Ping pong balls

181 words written by dylan
Posted January 23, 2004 @ 12:16 PM
3 comments

Captain Kangaroo died. Another figure of childhood gone to history.

When I was 6, I had a pair of green Garanimal cords that I called my "green jeans" after the Captain's sidekick. Over the holidays I bought myself another pair of green cords, though more an olive color and a wider wale, and it reminded me of the Rabbit and Mr. Moose and the ping-pong balls. Next to Mr. Rogers, Captain Kangaroo was the nicest guy on television, and his show was always more non sequitur than the Neighborhood (though I remember Mr. Rogers saying that it was intentional -- he didn't like the slapstick he saw on other kids shows of the time). In some ways, Bob Keeshan was my first comedy teacher.

Another childhood memory dead in the ground. Now I'll have to endure whatever bastard spawn of Barney and the Wiggles my child will attach herself to in the coming years. It's just not the same. It's too fast and too un-subtle.

(I'm well on the way to being a crotchety old man, don't you know.)

Comments

  1. I remember screaming "Grandfather!!!" at the TV to help wake up Grandfather Clock. And Tom Terrific - but that was maybe before your time. There for sure were no Garanimals when I was a kid.

    Posted by: Harry | January 23, 2004 06:35 PM

  2. Yeah, Garanimals date me pretty well, don't they? Heh. I'd forgotten about Grandfather, though I remember Mr. Moose very well. I wanted a Mr. Moose puppet.

    Posted by: dw | January 24, 2004 08:59 AM

  3. Two words Dylan: Blues Clues. This is by far the best of all toddler type tv shows. My kid has learned more from this show than anything else. His first sentence came out of the blue while watching this show. He said "Bye Steve!" at about 15 months old.

    Posted by: Dan | January 25, 2004 01:09 PM