Captain Kangaroo has died...

[CrownPrinceBandar]

Bob Keeshan, the star of Captain Kangaroo, died today at his home in VT. He was 77 years.

[meegbear]

1. NO!!!!

A sad day indeed.

:cry:

[roguevalley]

83. Lee Marvin talked about how this man saved his life in world war II.

He was a HUGE hero and did AMAZING things under fire. He had medals up the wazoo and Lee Marvin adored him. I will try and find the email that I got that told about it.

[MacCovern]

93. Lee Marvin - Cap. Kangaroo URBAN LEGEND

I'm going to miss Captain Kangaroo also, but the story of Lee Marvin
saying that the Captain saved his life is a fabrication that has
become urban legend.

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/k/keeshan.htm

Bob Keeshan never served in Iwo Jima (where the story portrays), and
never even saw combat, but if he had seen combat he probably would
have been a real life war hero and been promoted to COLONEL KANGAROO!

[WI_DEM]

Very sad

I grew up with the Captain, Mr. Greenjeans, Mr. Moose, and Bunny Rabbit. He was a great role model. Just like Mr. Rogers.

[Scout]

60. Don't forget Dancing Bear!

sad to hear this, I loved the Captain too.

[bvar22]

108. And Grandfather Clock!

*

[IndianaGreen]

99. I was very sad when the Captain was cancelled

today I am sadder to find out this fine human being has left us. Captain Kangaroo and Mister Rogers were two of a kind. They brought wonderful shows to children, and we were those children, and we will never see anyone like them again.

I didn't forget you Lambchop!

[MinnFats]

113. don't forget Dancing Bear!

now there was a cool character!
and, when my wife was pregnant with our first child, who turned out to be breech, she walked just like Dancing Bear!
You can imagine how she enjoyed hearing me tell her that.....

Lord, though, they were lovable characters.

one of my earliest memories is figuring out that the opening music stopped at the precise instant that Capt. Kangaroo hung up his keys.

[Sagan]

2. awwww man......

I watched that show all the time as a kid. Simon and Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Green Jeans and Moose.....

I hope they drop a ton of ping pong balls at the funeral. :)

Goodbye, Captain.

[alittlelark]

95. I'd forgotten about the ping-pong balls!!

Loved that show!! Preferred Mr Rogers, but not by much! Very sad to realize someone you had not thought of for years dies. Then you realize their importance to your life in some way.

PING-PONG BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tsakshaug]

3. Sad

I enjoyed the captain, Mr Greenjeans, the dancing bear, Mr Moose (and the ping pong balls) the rabbit and stealing carrots. What was the name of the clock? Tom Terriffic and the other things.
Good by

[mac56]

5. Grandfather Clock.

Damn, this makes me sad.

[Roon]

86. Whoa!

So that is where my love for Grandfather clocks came from. I haven't thought about Grandfather clock in 25 years.

[myrna minx]

4. Noooo. Ray Rayner, now the Captain.

This is a bad week for my childhood favorites. :cry:

[Cocoa]

23. timing is weird

all these years, then they die together. Mister Rogers not too long ago as well.

[GinaMaria]

40. Ray Rayner died?

This is a sad week. Thanks captain for being there when we needed you. Thanks to Ray Rayner for the laughs.

[MuseRider]

65. Ray Rayner

does not ring a bell for me. Who was he?
Captain was one of my favorites. I am also missing Gordan Jump who was a clown, WIBB the Clown, on my local TV station before he got famous.

[GinaMaria]

81. Chicago guy

Was on Bozo's circus as Oliver O'Oliver the clown and then had his own show in the morning before school. Funny guy.

[terrya]

6. My God! Terrible news. Besides Fred Rogers....

Bob Keeshan was the nicest, most decent man on television growing up. There isn't anyone on television today who has the warmth and kindess Captain Kangaroo had.

He will be sorely missed.

RIP, Captain.

Terry

[twilight]

7. bummer!

Wow, I had no idea he was still alive! I was on his show when I was a little kid in San Francisco.

I remember he gave me two Rocky Road candy bars, "one for each hand" as he put it.

