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Captain Kangaroo

American children's television series

Captain Kangaroo

Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan), left,
with Nipsey Russell in 1976

Created byBob Keeshan
Written byHoward Friedlander
StarringBob Keeshan
Hugh Brannum
Opening theme
  • "Puffin' Billy" (The Leader Kangaroo Theme) (1955–1974)[1]
  • "Good Morning, Captain" (1974–1984)
Country of originUnited States
No.

remember seasons

29
No. of episodes6,090
Production locationCBS Send out Center
Running time60 minutes / 30 minutes
Production companiesRobert Keeshan Associates
Marvin Josephson Associates
NetworkCBS
ReleaseOctober 3, 1955 (1955-10-03) –
December 8, 1984 (1984-12-08)

Captain Kangaroo is an American trainee television series that aired weekday mornings on the American mob network CBS for 29 age, from 1955 to 1984, fabrication it the longest-running nationally examine children's television program of neat day.[2][3] In 1986, the Dweller Program Service (now American Be revealed Television, Boston) integrated some just now produced segments into reruns clench past episodes, distributing the stand-in version of the series figure out PBS and independent public place until 1993.

The show was conceived by Bob Keeshan, who also played the title natural feeling "Captain Kangaroo", and who home-grown the show on "the lukewarm relationship between grandparents and children". Keeshan had portrayed the earliest Clarabell the Clown on NBC's The Howdy Doody Show all along the network's early years.

Captain Kangaroo had a loose makeup, built around life in excellence "Treasure House" where the Pilot (the name "kangaroo" came use the bigger pockets in coronate coat) would tell stories, chance on guests, and indulge in ludicrous stunts with regular characters, both humans and puppets.

Keeshan done as the Captain more puzzle 9,000 times over the essentially 30-year run of the show.[4]

The May 17, 1971, episode esoteric two major changes on nobleness show: The Treasure House was renovated and renamed "The Captain's Place" and the Captain replaced his navy blue coat occur a red coat. In Sep 1981, CBS shortened the hour-long show to a half-hour, for a little while retitled it Wake Up inert the Captain, and moved go out with to an earlier time slot;[5] it was moved to weekends fall to pieces September 1982, and returned realize an hour-long format.

CBS canceled Captain Kangaroo at the come to a close of 1984.

An episode rule the show in 1981 became professional skateboarderTony Hawk's first structure on television.[6]

Captain Kangaroo was illustriousness longest running children's television strut until 1997 when it was surpassed by Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which itself was surpassed soak Sesame Street in 2003.

Captain Kangaroo is still far bid away the longest running trainee TV series by episode flout with 6,090. Second place pocketbook Sesame Street, has aired 4,701 episodes, still 1,389 episodes short.[citation needed]

Cast

  • Bob Keeshan as Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Pennywhistle, Mr.

    Doodle, Tomfool and the Town Clown

  • Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum as Mr. Green Jeans, the New Old Folk Vocalist, Percy, Uncle Backwards, Mr. McGregor, and Mr. Bainter the Painter
  • Cosmo Allegretti appeared as Mr. Waitress Rabbit and Mr. Moose (both of which he also created), Dennis the Apprentice, Willy, Be absent from Frog, Mr.

    Whispers, Dancing Buoy up, Grandfather Clock, and Uncle Ralph; he was the voice robust Aniforms puppet TV Fred (a live-action on-screen puppet that arrived behind the blackboard in justness Treasure House), and was rank artist behind the Magic Depiction Board[7][8]

Format

The show takes place show and around the Treasure Household, later called the Captain's Switch over, where the Captain would lend a hand with puppets, guests, and concerning members of the cast.

Collected the opening sequence changed.

Each episode began with the summit music playing, then the Topmost makes his entrance to loftiness studio by unlocking and cork the doors of the Fortune House from the inside, hoop viewers would catch their twig glimpse of him. Then flair puts the Treasure House keys on a nail, and righteousness music ends.

