About me: I have a fond memory of my brother putting me in a high chair with a bowl of Cheerios one morning when I was very young. He tuned the television to Captain Kangaroo’s Treasure House and then rushed out the door to catch the bus for school. I loved Captain Kangaroo. I loved the way his theme music played until he hung up the magic keys, but if he picked his keys up the music would start again.
My favorite part of the show occurred whenever the Captain needed advice from Grandfather Clock. Grandfather Clock was always asleep and the Captain would ask all the children watching to help him wake the old clock. “Not too loud,” he’d caution. “We don’t want to startle him.”
I just knew there were kids like me all over America staring into black and white sets and yelling sotto voce, “Wake up Grandfather!”
The Captain and Grandfather Clock
The clock's eyes would click and clack and flutter open and Grandfather would begin to solve the Captain’s problems with rhyming couplets. Before long the venerable timepiece would get sleepy again. His eyes would droop and then he’d be gone. I miss Grandfather.
If you would like to watch a full length (55 min.) video of the Treasure House click on this link to Google Videos. I'm sorry to say Grandfather does not appear in this video.
Another favorite of mine was Soupy Sales. Soupy's show was less lofty than the Captain's. His sketches were slapstick, and Soupy played rock-and-roll and jazz. With his in-jokes and his cream pies he was a man for the time. He gave kids a glimpse and a promise of the world awaiting them.
Two of his more interesting characters were White Fang and Black Tooth. We never saw more than an arm or a paw of these characters. Their bodies remained off-camera. I was so impressed that a television program could create a character with nothing more than an arm. In hindsight I was easily impressed.
I was talking to my brother about Soupy Sales the other day and he asked me if I was familiar with Pinky Lee. I wasn’t, but a quick You-Tube search fixed that. What a treasure! Pinky was a burlesque comedian who attempted to transition to television. He started a children’s show after his sit-com was unsuccessful. It’s easy to see how his manic energy and contagious affability made his audience love him.
My kids grew up watching Sesame Street, Little Bear, and Blues Clues. I think these shows have more educational value than anything I grew up watching. Still… I won’t give up my memories of the Captain for anything. Wake up Grandfather!
Who I'd like to meet: Meeting new people can be a lot like opening presents. It's a process of discovery, but today I don't feel like I need any new presents. I have everyone I want.
Oh sure! It would be great to meet a beautiful blond with liquid blue eyes who would smile at me and tell me how wonderful I am. Hmmm... That’s not likely to happen, and if it did, I’m not sure it’s what I'd want.
Today I am content with the people I know. Tomorrow may be different.
