NathanRIP Keeshan
Bob Keeshan died in the month of January in 2004. He has won 5 Emmy awards and several honorary doctorate degrees. Bob Keeshan was obviously very meaningful to a lot of people. He will be remembered forever by many, especially kids that grew up watching him.
Photo of Keeshan Atop Mt. Everest
His grandson Britton was deeply touched by his Keeshan. Britton turned 22 years of age and was about to climb Mount Everest. He went on to become the youngest person to successfully climb the Seven Summits. He buried a picture of Keeshan in the snow after reaching the summit.
Puppeteer Cosmo Allegretti Passes Away
On July of 2013, the puppeteer master died at the age of 86. He had worked for the show “Captain Kangaroo,” He was also the voice of Dancing Bear, Mr. Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose and Grandfather Clock. He was indeed a crucial cast member as there was a $200,000 sale of Cosmo’s Dancing Bear costume.
An Inspiration?
“Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” ran between 1986 to 1990 and had actor Paul Reubens play Pee-wee Herman. It was similar to “Captain Kangaroo” with many possible inspirations in the show. The show had a talking clock, a magic screen, popular guest stars, and it also aired “Golden Age” cartoons mimicking the Captain Kangaroo tv show.
His Legacy Continues
“Captain Kangaroo” does not air anymore with many of the cast members dead, but at the Smithsonian Institution, the spirit of Captain Kangaroo lives on. Mr. Moose is available for visits next to Captain’s original navy blue jackets with the iconic giant pockets, where he got his name from.
Black Dynamite
Captain Kangaroo actually starred in a comedic blaxploitation film called Black Dynamite. It was not really Bob Keeshan but another actor Arsenio Hall who played the Captain. Michael Jai White revealed in an interview saying, “when he [Hall] read that there’s a Captain Kangaroo pimp in this thing,” he was on board.