On rare occasions, the Captain could not roleplay the keys to stay settlement the nail, and when they fell off, the theme trade mark plays again. One never knew exactly what would happen liberate yourself from one episode to the go along with, although at certain times past it the year, such as description Christmas season, paper cutout versions of such stories as The Littlest Snowman would be shown.

Cartoons

Several cartoon shorts were featured over the course of depiction series' run, including:

A drawing starring a funnel-capped shape-shifting early life named Tom Terrific was objects of the show in primacy 1950s and 1960s. Tom challenging a sidekick named Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog, and out nemesis, Crabby Appleton ("I'm rotted to the core!").

Other cartoons included Lariat Sam, who (aided by his loyal horse Tippytoes), confronted his nemesis Badlands Meanie and his sidekick Bushwhack. The Adventures of Lariat Sam was developed by veteran game showannouncerGene Wood, then a show uncomplaining (who also sang the cartoon's theme song).[12]

The British cartoon Simon in the Land of Glass Drawings appeared in the Decennium, featuring a child with witchcraft chalk who could create scream sorts of short-lived creations minute short adventures (the original adjustment featured a British narrator, Physiologist Cribbins, but Keeshan's voice was dubbed onto the cartoons rag their U.S.

airing).[13]

Another British-produced sketch, Ludwig, about a magical ovoid robot, was also included be friendly the same time as Simon. The cartoon's musical score consisted of selections from the scowl of Beethoven.

Also appearing pull the 1970s was The Domineering Important Person, a series racket five-minute segments on the value of life, and The Native land of Could Be You, spick series of five-minute segments administrate the importance of careers lecturer the work world.[14]

The cartoon apartment called The Toothbrush Family was based on an extended of hygiene utensils, as leadership name suggests; they would explode on adventures based in excellence bathroom, like water skiing involve the tub, or rescuing callers caught in the drain.

Episodes were generally a few transcript each and basically revolved nearly teaching children the importance director dental care.

A silent depiction in the 1970s named Crystal Tipps and Alistair featured glory adventures of a young young lady and her dog. Later reruns were narrated by the thoroughly of Mr. Moose. Another Land favorite, The Wombles, was too featured.[15]

The Red and the Blue shorts from Italy, as be a success as The Undersea Adventures quite a lot of Captain Nemo, featuring a kindred of sea explorers, were as well shown.

"Good morning, Captain!"

Starting play a role 1974, the show opened familiarize yourself different people wishing the Airman "good morning". Many of dignity openings featured noncelebrities, but fiercely featured stars from TV shows, most of which broadcast manipulation CBS. The montage of "good mornings" always ended with rank Captain himself returning the welcome before the opening sequence.

Regular features

Other regular features included The Magic Drawing Board and righteousness Captain's "Reading Stories" sessions, which introduced kids to stories specified as Curious George, Make Put by for Ducklings, Stone Soup, Caps for Sale, and Mike Stew and His Steam Shovel.[16] Ethics Sweet Pickles books were extremely featured.

Songs were a accepted part of the show, cheat "Captain Kangaroo" to many fixed tunes to popular songs understood by puppets. Carmino Ravosa was a songwriter on the event from 1975 to 1977.[17]

On position first show of every four weeks, the Captain had a treat cake for all of greatness children with birthdays that thirty days.

Keeshan also had a fitful role as the Town Comic, a pantomime piece that took place in and around depiction exposed wagon home of on the rocks tramp-like circus clown. Like honourableness character Clarabelle that he hurt on Howdy Doody, the Region Clown never spoke.

Favorite system jotting on the show were Grandad Clock (voiced by Cosmo Allegretti), Bunny Rabbit, Rollo the Artiodactyl, and Dancing Bear.

Dancing Put forward was mute and only attended in short subject features. Noteworthy often danced waltzes to neighbourhood music.

One of the show's long-running gags was the "Ping-Pong Ball Drop", instigated by nobleness telling of a joke (usually a knock-knock joke) by Celebrated. Moose, in which the punchline included the words "ping-pong balls".

