Captain Kangaroo Goes to Auction
May 13, 2013 — LOS ANGELES, Calif. — In one of the most significant auctions of TV memorabilia, the estate of Captain Kangaroo goes to auction on May 21st in Los Angeles. Over 500 lots can be viewed, encompassing 30 years of television history.
"Captain Kangaroo is beloved by almost the entire adult population, as the Baby Boomers and Generation X grew up watching the show in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. It's the longest running children's program in the history of TV," said Nate D. Sanders whose company is auctioning the estate. "The sketch format of Captain Kangaroo telling stories, goofing around with his guests and using puppets literally set the stage for all children's programming thereafter."
Captain Kangaroo, hosted by Bob Keeshan, began in 1955, nearly at the dawn of television, and continued until 1984. The format of the show changed little during this time.
"I think it's hard to understand how uncharted TV was in the 1950s," said Sanders. "Like silent film in the 1920s and the Internet in the 1990s, 1950s television was experimental and iconic, with shows like The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, The Tonight Show and Captain Kangaroo debuting then."
Items at auction encompass the entire span of the show — from the famous "Treasure House" keys and iconic jackets with "kangaroo" pouch pockets, to scripts from all 30 years, to candid, never before seen photos from the show. There is also personal memorabilia owned by Keeshan including his Emmy awards, personal scrapbooks, Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque and many other items. There are also hundreds of wardrobe pieces and puppets used on the show.
Items from the auction are estimated to sell at every price point, from $250 to $25,000. "There is literally something for every Captain Kangaroo fan in this auction," said Sanders.
The auction items can be found here:
https://natedsanders.com/catalog.aspx
Items of special interest include:
- Bob Keeshan Emmy Award
- Beloved "Treasure House" Keys
- Navy Blue Kangaroo Jacket
- Bright Red Kangaroo Jacket
- Captain Kangaroo "Dancing Bear" Full-Size Costume
- Script Books from 1955, the First Year of the Show
- Captain Kangaroo Conductor Hat
- Wooden Toy Chest Holding All the Captain Kangaroo Toys
- Mr. Green Jeans Overalls
About Nate D. Sanders Auctions
An industry leader in memorabilia and autographs, Nate D. Sanders has conducted auctions in Los Angeles since 1990 and now conducts major auctions on a monthly basis. He is recognized for his knowledge of Hollywood, historical and sports memorabilia.
