Actor who played Captain Kangaroo dies

knightwolf68

Active Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2003
Messages
1,910
Reaction score
1
http://www.9news.com/storyfull.aspx?storyid=23485


Several news organizations are reporting that Bob Keeshan has died. Keeshan delighted millions of TV viewers for 30 years as Captain Kangaroo.


Keeshan died in Vermont where he lived, according to Broadcast News Ltd. He was 76.

Keeshan was a television pioneer, who became the host of the longest-running TV children's show of all time.

He got into show business as an intern, getting tipped $5 a show to dress like a clown. He never spoke on the program, but Keeshan still captivated kids as the first Clarabell on The Howdy Doody Show.

In 1955, CBS hired Keeshan to star in a new children's show. Captain Kangaroo was a grandfatherly-type, who carried all kinds of interesting things in his pouch-like pockets.

The captain stayed on the air from 1955 to 1985, teaching and entertaining kids.

Once the captain ended his TV run he continued to speak out for children's programming.

"Television is a wonderful tool,” he said on at least one occasion. “It can teach, it can educate, it can be a great cultural influence on our young people."

Keeshan suffered from heart trouble later in life and spent his last years away from the TV camera with his own children and grandchildren. He was also the author of several children's books.
 
*tip my hat and bow in silence for the Captain*

Man, The Captain was always on the TV every morning when I was a kid growing up in the 1970's. Even though the Captain's shows didn't have CC at that time, it was easy to understand thru the actions (except for Mr Green Jeans and his guitar!) I preferred the Captain to Sesame Street.

That's the Captain during the 1950's.....
captain-kangaroo-1.jpg


Wish my kids would see the Captain nowadays (even if a different actor was used) instead of *cough* Barney :barf:
 
Last edited:
I used to watch that show when I was younger the bad thing is that It didn't have closed caption. But it was his face expressions& Body Language that Made me Laugh and Love his shows.
 
I found out about him this am and :shock: I loved his show when i was kid and still LOVE it!!! I am one of his fans :)

my baseball cap off for him....
 
That show! I used to watch before going to school. But when I got older, the show moved later into the day. I couldn't watch the show unless I was too sick to go to school. I thought Captain Kangaroo was more boring than my first grade teacher.
 
Back
Top