![]() Neither hip nor slick, McDonough is a middle-aged, soft-spoken lover of children, not so different from Keeshan's Captain. They're still the same, still asking the same questions, 'Who am I? Am I loved? What does the future hold for me?"' In the end, however, Saban chose to stay with the proven formula by choosing John McDonough to play the new Captain. "I really think they believe that kids are different today than they were in the 1960s or 1970s," he said. Keeshan did not want modern special effects and merchandising to interfere with the Captain's gentle message. Saban had offered the role to Keeshan, but withdrew the offer when he insisted on too much creative control over the show. The soft-spoken Keeshan was so identified with the role of Captain Kangaroo that he was horrified when, in 1997, Saban Entertainment-producers of such violence-and special effects-laden shows as Power Rangers and X-Men -began to search for a new, hip Captain to take the helm of The All-New Captain Kangaroo. Even after leaving the role of the Captain, he continued to be an advocate for children: as an activist, fighting for quality children's programming as a performer, planning a cable television show about grandparenting and as a writer, producing gently moralistic child-ren's books as well as lists for parents of worthwhile books to read to children. In 1984, it moved to PBS (Public Broadcasting System), where it continued to run for another six years.Ī father of three, and later a grandfather, Keeshan had always been a supporter of positive, educational entertainment for children. Keeshan created Captain Kangaroo, and the show ran for 30 years on CBS. He created and played the role of Clarabell the Clown on that show and was so successful that in 1955 CBS offered to give him his own show. He left New York to perform his military service in the Marines, then returned to NBC where he got a job with the newly-popular Howdy Doody Show. Keeshan got his start in the world of television early, working as a page at NBC when he was a teenager in Queens, New York. It is "Story Time" that perhaps best illustrates Bob Keeshan's unassuming approach to children's entertainment, operating on the theory that children need kind and patient attention from adults more than attention-grabbing special effects. Zoologist Ruth Mannecke was also a regular, bringing unusual animals to show the young audience.Ĭaptain Kangaroo also had regular animated features such as "Tom Terrific and His Mighty Dog Manfred." One of the most popular segments was "Story Time," where the Captain read a book out loud while the camera simply showed the book's illustrations. ![]() Moose, animated by puppeteer Gus Allegretti. Greenjeans, played by Hugh Brannum, and Bunny Rabbit and Mr. His friends on the show included a lanky farmer, Mr. Bob Keeshan created the comforting role of Captain Kangaroo, so named because of his voluminous pockets. Much like another children's television icon, Mister Rogers, the Captain welcomed children to the show with a soft-voiced sweetness that was never condescending, and guided viewers from segment to segment chatting with the other inhabitants of the Treasure House. The central focus of the show was always the Captain himself, a plump, teddy bear-like figure with Buster Brown bangs and a mustache to match. ![]() The longest running children's television show in history, Captain Kangaroo dominated the early morning airwaves for over 30 years, offering a simple and gently educational format for very young children. ![]() For those who were either children or parents from 1955 through 1991, the perky theme music of Captain Kangaroo, accompanied by the jingling of the Captain's keys as he unlocked the door to the Treasure House, arouses immediate feelings of nostalgia. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |