“Captain Kangaroo:” Why Everyone Was Enchanted By This Show

Tom Terrific

As a part of its loose format, “Captain Kangaroo” often aired five-minute cartoons during its broadcast. During the ’50s and ’60s, “Tom Terrific” featured its title character, a young boy who lived in a tree house and who was able to shape-shift with the help of his funnel-shaped cap. The “Tom Terrific” plots centered around adventures with Tom’s sidekick, Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog, and his nemesis, Crabby Appleton.

Ludwig

Another cartoon was “Ludwig,” a British-made cartoon featuring a magical robot, that looked like an egg-shaped gemstone. The show primarily centered around animals in the forest who found themselves in trouble, with Ludwig coming to the rescue. Ludwig was named after Ludwig van Beethoven, whose music could be heard in the background.