Another good time memory of the past is trashed in the dust of the 4th Reich. :( :( :(

:dem: :kick:

[absyntheNsugar]

8. Very Sad Indeed...not only a great host but also an adrent lefty

The man was known to be very liberal - and at one time tried to incorporate economics lessons into his show.

I think part of the reason he was replaced by the Fake Captian was due to his political beleifs.

Bob, wherever you are - you made an impression here!

[laruemtt]

9. looks like all the good people

are moving on to someplace better. guess they see what's ahead for us left behind...

[Lorien]

36. I was thinking the very same thing

So very sad.;(

[StClone]

10. We lost Mr.Rogers last year

I blame the stress of Bush on the kinder gentler souls among us.

[displacedtexan]

11. He was also Clarabelle the Clown on Howdy Doody.

Sad.
My childhood is passing away.

[warrior1]

13. Oh my god

Bless is heart. I hope he's in a better place.

Rest in Peace Capt.

[stevedeshazer]

85. Clarabelle

I had a cow named Clarabelle because of that show. She was a 4-H project.

And Mighty Manfred, the Wonder Dog with Tom Terrific. Sad indeed.

[Cadfael]

12. Not a good week for my childhood icons

Ray Rayner died on Wednesday...Chelveston the duck and I are in mourning

[rppper]

14. damn shame...what a loss

i can remember watching him, mr. greenjeans,mr moose and the bunny rabbit every morning as a child.....

r.i.p. bob......

[MissMillie]

47. Ping pong balls

coming down in a virtual rain shower.

And Dancing Bear....

what fun.

I am destroyed and distraught. Too many who bring happiness has left us lately....

[drdon326]

15. That really sucks

bye Captain.

[cosmicdot]

16. prolly started watching in 1955 ... there's the Banana Man, Tom Terrific

the big key ring

[Waistdeep]

48. You left out

Manfred, the Wonder Dog

[absyntheNsugar]

17. Keeshan Speech in favor of Public Education

this will add an additional tear to your eye...

"More ominous threats can be seen in other states and in the platforms of some national candidates. We have floating around the spurious notion that the remedy for public school improvement lies in the abandoning of the system, giving taxpayer money to private, selective institutions to educate our children, children who should be educated in the public school system. These private schools are, by nature, selective; we will take this student but we will not take that student, picking and choosing, with taxpayer money, money that is taken from, directly from the public school system. Imagine your school turning away a child because, for whatever reason, you wished to reject him.

Public schools are, arguably, the most democratic of this nations democratic institutions; we serve everybody, that’s everybody. If we have challenges in our schools, and most of us believe we do, the solution lies in directly addressing those challenges, the solution is not in depriving public schools of the resources to do so and shunting public funds to private, selective institutions. "

<snip>

"Over twenty percent, almost a quarter of our kids live in this land of plenty, the land of thriving business and industry, the land of booming stock markets, the land of consumer confidence, the land of plenty and promise, over twenty per cent of our kids live in poverty. Are we nuts? Are we ready to take such a resource and toss away one in every five kids, are they our throw-aways? And we wonder about Littleton and Oregon and Kentucky. Many of the complex answers sought to those tragedies lies in the attitude of this nation that is ready to throw away one out of every five of our children."


http://www.vtnea.org/Nov00.htm

We need more advocates for children, rather than advocates for children's products.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

34. Right on, Captain!!!!!

We'll miss you, Sir. Say "hi" to Fred.

[callous taoboy]

50. Thank you, Absynthe!

I can probably give a lot of credit to Bob for my decision to become a teacher. He certainly made me love being a child.

[Cooley Hurd]

18. Oh damn...

I loved the Captain when I was growing up. Bunny Rabbit, Mr Moose, the Dancing Bear and Mr Green Jeans...

My condolences to his family and to all who loved the Captain. I sure did...

[arwalden]

19. Very Sad...

I loved that show. Especially the Dancing Bear and the moose with the pingpong balls.

[Minstrel Boy]

20. Sad. I still get choked up thinking about Mr Dress Up

:cry:

[ScreamingMeemie]

55. Oh no...I didn't know Ernie Coombs had died.

:cry: I loved that show. We got it on CBC when we moved here to Michigan. That was one of the best children's shows ever made.

[bearfan454]

121. It sure was

one of the best children's shows ever.

