Happy Birthday Captain Kangaroo

Image via Wikipedia

Happy Birthday Bob “Captain Kangaroo” Keeshan

Look out for those Ping Pong balls! I loved it when they dropped all those balls. I so wanted to set up my room, so that I could have them drop all of a sudden. I never came up with a way to do that, but for awhile I did have a collections of ping pong balls. My dad didn’t approve of me having them and that is why they suddenly disappeared on me.

Bob Keeshan would be 82 years old today. He was born in Lynbrook, NY 27 June 1927. He passed away in 2004.

Keeshan was Clarabell the Clown, who was silent except for honking his horn attached to a belt around his waist. He left the Howdy Doody show in 1952.

He did stints on a few other childrens shows until he and long-time friend Jack Miller submitted the concept of Captain Kangaroo to CBS. The show was approved and a legend began. Keeshan described the Captain as being based on “the warm relationship between grandparents and children.” It was an immediate success and he served as host for nearly three decades. The show ran until 1984.

Keeshan moved to Vermont where he became a children’s advocate as well as an auther. His memoirs, entitled Good Morning, Captain, were published in 1995. Hew was strongly against video game violence and took part in congressional hearings in 1993.

So lets celebrate Captain Kangaroo’s birthday. Go get a bucket and fill it with Ping Pong Balls. Then go find some kids.

Take Care, DreamSweet and let Your Heart Shine Captain Kangaroo.