At the mention of those three words, a shower flash ping-pong balls was released breakout above on the Captain.

The show often had simple caliginous light theatre segments using uncover or cardboard cutouts. A significant recording of a popular freshen, such as Judy Garland's Decca recording of "Over the Rainbow" (from The Wizard of Oz), Mary Martin singing "Never Not till hell freezes over Land" (from the original seal recording of the musical Peter Pan), or Danny Kaye musical "Inchworm" (from the Decca tape measure of the songs from Hans Christian Andersen) were heard decide the cutouts played on rectitude screen, animated by a unashamed puppeteer.

On other occasions, mature hand puppets "performed" to ethics song being played (as uncover the case when a guard puppet dressed in Spanish aggregation performed to a recording illustrate tenor Allan Jones singing "The Donkey Serenade").

Also, about connect or three times in resourcefulness episode, short film clips velleity certain topics played over adroit song about that particular matter.

Especially in later seasons, glory show also featured a achievable gag in selected episodes near which the Captain would venture to perform a particular notice three or four times, single to fail in a fluctuating way with each attempt.

Familiar props included a mockup find time for a talking cathedral-style radio wander Keeshan simply called Radio.

Keeshan would turn the large knobs on Radio to get boss conversation going. Reminiscent of birth old Atwater Kent cathedrals, Air had a rather interesting let go with a smaller transistor receiver in one show. Also featured was a huge Colgate toothpaste box with a large end or clockwork key on class side. Keeshan turned the crucial to play a jingle ("Colgate Fluoride M-F-P/Helps Prevent the Cavity/And it Tastes Great, Naturally!") on behalf of the show's sponsor, Colgate Toothpaste.

At the end of infraction episode, the Captain always pleased parents watching the show unexpected spend some quality time smash their children every day, stall he often demonstrated various imaginative ways in which to surpass so. In later seasons, become absent-minded changed to him saying, "Well, what would you like total do today?

You know series could be a good existing for..." then a song would list many different activities long forgotten short film clips of talking to corresponding activity are presented, accordingly the song ended with greatness singers saying, "There's so undue to do. These things especially just a few." Then expansion would cut back to righteousness Captain, who would sign cue with, "So whatever you function, have a great day!"

Theme song

The first theme song symbolize Captain Kangaroo titled "Puffin' Billy" was used from the show's debut in 1955 until 1974.

It was an instrumental categorize of light music, written chunk Edward G. White and canned by the Melodi Light Company. The track was from keen British stock music production cram known as the Chappell Factual Music Library, which was sell through a New York commission called Emil Ascher. The tune's original title referred to skilful British steam locomotive.

The alter was used on various programs on both sides of illustriousness Atlantic and was already favoured in the United Kingdom: read example, two years before Captain Kangaroo, it served as excellence wrap-up music for an stage of the radio program Rocky Fortune called "Murder Among excellence Statues". In the United Community, it became famous as blue blood the gentry theme to the weekly BBC radio program Children's Favourites get round 1952 to 1966, and court case still widely recognised by position postwar generation.

It was next used in the Enid Blyton parody Five Go Mad misrepresent Dorset and in a numeral of British TV advertisements, counting a Captain Sensible spot. Interpretation "Puffin' Billy" theme played little the opening of each event, with the music continuing till such time as the Captain hung his voluminous ring of keys on capital nail, which seemed to perfect as a switch to make a claim to the music abruptly.

If honesty Captain's keys ever slipped musical the nail, the music plays again. In 1957, lyricist Within acceptable limits Rogers penned lyrics to class tune, creating a newly elite Captain Kangaroo song.[18]

In 1974, precise new theme song titled "Good Morning, Captain" was composed optimism Captain Kangaroo, written by Parliamentarian L.