[maddogesq]

124. And Finegan!!!! And don't for get The Friendly Giant, and that...

Wizard of Oz cartoon. Thank you Canada for some wonderful memories. I grew up near Detroit, and watched Windsor Channel 9. I used to work for the guy that was Mr. Houdini on the Channel Nine Bozo (the orignal Boxa) show.

Too many childhood memories are dying away. Damn it, loosing the Cap really sucks. I cried in COSTCO today just thinking about it.

[bamademo]

21. I loved the story he told about stone soup.

And Mr. Bunny Rabbit, Dancing Bear and Mr. Moose

[jokerman93]

22. A Loving Toast

To absent companions.

:cry:

Farewell my Captain.

[bobthedrummer]

24. Another part of my childhood gone, along with Mr. Greenjeans

And didn't Buffalo Bob from Howdy Doody pass on too?
Godspeed, Bob. Thanks for the memories.

[Cooley Hurd]

25. Do you have a link? I can't find a story about it anywhere....

[CrownPrinceBandar]

26. I just heard about it on the radio....

if I find a link I'll post it.

[Cooley Hurd]

51. MSNBC link:

Captain Kangaroo dead at 76

Bob Keeshan's show ran for 30 years

MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 12:44 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2004

Bob Keeshan, known to generations of children as TV personality Captain Kangaroo, has died at 76.

The "Captain Kangaroo" show began its 30-year run in 1955. Characters included the Captain himself and pals Mister Green Jeans, Mister Moose and Bunny Rabbit. A favorite sketch involved Mister Moose dropping ping-pong balls on the Captain's head.

According to the Internet Movie Database, "Captain Kangaroo" won six Emmys and three Peabody Awards.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. I used to watch his show

before going to school every morning.

:-(

[Skidmore]

28. What a loss to this world.

Bless you, Captain, for all the souls you so gently guided through childhood.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

29. There goes the childhood....

:cry: :cry:

I was very much a Capt. Kangaroo child. Seeing those pictures from his show was like taking a jet car back to my past. Very sad news to hear.

Does anyone know if any of his old shows availble for viewing? Those few frames made me long to see an episode...

[LeftHander]

30. Time to put away your picture pages...

Ping pong balls,
Mr. Moose
Bunny Rabbit
Mr. GreenJeans
The Magic Drawing Board

I loved the Capt. when I was a kid...

Farewell.

[ewagner]

31. Farewell Captain

Thanks for Mr. Green Jeans, Mr. Bunny Rabbit, Tom Terrific and who could forget Mighty Manfred, the Wonder Dog!

[callous taoboy]

32. My favorite

on the show, besides Mr. Greenjeans, Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose and the Captain, of course, was Bainter the Painter. I have very fond memories of Captain Kangaroo. A warm, gentle show.

[UpInArms]

33. farewell Captain

may you rest in peace.

The world has lost another brave and good soul.

:cry:

[catzies]

35. OH NOW I AM VERY SAD TODAY.

Loved the dear Captain.

[Enraged_Ape]

37. I loved the bit when someone would say, "Hey..."

and hay would fall down on their heads. When I was a wee lad, I thought this was so dang funny. I laughed until my sides hurt.

I am so sad at this wonderful man's passing. God speed you on your voyage, Captain.

[underpants]

38. A full life and good works thanks Cap'in

I loved watching him when I was growing up. He made a positive difference.

[rsdsharp]

39. This is very sad

Tonight, in his memory, I will read my 60th anniversary copy of Mike Maxwell and His Steam Shovel. Of those books often read by the Captain or Mr. Greenjeans, it was one of my two favorites. My wife gave me a copy for Christmas a few years ago. If anyone knows how I could get a copy of Stone Soup, I'd be very grateful for the information.

Sleep well Captain. You earned your rest, an an honored place in the memories of millions of baby boomers, and their younger siblings.

[roguevalley]

84. google rare or out of print children's bookstores or searchers if you want

one that is original. there are plenty of stone soup
books around, but the original may take a search.

[argyl]

41. How sad.I grew up with the good Captain.I'd forgotten about some of the

supporting characters but reading about Manfred,Bunny Rabbit,Dancing Bear et al really brings it back.
Anyone remember Crabby Appleton,Tom Terrific's nemesis?

