Sad News--Captain Kangaroo Dead at 76

[Anonymous]

The news today is very sad. Captain Kangaroo past away today after a long illness. He was 76. Million watched his daily tv show on CBS. It ran for 30 there then jumped to PBS and ran another 6 years. His real name was Bob Keeshan but we fondly remember him as Captain Kangaroo. It is like loosing a friend to know he is gone. I grew up watching his show and loving every minute of it. I am saddened to hear of this loss. [:(] [V]

[tree68]

As mentioned in the Railroad Song thread - In the later years, the Captain often played a video of the Kings Singers doing a song ( a capella) called "I'm A Train", which accompanied visuals of an articulated (and others, if I recall).

The words. It's your own fault if you have the tune running through your head for the rest of the day...

I'm A Train

(Mike Hazlewood/Albert Hammond)

Look at me, I'm a train on a track
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
Look at me, gotta load on my back
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
Look at me, I'm going somewhere
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
Look at me, I'm going somewhere
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!

Been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day, yes it has
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, chook-a train, yeah

Look at me, I'm a train on a line
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
Look at me, for the very last time
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
It's been a life that's long and hard
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
I'm going down to the braker's yard
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!

Been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day, yes it has
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, chook-a train, yeah

It's been a life that's long and hard
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train yeah!
Going down to the braker's yard
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!

Been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day, yes it has
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train

I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a train ....

[Anonymous]

I'm afraid I was born to late to have seen Captain Kangaroo. I saw the story on the news and it said his show ran from 1955-1985 and I was born in 1986. I wish I could have seen him, though. Back in the 50's/60's he'd feature Lionel layouts on his show at times and would also sometimes have antique toy trains to show as well. There was an article all about it in Classic Toy Trains a while back.

[Anonymous]

I loved Capt Kangaroo. I grew up watching him, Mr Rogers and Sesame Street. He will always live on in our hearts and re-runs. If only we can all be remembered.

[JoeKoh]

Larry
yes That song along with my older brother firmly planted the love for trains that I have.It was such a good show.the song is like conjunction junction of schoolhouse rock.just mention the first words and your singing it all day.Mr.Keeshan you have a permenant pass in heaven on the wabash cannonball.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Greetings

Not only did he have the model train sets on the show but, they were a advertising platform for Kellogg cereals. There would be a bowl of cereal on a flat car and the train would stop at a water tower and the nozzle would come down and pour milk over the cereal.

G

[cherokee woman]

Yes, Captain Kangaroo will be sadly missed! I was born in 1952, and always watched
the show. Mr. Moose always having balls fall on the Captain; Grandfather Clock's sage
advice; and the SNEAKY Mr. Rabbit! And, of course, Mr. Green Jeans with the animals.

It's too bad the networks don't rerun Captain Kangaroo: I would love to see Tom Terrific
again, along with the Captain and the rest of the gang.

[rrnut282]

I remember watching the Captain, too. I also remember James Coburn? telling an amazing story about what he did during WW II while under fire. He will be missed.

[Anonymous]

Geez. I thought the Capt. had passed long ago. Maybe that was Mr. Greenjeans...

RIP

LC

[eolafan]

Having been born in 1950, I grew up with the Captain and also Romper Room with Miss Arlene, and having grown up in NYC area I remember Sonny Fox, Soupy Sales, etc. Many are gone now and with the passing of the Captain, I am slowly getting in touch with my own mortality...oh what the hell, let's laugh and be merry! Goodbye Captain, we will all remember you for a long time to come!

[ironhorseman]

I remember few episodes of Capt. Kangaroo. Got in on the last of his career. He will be missed. Maybe Nickelodeon will do re-runs someday.

[UPTRAIN]

I remember him and will be missed.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I know. That really sucks. I still remember the Captain and Mr. Greenjeans,every morning. Now I'm starting to date myself [bow] [soapbox] This really sucks.

[locomutt]

This is very SAD NEWS, To all of us who did grow up with him and the rest of the people mentioned,We will and do miss them very much. To those of you out there who are
somewhat younger,you have really missed some of the best,wholesome programing
that has ever been on TV. (and probably never will be again)


locomutt

[Anonymous]

I remember him. Channel 45 Fox out of Baltimore had him along with "Romper Room" and so help me "Schoolhouse rock".

What I cannot pin down is that sea jingle they used to play as a theme. It's been 30 years now and I can just hear it.

Lee

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrnut282

I remember watching the Captain, too. I also remember James Coburn? telling an amazing story about what he did during WW II while under fire. He will be missed.

supposedly it's Lee Marvin telling Johnny Carson how he got his Bronze Star Medal as a Marine on Iwo Jima in World War II. He said that Bob Keeshan was his platoon sergeant.

According to the news article today, Bob Keeshan joined the Marines in 1945, which would have been after Iwo Jima, and if he had served on Iwo Jima, he wouldn't have had time to make sergeant. In fact, the article didn't even mention whether he had seen combat or not. My guess is that he did not.

As a child of 5, I can remember the Captain vividly. I remember the theme song and how he carried his keyring into the Treasure House, jingling the keys in time to the music. When he'd hang his keys on the hook on the front of the counter, the music would stop.

