About
"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."
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 on two local New York children's programs before creating and starring on 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.
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
Bob Keeshan on how much of his "Clarabell the Clown" moves were scripted on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on the origin of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo's switch from black and white to color
Bob Keeshan on the industry's responsibility to children
Full Interview
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
Bob Keeshan on the pilot of Captain Kangaroo and early critical reaction
Bob Keeshan on the character of "Captain Kangaroo"
Bob Keeshan on Hugh Brannum, "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti, who played "Mr. Moose", "Bunny Rabbit", and "Grandfather Clock" on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on the writing of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on the main elements of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on the character of "Tom Terrific" on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on the format of Captain Kangaroo, and reading stories on air to viewers
Bob Keeshan on the music in Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on the sponsorship of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on the network and Captain Kangaroo and the Hollywood Blacklist
Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo's switch from black and white to color
Bob Keeshan on how Captain Kangaroo changed over the years
Bob Keeshan on the end of Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo's move to PBS
Bob Keeshan on the impact of Captain Kangaroo
Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on how he came to be "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on playing the character of "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on "Lucky", the puppet before "Howdy Doody" and "Howdy Doody" running for President
Bob Keeshan on Howdy Doody's sponsors
Bob Keeshan on the mission of Howdy Doody's producers
Bob Keeshan on playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody, and working with the cast
Bob Keeshan on rehearsing for Howdy Doody and the "Peanut Gallery"
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
Bob Keeshan on how children responded to "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on how much of his "Clarabell the Clown" moves were scripted on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith from Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on Howdy Doody producer Roger Muir
Bob Keeshan on Howdy Doody writer Eddie Keane
Bob Keeshan on Rhoda Mann, the operator of the "Howdy Doody" puppet on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on Judy Tyler, "Princess Summerfallwinterspring" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on Bill LeCornec, "Chief Thunderthud" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on the limitation of his talents on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's attitude toward him
Bob Keeshan on being fired from his role of "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on his replacement as "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on his favorite Howdy Doody memories
Murphy Brown
Bob Keeshan on "Captain Kangaroo" appearing on Murphy Brown
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Bob Keeshan on playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on playing the character of "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on Hugh Brannum, "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti, who played "Mr. Moose", "Bunny", and "Grandfather Clock" on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on the character of "Captain Kangaroo"
Bob Keeshan on the character of "Tom Terrific" on Captain Kangaroo
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
Criticism of TV
Bob Keeshan on what represents the best in television
Hollywood Blacklist
Bob Keeshan on the network and Captain Kangaroo and the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Bob Keeshan on the network and Captain Kangaroo and the Hollywood Blacklist
Memorable Moments on Television
Bob Keeshan on "Lucky", the puppet before "Howdy Doody" and "Howdy Doody" running for President
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
Pop Culture
Bob Keeshan on playing the character of "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
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
Bob Keeshan on Hugh Brannum, "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti, who played "Mr. Moose", "Bunny Rabbit", and "Grandfather Clock" on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on the character of "Captain Kangaroo"
Bob Keeshan on the character of "Tom Terrific" on Captain Kangaroo
Technological Innovation
Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo's switch from black and white to color
Television Industry
Bob Keeshan on the network and Captain Kangaroo and the Hollywood Blacklist
Bob Keeshan on what represents the best in television
Bob Keeshan on the industry's responsibility to children
War
Bob Keeshan on his experiences in World War II
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
World War II
Bob Keeshan on his experiences in World War II
Genres
Children's Programming
Bob Keeshan on playing "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on his time on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's feelings toward him; on being fired from Howdy Doody; on his memories of Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on creating and starring in Captain Kangaroo
Bob Keeshan on how Captain Kangaroo changed over the years
Bob Keeshan on the industry's responsibility to children
People
Milton Berle
Bob Keeshan on how much of his "Clarabell the Clown" moves were scripted on Howdy Doody
Hugh Brannum
Bob Keeshan on Hugh Brannum, "Mr. Green Jeans" on Captain Kangaroo
Eddie Kean
Bob Keeshan on Howdy Doody writer Eddie Kean
Bill LeCornec
Bob Keeshan on Bill LeCornec, "Chief Thunderthud" on Howdy Doody
Bob Smith
Bob Keeshan on how he came to be "Clarabell the Clown" on Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on the mission of Howdy Doody's producers
Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith from Howdy Doody
Bob Keeshan on "Buffalo" Bob Smith's attitude toward him
Judy Tyler
Bob Keeshan on Judy Tyler, "Princess Summerfallwinterspring" on Howdy Doody