To most people he was Mr. Kangaroo. To us, he was also Clarabelle, the clown on the Howdy Doody show. Occasionally, we were lucky enough to be one of the kids in the Howdy Doody Show audience. Once, we even got to cut the cupcake for Buffalo Bob during the Hostess commerical. But what we remember more, is Clarabelle. All the kids, us included, would squeal and scream with delight at his antics. He would run up and down the aisle with a squirt gun. One time he sprayed our brand new dress and we cried and cried. But we still went back.

Skippy and Jeanne D'Arc of Body and Soul share their memories of Captain Kangeroo. And someone who once worked with the Captain has a great obituary at News From Me .

R.I.P. Bob Keeshan

Update: We just read in an update on News From Me that Mr. Keeshan was fired as Clarabelle in 1952. That's way before our time on the show. So the Clarabelle we remember must not have been Mr. Keeshan. Still, Mr. Keeshan was part of an era of children's programming that we remember with great affection and that is gone forever. R.I.P. Captain Kangaroo.