Bob Keeshan

Children's Show Creator

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Bob Keeshan (1927-2004) talks of his experiences as an NBC page before going to work for "Buffalo" Bob Smith. He talks about the early days of Smith's Howdy Doody Show and how he was eventually transformed into the beloved "Clarabell the Clown." He discusses starring in two local New York children's programs before creating and starring in Captain Kangaroo. He remembers "Captain Kangaroo's" friends: "Mr. Green Jeans," "Mr. Moose," and "Bunny Rabbit" and the men who played them. He recalls the program's long run and the effect it had on several generations of children. He describes his post-Captain Kangaroo projects, including a guest spot on Murphy Brown, and talks about how children relate to television and what television can do for them. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 19, 1999 in Quechee, VT.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Everybody has individual memories of me. Different people tell me different things and almost always, they're very positive and I'm very happy with them. I'll be remembered in many different ways and that's fine. I am whatever you wanted to make me, whatever you wanted to take from me."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Bob Keeshan on remaining in character as "Clarabell the Clown", and his opinion on the Howdy Doody finale where "Clarabell" spoke for the only time

01:26

Bob Keeshan on how much of his "Clarabell the Clown" moves were scripted on Howdy Doody

04:09

Bob Keeshan on the origin of Captain Kangaroo

04:42

Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo's switch from black and white to color

04:32

Bob Keeshan on the industry's responsibility to children

01:40

Full Interview

Play Full Video

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on radio and books he enjoyed as a child; on his high school years

On working at NBC as a page; on his service in World War II; on returning to college after World War II

Chapter 2

On the early days of television at NBC; on how he came to be "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

On playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody; on Howdy Doody's mission and sponsors

Chapter 3

On playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody and working with the cast; on rehearsal for Howdy Doody and his opinion of the finale; on how much of "Clarabell" was scripted

On the cast and crew of Howdy Doody; on the limitations of his talents

Chapter 4

On "Buffalo" Bob Smith's feelings toward him; on being fired from Howdy Doody; on his memories of Howdy Doody

On playing "Corny the Clown" on Time For Fun; on playing "Tinker the Toymaker" on Tinker's Workshop

Chapter 5

On the origin and pilot of Captain Kangaroo; on the character of "Captain Kangaroo"

On Hugh Brannum playing "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo; on Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti playing "Mr. Moose" and "Bunny Rabbit" on Captain Kangaroo; on the writing of the show

Chapter 6

On the main elements of Captain Kangaroo; on the cartoons, format, and music of Captain Kangaroo

On Captain Kangaroo's sponsorship over the years; on Captain Kangaroo's switch from black and white to color; on his 1964 Saturday show Mr. Mayor

Chapter 7

On his show Mr. Mayor; on how Captain Kangaroo changed over the years and the end of the show; on Captain Kangaroo's move to PBS

On "Captain Kangaroo" appearing on other shows; on the impact of Captain Kangaroo and what represents the best of television; on how he'd like to be remembered

Shows

Captain Kangaroo

Bob Keeshan on the origin of Captain Kangaroo

04:42

Bob Keeshan on the pilot of Captain Kangaroo and early critical reaction

03:24

Bob Keeshan on the character of "Captain Kangaroo"

04:20

Bob Keeshan on Hugh Brannum, "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo

07:14

Bob Keeshan on Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti, who played "Mr. Moose", "Bunny Rabbit", and "Grandfather Clock" on Captain Kangaroo

07:30

Bob Keeshan on the writing of Captain Kangaroo

01:14

Bob Keeshan on the main elements of Captain Kangaroo

03:38

Bob Keeshan on the character of "Tom Terrific" on Captain Kangaroo

01:31

Bob Keeshan on the format of Captain Kangaroo, and reading stories on air to viewers

03:42

Bob Keeshan on the music in Captain Kangaroo

03:39

Bob Keeshan on the sponsorship of Captain Kangaroo

05:55

Bob Keeshan on the network and Captain Kangaroo and the Hollywood Blacklist

03:12

Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo's switch from black and white to color

04:32

Bob Keeshan on how Captain Kangaroo changed over the years

03:03

Bob Keeshan on the end of Captain Kangaroo

04:08

Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo's move to PBS

02:55

Bob Keeshan on the impact of Captain Kangaroo

01:43

Howdy Doody

Bob Keeshan on how he came to be "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

10:31

Bob Keeshan on playing the character of "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

02:01

Bob Keeshan on "Lucky", the puppet before "Howdy Doody" and "Howdy Doody" running for President

04:54

Bob Keeshan on Howdy Doody's sponsors

02:01

Bob Keeshan on the mission of Howdy Doody's producers

03:34

Bob Keeshan on playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody, and working with the cast

04:14

Bob Keeshan on rehearsing for Howdy Doody and the "Peanut Gallery"

03:31

Bob Keeshan on remaining in character as "Clarabell the Clown", and his opinion on the Howdy Doody finale where "Clarabell" spoke for the only time

