Bob Keeshan passes

[Jeber]

CNN just announced the passing of Bob Keeshan.He was a huge influence on me as a youngster. I'll miss him.

[Guest Paracelsus]

While I was personally more inspired and influenced by Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit ...I'll miss him as well.Who's Mr. M gonna dump all those Ping-Pong balls on now??

[littlebone]

It really amazes me as I read the obituaries that he was only in his late 20s at the show's inception. I always thought of him as a grandfatherly figure. I started Googling links to Captain Kangaroo. Wow, what comes flooding back when you read some things. My favorite so far:Captain Kagaroo

[Guest LilBambi]

That is very sad to hear But thank you so much for letting us know about it Jeber.littlebone, thanks for bringing me back to that link ... I enjoyed it very much about six months ago when I was looking up info on Captain Kangaroo (one of my favorite childhood shows) and Gene London (my all time favorite children's show ... it was out of Philadelphia).When I read the articles, I was pleasantly surprised when I read that part about him being Clarabell the Clown before he was Captain Kangaroo.Very sad news.

Captain Kangaroo was the longest running network children's show of all time - from 1955 until 1984, the good Captain could be seen on CBS. Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum played sidekick Mr. Green Jeans, joining Cosmo Allegretti's hand-puppets Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit in the Captain's Treasure House.Before Keeshan was a captain he was a clown - probably the most famous clown of the 1950s - Clarabell from the 'Howdy Doody Show' starring Buffalo Bob.

Tom Terrific (and here's the Captain Kangaroo connection

He also explored new venues. Tom Terrific was produced for the burgeoning television market, and ran from 1957-59 on CBS's Captain Kangaroo show. The daily episodes, replete with heroism, villainy and cliffhangers, added up to a complete five-part story every week. Those old episodes were sporadically re-run, and were seen, on rare occasions, as recently as the early 1970s.Tom's appeal did not lie in the cartoons' production values, which, like most early TV animation, were nothing short of shoddy. No, it was in the clever writing, the likeable characters, and the fact that the series was just plain fun. The latter quality was considerably enhanced by the talent of voice actor Lionel Wilson, who played all the roles. As chief villain Crabby Appleton ("He's rotten to the core!"), Wilson would sneer and hiss in the best melodramatic tradition; while as Tom, his breathless enthusiasm made every little plot development seem like a Major Event.

We must be getting old LOL!

[teacher]

Don't talk about age. I remember going down and watching them film a segment with my older sistert. I have no idea how they were in the midwest to do a segment but it sure sticks in my mind. Then again that was so many years ago maybe I dreamed it. It had to be 1960 at the latest. It was my favorite show as well. Heck, were there any other kid shows?

[Cluttermagnet]

I had a deprived childhood in the sense of TV deprivation. My family bought our first TV when I was 10 years old. It's not that I never watched TV, but it was always as a guest at a neighbor's house, and relatively rare. I do remember Howdy Doody and of course Clarabell the clown. He must have been in his late teens when he started as Clarabell. Oh, and Mister Bluster plainly served as inspiration for the later emergence of Crabby Appleton on Captain Kangaroo. Go in peace, gentle spirit. You made a lot of kids happy...

[Stryder]

Yep, heard that on the radio today. I remember being a little kid in the early 70's, we had like 5 channels you could get on the TV. The three Networks, PBS and a local station. If you were a little kid the local station was your best bet. Captain Kangaroo, Bullwinkle, Chilly Willy, Woody WoodPecker....... ahhhh those were the days.

[novice_hack_writer]

Am I so old that I'm remembering incorrectly, but was Mighty Mouse on there too? "Here I come to save the day!" I for one loved Tom Terrific and loathed Crabby Appleton. My first memory of television as a child in the 50s was Lawrence Welk and the second was the Captain. RIP, Bob, we're gonna miss ya.Many don't know he was so young when he started, I agree that he looked like a grandfather even in his 20s. Maybe it was the black and white picture with enough snow (we lived 50 miles from the xmtr) that you had to strain to see it sometimes. We had NBC, CBS, and PBS--but it was NET then (National Educational Television). If you wanted ABC, you had to buy a separate add-on tuner for UHF and very few did that. Man, I'm sure showing my age with those comments!

