Bob Keeshan - Captain Kangaroo -- R.I.P.

Brian Olewnick · January-23rd-2004, 12:24 PM

Just heard that Bob Keeshan has died.

Ron Thorne · January-23rd-2004, 12:36 PM

What sad news. What memories!

RIP, Bob Keeshan~

Chris D · January-23rd-2004, 12:37 PM

Wow. Farewell, Bob. Hope there's a ping-pong ball shower awaiting you when you arrive.

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-23rd-2004, 12:43 PM

A San Francisco talk show host who interviewed him a number a times was just saying that he was never out of character; that -- like Mr. Rogers -- he seemed to be as nice and gentle and full of wonder as he appeared to be on television.

I was watching him way back to before Mr. Greenjeans was added to the show.

Do you think The Captain would play today, with the kids raised on video games?

Chris D · January-23rd-2004, 12:55 PM

Sure, I think he would. Fred Rogers still gets through to my little monkeys.

Monte Smith · January-23rd-2004, 12:58 PM

I swear to God, I thought he was already dead. Really. I must have been thinking of Mr. Greenjeans.

Captain Kangaroo was an officer and a gentleman. I loved his show when I was a kid.

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-23rd-2004, 01:05 PM

The Captain was a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Longest running network kids TV show ever, 1955-85.

He played Clarabelle on Howdy Doody.

January-23rd-2004, 01:17 PM

Man, I'm with Monte. Why did I think he already died? Maybe the whole Fred Rogers thing really threw me for a loop.

Either way, God bless ya, Cappy! You made my childhood mornings in front of the tube pretty cool.

Gentle Giant · January-23rd-2004, 03:43 PM

Big part of my childhood. Thanks for taking care of me, Capt.

Man behind 'Captain Kangaroo' dies
By Christopher Graff, Associated Press, 1/23/2004

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Bob Keeshan, who entertained and educated generations of children as television's walrus-mustached Captain Kangaroo, died Friday, his family said.

Keeshan, who died in Vermont where he lived for several decades, was 76.

"Our father, grandfather and friend was as passionate for his family as he was for America's children," said a statement issued by son Michael Keeshan on behalf of the family. "He was largely a private man living an often public life as an advocate for all that our nation's children deserve."

Keeshan's "Captain Kangaroo" debuted on CBS television in 1955 and continued for 30 years before moving to public television for another six.

The program was wildly popular among young children who seemed to know that the quiet Keeshan truly cared about them. "Captain Kangaroo" won six Emmy awards, three Gabriels and three Peabody awards.

"Captain Kangaroo is almost the only genuine children's program left on network television - certainly the only one which puts the welfare of the children ahead of that of the sponsor," said the 1958 Peabody Award for the outstanding television program for children.

The format of the program was simple: Each day Captain Kangaroo would wander through his Treasure House, chatting informally 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 Captain Kangaroo -- the name was prompted by the kangaroo pouch-like pockets of the coat Keeshan wore -- an elderly man modeled on a friendly grandfather-type figure.

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

Keeshan, born in Lynbrook, N.Y. grew up in Forest Hills and became a page at NBC while he was in high school. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945.

"I would never trade my Marine Corps experience for anything," he said. "The training, the character building, are second to none."

His first television appearance came in 1948 when he played the voiceless, horn-honking Clarabell the Clown on the "Howdy Doody Show," a role he created and played for five years.

After Keeshan left that show he considered becoming an insurance salesman, but was hired to play Corny the clown, the host of a noontime cartoon program on WABC-TV in New York City.

"Captain Kangaroo" debuted Oct. 3, 1955 and Keeshan remained in that role until 1993.

Keeshan, who moved to Vermont in 1990, remained active as a children's advocate, writing books, lecturing, and lobbying on behalf of children's issues.

He was criticial of today's television programs for children, saying they were too full of violence. And he maintained a constant drumbeat throughout his life for good parenting.

"Parents are the ultimate role models for children," he said. "Every word, movement and action has an effect. No other person or outside force has a greater influence on a child than the parent."

