Captain Kangaroo

Captain Kangaroo (1961-1981)

EndedScripted showComedy, Children

Captain Kangaroo is an American children's television series that aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running nationally broadcast children's television program of its day. In 1986, the American Program Service (now American Public Television, Boston) integrated some newly produced segments into reruns of past episodes, distributing the newer version of the series until 1993. The show was conceived and the title character played by Bob Keeshan, who based the show on "the warm relationship between grandparents and children". Keeshan had portrayed the original Clarabell the Clown on The Howdy Doody Show when it aired on NBC. Captain Kangaroo had a loose structure, built around life in the "Treasure House" (later known as "The Captain's Place") where the Captain (the name "kangaroo" came from the big pockets in his coat) would tell stories, meet guests, and indulge in silly stunts with regular characters, both humans and puppets. Keeshan performed as Captain Kangaroo more than 9000 times over the nearly 30 year run of the show.

The show was telecast live to the East Coast and the Midwest for its first four years and broadcast on kinescope for the West Coast, as Keeshan would not perform the show live three times a day, and was in black-and-white until 1967. The May 17, 1971 episode saw two major changes on the show: The Treasure House was renovated and renamed "The Captain's Place" and the Captain replaced his navy blue coat with a red coat. In September 1981, CBS shortened the hour-long show to a half-hour, briefly retitled it "Wake Up with the Captain", and moved it to an earlier time slot; it was later moved to weekends in September 1982, and returned to an hour-long format. It was canceled by CBS at the end of 1984.

Network
ScheduleMonday to Friday (daily) (60 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
1981-08-21Good Evening, CaptainAug 21, 1981
S21E02Phil Donahue ShowFeb 20, 1978
1977-05-18May 18, 1977May 18, 1977
1976-10-27Dolly Parton visitsOct 27, 1976
S21E01The Amusement ParkAug 27, 1976
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did Captain Kangaroo premiere?

Captain Kangaroo premiered on October 3, 1955.

Who portrayed Captain Kangaroo?

Bob Keeshan portrayed Captain Kangaroo.

What was Captain Kangaroo's real name?

Captain Kangaroo's real name was Bob Keeshan.

What was the format of Captain Kangaroo's show?

Captain Kangaroo's show was a children's variety show.

How long was each episode of Captain Kangaroo?

Each episode of Captain Kangaroo was 60 minutes long.

What type of segments were featured on Captain Kangaroo?

Captain Kangaroo featured segments on topics such as music, crafts, and storytelling.

Who were some of Captain Kangaroo's notable guests?

Some notable guests on Captain Kangaroo included Bill Cosby, Julie Andrews, and Carol Channing.

What was the theme song for Captain Kangaroo?

The theme song for Captain Kangaroo was "Puffin' Billy" by Edward White.

How many episodes of Captain Kangaroo were produced?

Over 9,000 episodes of Captain Kangaroo were produced.

What was the set design for Captain Kangaroo?

Captain Kangaroo's set was designed to look like a child's playroom.

How did Captain Kangaroo address his viewers?

Captain Kangaroo addressed his viewers as "boys and girls."

Who played Mr. Green Jeans on Captain Kangaroo?

Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum played Mr. Green Jeans on Captain Kangaroo.

What was the purpose of Captain Kangaroo's "Good Morning" song?

The "Good Morning" song was used as a way to awaken children and get them active after a commercial break on the show.

Cast

View all cast

Characters

View all characters

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service
Running

Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service

Restaurateurs who are looking for a quick fix or social media glow-up are in for the surprise of their lives when famed culinary titan Gordon Ramsay trades his signature chef knives for a state-of-the-art surveillance vehicle and cutting-edge spyware in FOX's all-new unscripted series, Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service. In a Gordon Ramsay series first, Chef Ramsay will venture into struggling restaurants under the cover of night. With the help of a secret source on the inside, he'll gather raw, unfiltered evidence and get a 360-degree view of the major issues facing each restaurant. This insider will not only remain a secret to the staff, but will also help Ramsay infiltrate the restaurant after-hours for a dramatic nighttime black light kitchen investigation that reveals more filth and grossness than ever before. By the time Ramsay reveals his identity, it will be too late for staff to cover up their culinary crimes. Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service will be his toughest assignment yet as he takes drastic measures to transform not only the restaurant but also the staff, because Gordon knows he can upgrade the menu and renovate the restaurant, but the most important change has to come from the people. Are the restaurant and staff willing to accept Gordon's mission, or are they too far gone to be saved?

GenreFood
In Flight
Running

In Flight

Jo Conran is a single mum working as a flight attendant. Her son is serving a fifteen-year sentence in a Bulgarian prison for a murder he swears he did not commit. Jo is approached by a gang who know all about her son and is blackmailed into using her job to smuggle drugs. She soon finds herself pulled into a murky underworld of corrupt cops and hired killers, forced to carry out their orders with no escape in sight. However, no matter how far Jo finds herself from her old life, her mission remains the same, to keep her son alive. 

Days of Our Lives
Running

Days of Our Lives

Days of our Lives is set in the fictitious Midwestern town of Salem. The core families are the Bradys, the Hortons and the DiMeras, and the multi-layered storylines involve elements of romance, adventure, mystery, comedy and drama.

Beginning on September 12, 2022, DAYS became exclusive to streaming on Peacock.

Taskmaster NZ
Running

Taskmaster NZ

Jeremy Wells reigns supreme alongside his royal assistant Paul Williams, in the highly anticipated local version of Taskmaster. They'll be putting Kiwi comedians through their paces in a series of bizarre, hilarious and ingenious tasks.

GenreComedy
Mean Girl Murders
Running

Mean Girl Murders

Mean Girl Murders explores the inner workings of cutthroat cliques, vicious backbiting and cruel intentions.

GenreCrime