[Cluttermagnet]

Well, this may take you back- I remember seeing a couple of episodes of Crusader Rabbit when that show was still in prime time. I remember seeing a flash Gordon Movie starring Buster Crabb (I think). I thought that rocket backpack and bullet shaped helmet were just the coolest. Looking back, I wonder how he kept the rocket from lighting his butt on fire. I remember some of the very early Disneys, back when Fess Parker was big as Davy Crockett. I remember when George Reeves (?) played Superman in prime time- man was that thrilling to a 3-5 year old! I remember some wonderful special where they sang about "toyland, toyland, wonderful girl and boy land..." and I was young enough that I found that entrancing. I remember the speedy Alka Seltzer boy with his pill- shaped hat and his magic wand, and I remember how many ads had bouncy jingles with low bass lines sung in the background- "Use Ajax (boom boom), the foaming cleanser (bu bu bububu buh buh), wash your (?) and (?) right down the drain..." Or- "I crackle 'cause I'm crisp, I (? ? ? ? ?), I'm a treat, full of zip, I'm a Lays potato chip". Nope, they don't make those corny ads any more. Ah, nostalgia. There was some kids program where it was desperately important that you wrote in to the network and got your decoder ring. Then there was the one where they sent you some plastic sheet you slapped over the screen, and, using a grease pencil, you drew over the new 'line segments of the day'. If you were good enough and fast enough, you eventually had some secret drawing or message on that sheet of plastic. Yah, there was a lot of heart- pumping thrills and excitement for a young kid back then, and they were already pitching the sugary, salty, fatty junk food to the kiddies back then. How many times have we seen an irritable, sugared- out 5 year old pitching a fit in the supermarket til his mom puts the box of coco puffs or count chocula or lucky charms or whatever in the cart?

[Guest LilBambi]

Wow Cluttermagnet! Awesome memories :thumbsup:Fondly remembered them all myself too! Great fun for kids!I had my fair share of sugary treats ... most notable for me and still an all time favorite ... Good'n'Plenty! Remember the ChooChoo Charlie commercials?novice_hack_writer, Mighty Mouse was a lot of fun! And I was surprised to see some of the places it was shown! I had no idea it was made in the 40s and only seen in theaters at first.

[Guest Paracelsus]

I remember some wonderful special where they sang about "toyland, toyland, wonderful girl and boy land..." and I was young enough that I found that entrancing.

Babes in Toyland

Then there was the one where they sent you some plastic sheet you slapped over the screen, and, using a grease pencil, you drew over the new 'line segments of the day'. If you were good enough and fast enough, you eventually had some secret drawing or message on that sheet of plastic.

Winky-Dink :thumbsup:Anyone remember "Beenie & Cecil"???

[longgone]

Thems was the good old days. I was mostly raised in the country and was also a long way from the TV xmtr. Did not watch very many of the cartoon type shows, was more into the western type of fare. Remember watching Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, Whip Wilson, Lone Ranger and on Sunday nights there was a 3 part western circle thing, Bronco, Sugarfoot and Cheyene. That was way back with a young Clint Eastwood. Can remember after moving into the "big" city (considering I moved from about 150 total population), on Saturdays, the 3 movie matinee at the local theaters. The admission was 3 bottle caps from any flavor Birleys soft drink. Don't think it is even around anymore, ah yes that an Nehi soda an a bag of peanuts. As a famous singer once said .... "a country boy can survive".

[Guest LilBambi]

I remember Beanie & Cecil! Always wanted one of those silly propeller caps! LOL! Beanie & Cecil

In all its incarnations, Beany & Cecil is fondly remembered by its fans, many of whom consider it second only to Rocky & Bullwinkle among the classics of its time.

[Guest LilBambi]

Thems was the good old days. I was mostly raised in the country and was also a long way from the TV xmtr. Did not watch very many of the cartoon type shows, was more into the western type of fare. Remember watching Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, Whip Wilson, Lone Ranger and on Sunday nights there was a 3 part western circle thing, Bronco, Sugarfoot and Cheyene. That was way back with a young Clint Eastwood.  Can remember after moving into the "big" city (considering I moved from about 150 total population), on Saturdays, the 3 movie matinee at the local theaters.  The admission was  3 bottle caps  from any flavor Birleys soft drink. Don't think it is even around anymore, ah yes that an Nehi soda an a bag of peanuts.    As a famous singer once said ....  "a country boy can survive".     