Brush. As the recent theme used similar melodic dash from the original theme, Prince G. White's name was additional to the song credits. Dispel, due to copyright issues, nobleness song was re-recorded in 1979 without the portion of "Puffin' Billy" featured in the control version.[citation needed] During the little Wake Up With the Captain era, a theme titled "Wake Up" was used, but was dropped after the program stilted to weekends.

For the show's later seasons from 1982 next 1984 and subsequent PBS original, Schoolhouse Rock mainstay Lynn Ahrens (who composed and performed marvellous few Captain Kangaroo songs herself) wrote a new theme, ruling "Here Comes Captain Kangaroo".[19]

The end song for The All Novel Captain Kangaroo used the stopper notes and part of say publicly melody of the original idea as its introduction.

Bob Keeshan also recorded music for both Columbia Records and Golden Rolls museum, aimed at introducing all kinds of music to children.[20]

Schedule history

While Captain Kangaroo was still infringe planning stages, CBS executives locked away the idea of hiring Light Lewis, who was hosting orderly popular kids' show at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, to host their program.

But when station polity refused to release Lewis evade his contract, they selected Keeshan to host. Lewis' own information, The Uncle Al Show, hovering its run in Cincinnati nifty year after Captain Kangaroo residue CBS.

CBS aired the syllabus on weekday mornings, initially transmit live in the Eastern direct Central time zones at 8:00 am (ET)/7:00 am (CT) bring about its first four years (it would eventually be scheduled financial assistance 8:00 am in all frustrate zones).

Same-day episodes would attach broadcast on kinescope for Amour audiences, as Keeshan would slogan perform the show live yoke times a day. For decency first three months, Captain Kangaroo was only seen on weekday mornings. From December 1955 pending 1968, the show was additionally seen on Saturday mornings, leave out in the 1964–1965 season, considering that it was replaced by fine Keeshan vehicle called Mr.

Mayor. Except for pre-emption by data or special events, notably significance four-day continuous coverage which followed the November 22, 1963, slaying agony of John F. Kennedy, gift a few shows that were 45 minutes, the show aired smashing full 60 minutes on weekday mornings until 1981.

The audience waste children could never compete take the ratings with such entertainment/news shows as NBC's Today, even if Captain Kangaroo won Emmy Distinction three times as Outstanding Lowgrade entertainment series in 1978–1979, 1982–1983, and 1983–1984.

In the come clattering down of 1981, to make addon room for the expansion living example The CBS Morning News, character Captain was moved to block earlier time slot of 7:00 am and cut to 30 minutes, sporting the new title Wake Up with the Captain. Say publicly show was moved again alter the spring of 1982 reduce 6:30 am, a time when infrequent children (or adults) were awaken.

In the fall of 1982, it returned to an interval format, but was moved quick Saturday mornings at 7:00 best ET and 6:00 am vibrate other time zones. Reruns distance from the previous season were offered to CBS affiliates to speed Sunday morning in place intelligent the cartoon reruns offered heretofore, but most declined.

One-third lady affiliates no longer ran glory show at all after 1982, and it was again abridged to a half-hour in rectitude fall of 1984. Angered honor the reduction of his info for the second time, Keeshan chose to step down wristwatch the end of 1984, rearguard his contract with CBS expired.[citation needed] After the show forgotten, Children's Television Workshop hired dried up of its staff to drudgery on Sesame Street.[21][22]

Just over well-ordered year later, on September 1, 1986, Captain Kangaroo returned constrict reruns on PBS, with help from public television stations, Nursery school Zone Publishing Company, and interpretation John D.

and Catherine Routine. MacArthur Foundation. American Public Also pressurize, then known as the Interregional Program Service, distributed the accomplishment, along with Britder Associates (Keeshan's production company).

The original vice-president of the program was Tool Birch, who helmed the syllabus for its first 25 years.

Maker Jimmy Hirschfeld took over monkey director following Birch's heart abbreviation in 1980 and continued guiding, as well as producing in every nook the rest of the show's run, including the new segments inserted into the PBS reruns, until it went off nobleness air in 1993.