01:26

Bob Keeshan on how children responded to "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

00:39

Bob Keeshan on how much of his "Clarabell the Clown" moves were scripted on Howdy Doody

04:09

Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith from Howdy Doody

06:10

Bob Keeshan on Howdy Doody producer Roger Muir

02:11

Bob Keeshan on Howdy Doody writer Eddie Keane

01:09

Bob Keeshan on Rhoda Mann, the operator of the "Howdy Doody" puppet on Howdy Doody

01:15

Bob Keeshan on Judy Tyler, "Princess Summerfallwinterspring" on Howdy Doody

01:15

Bob Keeshan on Bill LeCornec, "Chief Thunderthud" on Howdy Doody

00:56

Bob Keeshan on the limitation of his talents on Howdy Doody

02:05

Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's attitude toward him

05:14

Bob Keeshan on being fired from his role of "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

05:24

Bob Keeshan on his replacement as "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

01:57

Bob Keeshan on his favorite Howdy Doody memories

01:47

Murphy Brown

Bob Keeshan on "Captain Kangaroo" appearing on Murphy Brown

01:45

Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

Bob Keeshan on playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

23:08

Bob Keeshan on playing the character of "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

02:01

Bob Keeshan on Hugh Brannum, "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo

07:14

Bob Keeshan on Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti, who played "Mr. Moose", "Bunny", and "Grandfather Clock" on Captain Kangaroo

07:30

Bob Keeshan on the character of "Captain Kangaroo"

04:20

Bob Keeshan on the character of "Tom Terrific" on Captain Kangaroo

01:31

Classic TV series episodes

Bob Keeshan on remaining in character as "Clarabell the Clown", and his opinion on the Howdy Doody finale where "Clarabell" spoke for the only time

01:26

Criticism of TV

Bob Keeshan on what represents the best in television

03:44

Hollywood Blacklist

Bob Keeshan on the network and Captain Kangaroo and the Hollywood Blacklist

03:12

Industry Crossroads

Bob Keeshan on the network and Captain Kangaroo and the Hollywood Blacklist

03:12

Memorable Moments on Television

Bob Keeshan on "Lucky", the puppet before "Howdy Doody" and "Howdy Doody" running for President

04:54

Bob Keeshan on remaining in character as "Clarabell the Clown", and his opinion on the Howdy Doody finale where "Clarabell" spoke for the only time

01:26

Pop Culture

Bob Keeshan on playing the character of "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

02:01

Bob Keeshan on remaining in character as "Clarabell the Clown", and his opinion on the Howdy Doody finale where "Clarabell" spoke for the only time

01:26

Bob Keeshan on Hugh Brannum, "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo

07:14

Bob Keeshan on Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti, who played "Mr. Moose", "Bunny Rabbit", and "Grandfather Clock" on Captain Kangaroo

07:30

Bob Keeshan on the character of "Captain Kangaroo"

04:20

Bob Keeshan on the character of "Tom Terrific" on Captain Kangaroo

01:31

Technological Innovation

Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo's switch from black and white to color

04:32

Television Industry

Bob Keeshan on the network and Captain Kangaroo and the Hollywood Blacklist

03:12

Bob Keeshan on what represents the best in television

03:44

Bob Keeshan on the industry's responsibility to children

01:40

War

Bob Keeshan on his experiences in World War II

03:08

We Cried

Bob Keeshan on remaining in character as "Clarabell the Clown", and his opinion on the Howdy Doody finale where "Clarabell" spoke for the only time

01:26

World War II

Bob Keeshan on his experiences in World War II

03:08

Genres

Children's Programming

Bob Keeshan on playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

23:08

Bob Keeshan on his time on Howdy Doody

27:24

Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's feelings toward him; on being fired from Howdy Doody; on his memories of Howdy Doody

15:24

Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo

28:24

Bob Keeshan on creating and starring in Captain Kangaroo

26:09

Bob Keeshan on how Captain Kangaroo changed over the years

07:11

Bob Keeshan on the industry's responsibility to children

01:40

People

Milton Berle

View Interview Page

Bob Keeshan on how much of his "Clarabell the Clown" moves were scripted on Howdy Doody

04:09

Hugh Brannum

View Person Page

Bob Keeshan on Hugh Brannum, "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo

07:14

Eddie Kean

View Interview Page

Bob Keeshan on Howdy Doody writer Eddie Kean

01:09

Bill LeCornec

View Person Page

Bob Keeshan on Bill LeCornec, "Chief Thunderthud" on Howdy Doody

00:56

Bob Smith

View Interview Page

Bob Keeshan on how he came to be "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody

10:31

Bob Keeshan on the mission of Howdy Doody's producers

03:34

Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith from Howdy Doody

06:10

Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's attitude toward him

05:14

Judy Tyler

View Person Page

Bob Keeshan on Judy Tyler, "Princess Summerfallwinterspring" on Howdy Doody

01:15