Loved all those old western shows too!Still enjoy the old 'spaghetti' westerns.

[Jeber]

Winky-Dink

I hope you happy, now. My roomy saw your post, and every time we pass each other now he signs the theme song. It's going to be stuck in my head for days!

[Guest Paracelsus]

Doodle-Lee, Doop-Dee-Doop...Wiiiiiiinky-Dink, and... Yooooooooouuuuu!!!

[Jeber]

I've already threatened to dink his winky...you're risking being second in line!

[Guest Paracelsus]

...and every time we pass each other now he signs the theme song....

Don't worry, Jebs...I'm sure his fingers will be getting tired soon :'( But just think about. That show was 50 years ahead of time... Interactive TV!!!OK...So it was just a sheet of plastic and some wax pencils.But it was more family friendly than the kind of viewer participation show on the air these days :'( Leaving W-D behind, now...Anyone remember Sky King?? (Hint - Brought to You by... Lorne Doon)Or that show about the French Foreign Legion, with that whiny little kid (Rusty?)Who was you favorite Character on Dobie GillisAnd who remembers going to the Saturday Matinée to see the latest Francis the Talking Mule movie??

[longgone]

:'( :'( The years roll on, uh huh, I remember "Sky King" and his neice "Penny" with the twin engined Bonanza. "Dobie" was good for chuckles too, don't recall having a favorite person though. Never saw Francis but do remember "Mr. Ed" the talking horse. Also fond memories of the "Our gang" comedy series. The beginning of a star Shirley Temple as Darla. The Mickey Mouse show, seems like the older we get the further back we can remember.

[Guest LilBambi]

Paracelsus!Oh wow, now you are bringing back more memories LOL!Sky King - I remember Sky and Penny too ... the flying western :'( It was adapted from the prior radio show which I don't remember from back then but I think I would enjoy!Dobie Gillis - Tongue in cheek for sure with Bob Denver (Gilligan's Island) as Maynard and with Patty Duke Astin's "Dad" from the Patty Duke Show - William Schallert, as the highschool and later college (Ack!) teacher. Didn't have any favorites in the show, but I do remember it was a real groaner even as a child. :'(Francis The Talking Mule - I really enjoyed this series of movies particularly the first one! Great fun, great actors and they did a great job for the day on making it really look like Francis the Talking Mule was actually talking the right words. I really think this would be a great series for anyone, any age as just great comedy.longgone,Oh, you hit on one of my all time favorite children's shows with "Our Gang" .. it was a wonderful show! Love it to this day!And Micky Mouse show ... of course! How could we forget that one. "M I C K E Y M O U S E ... Mickey Mouse, Micky Mouse, forever let us hang our banners high, high, high! ...." "See ya real soon! Why? Because we love you!" LOL!OK, Mickey Mouse made me think of this one! Walt Disney's Merlin Jones movies ... and how about Flubber! LOL! Talk about silly fun movies!

[Jeber]

This may be revealing too much, but Maynard G. Krebbs was one of my earliest inspirations. I even got a hat like his. The only serial I recall was "The perils of Pauline"...every Saturday morning at our local theater.

[Guest LilBambi]

Jeber, did you mean Perils of Penelope Pitstop TV show where her guardian, Sylvester Sneekly, is constantly trying to bump her off ??There were two movies of the book Perils of Pauline movies, one silent movie (1914), and one talkie (1947):http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Perils+o...=utf-8&oe=utf-8(there's even a Gutenberg Project link to the Perils of Pauline book text)

[novice_hack_writer]

The only serial I recall was "The perils of Pauline"...every Saturday morning at our local theater.

The only serials I recall were oatmeal and creme of wheat. We ate 'em and we enjoyed 'em! (GROANS in background both for the pun and the spelling). But cerealously, we sometimes put the instant chocolate milk powder in our creme of wheat to make it more palatable. There are some foods God didn't really intend humans to eat--leave the ground wheat to the animals unless baked into bread!I had a crush on Penny from "Sky King" before I knew anything about that human condition called "love". Maynard G. Krebs was cool, man, cool. We're going too far down memory lane here, I'm suddenly feeling my age :'(

[Guest LilBambi]

What, no Maypo?? :'(