What Happened (Part 12)

Once dressed, we’d thunder into the living room, where it was just about time to watch Captain Kangaroo.  We’d sing “Jing-jing Jing-jing, Jing-jing Jing-jing, Jing-a-jing, Jing-a-jing, Jing-Jing-Jing!” along to the opening strains of “Puffin Billy.” The Captain would appear, first looking through the myriad panels of the front door of the Treasure House before opening it, then he’d stroll across the room jingling his key ring before hanging it on the wall, and the show would begin. Captain Kangaroo’s house was a wonderful place, with every shelf and drawer full of toys, books, and crafts, and a Magic Drawing Board that showed various simple animations while playing popular songs fit for children.  Tunes I remember were Walking to New Orleans, Herkimer the Homely Doll, and The Puppet Song. There was a talking Grandfather Clock and an old-fashioned Radio (my life-long desire to have examples of both of these for real must stem from this). The puppets Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit would plot to drop showers of ping pong balls and steal the carrots from the Captain’s pockets. Captain Kangaroo would read stories like Curious George, Make Way for Ducklings, Stone Soup, Caps for Sale, and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. Mr. Green Jeans, the Captain’s handyman, would bring in animals to show.  There were segments featuring “visits” with Dancing Bear and the Town Clown. There was one black-and-white cartoon I remember starring a “funnel-capped shape-shifting boy” named Tom Terrific. Tom had a sidekick named Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog, and a main enemy, Crabby Appleton.