[espeefoamer]

I also grew up with Captain Kangaroo,Mr.Green Jeans,moose,and the rabbit.I always liked the shows that featured the trains.I also watched Engineer Bill.I was in 7th Heaven watching that show.

[sooblue]

I have to join in and say that I too loved the Captain.
About 6 years ago, or so, I met the Captain at a book signing he was having. I just had to get his auto-biography. He signed it for me. That was great. He loved to talk to people. Most everyone he met was a fan and they would talk about growing up with him. He loved it, even though it had to be a bore.

Did you know the Captain was the original clarabell the clown on Howdy doody?
That just about lays to rest all the good entertainers from our youth. Who is left?
I guess that's another forum

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

As mentioned in the Railroad Song thread - In the later years, the Captain often played a video of the Kings Singers doing a song ( a capella) called "I'm A Train", which accompanied visuals of an articulated (and others, if I recall).

The words. It's your own fault if you have the tune running through your head for the rest of the day...

I'm A Train

(Mike Hazlewood/Albert Hammond)

Look at me, I'm a train on a track
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
Look at me, gotta load on my back
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
Look at me, I'm going somewhere
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
Look at me, I'm going somewhere
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!

Been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day, yes it has
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, chook-a train, yeah

Look at me, I'm a train on a line
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
Look at me, for the very last time
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
It's been a life that's long and hard
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!
I'm going down to the braker's yard
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!

Been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day, yes it has
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, chook-a train, yeah

It's been a life that's long and hard
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train yeah!
Going down to the braker's yard
I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, yeah!

Been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day
Yes, it has been a hard day, yes it has
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train, I'm a chook-a train
I'm a train, I'm a chook-a train

I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a train ....

[:0]
I DO REMEMBER that song, but could never place where I learned it from. It is sad that the Captain went to that big kangaroo pouch in the sky. I watched Captain Kangaroo every Saturday morning when I was growing up in the 1970s and early 1980s. Mr Moose and Bunny Rabbit were my favorites.

Take care,

Russell

[cherokee woman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sooblue

I have to join in and say that I too loved the Captain.
About 6 years ago, or so, I met the Captain at a book signing he was having. I just had to get his auto-biography. He signed it for me. That was great. He loved to talk to people. Most everyone he met was a fan and they would talk about growing up with him. He loved it, even though it had to be a bore.

Did you know the Captain was the original clarabell the clown on Howdy doody?
That just about lays to rest all the good entertainers from our youth. Who is left?
I guess that's another forum

Who is left:

Let's see: Ernest Borgnine, who celebrates a birthday today.
Soupy Sales
Ken Barry-F Troop, Mayberry RFD, Mama's Family
Andy Griffith
Don Knotts
Clint Eastwood
Al Lewis-Grandpa Munster
Uncle Fester from the Addams Family (can't remember his name Jackie___?)

I know there's a few more, but I just can't think of their names right now.

CAN ANYBODY ELSE REMEMBER ANY NAMES[?]

Here's a few names from Walt (locomutt):

Carol Burnett
Harvey Korman
Lyle Waggoner

And I just remembered some more:

Kent McCord
Dennis Weaver
Martin Mulner
Kevin Tighe
Randolph Mantooth

[Anonymous]

I used to laugh in hysterics when The moose would pop up... He was so funny looking, and when the ping pong balls fell on them.. I used to love that too

The CBC used to play it, when i was a tiny tot.

He will be missed, and his moose.

RIP, man

Kev.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cherokee woman


Uncle Fester from the Addams Family (can't remember his name Jackie___?)

Jackie Coogan (or something close)

The captain is going to be missed.

[PistolPete]

Like everyone in my generation, I also grew up with the Captain. Sadly his brand of entertainment for children does not exist today. He will be missed by many. I don't remember the song but it will stick with me for a while.

[locomutt]

If you all would like to see a tribute to the good captain,go to:

http://www.flowgo.com/funpages/view.cfm/1742

locomutt

[Willy2]

I was born a bit too late to see Captain Kangaroo but my mom remembers him. Bunny Rabbit was one of her favorite characters. And the cartoon called Tom Terrific and Crabby Appleton rotten to the core. He is missed greatly by the people who saw him in my family.

[cherokee woman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomutt

If you all would like to see a tribute to the good captain,go to:

http://www.flowgo.com/funpages/view.cfm/1742

locomutt

You can also go to:

http://www.courier-journal.com and look for Sat. Jan. 24,2004's newspaper:

They had a really good article on the Captain.

[Anonymous]

It seems all of the truly great children's entertainers have passed away. First it was Mr. Dressup (if you're Canadian you'll know him), then Mr. Rogers and now Captain Kangaroo. They'll still live on forever in our hearts!

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sask_Tinplater

Back in the 50's/60's he'd feature Lionel layouts on his show at times and would also sometimes have antique toy trains to show as well. There was an article all about it in Classic Toy Trains a while back.

Those were his only programs I tried to catch. Guess I was more of a cartoon kid.