My brothers and I grew up watching Captain Kangaroo.

Good morning, Captain!

The Captain was a smiling fellow, with big pouchy pockets in his coat (hence the moniker).

Every once in a while, he still shows up in social media:

When I saw the “Who Wore It Better?” meme a year or so ago, I emailed my brothers to see what they recalled about The Captain.

Something we all remembered was that Mom once met him. But not one of us remembered under what circumstances. Frustrating.

We all recalled that she stood in line to meet him and praised Captain Kangeroo, which I think she enjoyed watching just as much as her young children did. She loved his response:

“How are the kids getting along? Please tell them I said hello!”

Middle brother Dave was a Super Fan. He even wrote to Mr. Green Jeans and received a postcard in reply!

I remember Mom taped the postcard to the wall right next to Dave’s seat at our little yellow play table.

I was impressed. Still am.

Dave’s remembrance: Mr. Green Jeans … was my favorite character on the show (and one of my favorite Frank Zappa tunes is “Son of Mr. Green Genes”).

What’s that, you say?!

Dave remembers the show warmly: It was a wonderful, zany show and I think I’d probably appreciate it as an adult. I especially loved it when Mr. Moose repeatedly tricked The Captain into situations that devolved into dozens of ping pong balls falling from the ceiling and bouncing with annoying clicks and clacks while Captain Kangaroo made a Tevye-esque “Why me?” face.  

Oh, yes. Those ping pong balls.

They got him (and us) every time:

The opening theme song was my favorite, because the counter they all gathered around was apparently a giant music box. When The Captain hung up his big ring of keys on the hook in front, the music magically stopped. Every time.

Oldest brother Harry has a vague recollection of Mom’s meeting, too:

I do remember Mom talking about meeting Bob Keeshan (I think that was The Captain’s name). He was only about her age, much younger than he seemed (at least to my six-year-old eyes).

A few notes about The Captain:

• He was born in 1927
• He was a Marine during World War II
• He was an introvert
• He eventually wore a wig to keep his signature bowl cut and sideburns consistent

Earlier this week, I put aside thoughts of Captain Kangaroo for a while. Next, I dug through Mom’s stack of correspondence from her good friend, author Madeleine L’Engle. Surely there was a story to tell.

Among the scores of personal notes, cards, and newsletters, was a graduation program from Mom’s alma mater.

Dated May 17, 1987. I correctly guessed that was the year Ms. L’Engle received an honorary degree from Saint Joseph College.

What I would not have guessed in a hundred years was who else received an honorary doctorate that day:

That’s right – Robert J. Keeshan. Captain Kangaroo. Bingo!

According to The Hartford Courant, the graduates jumped to their feet that day and cheered wildly for The Captain.

They, like us, were part of the Kangaroo Generation.

Here’s what the crowd heard that day:

Robert J. Keeshan, charismatic guru of the Kangeroo generation, you won the love of children for twenty-six uninterrupted years and captained their exploits into the magic and wonder of discovery. You were aptly named honorary chairperson of Save the Children. Indeed your unfailing lifelong devotion to the development of minds and hearts of children whom you have designated as the “seed corn of the Republic” has begun an ongoing effort to save and to salvage our nation’s future – our children.

Having made your debut in the radio broadcasting world as a page, your care for children and your ingenious ability to create and improvise moved you to a prime position in television, but more importantly, to an honored spot in the friendship circles of countless children. Mr. Tinker, Mr. Mayor, Clarabelle, Corny, Captain Kangaroo – by whatever name, you have become household in America because behind the pseudonyms one fact remains –

You have been universally loved.

To have been able to sustain the fascination of children for such an unbroken stretch, twenty-six years, is surely a tribute to your ingenuity, your dedication to the excitement of discovery. Always your mission has been to ensure quality experience for children.

Captain Kangaroo Keeshan, if the long list of your awards, citations, honorary appointments, degrees and chairmainships were totaled, the number would be impressive. If the numbers of children to whom you have extended a view of the wonder of life were calculated, the sums would be staggering. But, as important as numbers are, they are symbols only of the breadth and extent of your premier influence on your young followers. Today, Saint Joseph College wishes to recognize with great enthusiasm and appreciation your role in enhancing the depth and quality of children’s lives.

It is our pleasure to present for the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, Robert J. Keeshan.

Mom stood in line to thank The Captain for his years of gentle entertainment.

“I enjoy meeting not only contemporary children, but yesterday’s children as well.
It’s nice to talk about the experiences we shared,
they tell me, ‘You were a good friend.’
That’s the warmest part.”

~ Bob Keeshan

If only we’d known ahead of time, I’d have asked Mom to see if she could find out what was upstairs. Remember? We saw stairs in the The Captain’s Treasure House, but he never took us up for a look around. That’s been driving Farmer Gary crazy since he was a little towhead boy watching from his farmhouse here in Indiana. Ah, another mystery.

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