Bob Keeshan played Clarabell on the Howdy Doody Show. In 1955 CBS offered Keeshan his own children’s show, which became Captain Kangaroo. Captain Kangaroo ran from 1955 to 1984. The show spanned many generations of kids during that time.
Keeshan was Captain Kangaroo and every morning I would look forward to seeing The Captain, Mr. Green Jeans, Bunny Rabbit, Dancing Bear, and Mr. Moose. I knew that Mr. Moose was setting the Captain up for the ritual ping-pong drop on the Captain’s head that never got old.
Mr. Green Jeans (Hugh Brannum) would have different animals at times to show. He also portrayed the Professor, Greeno the Clown, the New Old Folk Singer, and Mr. Bainter on the show.
The Painter was played by Gus “Cosmo” Allegretti who also handled the puppets and Dancing Bear.
One one of my favorite sections was the cartoon “Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings” that would appear on some shows. Simon had a magic blackboard and anything he drew became real.
Mr. Moose could be a slight smart aleck so I did like him. He also hung out with Bunny Rabbit and the Dancing Bear.
Captain Kangaroo’s place with his cast of characters was a nice place to visit as a kid.
Discover more from PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
There is a long-standing urban legend that Keeshan served alongside actor Lee Marvin in the United States Marine Corps, and that Marvin was wounded (“shot in the ass”), on Iwo Jima. If I have my facts straight, Marvin did receive such a wound, on Saipan, not Iwo. Keeshan entered the Marine corps after his 18th birthday in 1945, and left the Corps after a tour of one year. I’m not aware that he ever saw combat service.
PS – Great post, about a fun subject. Thank you.
Thanks that is cool info…yea I probably should have gone deeper but I kept it as a refresh of the memory of the show…
Mr. Rogers has some rumors about him also I think.
Yeah, does. He’s purported to be a heavily tattooed badass under that cardigan, a SEAL I think, but I think it’s all nonsense. I think the man was a minister.
Yea people want to think that is real… Mr Rogers…his hands lethal weapons.
Keeshan was still in recruit training when the Japanese surrendered. He was discharged soon afterward as the military downsized to peacetime levels.
Fond memories. Grew up watching this. Love Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit. Dancing Bear is cool too. Never thought I’d say or write that…And I’m completely straight and sober…Ahh, middle age…
I know it’s one of those things I was thinking as writing it…but good memories.
I’m glad you posted about it. Brings about a smile.
I remember Captain Kangaroo, and looking at the photo with all of them in there, yes I remember them visually, but anything else is fuzzy except for the Captain himself. I can’t believe the show ran until 1984! My kids were born in 83 and 85. They grew up on Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers.
Sesame Street had more of a cool factor than the others but I remember watching Captain Kangaroo at my grandmothers house a lot. I remember Dolly Parton was on there one time.
Do you remember a show with a woman and a hand puppet lamb? Cant remember her name but I remember liking the show as a kid.
Barely … was it lamb chop?
yes, just looked it up. Shari Lewis & Lamb Chop. you have a good memory.
Wow! I can’t believe that.
I don’t know if you saw the page about her that says her first appearance was on…… Captain Kangaroo! Serendipity strikes where it will 🙂
I just saw her wiki page! yes…
Wasn’t their an urban legend that Mr. Greenjeans was Frank Zappa’s father? I always liked it when the ping pong balls fell from the ceiling.
I never heard of that one before about Zappa but it’s great… When I was at my grandma’s house it was a must watch.
I was a regular viewer in the mid 60’s! Mr. Moose!
the rumor must have been fed due to Zappa’s song “Son of Mr. Green Jeans”
That is great… just a suggestion…a top ten urban legend list. I love how they get started.
Some of those are great- like Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo…. Stan Laurel being Clint Eastwood’s father…. i think my favorite is Eddie Haskell growing up to be Alice Cooper or Paul Pfieffer being Marilyn Manson…so many..
Mr. Rogers as a marine sniper I believe. I never heard the Stan Laurel…that is great. The Eddie Haskell and Paul Pfieffer had wheels…
Also that Billy Idol was Jim Morrison.
This was a fun look back. Captain Kangaroo was my fave kid’s show by far. The dancing bear, Bun, Mr. Green Jeans, Mr. Moose and of course the ping pong balls.
I had forgotten about Dancing Bear until I looked it up…it’s been a while.