In 1987, Keeshan and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander co-founded Corporate Family Solutions, an organization that provided developmental daycare programs to businesses around the country.

Keeshan believed children learn more in the first six yars of life than at any other time and was a strong advocate of daycare that provides emotional, physical and intellectual development for children.

"Play is the work of children. It's very serious stuff. And if it's properly structured in a developmental program, children can blossom. They can get to kindergarten, like, 'just show it to me, just show it to me, I'm able to handle anything," he says. "They've been taught, not told, they can handle anything."

Keeshan's wife, Jeanne, died in 1990. He is survived by three children and six grandchildren.

Captain Hate · January-23rd-2004, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Squaredancecalling Steve
I was watching him way back to before Mr. Greenjeans was added to the show.

Do you think The Captain would play today, with the kids raised on video games?

That's a good question; I'll have to ask the Hatettes if he was still on tv when they were tykes. I know they watched Romper Room.

I guess there's nobody to wind Grandfather the clock anymore. From one Captain to another, RIP.

moneyp · January-23rd-2004, 06:47 PM

I was *on* Romper Room, motherf*ckers!

Captain Kangaroo was awesome. He could totally kick Howdy Doody's ass.

Gordon B · January-23rd-2004, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mone peterson
I was *on* Romper Room, motherf*ckers!

Captain Kangaroo was awesome. He could totally kick Howdy Doody's ass.

I was a big CK fan as a little kid.

I wasn't on Romper Room but I did make it on "Bozo, the Clown."

So Mr. Green Jeans wasn't really Frank Zappa. Does anybody remember when that was the rumor de jour?

January-23rd-2004, 07:05 PM

I believe you mean Mr. Green Jeans was supposedly Zappa's father, Gordo.

Ron Thorne · January-23rd-2004, 07:34 PM

Among other things, Bob Keeshan was a pioneer in advocating non-violence, classical and jazz music for children on television. What a soul!

He and Fred Rogers are irreplacable in my estimation.

walto · January-23rd-2004, 07:37 PM

I think the reason people think Keeshan already died is that guys like Elvis and Keeshan and Jesus get to do that several times.

They're special.

HLJ · January-23rd-2004, 09:51 PM

Man that is sad.Cap was cool he was The Man to us 50's Kids. Wasn't there a character on the show called Dancing Bear.Peace and all that.

Underhound · January-23rd-2004, 10:13 PM

Captain Kangaroo has always been one of my favorite captains, along with Beefheart and Crunch.

Because of his show I learned how to spell Massachusetts.

Count me among those who were surprised that he was still alive, and surprised that he was only 76.

Two questions though:

Why did Mr. Geen Jeans play the double bass over his knee like a guitar ?

How come Dancing Bear never closed his mouth ?

Monte Smith · January-23rd-2004, 10:19 PM

Weird. My wife also thought Captain Kangaroo was dead.

In addition, photographer Helmut Newton died today. I thought Helmut Newton was dead! Really. There was a famous photographer of slick celebrity nudes who died like two years ago. Who was it? I thought it was Helmut Newton.

I have a bad track record with this stuff. For two years (1987 to 1989), I believed Harrison Ford was dead. I have no idea why I was under that impression. I must have dreamed that he died. But eventually in conversation I mentioned something about the late, lamented Han Solo. One of my friends was like, "He's not dead." I was like, "Sure he is."

I also believed for a time that Bryan Adams had bit it, but of course in that case so what?

moneyp · January-23rd-2004, 10:27 PM

I thought he was dead already, too. Maybe this is like Kareem's retirement. He died, but not enough people noticed, so he decided to die again.

I was thinking maybe it was Soupy Sales who I was confusing him with, but Soupy is still alive!

GoodSpeak · January-23rd-2004, 10:47 PM

Yet another integral part of my childhood goes away.

A sad day indeed.

So long, Bob.

ormsbop · January-24th-2004, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Underhound

Why did Mr. Geen Jeans play the double bass over his knee like a guitar ?