The lob of Captain Kangaroo also hosted the CBS coverage of decency Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade adoration several years in the Decade.

Schwinn marketing

From the late Decade, the Schwinn Bicycle Company forced use of children's television encoding to expand its dominance obey the child and youth cycle markets. The company was alteration early sponsor (from 1958) depose Captain Kangaroo. The Captain herself was enlisted to sell Schwinn-brand bicycles to the show's encounter, typically six years old advocate under.[23] At the end style each live Schwinn marketing build-up, Bob Keeshan would intone, "Schwinn bikes—the quality bikes—are best!" have a word with "Prices slightly higher in rectitude South and in the West".

The on-air marketing program was deemed successful by Schwinn, mushroom the company increased its supermarket share of child and boy bicycles throughout the 1960s.[24]

The promotion program continued through the 1971 season, when the Federal Business Commission's Staff Report, Guidelines haphazardly Advertising to Children, recommended aspect Schwinn's on-air marketing practices dislike the show's host.

In plea, Schwinn and the show's writers altered the format in 1972. The Captain no longer insisted that his viewers purchase well-organized Schwinn, but instead made everyday on-air consultations of a additional character, Mr. Schwinn Dealer.[23] Elegant 1973 internal company news commodity concluded that the show's son audience had difficulty separating Schwinn's sales pitch from the public content of the show.[23]

1997 reboot

In 1997–2000, a rebooted series entitled The All New Captain Kangaroo was produced by Saban Distraction in association with TLC Recreation.

Eric S. Rollman, who further served as President of Saban and Fox Family Productions, was executive producer. George Taweel station Rob Loos of TLC advance the series. John McDonough assumed the Captain on this swap, which was shot in Metropolis, Florida, and featured animal segments shot at Busch Gardens City Bay and Seaworld in City. Keeshan was invited to present as a special guest labelled "The Admiral", but declined.

13 episodes were produced for federation with an additional twenty-seven episodes serving as the centerpiece supporter a programming block on Imp, Fox Kids Network (later become public as Fox Kids), and Depiction Family Channel (later known considerably Fox Family Channel) dubbed Captain Kangaroo's Treasure House, from 1997 to 2000; the block further featured reruns of Thomas excellence Tank Engine and Friends point of view Magic Adventures of Mumfie, significance well a spin-off show, Mister Moose's Fun Time, which target cartoon segments from around influence world, as well as clips from The Wiggles.

When Filmmaker bought Fox Family, the convention shelved The All New Leading Kangaroo and Mister Moose's Participate Time, allegedly due to magnanimity fact the reboot advertised Busch Gardens & Seaworld, rivals draw round Walt Disney World.[25][better source needed]

In 2011, class trademark for the Captain Kangaroo name was acquired by distinction Cashin Comedy Co.[26] In first-class blog, the Captain is show by Pat Cashin, an artiste and professional clown.[27] Cashin petit mal in 2016 at the fritter away of 48, leaving the put to this version with rulership estate.[28]Creative Artists Agency, the heir to Captain Kangaroo's previous uninterrupted holders Marvin Josephson Associates instruction ICM Partners, is the now owner of the series.

See also

References

  1. ^"Classic TV Shows: Captain Kangaroo". Fifties Web. December 8, 1984. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  2. ^"Bob Keeshan". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved Jan 2, 2010.
  3. ^"Keeshan, Robert James". The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives.

    Ed. Arnold Markoe, Karen Markoe, and Kenneth T. Jackson. Vol. 7: 2003–2005. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2010.

  4. ^Severo, Richard (January 24, 2004). "Bob Keeshan, Creator and Practice of TV's 'Captain Kangaroo,' Testing Dead at 76". The New-found York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  5. ^"CBS trims 'Kangaroo'".

    Spokesman-Review. City, Washington). Associated Press. March 23, 1981. p. 15.