[On the Road]

43. Crabby Appleton was ROTTEN to the CORE!

That's what I remember, anyway. I loved that show, too.

And Bob Keeshan was only 77? He looked that old in the 50s! At least to me as a small child.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

63. I was wrong...

he was 76. Misheard the radio report. Sorry.

[Melinda]

112. " I do a bad deed every day, and sometimes three or four."

The Horse in striped pajamas; little cat and mouse running through the house; the magic drawing board and "the green grass grew all around and around..."

When my little heart was breaking, my Captain Kangaroo was always there to help dry my tears. I'll always love my Captain. He was the best of men. :cry:

[GinaMaria]

42. Colgate

remember the wind up colgate toothpast box?

sing it with me

Colgate with new MFP
Helps prevent the cavities
and it tastes great naturally

Damn sad that commercial stuck in my head all these years.

Love the captain.

[MadHound]

44. Oh No, that is such a shame

I grew up with the good Cap'n and all of his friends. Such a warm gentle man, who made a large positive difference in the world. Rest in Peace Bob, and may they drop ping pong balls on your grave.

[TexasPatriot]

45. i grew up with him...

man i'm feeling old today.

RIP Capn... you were a good man.

[RetroLounge]

46. OMG. This just sucks...

First Mr. Rogers.

Then Ray Rayner, who was my morning nourishment every morning for years.

And Bob Bell, Bozo...

and now the Captain. Sigh...

This makes me very sad. My childhood is receeding farther from view every day...

[gauguin57]

52. my heart is broken

Captain Kangaroo was my favorite show when I was little. He taught me so much about being polite and kind to other people. I wrote him a letter when I was in college about what an influence he'd had on me, and his assistant wrote me back the nicest letter on Mister Moose/Bunny Rabbit stationery.

I still have two albums he made when I was a kid -- with Dancing Bear and Mister Moose and the Captain on the cover.

Remember:

The jingling keys to the Treasure House.

ping-pong balls

Bunny Rabbit communicating by banging his face on the desk

"There are two little magic words that can open any door with ease/One little word is 'thanks' and the other little word is 'please.'"

"... All you hungry children, now eat it up."

going "up to the barn" with Mister Greenjeans and seeing the animals he'd brought to show us.

The Captain was the coolest. I truly loved him. And his work on behalf of children makes him all the cooler.

Rest in Peace, Bob. You helped raise a generation of children -- a generation that's profoundly grateful to you.

[treefrogjohn]

49. It was a good day up until now

He was there for my childhood and then again for my own children's. I will miss him.

[Sequoia]

53. ..."smoking cigerattes and watching Captain Kangaroo...

now don't tell me, I've nothing to do."

That old song came to me. Good-by Cap'n and thank you. He was a WWII hero.

[Waistdeep]

54. Here's a link to help you remember

http://www.tvparty.com/lostterrytoons.html

[hatrack]

56. So long, Captain - we'll miss you!!

This really sucks! I LOVED that show!

[solinvictus]

57. I'll miss you!!

I grew up in the 1970's watching the Captain on CBS. I loved the ping-pong ball gag and the fact that he always appeared to love doing his show.

[davidinalameda]

58. my week officially sucks the big one

I'm going home and going back to bed

[Beaker]

59. Wow. Ray Rayner & The Captain in the same week-

my childhood is literally dying right before my eyes...

I sure hope that Bill Jackson is safe and sound.

[AngryAmish]

61. Ray Rayner really bummed me out

I never really liked Captain Kangaroo. Mr. Green Jeans was never given proper respect and that damn bunny was so greedy. It gave me the creeps. But the man devoted his life to entertaining children which was noble. I can understand the mourning, I just did not like the show. And I'm weird.

[AngryAmish]

62. I also heard Ray Nayner was a war hero

Was this true?

[Beaker]

90. Yes. Ray Rayner was one of the architects of "The Great Escape"

nade famous in the movie of the same name.

Ray was a u.s. pilot shot down over Germany in ww2.

[maveric]

111. In reality there were no americans involved in the "great escape"

Only British, Canadian, and Australians.

