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Captain Kangaroo has passed away

First it was Mr. Rogers, now Captain Kangaroo?!?

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/0...roo/index.html

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV...angaroo.ap.jpg

Quote:

(CNN) -- Television's Captain Kangaroo, Bob Keeshan, died Friday morning in Vermont, a family friend told CNN. He was 76.

He died after a long illness, his family told The Associated Press.

"Captain Kangaroo," a children's show, featured the walrus-mustached, bowl-haircut Keeshan entertaining youngsters with his gentle, whimsical humor. Among the show's other characters were the puppets Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose, as well as Dancing Bear and the laconic Mr. Green Jeans (Hugh Brannum).

The show ran on CBS from 1955 to 1985, and then moved to public television for six more years. The show won six Emmys and three Peabody Awards.

The format was simplicity itself: Keeshan would wander through the Treasure House, wearing his distinctive big-pocketed coat, and talk with Brannum and the puppets. He'd meet with guests, tell stories, and generally entertain.

Shows were frequently interrupted with silliness, such as hundreds of ping-pong balls dropping from the ceiling or Mr. Moose's knock-knock jokes.

But the mainstay was the grandfatherly Keeshan.

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

Bob Keeshan in 1999.
In a statement issued by his son Michael, Keeshan's family said: "Our father, grandfather and friend was as passionate for his family as he was for America's children. He was largely a private man living an often public life as an advocate for all that our nation's children deserve."

"Captain Kangaroo" aired in the early mornings on CBS until 1985, when the network canceled the show to expand its morning news program.

Keeshan was named Broadcaster of the Year in 1979 by the International Radio and Television Society and was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1998. He also spent five years as the silent Clarabell the Clown on "The Howdy Doody Show."

Keeshan was closely involved with health and child-care issues, serving on several boards and working to provide child care to the children of large corporations.

When Fred Rogers, the gentle host of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," died last year, Keeshan recalled how they often spoke about the state of children's programming, according to the AP.

"I don't think it's any secret that Fred and I were not very happy with the way children's television had gone," Keeshan said.

Born in 1927 in suburban Long Island, the future Captain Kangaroo grew up in Forest Hills, New York, and was an NBC page for his last year of high school during World War II. He joined the Marines after graduation.

He returned to his page job after his discharge from the Marines, and attended Fordham University.

Keeshan is survived by three children and six grandchildren.

Well, there goes another large portion of my childhood...gone. :(

Rest in peace Captain.

Damn.

Another piece of my childhood, too. Seems strange. The guy was only 76, which, these days, doesn't seem all that old.

The Dancing Bear thing...all I can remember about it was that it was really weird.

So let's see:
2003: Fred Rogers
2004: Bob Keeshan
2005: Big Bird???

I have fond memories of watching Captain Kangaroo as a kid. I have to agree that the quality of Children's television has seriously deteriorated over the past few decades.

Goobye Cap...

Ah yes, the Captain and Mr Green Jeans...they were a good part of my childhood.

Some of the first television I remember watching. :(
Go in peace, Captain K.

I salute you Captain!
~Crack

Man, I just heard about this on the radio about 2 hours ago at work. Totally ruined my day. :(

I used to love the Ping-Pong ball gag :D

I remember the Captain both from when I was a child and as a young father. I grew up with him on the television, as did my children.

I wish him well in the greater Treasure House. I will remember him fondly.

I remember watching the Cap back in my younger days too. Goodbye Captain. Say HI to Mr. Rogers for us.

So sad.

RIP Captain!!!!

V.

Oh no!!! Another part of my childhood lost. Rest in peace, Captain.

Was he sharing sweaters with Mr. Rogers?

:(

Bye bye, Bob. If there is something else after this, may you have the best of it. (May you not be eternally pelted by ping pong balls by a badly drawn, demonic moose, for instance.)

oh, wow- another one my fave childhood show hosts. :(

Another of the finest early TV personalities is gone. I have fond memories of watching him as a child. His was a very educational show.

We're all getting old:eek:

I remember back when my daily TV as a kid was The Captain, Romper Room, and Sheriff John.

Yea.....another part of our childhood gone.

RIP Captain:(

Put me down with everyone who is feeling "old".
A piece of childhood gone. :(
Goodbye Captain...I hope you are busy keeping all the little angels in heaven smiling with your gentle humor.

He was a good guy.
I got some of my great ecstatic pleasure about feeling old from him...and some others like him who've done it and still do it very well...

I remember watching the good Captain as a kid. It brings back memories of a time of innocence and kid like pleasures that included pancakes and bacon in front of the television but only once a week if I was a good boy. :) The one thing that all of us can wish for I will give to you right now:

You were a good man and the world is a better place because of you. Rest in peace Bob Keeshan.

I remember watching him and Mr. Green Jeans. I also remember my mother explaining to me that the president was shot, and that's why Captain Kangaroo was not on that morning. Interesting coincidence, because didn't John Hinckley just get released or more expanded visitation or something?

So sad...
Rest in peace, Bob.

I feel old too.

Has PBS have some type of crazed top secret they have to start killing off them before they talk?

Ah, the good times I had with the Captain. I am very sorry to see him go.

It’s a sad thing to hear that another one of the greats has left us, he will be missed.