Dedicated To The Memory Of Bob Keeshan
Captain Kangaroo aired on CBS for just under 30 years from 1955 to 1984. Captain Kangaroo was played by Bob Keeshan.It is interesting to note that Bob played the part of Clarabell the Clown on the old Howdy Doody show, which although Howdy Doody was long before my time I still saw it in reruns.
Bob Keeshan was born in 1927 and he left us in 2004. just a few short years ago. When I heard of his death I was saddened, I felt as though I knew him and he was a great friend.
When I was a child my parents always encouraged me to watch educational programs on TV. I have a lot of fond memories of watching great shows like Captain Kangaroo, The Electric Company, Sesame Street, Zoom, Shari Lewis and Mister Roger's Neighborhood. I was generally and A and B student growing up and I give a lot of credit for that to the programs my parents encouraged me to watch.
Bob Keeshan was born in 1927 and he left us in 2004. just a few short years ago. When I heard of his death I was saddened, I felt as though I knew him and he was a great friend.
When I was a child my parents always encouraged me to watch educational programs on TV. I have a lot of fond memories of watching great shows like Captain Kangaroo, The Electric Company, Sesame Street, Zoom, Shari Lewis and Mister Roger's Neighborhood. I was generally and A and B student growing up and I give a lot of credit for that to the programs my parents encouraged me to watch.
Captain Kangaroo Cast Members
In addition to Bob Keeshan the following people were also a part of the Captain Kangaroo show:Hugh Brannum, who was nicknamed "Lumpy" played the character of Mr. Green Jeans, The New Old Folk Singer, Percy, The Painter and Uncle Backwards.
Mr. Green Jeans was one of the main characters of the show, but my favorite of the ones Hugh did was Uncle Backwards.
Violet Brumley Hensley was a fiddle maker and player and appeared on the show with Mr. Green Jeans in 1977.
Cosmo Allegretti was the creator and talent behind many of the puppets as well as Mr. Moose and the Dancing Bear. Cosmo
Sam Levine was The Banana Man, a strange character who magically pulled bananas and sometimes watermelons from his pockets and from inside his coat.
Bill Cosby worked on numerous different children's programs including Captain Kangaroo. From 1980 until 1984 he presented Picture Pages which was geared to help children learn to love reading. Bob Keeshan had performed the Picture Pages segment from 1978 up to 1980 when Bill took over.
Debbie Weems appeared on Captain Kangaroo from 1973 until her death in 1978. Her main character was Debbie The Reporter, but she also did some of the puppets as well as providing the voice talent for Baby Duck. Debbie sang songs on a lot of the shows and even recorded a Captain Kangaroo album.
James "Jimmy" Wall appeared on the show for ten years from 1968 to 1978. His main character on the show was Mr. Baxter.
Kevin Clash was the talent behind the puppet Artie as well as a performer in a lot of the sketches. Kevin is most well known for the voice of Sesame Street's Elmo.
John Burstein played the character Slim Goodbody who taught viewers about human anatomy.
Carolyn Mignini appeared on the show as herself and played all the women's characters from 1981 until 1993.
Bill McCutcheon made several guest appearances on the show.
Mr. Green Jeans with Violet Hensley 1977
Special Guests On The Captain Kangaroo Show
Throughout the course of the show there were a lot of actors and singers who made guest appearances. Here are a few of them:Shari Lewis, Fred Rogers, Phyllis Diller, Ruth Buzzi, Joan Rivers, Minnie Pearl, Charlotte Rae, Imogene Coca, Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas, Rita Moreno, Pearl Bailey, Bill Cullen, Theodore Bikel, Lucie Arnaz, Andy Griffith, Mike Farrell, Gale Gordon, Fannie Flagg, Penny Marshall, Paul Sorvino, Walter Slezak, Carol Channing, Jack Gilford, Cindy Williams, The Smothers Brothers, Lorne Greene, Alan and Adam Arkin, Dick Shawn, John Denver, Bonnie Franklin, Anne Meara, Arte Johnson, Anne Jackson, Eli Wallach, Jerry Stiller, Mary Kay Place, Ken Berry, John Ritter, Dolly Parton, Bob Barker, Gavin MacLeod, Jamie Farr, and Hal Linden.
Cartoons On Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo also featured some cartoons:Tom Terrific
Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings
Ludwig
Lariat Sam
The Most Important Person
The Toothbrush Family
Crystal Tipps
The Wombles
CB Bears
Undercover Elephant
Motormouse and Autocat
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Read More About Bob Keeshan
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Bob Keeshan
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Bob Keeshan aka Captain Kangaroo, my childhood role model and one of the world's greatest children's television actors of all time.
Visitor Comments
Tell us what you think about Captain Kangaroo and this special lens.
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- partybuzz partybuzz Oct 6, 2009 @ 8:44 am
- I loved Captain Kangaroo! I watched in the 1950's and early 60's. And, later, my children watched him as well! Thanks for this great lens! 5*
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- NanLT NanLT Aug 11, 2009 @ 11:24 am
- Very fond memories of watching Captain Kangaroo. I likes Mr Rabbit and Grandfather Clock.
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- anaturalphenomenon anaturalphenomenon Jul 23, 2009 @ 6:59 am
- OMG! I love Captain Kangaroo! I didn't even realize I missed it till I saw this! Thanks so much!
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- Joan4 Joan4 Jun 21, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
- fun memories!! lensrolling to Ding Dong School! lol :)
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- JenniferAkers JenniferAkers Apr 12, 2009 @ 4:08 am
- Another great lens on a classic! Welcome to our group, Kids TV Shows!
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- Sami4u Sami4u Feb 25, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
- Hi, Lots of good info. Rated 5 stars. I din't know all those celebs appeared on the show.
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- Teddi14 Teddi14 Nov 22, 2008 @ 9:14 am
- I loved watching this show! You did a great job with this lens. It brings back a lot of memories. I will give you 5 *'s! I wish I had a lens to lensroll it to but I don't. I do have some lenses you might like though...Peanuts and childhood toys.
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- sandyspider sandyspider Oct 9, 2008 @ 11:46 am
- Oh yes Captain Kangaroo. That was my favorite as a kid! Great lens!
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- kathysart kathysart Oct 8, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
- CAPTAIN KANGAROOOO!! I LOVED HIM!
Wow how fun that you did a lens of him. So many childhood memories rush in.. Ahhh!
FIVE STARS FOR THE CAPTAIN!
Aloha, Kathy
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- GrowWear GrowWear Oct 8, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
- Thanks for the memories! Kids did learn a lot from these shows. Love this lens! It was great seeing these old friends again. Thank you.
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Buy Captain Kangaroo on DVD from Amazon
Captain Kangaroo's Merry Christmas Stories DVD
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Good Morning, Captain: Fifty Wonderful Years with Bob Keeshan, TV's Captain Kangaroo
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