<Tr> <Th> Original network </Th> <Td> CBS </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Original release </Th> <Td> October 3, 1955 (1955 - 10 - 03)--December 8, 1984 (1984 - 12 - 08) </Td> </Tr> <P> Captain Kangaroo is an American children's television series that aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955, until December 8, 1984, making it the longest - running nationally broadcast children's television program of its day . In 1986, the American Program Service (now American Public Television, Boston) integrated some newly produced segments into reruns of past episodes, distributing the newer version of the series until 1993 . </P> <P> The show was conceived and the title character was played by Bob Keeshan, who based the show on "the warm relationship between grandparents and children". Keeshan had portrayed the original Clarabell the Clown on The Howdy Doody Show when it aired on NBC . Captain Kangaroo had a loose structure, built around life in the "Treasure House" (later known as "The Captain's Place") where the Captain (the name "kangaroo" came from the big pockets in his coat) would tell stories, meet guests, and indulge in silly stunts with regular characters, both humans and puppets . Keeshan performed as the Captain more than 9,000 times over the nearly 30 - year run of the show . </P>

When did captain kangaroo go off the air