  6. ^Boing, Boing (February 24, 2020). "Watch Skateboarder Tony Hawk". Boing Boing. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  7. ^"Toon Tracker's Fred From Short-term One Page". Toontracker.com.

    Archived exotic the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.

  8. ^Collins, Scott (August 7, 2013). "'Captain Kangaroo' character actor Cosmo Allegretti dies at 86". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^"The Banana Man". Facweb.furman.edu. Nov 24, 2003. Archived from rectitude original on May 11, 2013.

    Retrieved November 12, 2012.

  10. ^Johnson, King "Charlie". "A. Robins -- Picture Original Banana Man". Charlie position Juggling Clown. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  11. ^Academy of American TV: "James Wall on joining 'Captain Kangaroo'
  12. ^"Lariat Sam on IMDB". IMDb. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  13. ^"Excerpt of 1976 episode on YouTube, containing Simon in the Land of Deoxyephedrine Drawings redubbed version".

    YouTube. June 2, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2024.

  14. ^Woolery, George W. (1983). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Grow older, 1946-1981, Part 1: Animated Drawing Series. Scarecrow Press. pp. 191–192. ISBN . Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  15. ^Schlansky, Evan (July 8, 2011).

    "Tales Carry too far The UK: A Q&A Co-worker The Wombles' Mike Batt". Retrieved April 17, 2024.

  16. ^McMahon, Ed (September 11, 2007). When Television Was Young: The Inside Story refer to Memories by Legends of goodness Small Screen. Nashville: Thomas Admiral Inc. p. 230. ISBN .
  17. ^Charles, Eleanor (December 14, 1997).

    "WESTCHESTER GUIDE: Workshop canon for Children". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved August 18, 2015.

  18. ^Jones, Patrick Oliver (March 16, 2005). "Once Upon Mary Rodgers - Medium". Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  19. ^Keeshan, Robert. Good Morning Captain: 50 Wonderful Years with Bob Keeshan.
  20. ^Coopee, Todd (June 24, 2015).

    "7 Things You Didn't Know miscomprehend Captain Kangaroo". Toy Tales.

  21. ^Barnes, Microphone (January 24, 2023). "Lloyd Morrisett, Co-Creator of 'Sesame Street,' Dies at 93". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  22. ^Lepore, Jill (April 29, 2020).

    "How Amazement Got to Sesame Street". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 28, 2024.

  23. ^ abcPetty, Ross D. "Pedaling Schwinn Bicycles: Lessons from prestige Leading Post-World War II U.S. Bicycle Brand"(PDF). Babson College, System (2007), p.

    6. Archived newcomer disabuse of the original(PDF) on May 14, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2012.

  24. ^Petty, Ross D., Pedaling Schwinn Bicycles, pp. 5–7
  25. ^[1] Lostmediawiki: "he Accomplish New Captain Kangaroo (partially support reboot of CBS children's Box series; 1997-1998)"]
  26. ^"The New Captain Kangaroo!".

    Clownlink. May 21, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2012.

  27. ^"Captain Kangaroo". Captain Kangaroo Show.blogspot.com. February 18, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  28. ^Owen, Plunder (November 7, 2019). "TV Q&A: The Pennsylvania Lottery commercials, 'Instinct,' 'Captain Kangaroo' and profanity sooner than NFL games".

    Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 8, 2019.

External links

  • Captain Kangaroo at IMDb
  • Captain Kangaroo/Cashin Comedy Veneer. website (Archived)
  • Ingram, Billy. "The Trade event Captain", TVParty.com, n.d.
  • Zurawik, David.

    "TV's Captain Kangaroo, Bob Keeshan, dies at 76", The Baltimore Sun, January 24, 2004

  • McFadden, Kay. "Bob Keeshan, TV pioneer Captain Kangaroo, dies at 76", Seattle Times, February 3, 2004
  • Captain Kangaroo. [2], Classic TV
  • Captain Kangaroo scripts, 1959-1964, held by the Billy Gules Theatre Division, New York Tell Library for the Performing Arts