Captain Kangaroo (TV)
"Captain Kangaroo" is a classic children's television program that debuted in 1955, created and hosted by Bob Keeshan. Known for his gentle and nurturing demeanor, Keeshan's character, Captain Kangaroo, wore a distinctive jacket with large pocket-like features, which contributed to the show's title. The program was designed to entertain and educate preschool children, featuring memorable segments that included storytelling, music, and interactive sketches. Notable characters included Mr. Green Jeans, portrayed by Hugh Brannum, and a variety of puppets such as Bunny Rabbit and Mister Moose, who engaged in playful antics.
Over its impressive twenty-nine-year run on CBS, "Captain Kangaroo" became the longest-running children's show on television, garnering a dedicated fanbase among baby boomers and their families. The show's slower pace and direct engagement with viewers set it apart from other children's programming of its time, reflecting a more thoughtful approach to the medium. Following its CBS tenure, Keeshan created a PBS version that combined new content with classic clips. Despite an attempt to revive the show in 1997 with a new host, it did not achieve the same level of success. "Captain Kangaroo" remains a significant cultural artifact in the history of children's television, influencing the landscape for future generations.
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Captain Kangaroo (TV)
Identification Children’s television show
Date Aired from 1955 to 1984
Popular program for preschoolers, combining live action, puppetry, and animation.
In 1955, twenty-eight-year-old Bob Keeshan, previously known as Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody Show, launched this gentler, slower-paced CBS weekday morning program, aiming to entertain and educate preschool children. Keeshan’s grandfatherly character wore a jacket with large, pouch-like pockets, thus giving rise to his name.
Keeshan’s sidekick, Mr. Green Jeans (Hugh Brannum), played guitar, sang, and introduced viewers to gardening and many different animals. Puppeteer Cosmo Allegretti played the other regulars: Bunny Rabbit, who bamboozled the Captain into giving him carrots; Mister Moose, who tricked the Captain into speaking words that triggered a cascade of Ping-Pong balls; Grandfather Clock, who woke up only long enough to recite a poem; and Dancing Bear.
Regular segments included “Reading Stories” and the animated Tom Terrific and Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog. A picture was “magically” drawn on Magic Drawing Board to fit an accompanying song. Skits and musical performances included both regulars and guest stars.
Captain Kangaroo’s twenty-nine years on CBS made it the longest-running children’s show on television. Keeshan followed it with a Public Broadcasting System (PBS) version combining new footage with clips from the older program. An updated 1997 version with a new Captain Kangaroo failed to find an audience.
Impact
Captain Kangaroo was a favorite among young baby boomers and their parents, whose letters forestalled a threatened cancellation during the late 1950’s. Its slow pace and direct involvement with its viewers stood out amid the trends in children’s television, and it served as a touchstone in the development of the first “television generation.”
Bibliography
Keeshan, Robert. Good Morning Captain: Fifty Wonderful Years with Bob Keeshan, TV’s Captain Kangaroo. Minneapolis: Fairview Press, 1996. Keeshan’s memoir of his career in children’s television.
Woolery, George W. Children’s Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1985. An encyclopedic listing of live-action television programs for children.