On today's show we have a man who claims to have authentic Captain Kangaroo Show artifacts, including Keeshan's puppet cleaner kit - well used, but original.

Says the owner, Mr. Ekim Mikkelsen, "If I get a serious offer before next Thursday I can toss in a Lumpy Brannum acetate of 'The Little Orley Blues'."

Ya, de rabbit. You like to buy?

Hold on, sir. We just want to ask you some questions about the puppet and maybe your association with the Kangaroo people.

Are you de police?

No, a TV show. See the camera and lights? We're just interested in your story.

What story?

We'd just like to ask about the Bunny Rabbit puppet.

Ya, de bunny rabbit toy.

Yes. Sir, please tell us how you came to own the puppet.

I got de rabbit puppet from a friend. He was cleaning out his basement.

Sir, are you German, or what?

Ya, shore.

What, German?

Svedish. Why do you ask?

I don't know. I knew you weren't American. I mean, with the accent and all.

Ya.

So, getting back to the hare puppet. Do -

The bunny puppet's hair?

No, hare.

No hair. Made of wool.

Ok. The rabbit puppet is made of wool. I won't call it a hare any more.

Ya. No hair. Wool.

How did you know it was the actual, real Bunny Rabbit puppet? It's such an odd-ball thing for anyone to have for sale.

My friend had known Hugh Brannum and he had gotten the puppet and other stuff from him when Brannum retired. There was a lot of other stuff as well.

What type of other stuff?

Well, I think I have an stack of Glenn Miller demo 78's from the late 30's and early 40's.

What? I don't believe you, Mr. Mikkelsen.

I don't care. It's the truth.

Why aren't you selling some of that too? Chattanooga Choo-choo?! Come on!

No. No Choo-choo. Only various takes of In the Mood and Moonlight Serenade. Maybe I will offer some of that stuff later. I thought this call was about the bunny rabbit toy.

The records?

Brannum's recording. Little Orley Blues. Hugh really had something back then. It's in great shape, though. I think that the demo is in B-flat but the 78, when it was released, was in A. Buy the rabbit and the record is yours! Ya.

About the bunny rabbit puppet, who originated the COA's? Keeshan?

Brannum, I was told. He foresaw the time when people might question the origin of the puppet, I guess.

What was the origin of the bunny rabbit puppet?

Ya.

No, where did the bunny rabbit puppet come from, Mr. Mikkelsen?

Mr. Brannum. Ya.

No, who actually made the puppet?

Brannum's wife, Bunny.

Wait, his wife was named Bunny?

Ya. Wife.

What a coincidence!

I don't know.

No, Mr. Mikkelsen, that was an exclamation: What a coincidence that Brannum's wife's name was named Bunny and she made the bunny rabbit puppet.

Ya, shore.

Have you had any serious inquiries about the puppet yet?

Ya. One woman was calling me a lot until she found out that the Mr. Moose puppet was not in the package. I never had the Moose puppet. I am not real sure the Moose is still in one piece.

So, she didn't care about the bunny puppet alone? You know, that reminds me of an old joke: There once was a - ah, never mind.

Huh? No, bunny rabbit is no joke. It's real.

Yeah. Ok, I guess this about wraps -

This puppet needs a home. To tell you the truth, it's tattered and I'm afraid that complete dry-rot may take hold soon. It would be a shame for the infamous Bunny Rabbit to essentially turn into dust because nobody will give him a good home.

Aren't you trying to preserve it, yourself?

I don't really care about the old American TV idols like others do.

What the ... ? How dare you talk about the likes of Captain Kangaroo so irreverently!

Nobody said anything about Mr. Kangaroo. I've got the puppet right here. It will be declared officially dust soon. And about the Brannum record ... it may be valuable, but not so much to me. I'd prefer some Lolita memorabilia, even if she was only a stupid Austrian pop flash in the pan.

Who?