[MuseRider]

64. BUMMER!

I watched him without fail, every day. Oh goodness, this is really sad. I can remember every year end when he would say, "See you next year" I would cry until my mother told me that next year was actually tomorrow. The world is a sadder place now, he and the rest of the cast were my Sesame Street. Bye, Captain. You will be remembered fondly.

[ixion]

66. Goodbye, Captain, my captain...

You will always hold a cherished place in my childhood memories.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

67. R.I.P. Capn'

nt

[ElsewheresDaughter]

68. awww jes.....and Mari333 had just inspired me to write to him :(...RIP

[Mari333]

69. Goodbye my old friend

I will now cherish the letter you sent me more then ever.
You were the man who taught me how to read and love life.
You were my father in more ways then you knew.
Im crying. I loved you very much, Mr Keeshan.
Mari

[alwynsw]

70. Goodbye, old friend. You will be sadly missed and joyously remembered.

He was responsible for my first bike being a Schwinn "... slightly higher in the West and the South."

[shanti]

71. awwwww

i so remember him and mr. green jeans. RIP, cap'n.

[ignatius]

72. I just heard about this. Godspeed Cap'n, and thanks for all

the fond memories you leave us.

[hunter]

73. Oh man...

Maybe thirteen years ago Bob Keeshan was traveling around speaking about public education. My wife and I brought our one year old son to one of his lectures. Our son didn't fuss at all.

Afterwards "Captain Kangaroo" came over to us, and he held my son as we talked. My wife and I were both feeling like, "Oh wow, we're meeting Captain Kangaroo! We're meeting Captain Kangaroo!"

During the lecture I'd been thinking up some serious, professional sorts of questions to ask Bob Keeshan, and I had my notebook ready, but all that went right out the window...

Everyone else was anxious to talk to the Captain too, so eventually he had to hand our son back to us, but just after he did, he drew us a little autographed picture addressed to our son.

I'm going to go look for it right now.

What a wonderful evening that was, Captain Kangaroo. We will miss you.

[PopSixSquish]

74. Goodbye Captain

You'll be missed. Give Mr. Rodgers my regards when you see him. You were both wonderful parts of my childhood.

:cry:

[David Zephyr]

75. Sad!

I tuned in for the good Captain, Mr. Greenjeans and Bunny Rabit loyally as a pre-schooler...which tells you how ancient I am.

I loved this guy and his demeanor.

Rest in Peace, CK!

[peekaloo]

76. Farewell

A positive influence on my childhood. He seemed like a very sweet and gentle man.

:cry:

[my cuppa tea]

77. wow..

This one really hurts. I don't even know what to say.

[suegeo]

78. he always read a story I loved

I think the book is called Mike Mulligan and his steamshovel MaryAnn.

The story had it all. What a good kid's book and 1 that adults can enjoy too.

God speed captain kangaroo. I will miss you.

[MinnFats]

114. Mike Mulligan!

"Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel" was my favorite, very very favorite book when I was little!

a couple of years ago my wife found a copy and gave it to me for my birthday. Greatest gift I ever got!

Still have it on the shelf. Might have to read it once again before going to bed.

[undergroundrailroad]

79. I grew up watching Captain Kangaroo. This makes me very sad.

Bob Keeshan, Captain Kangaroo, dies at 76.

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Bob Keeshan, who gently entertained and educated generations of children as television's walrus-mustachioed Captain Kangaroo, died Friday at 76.

Keeshan, who lived in Hartford, Vt., died of a long illness, his family said in a statement.

Keeshan's "Captain Kangaroo" premiered on CBS in 1955 and ran for 30 years before moving to public television for six more. It was wildly popular among children and won six Emmy Awards, three Gabriels and three Peabody Awards.

The format was simple: Each day, Captain Kangaroo, with his sugar-bowl haircut and uniform coat, would wander through his Treasure House, chatting with his good friend Mr. Green Jeans, played by Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum.
________________________________________________________________________

RIP my long time TV friend. O8)



UGRR :(

[qanda]

80. Some of my first memories were with Captain Kangaroo

Life seemed so simple back then. Rest in Peace-- put in a good word for us down here.

[xxqqqzme]

82. this is too sad

Has A&E ever done his Biography?

