Posted on 08/07/2013 6:31:29 PM PDT by Morgana
Character actor and puppeteer Gus "Cosmo" Allegretti, who voiced such "Captain Kangaroo" characters as Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose, Grandfather Clock, and Dancing Bear, has died, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Allegretti died of emphysema on July 26, though his death wasn't publicized until Wednesday.
Allegretti played numerous characters on the long-running Emmy-winning children's show, which featured the late Bob Keeshan as Captain Kangaroo. Allegretti himself created Bunny Rabbit, a bespectacled bunny who tricked the Captain into giving up his carrots, and Mr. Moose, whose corny jokes resulted in a shower of ping-pong balls falling on the Captain's head. He also played Dennis the Apprentice, Dancing Bear, Grandfather Clock, Miss Frog, TV Fred and other characters.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.com ...
Bunny Rabid didn’t have a voice. He was mute.
Rabid = Rabbit.
Bunny Rabbit did NOT talk!
makes the job pretty easy then
I remember reading the auditions were really tough and it took forever to find the winner.
Chill both of you! This article was written (more than likely) by someone under 40 who never saw the show and has no idea what it means to drop millions of ping pong balls on the Captain!!
I mean really! The only reason I watched that show was to see the Moose drop ping pong balls on the Captain.
My first thought. All he did was drop ping pong balls.
I used to wake up at 6:00 AM on Saturday mornings to watch that show. The ping pong balls for some reason were the most hilarious thing on TV for me.
Was royally ticked when they switched it out for Romper Room.
I hate to hear this. However, I just wish all the Mr. Greenjeans stunt doubles around here would do better at keeping their d******* cows put up!
I saw the show in black and white on our 1952 Majestic TV. I never saw it in color.
FWIW, I always thought Dancing Bear was a fag.
Does anyone remember Icky Twerp?
Of course he was a local guy here in Dallas-FW just like Mr. Peppermint was.
I waited every episode for those ping pong balls! I laughed so hard as a kid!
I liked Grandfather Clock
Gosh, I hope Tom Terrific is OK.
I did not grow up here but I know who he is.
Tragic story.
Puffin' Billy--The Melodi Light Orchestra (1953)
To this day, when things come crashing down and go bouncing around, while my oldest brother might make reference to Fibber McGee, I just say “ping pong balls”.
When I was a kid back in the 60's, we had Uncle Orrie & Ferdie Fussbuget. They were on a Dayton Station.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.