GodSpeed, Captain Kangaroo
 

From WABC:

'Captain Kangaroo,' Bob Keeshan, Dies at Age 76
(New York-WABC, January 23, 2004) — Bob Keeshan, the television producer who created and ultimately became beloved children's personality Captain Kangaroo, has died. Keeshan, who was born in Lynbrook, Long Island, was 76.


Keeshan began his career by creating the character of Clarabell the Clown for the 'Howdy Doody Show.' He used that children's show experience to mold Captain Kangaroo, winning over generations of children and their parents through innovative approaches to interesting topics.

As the easy-going Captain with his big pockets and his bushy mustache, Keeshan lured children into close engagement with literature, science and especially music, adopting an approach which mixed pleasure and pedagogy.

Keeshan's approach represented a rejection of pressures towards the increased commercialization of children's programming as well as a toning-down of the high volume, slapstick style associated with earlier kid show hosts.

Keeshan was working as a receptionist at NBC-Radio's Manhattan office when Bob Smith started offering him small acting parts on his NBC-TV show, 'Triple B Ranch,' and then subsequently hired him as a special assistant for 'The Howdy Doody Show.'

Though Keeshan's initial responsibilities involved supervising props and talking to the children who were to be program guests, he was soon pulled on camera, bringing out prizes.

After appearing in clown garb on one episode to immense response, he took on the regular role of Clarabell, the mute clown who communicated by honking a horn.

Leaving the series in 1952, he played a succession of other clown characters, such as Corny, the host of WABC-TV's 'Time For Fun,' a noontime cartoon program, where he exerted pressure to remove from airplay cartoons he felt were too violent or perpetuated racial stereotyping.

While at WABC-TV, he played an Alpine toymaker on 'Tinker's Workshop,' an early morning program which served as the prototype for Captain Kangaroo.

The CBS network was searching for innovative new approaches to children's programming and approved the Kangaroo series submitted by Keeshan and long-time friend Jack Miller.

The series first aired in October 1955 and continued until 1985, making it the longest running children's series in network history. Keeshan not only vividly embodied the Captain, the friendly host of the Treasure House, but also played a central creative role on the daily series, supervising and actively contributing to the scripts and insuring the program's conformity to his conceptions of appropriate children's entertainment.

:(

Sad news.

Man, I barely remember watching his show. I'm getting old...

Aww man. I loved that show as a youngster. RIP Captain.

I used to watch him all the time as a kid.... but a generation has come and gone without him already.

We will miss you Captain!


Todd

I'm freaking old. I saw this post and said to my secretary, "Aw, Captain Kangaroo died today." Her response - "Who's that?"

The other day, I'm talking to a 22 year old who listens to metal. I mention Anthrax and Testament, and he's got no clue.

I'm not sure if it's stuff like that, or the aches and pains, that depress me more.

I'm in the same boat, but not to worry - the depression dissipates as the dementia progresses. Soon we won't be able to remember that we're old!

Very sad news to hear.

The problem isn't that these people are young, they're just out of touch. I'm 19 and I remember watching Captain Kangaroo.

Looks like I'll just be smoking cigarettes, minus watching Captain Kangaroo...


:(

Talk about obscure references...

I remember watching him as a kid myself. :(



That's the spirit.


Wasn't that the Oakridge Boys ?

My earliest TV watching memories are of the Captain Kangaroo Show.

*ping pong balls!*

It was also on a song from the soundtrack on a movie....think it was Pulp Fiction? Not quite sure...

If it makes any of you "old" people feel any better. I'm 24 and I remember Captain Kangaroo. It's not that everyone under 30 doesn't know who he is or something.

First Mister Rogers and now Captain Kangaroo. It's been a bad few months for child entertainers who were just out there to make people happy and not out there to make a quick buck. :(

SI