I think the character was called the old folk singer or something like that. I seem to remember him wearing a long gray beard. He was a professional bassist in a big band before his TV career.

I'd forgotten how many classic children's books were introduced on Captain Kangaroo - Curious George, Make way for Ducklings, Ping, Mulligan's Steamshovel...
Classic show, classy man.

RIP Captain.

Brian Olewnick · January-24th-2004, 11:38 AM

In the NYT today, they published a photo from the show taken in 1962 and the Captain did indeed already look like a portly old feller. I guess I watched it around 1960-62, so I'm glad to find out that my memory, like many others, of Keeshan always having been "old" wasn't really mistaken.

Rather surreal to see his obit opposite that of Helmut Newton.

tippy · January-24th-2004, 11:58 AM

As co-chair of PETA's committee for Kangaroo Sovereignty, I object to these accolades.

stonemonkts · January-24th-2004, 12:07 PM

Captain Kangaroo was one of my favorites from childhood. He projected such a kind demeanor, always insisting on referring to us as "children" and never "kids". My evil older sister called me kiddo, so I appreciated the Captain's graciousness.

Romper Room was for nerds, Mone.

Other favorites from that era for me were Soupy Sales, and Candid Camera (I appeared on it in 1963).

I hated Bozo, fwiw.

Anyone recall when Soupy coaxed children to reach into their Daddy's wallet and send the green bills to him? I think he got in trouble for it.

RIP Captain

Pete C · January-24th-2004, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stonemonkts
Candid Camera (I appeared on it in 1963).

What did you do?

I appeared on Morty Gunty's "The Funny Company" (a local NY kids show hosted by a minor comedian) in 1964. I told a moron joke.

"Why did the moron take a bag of oats to bed?"

"I don't know, why did the moron take a bag of oats to bed?"

"So he could feed his nightmares."

I don't think it's PC to tell moron jokes any more.

Pete C · January-24th-2004, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain Hate
That's a good question; I'll have to ask the Hatettes if he was still on tv when they were tykes. I know they watched Romper Room.

According to the obit Gentle Giant posted:

"Captain Kangaroo" debuted Oct. 3, 1955 and Keeshan remained in that role until 1993.

moneyp · January-24th-2004, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stonemonkts
Romper Room was for nerds, Mone.

http://www.tvparty.com/g2b/rompergun.ram

stonemonkts · January-24th-2004, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete C
What did you do?

I appeared on Morty Gunty's "The Funny Company" (a local NY kids show hosted by a minor comedian) in 1964. I told a moron joke.

"Why did the moron take a bag of oats to bed?"

"I don't know, why did the moron take a bag of oats to bed?"

"So he could feed his nightmares."

I don't think it's PC to tell moron jokes any more.

I made a peanut butter & jelly sandwich (Brian, eat your heart out). Specifically, I was one of the kids that did something Candid Camera-worthy, that being the moment I leaned down to lick the glob of jelly off the tabletop after it dribbled off the gargantuan spoon they gave me to make the sandwich.

They came to my nursery school and screened kids for how well they could (or couldn't) make a sandwich. So me and three of my pals made the episode. That same day they used us in a commercial for Esso (a shot of kids frantically running from inside the school to go outside and play on the swings). The voiceover described us as America's future!!!

Mone - Is that you in the Romper Room clip!!????!!???

moneyp · January-24th-2004, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stonemonkts
Mone - Is that you in the Romper Room clip!!????!!???

The one and only. I think I made some pretty good points on the issue of playing with armaments. My friend Rob (who I'm still friends with) is seated to the left, out of frame. He got in trouble that day for talking back to the teacher, and was withheld from the cookie rationing (I snuck him a couple anyway).

stonemonkts · January-24th-2004, 11:41 PM

That was fantastic!

I have an 8mm reel of my 3 minutes of fame. Haven't watched it in many years. The transfer was attempted to VHS bit it didn't turn out too well (the guy who tried it was using amateur equipment back when VHS first came out).