[Kool Kitty]

87. How sad is this?

I watched this show every morning. :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Rufus T. Firefly]

88. I turned 30 two days ago...

...and I almost started crying as I related this to my girlfriend. The Captain was everything that children's entertainment is missing now. No dumbing down, no condescending, and above all it Captain Kangaroo was just enjoyable. I wish I had some tapes I could watch even now.

[sonias]

89. Goodbye Captain

You showed me the mysteries and the potential of the world, and you showed me that people were kind and funny and loving. And you made me laugh. I love you Bob Keeshan. You were my first best friend and first hero. I wanted to marry you when I was a child. You still have a big piece of my heart.
:cry:

Rest in peace Captain. You did good work here on Earth.

Sonia

[CrownPrinceBandar]

91. NPR just did....

a really nice piece on Keeshan. He said that: "it takes more strength to be gentle", than to be violent and aggressive (I gotta remember that next time I feel road rage swelling). All this from a former marine. No wonder I'm such a damn leftie, this guy was even more instrumental than Mr. Rodgers in my socialization.

[colorado_ufo]

92. I loved him, and he was my younger brother's favorite.

Bob was a young man when he began the character and once commented that it used to take hours to put on all the makeup. With time, he just "grew into" the role: "Now they just powder my nose and send me on!"

I watched one generation of childhood stars already pass, such as Andy Devine, and now another one. It does seem ominous that so many of the very best are passing together.

Maybe this is the "Rapture?" I notice that I am still here.

God bless you, My Captain; may you sail on smooth seas to Heaven's shore.

[Vogon_Glory]

94. Oh Captain Our Captain

Oh Captain Our Captain

I am saddened by Bob Keeshan's passing. While such is one of life's inevitabilities, I will miss him. To me, he will always be Captain Kangaroo.

I thought that Captain Kangaroo was wholesome entertainment from an era where someone still had such notions in mind and practiced them, as opposed to what is all too commonly directed at children these days.

--A gray-haired, middle-aged Captain Kangaroo fan who has again been made aware of his own mortality.

[Wapsie B]

96. RIP Captain.

You touched so many lives, mine included. You will be missed.

[Ferretherder]

97. I was driving home about an hour ago,...

...listening to the news on NPR, when the announcer, Corey Flinthoff, ended one news item and began another with the words, 'Bob Keeshan...', and I immediately blurted out NNNOOOOOOO!!!!! I knew what the next words would be.

This day officially SUCKS!

I so fondly remember the Captain, his alter ego, the Town Clown; Mr. Greenjeens and his wonderful cadre of characters Mr. Bainter, Mr. Bostman, and The Professor ( with his double bass fiddle that he played like a guitar ); Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose, Grandfather Clock, Magic Drawing Board, Tom Terrific and Mighty Manfred, the Wonder Dog.......and all of the cool stories the Captain would read.

Some of you will think I'm slightly out of my mind, but I've got tears streaming down my face right now. Dammit! I feel like I knew the man, PERSONALLY!

Godspeed, Captain. You were truly 'One-of-a-kind'!

[alwynsw]

101. You're not the only one who cried

Who said middle aged men like me don't get all teary?

[Norbert]

98. I didn't watched Captain Kangaroo all that much

I was a huge fan of Howdy Doody and Clarabell. When the Captain was getting popular I was an almost grown adult of six.

As a real adult I would see him every once in a while on Tom Snyder and Larry King. Bob Keeshan showed on these shows that he was the genuine article, oozong with integrety. I became a fan of Captain Kangaroo in my twenties.

The role Captain Kangaroo and other played in the early part of our childhood developement is vastly underrated.

Thank you Buffalo Bob, Shari Lewis, Fran Allison, Skipper Ryle and all the others that helped us along the way.

and Goodbye, oh captain, my captain.

[dflprincess]

100. I learned how to spell my first word watching Captain Kangaroo

Every so often he's play a song about Massachusetts. Here I am, 50 years old, and the only way I can spell that is if I sing that song in my head M-A-double S-A-C-H-U-S-E-double T-S.

Goodbye Captain, thanks for all the fun, I won't forget you.

[Tyler Durden]

102. Oh Captain! My Captain!

Crabby Appleton has won in the end.

Oh Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.


O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths--for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.


