Bob Keeshan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Keeshan
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Keeshan in 1995
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| Born |
Robert James Keeshan
June 27, 1927 |
| Died | January 23, 2004 (aged 76) Windsor, Vermont, US
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| Alma mater | Fordham University |
| Occupation | Television host, producer, actor |
| Years active | 1947–2004 |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Laurie |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Britton Keeshan (grandson) |
Robert James Keeshan (born June 27, 1927 – died January 23, 2004) was an American television producer and actor. He is best known for creating and starring in the popular children's TV show Captain Kangaroo. This show ran for nearly 30 years, from 1955 to 1984. It was the longest-running nationally broadcast children's television program of its time. Before that, he also played the original Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody TV show.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Robert James Keeshan was born in Lynbrook, New York. His parents were from Ireland. He finished Forest Hills High School in Queens, New York, early in 1945. This was during World War II.
After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. However, the war ended before he was sent overseas. He stayed in the United States. After the war, he went to Fordham University using the GI Bill. He earned his bachelor's degree in education in 1951.
Clearing Up Rumors About War Service
There is a common false story, called an urban legend, about Bob Keeshan's military service. This story claims that actor Lee Marvin said they fought together in the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. This is not true. Lee Marvin never served in Iwo Jima. He was hurt during the Battle of Saipan.
Also, Bob Keeshan never saw combat in Europe or Japan. He joined the Marines too late to serve in battles overseas. Even today, people still ask about these "heroic" war stories. Keeshan always tried to tell people that these rumors were false.
Starting His Television Career
Television shows became popular soon after World War II ended. Howdy Doody, which started in 1947 on NBC, was one of the first. On January 3, 1948, Keeshan began playing Clarabell the Clown on this show.
Clarabell was a silent clown. He used horns on his belt to talk. One honk meant "yes," and two honks meant "no." Clarabell often played jokes, like spraying the host, Buffalo Bob Smith, with a seltzer bottle. Keeshan left the show in late 1952.
New Shows and Captain Kangaroo
By September 21, 1953, Keeshan was back on local TV. He was on WABC-TV in New York City. He had a new children's show called Time for Fun. On this show, he played Corny the Clown, and this time, he spoke! Later that year, he also started Tinker's Workshop. This show was for younger children. He played a kind, grandfather-like character named Tinker.
Keeshan and his friend Jack Miller used ideas from Tinker's Workshop. They presented their idea for Captain Kangaroo to the CBS network. CBS was looking for new and creative children's shows. CBS approved the show. Keeshan starred as Captain Kangaroo when it first aired on October 3, 1955.
He said his character was based on "the warm relationship between grandparents and children." The show was an instant hit. He was the host for almost 30 years.
Friends on the Show
Captain Kangaroo had many popular characters. His best friend on the show was Mr. Green Jeans, played by Hugh Brannum. Other characters included Dennis and puppets like Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose.
The New York Times newspaper said that Captain Kangaroo was "one of the most enduring characters television ever produced." This means he was one of the longest-lasting and most loved TV characters.
Other TV Work and Friendships
Keeshan also had a Saturday morning show called Mister Mayor in 1964–65. On both Captain Kangaroo and Mister Mayor, he promoted products from the Schwinn Bicycle Co. They were a sponsor of his shows. By 1972, he created a new character, Mr. Schwinn Dealer. This was because the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled that hosts of children's shows could not directly promote products during their programs.
Bob Keeshan was good friends with Fred Rogers from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. They visited each other's shows in 1970. They also appeared together in a PBS special in 1980. Fred Rogers even appeared in Keeshan's TV special in 1981 after Keeshan had a heart attack.
Keeshan also recorded many children's albums. Some featured songs with characters from Captain Kangaroo. Others included A Child's Introduction to Jazz and narrations for classic music pieces like Peter and the Wolf.
Health and Retirement
Keeshan had a serious heart attack on July 11, 1981. It happened right after he got off a plane in Toronto, Canada. He was there to receive an award for his work with children.
