I was saddened to learn on yesterday about the passing of Bob Keeshan the avuncular actor who starred in the CBS/PBS children's t.v. show "Captain Kangaroo". Captain Kangaroo was my first exposure to network programming designed for children while I was growing up as a kid in the 60s. Since I am a pre-Disney kid I really appreciate what that show did not only for my generation but generations both before and after me. The puppet characters Mr. Moose (knock-knock, who's there?), Bunny Rabbit (carrot connoisseur), farm friend Mr. Green Jeans, Bill Cosby, Joyce Brothers and others made for a wholesome, fun and safe learning environment for children. Current popular programs like 'Barney', 'Blues Clues and "Out of the Box" owe their success to the foundation laid by Mr. Keeshan. It is quite a stark contrast when we look at the current programming options available for our children. Gratuitous sex, violence and profanity inundate t.v. programs which are allegedly, "children friendly". Mr. Keeshan made a committement to the welfare of children by becoming a tireless public children's advocate working with politicians to promote safety in programming. One of the tragic contradictions of American life is seen in the deteriorating quality of life for our most vulnerable members-children. There are far too many kids living in dysfunctional homes where poor parental support, poverty, disease, malnutrition and substandard housing are the norm, not the exception. The Children's Defense Fund, headed by Marian Wright Edelman, is devoted to improving the living conditions for all children in America. On this day when we formally bid farewell to Mr. Keeshan it would be wise for us all to rededicate our commitment to the principles that he and other child advocates worked hard to implement. I'm going to fix some carrots for dinner tomorrow and use that as a segueway to teach my children about Bunny Rabbitt and Captian Kangaroo. If Jesus could take time from his "busy schedule" to address children's issues certainly we can also. QED

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2004

Answers

I didn't hear about Captain Kangaroo; however, I heard about local children's television personality Ray Rainer, who died two days ago. He was like the Chicago-area "Captain Kangaroo". May they both rest in peace. Children's television will probably never be the same again.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2004

My mom said I called him "Cappee Roo". I'd crack up when he got the ping pong balls dropped on him.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2004

I'll be frank with you. As a kid my mother thought Captain Kangaroo was a wonderful program, but I hated it. I could not stand the captain, I thought he was just plain strange and that Mr. Green Jeans plucked my last nerve. I got migraines when Dancing Bear came on. Finally, I had to tell her...enough is enough! She finally got the picture.

We did have wonderful local televion such as Sally Star, Pixanne, and Jean London who was my absolute favorite.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2004

Can anyone tell me if this is true? Supposedly Lee Marvin told the story on a talk show of his experience as a Marine on Iwo Jima. He said his sergeant was Bob Keeshan, now known as Captain Kangaroo. He said Sgt Keeshan was the bravest man he'd ever known.

This was one of those e-mails that makes its way around. It also said Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was a Vietnam era Navy SEAL. Supposedly he was an expert in hand-to-hand combat, and had killed a number of the enemy in Vietnam. It said the reason he wore long sleeves was to cover the numerous tattoos on his arms.

The point of the e-mail was to tell of the numerous quiet heroes among us. These were combat veterans who wanted to do something positive for kids after witnessing the ugliness of war, and if people thought them wimpy or goofy, fine. Because of their pasts they knew they had nothing to prove.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2004

Just the facts, RP, nothing but the facts. Validate your assertions.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2004

That's what I'm trying to do.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2004

RP: You are the master of misinformation.

Not taking anything from what Bob Keeshan or Fred Rogers accomplished in the field of children's television. Your characterizations of them as war heroes is blatantly incorrect and unnecessarily misleading.

Bob Keeshan was a member of the Reserves from 1945-46. Prior to that he was in college. His bio does not list any military activity aside from the previously mentioned. If he was a sgt. at Iwo Jima he must have done it early in his reserve career, which is highly unlikely.

Mr. Rogers never served in Vietnam. From 1954-63 he produced a children's program in Pittsburgh from 1963-1968 he worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Company and 1968-on he was on PBS.

I am glad that there are people who dedicate their lives to enriching the lives of children, they don't need any wacko macho embellishment to support the strength of their character. Even if they were wimpy, goofy etc.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004

RP opines -

"Can anyone tell me if this is true? Supposedly Lee Marvin told the story on a talk show of his experience as a Marine on Iwo Jima. He said his sergeant was Bob Keeshan, now known as Captain Kangaroo. He said Sgt Keeshan was the bravest man he'd ever known."

While you do ask the questions about the popular story there appears to be a subtlety of its acceptance as truth. Based on Harold's cross- check the circulated information about the late Mr. Keeshan being a "Sgt. York"-like person during WW II is nothing more than urban legend. If the legendary Hollywood actor Lee Marvin is the sponsor of such misinformation it isn't surprising since Tinsletown has always been criticized as being unpatriotic and harboring anti-war sentiments. So I can see why an urban legend can be birthed in an attempt to deflect such criticisms. RP's error is simply accepting the urban legend as fact without corroborating its authenticity. My university students who are "guilty" of such faux pas are warmly greeted with my letter grade evaluation of "F". Brother Harold gets an "A", but no extra credit :-) QED

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004

Yeah...One of my buddies just read this article and informed me she heard that Lassie was a Navy Seal.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004

Not to wear the topic out but did you know that Lee Marvin died in 1987 (13-14) years ago. So if he told these stories then they are pretty old stories, or as Prof. Dickens calls them "urban legends."

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004

From the internet:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-marvin- keeshan.htm

At the age of 20, Lee Marvin was a private in the U.S. Marines 4th Division, part of the Allied landing force that invaded the Japanese- held Pacific island of Saipan on July 15, 1944. He was wounded three days later on July 18, spent the next 13 months in Navy hospitals recovering from a severed sciatic nerve, and was discharged in 1945.

Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo) signed up for the Marine Corps Reserve shortly before his 18th birthday in 1945. Since the war was all but over by the time he finished basic training, it's unlikely Keeshan ever saw combat before completing his service a year later, let alone attained the rank of sergeant.

About Mr. Rogers (who I understand was the same gentle person offscreen as on):

"...A version of this message circulating since March 2003 includes an addendum claiming that Fred Rogers, host of public television's "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," was an ex-Marine sniper (or, in another version, a Navy Seal) with dozens of wartime kills to his credit. This, too, is false. "

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004

Uh, excuse me. I believe I stated at the outset of the post that I was unsure of the truth of the story. I got it as one of those e- mails that float around out there. I was asking if anyone could confirm or deny the truthfulness of it. I wasn't stating it as truth.

Why all the emotion? Let's not go off the deep end here folks.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004

Yes RP:

You did open it with "Can anyone tell me if this is true? Supposedly.....

Your grand finale was somewhat extravagant. "The point of the e-mail was to tell of the numerous quiet heroes among us. These were combat veterans who wanted to do something positive for kids after witnessing the ugliness of war, and if people thought them wimpy or goofy, fine. Because of their pasts they knew they had nothing to prove."

Quite an emotional statement for something that may be true or false. But, it's ok to be emotional for someone you believe in.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004