167:. Allan Jones, a collector from Cleveland, Tennessee, purchased the entirety of the Banana Man props and gimmicks – as well as the rights to the act – on November 13, 2003, from collector Leonard Goodstein of Brooklyn, New York. Goodstein originally purchased the items from the widow of Levine's agent, Max Roth. The Jones family owns the most extensive collection of Captain Kangaroo memorabilia in the world, including the Dancing Bear costume, as well as the Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit puppets used on the show. Jones' collection also includes Captain Kangaroo's famous navy blue jacket and the Captain's blonde wig with sideburns. Both were worn on every episode of the program from 1955 until 1971. Jones also owns the Wizard costume, along with the famous keys to the Treasure House. The keys appeared in every episode of the show's first decade, from 1955 to 1965.
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The Banana Man act consisted of Proper, dressed as a clownish character in a baggy tuxedo, producing an amazing and apparently impossible number of props from countless pockets and secret places in his costume. He would then perform various clown routines with the props. These props included (among
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in 1918. He played with a backdrop of cardboard cut-outs of musicians, which he worked mechanically to give the impression that they were playing. His early act involved him taking cups and saucers from hiding places in his clothing, and pouring milk from his sleeves.
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many other things) a clarinet, a mandolin, a huge magnet, a violin, a music stand, several watermelons, and three hundred bananas. He did not speak in words, but uttered cries of delight, surprise, etc., in a nasal
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A Christmas card designed by A. Robins, who created the Banana Man character. The card resides in the collection of
Captain Kangaroo collector Allan Jones in Cleveland, Tennessee.
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The Banana Man costume and props reside in a private collection in
Cleveland, Tennessee. The costume is seen here with the original Dancing Bear costume.
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Sam Levine (1915–1997) bought Proper's original props and gimmicks from Proper's estate, and performed as The Banana Man on
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Adolf Proper known as A. Robins, Report of the Death of an
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This article is about the vaudeville character. For other uses, see
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55:(November 27, 1886–December 18, 1950) who worked under the
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Proper performed as The Banana Man in the
Broadway musical
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209:"The Talk of the Town: A Is For Adolph"
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224:"The Banana Man - The ORIGINAL Props!"
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236:"Captain Kangaroo Puppeteer Mourned"
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258:The Banana Man - The History
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