Favorite memories

I still fondly recall the rare times when the model railroad appeared. It seemed to take up the entire room so it was always a special treat. The train(s) would run around while CK pointed out the places of interest. It's 50 years later and I still play with model trains. How's that for making an impression on a young boy?

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And here... we... go...

I have so many fond memories of Captain Kangaroo. One of my earliest memories is being furious that Captain Kangaroo was preempted by coverage of the Kennedy Assassination. I was one outraged 4-year old, let me tell you.

One of my favorite songs was "I'm a Lonely Little Petunia in an Onion Patch". Favorite books, Millions of Cats, Ping, Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel. I still own all three.

And Leroy Anderson music was often played during Magic Drawing Board, giving me a lifelong appreciation for this composer. In fact, I have Fiddle Faddle, The Typewriter, the Sycopated Clock, and Plink Plank Plunk on my iPod!

If I ever get a dog, I'm going to name him Manfred!

My memories include:

The theme music continuing until the Captain placed the keys to the Treasure House on the hook that I believe was on Bunny Rabbit's hutch.

Mr. Green Jeans constantly coming up with new inventions. Usually these were based on a modified card board box.

Discussion of real inventors such as Robert Fulton, the Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell.

A futurist showing a mockup of an AT&T Picture Phone and other predictions (Yes he missed the home computer, the internet, the iPod, the DVD...)

The Banana Man pulling dozens of items out of his coat including a train that he would get into and ride off the set in.

Occasional visits of animals from the zoo.

A presentation in the early 60's of the Apollo Lunar Mission showing with models of the Apollo rocket and the Command Module and Lunar Module would enable astronauts travel to the Moon, land and return safely to Earth.

Mr. Moose asking his Knock-Knock jokes and the resultant rain of ping-pong balls.

Regarding Grandfather Clock, I believe the Captain would ask the television audiance to help wake up GC.

I remember "Make Way for Ducklings" and "Caps for Sale".

I still remember the onion song done with Magic Drawing Board graphics.

"Onions, onions, yeah yeah yeah! Oooooh, I like onions!"

It always cracked me up when they had to wake up Grandfather Clock
and his eyelids would flutter with an audible clatter.

I have too many other fond memories to list here.

I watched this show mostly in the 1960's when I was little and
had no idea that it ran all the way till 1992!

I really hope that these all get released to DVD. Great show!

I was trying to remember some details about something on this show earlier... I remember the basics, but not everything. There was a lion who was married to a mouse (Miss Mousey, I think?) and you never saw the lion -- there was just a roar and his tail would stick out of a mousehole.

I also remember Grandfather Clock, but I don't remember exactly what he'd do. I think most of the time he was asleep...

A few posters here have expressed a desire for a DVD collection, which got me to thinking... I wonder how many episodes still exist.

In the early days of television it was common practice to reuse video tape since it was so expensive. A show would be recorded on tape, and once it was broadcast, the tape would be erased for future use. Even shows recorded on film were destroyed in order to retrieve the silver content from the film. Because of this, many "Golden Age" broadcasts have been lost forever.

This brings me back to my original question: how many complete Captain Kangaroo episodes are still in existence?