My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

[MinnFats]

115. Perfect. Knew someone would find the Whitman poem & post it!

Thanks.
I've had bits of it on my mind all day and wanted to read the entire poem.
It really does seem appropriate, doesn't it? And to think Whitman had President Lincoln in mind.....

thanks again...

[Jack Rabbit]

103. My first memories of Captain Kangaroo

I remember watching Captain Kangaroo for the first time on a Saturday morning on KPIX, channel 5, broadcasting from San Francisco. Captian Kangaroo was intoroduced as by channel 5's Saturday morning host, Captain Fortune.

I was barely old enough to realize that I was watching something on television that I had never seen before.

[silverchair]

104. this is so sad

so many famous people dying lately. mr. rogers passed and now...captain kangaroo..rest in peace. loved ya when i was a kid.

[bleedingheart]

105. My brother and I watched him all the time...He will be missed

I wish my kids had something so wonderful to see ....

ah the ping pong balls, mr moose...and ...bunny rabbit...

[PartyPooper]

106. First it was Ann Miller...now it's Bob Keeshan...who's next?

These things usually happen in multiples of 3's!

:-(

[calimary]

109. Apparently noted photographer Helmut Newton was the third.

Bummer-bummer-bummer.

I LOVED Captain Kangaroo!

All the sweet people are leaving.

[Eroshan]

107. Good Night Captain

Grandfather Clock will turn out the lights now that your gone. My childhood has been over for a log time, but now it has died.

[SideshowScott]

110. Sad...Farewell Captain

I grew up watching Captian Kangeroo. There are none like him..WHen he left childrens television was never the same.. Rest in Peace to my dearest freind when i was a child

[Piperay]

116. I grew up with Captain Kangaroo

this was very sad news :cry:, the World needs more people like Captain Kangaroo. O8)

[Melinda]

117. Captain Kangaroo to us, America's children, on 11/26/63:

From the Captain Kangaroo 10th Anniversary CBS Press Information Book (1965):

Following the asassination of President Kennedy, countless
perplexed youngsters besieged their parents for an explanation of why
such a tagedy should happen.

The morning after the funeral (11/26/63), gone was Bob Keeshan's
usual jovial, carefree manner. His opening words were:

"Good morning. Since we spoke to you last Friday, a great
tragedy has saddened our nation. You are wondering why such things
happen. I wish I could answer your questions. I cannot. Grownups,
too, are wondering why such things happen.

President John F. Kennedy was a man who loved this nation and
was much loved by this nation and the world. He was dedicated to the
greatness and the goodness of America.

It is only right then that we, each of us, dedicate ourselves
anew to being good Americans. Is it difficult to be a good American?
Well, it often is not easy, but the rules are fairly simple. To be a
good American today or any other day you need only to love your
fellow man. A good American is a person of kindness, of peace, of
love.

We have all seen the grief, the sadness, brought to a nation by
a single act of hate. Let us then begin today to fill our lives with
acts of love.

Whatever you do, wherever you go -- go in kindness, go in
peace, go in love."

God bless and keep you, my Captain. :cry:

[newyawker99]

118. Rest in Peace Captain.

There will never be another like you. Thanks for all of the fun and wisdom you shared with us. :cry:

[beawr]

119. This Man, and Fred Rogers

Did indeed teach us that kindness is the world's most powerful force. Now I have younguns and we try to teach the same thing, but there's nothing on the tube to help out. This was the first TV show I watched, back in the 60's. RIP Bob, you are loved.

[trag]

120. A sad day...

He will truely be missed.

[muchacho]

122. RIP

a wonderful entertainer and an outspoken humanist.

[fortyfeetunder]

123. Another sad day in the neighborhood

I grew up watching the Captain, think he was on about 8AM...Whenever I heard the theme music (which I loved), I'd be ready to start another day.

As I watch the stuff now that calls itself children's programming, there are few that come close to the quality of programming the Captain and Fred Rogers produced. The only one that comes to mind might be Sesame Street. And besides, both Keeshan and Rogers went out and spoke as advocates for childhood education and TV programming. They were highly concerned about the new trend of commercialized pap disguised as "childrens" shows.

We may mourn their deaths, but it's actually a call to action to get back to basics for our kids.