrior1957]

Sorry to hear that! Though we didn't have a television when I was growing up, I can remember the Capt'n from way back when I would visit cousins who had TV. I always thought that he and Mr. Rogers tried to set a good example for the kids and teach them a lesson or moral through the story lines. What do they have for role models now? Rugrats...Beevis and Butthead...Sponge Bob. Gee, I'm glad I got to be a kid back then...the kids are missing a lot of good ol' things these days

-RW-

 

[Left Behind]

Gee, I'm glad I got to be a kid back then...
Me too........
But you sure do sound old ... hmmm 1957 when's your birthday ?

 

[A-con]

Wow, that brought back some memories !
( guess not all the brain cells are dead )
I was born in 57 and watched "the captian & Mr. Green Geans" a lot.
Today, my kid watches "Barny", it"s a lot better than "Rugrats" or "Pokimon". There's a few others that arn't bad, "Kiau' & "Dragontails' on PBS are both decent shows.

 

[Elkhunter]

Was anyone born before 1957 besides me and Paws?

I think Mr. Green Geans has also left this world. I always thought the moose was rather cool.

 

[pa mt man]

I watched him. Born in 53.
I saw a Johny Carson rerun once with Lee Marvin, I think, and Johnny ask him about being a war hero. He said he wasn't and told a story about a real hero and in the end, he said it was Captian Kangraoo. don

 

[Whiskers]

Born in 1951, not only did I watch Capt. Kangaroo. But Roy Rodgers, and Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, the Cisco Kid, and the one and only Soupy Sales. Thats when TV was good. Now the only thing I watch is OLN and CSI.

 

[Elkhunter]

Glad to see some other more mature individuals around here.

pa mt man, http://www.snopes.com/military/keeshan.htm

Claim: Lee Marvin, actor, and Bob Keeshan, television's "Captain Kangaroo," fought together at the battle for Iwo Jima.
Status: False.

 

[pa mt man]

The mind is the first thing to go. Damm, I would I've sworn I saw that on tv. Must of read it on the internet. don

 

[RogueWarrior1957]

Okay, Elkhunter...let me see here...there's a menial job to be done that you are trying to goad me into doing by telling me that I'm too young to do it...right?

At least that's the way it usually works, tell me I'm either too young to do something, or that I'm too old.

Last time I let myself fall into that trap, I took the three nephews that I played mentor and stand-in-dad for to the amusement park. I have a terror of heights, or things that go in a circular motion. They, along with their cousins goaded me into riding the roller coaster by insinuating that I was too old. Never again! Not only was it HIGH, it also went into a corkscrew SPIN! I've never been so sick in my life.

So although roller coasters are out, I'm still a bit of a dare-devil. That might have been construed as a double-dog-dare as long as it doesn't entail heights or spinning objects.

Don't take me too seriously, this is a weak stab at humor.

Most of my friends were born before 1957.

-RW-

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 01-24-2004 11:13: Message edited by: RogueWarrior1957 ]</font>

 

[pawclaws]

A bit of trivia: "Any idea what Bob Keeshan's very first words were on television???

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He said; "Goodbye!" Few know that he was Clarabell the clown on Howdy Doody and the first time Clarabell spoke was also the last ending the series and his employment.

I already miss him.

 

[RogueWarrior1957]

Left Behind,

March, 1957...but I was the youngest of 6 kids...guess that made me grow up faster.

I hated to be told that I was "too young" or "too little" to do anything.

Guess I aged fast. LOL

-RW-

 

[Elkhunter]

Never knew that Paws. Thanks for the info.

RW, I can't say you are too old, because then it would be like saying I am way too old and Paws is ancient.