Captain Kangaroo was an American children’s television series which aired weekday mornings on CBS Television from 1955 until 1984, and has appeared in reruns several times since then. One of the longest-running network children’s show of all time, Captain Kangaroo left an lasting impression on the minds and hearts of children during its 30 years on television. The show was built around life in the “Treasure House,” where the Captain (whose nickname came from the big pockets in his coat) would tell stories, and take part in silly skits with human and puppet characters.
Captain Kangaroo was played by Bob Keeshan, who was also the original Clarabelle the Clown on the Howdy Doody Show from 1948 to 1952. Keeshan also had a recurring role on Captain Kangaroo as “The Town Clown,” a tramp circus clown that did pantomime performances in and around his wagon home.
Hugh ‘Lumpy’ Brannum started his career as a bass player for Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians, but he is better known fo haiving played Captain Kangaroo’s best friend Mr. Green Jeans, a kind and gentle farmer who brought animals to the show. He also played many other characters, such as Mr. Bainter (the painter), The Professor, and the New Old Folk Singer (who played a double bass like it was a guitar). Frank Zappa wrote a song named “Mr. Green Genes” as well as a sequel, “Son of Mr. Green Genes,” which led to the urban legend that Zappa was the son of Hugh Brannum.
Cosmo ‘Gus’ Allegretti created and performed several of the show’s best-known puppet characters, including Bunny Rabbit, and Mr. Moose. Allegretti was also the actor portraying the Dennis the Apprentice, Dancing Bear and Grandfather Clock characters, as well as many others.
In the 1970’s, in an attempt to balance out the cast, James E. Wall joined the cast as Mr. Baxter, the friendly african-american neighbor, and they also added a female character named Debby Weems.
John Burstein appeared as Slim Goodbody, a man wearing a bodystocking which showed the internal organs of the human body painted on it in their appropriate locations, joining the show in 1980.
Comedian Bill Cosby was also a regular on the show in the 1970s and 1980s, doing the “Picture Pages” segments.
The most bizarre character to appear on the show was known as The Banana Man, played by Sam Levine. Wearing a very large coat, The Banana Man entered the set and proceeded to produce from his pockets whole bunches of bananas, pineapples, watermelons, banjos, a violin, and much more. Each time he would make an item appear he would accompany it with a strange squeaky “woow” sound. During all of this he changed wardrobe and character a few times, and he filled three trunks, which he also produced, with his hundreds of props. He converted the trunks into a train, and as the engineer, drove the whole string of cars offstage. Each time Captain Kangaroo would change his set, he would invite The Banana Man back to tape his act again. Since the costume was impossible to dryclean, it is rumored that no one wanted to be in the studio when the act was being recorded, because of the overpowering stench.
A Terrytoon cartoon, starring a funnel-capped shape-shifting boy named Tom Terrific was part of the show in the 1950s and 1960s. Tom had a sidekick named Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog. Other cartoons through the years included “Fred” on Channel One, “Lariat Sam” and “Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings.”
Other regular features included The Dancing Bear, The Magic Drawing Board and the Captain’s “Reading Stories” sessions, where he read popular children’s books such as Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel, Curious George and Caps For Sale.
The opening sequence with the doors, and jangling keys was one of my favorite parts of the show. The theme song continued playing until the Captain hung his large ring of keys on a hook (which seemed to act as a switch to turn off the music). If the Captain’s keys ever slipped off the hook, the music would begin playing again.
I remember they also used to have a big birthday cake the first show of each month for all birthdays that month. There also used to be a toy train that delivered a Kellogg’s cereal related riddle each day. The Captain also used to sing the Colgate Fluoride M.F.P. song. Captain Kangaroo taught us good manners, respect and fair play. Mr. Green Jeans taught us to be nice to animals. We learned a lot from that show and had fun doing it.
Guest stars included Alan Arkin, Carol Channing, Marlo Thomas, Imogene Coca, Eli Wallach, Pearl Bailey, and many others. Here is magician Doug Henning making a guest appearance on Captain Kangaroo:
Bob Keeshan wrote many books and released several record albums as Captain Kangaroo. He also released a Christmas LP called “Merry, Merry Merry Christmas,” which features a frantic retelling of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” called “The Ballad of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol.” I love how they distilled entire chapters down to one or two throwaway lines.
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