He had triple-bypass surgery. He received about 5,000 get-well messages from his fans while he was in the hospital.
After his heart attack, Keeshan won three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer. He won them in 1982, 1983, and 1984. However, his show Captain Kangaroo was shortened. It went from an hour to 30 minutes in 1981. This was to make more room for the CBS Morning News. The show was renamed Wake Up with the Captain. It moved to an earlier time slot.
CBS kept changing the show's schedule. In 1982, it became a weekend-only show. By 1984, it was only a half-hour show on Saturdays. Keeshan was tired of these changes. He left Captain Kangaroo in December 1984 when his contract ended. This was just nine months before the show's 30th anniversary. By 1987, old episodes of the show were shown daily on many PBS stations.
In 1985, a special TV show called Captain Kangaroo and Friends aired. It was a farewell to the beloved show.
Later Life and Advocacy
After Captain Kangaroo ended, Keeshan hosted CBS Storybreak in 1985. This show featured animated versions of children's books. He would introduce the stories and suggest other books for kids to read.
In 1987, he started a company called Corporate Family Solutions. This company helped businesses create day-care programs for their employees' children.
Keeshan lived in Babylon Village, Long Island, New York, for many years. He then moved to Norwich, Vermont, for the last 14 years of his life. There, he became a strong supporter of children's rights and well-being. He also became an author. His book of memories, Good Morning, Captain, was published in 1995.
He spoke out against violence in video games. He took part in government hearings about this in 1993. He also joined parent groups in the 1980s. They protested children's TV shows based on toys like He-Man and Transformers. He felt that these shows did not teach children about the real world. He also made a rare movie appearance in The Stupids in 1996.
In 1997, he played the Wizard in a theater production of The Wizard of Oz in St. Louis.
In the 1990s, Keeshan wanted to bring back a new version of Captain Kangaroo. He hoped it would be a gentler show compared to the violent cartoons on TV. He had sponsors and TV stations ready. However, he could not get permission from the company that owned the rights to Captain Kangaroo at that time.
Family and Passing
Bob Keeshan was married to Anne Jeanne Laurie Keeshan for 45 years. She passed away on February 25, 1996. They had three children: Michael Derek, Laurie Margaret, and Maeve Jeanne.
Bob Keeshan died in Windsor, Vermont, on January 23, 2004. He was 76 years old. He was buried in Saint Joseph's Cemetery in Babylon, New York.
Keeshan's grandson, Britton Keeshan, achieved a special feat. He became the youngest person at that time to climb the Seven Summits. These are the highest mountains on each continent. He climbed Mount Everest in May 2004. He carried photos of his grandfather with him. He even buried a photo of them together at the top of the mountain.
Awards and Honors
Bob Keeshan received many awards and honors for his work. These include:
- Iris Award for man of the year from NATPE (1965)
- Adopted member of the Dartmouth College Class of 1942
- Many Honorary Degrees from universities, including:
- Alfred University (1969)
- Rhode Island College (1969)
- Dartmouth College (1975)
- Fordham University (1975), his own college
- Indiana State University (1978)
- Elmira College (1980)
- Marquette University (1983)
- Le Moyne College (1983)
- Central Michigan University (1984)
- College of New Rochelle (1985)
- St. Joseph College (1987)
- Middlebury College, his grandson's college, for his work in children's reading
- Honorary Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
- Five Emmy Awards (1978, 1981–1984)
- Three Peabody Awards (1958, 1972, 1979)
- National Education Award (1982)
- International Clown Hall of Fame (1990)
- Distinguished Service award, American Medical Association (1991)
- National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (1998)
Images for kids
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Keeshan in 1995
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Keeshan as Captain Kangaroo
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From left: Dancing Bear, Bunny Rabbit, Captain Kangaroo, Grandfather Clock, Mr. Moose, and Mr. Green Jeans
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Bob Keeshan speaking for United Way at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, in April 1999
See also
In Spanish: Bob Keeshan para niños
