Captain Fortune

The Captain Fortune Show was a popular 1950s Australian children's television show broadcast on ATN-7 starring Alan Herbert that included various segments with puppets, clowns, and other entertainment. Herbert's character Captain Fortune wore a false beard (which was later phased out as Herbert grew a real beard) and "naval uniform", and spoke directly with the kids, live and without a script. At the height of the show's popularity, it aired three times during the workweek and also on Saturday mornings. The show also included segments with Uncle Monty and Roy Kinghorn, and is perhaps best remembered for the show's introductory sequence, which involved the young children running into the Captain's house unannounced and gathering around a large barrel, which contained a mannequin (named "Short John O'Copper"). The Captain would sing "Who's that kno-o-cking on my barrel?" several times, after which a puppet would pop out of the top of the barrel and the Captain would put on a puppet show for the young viewers.

Alan Herbert played the part of Captain Fortune for four years until leaving because of health problems. In addition to the show, Herbert was known for doing work for many charitable organizations involving children.

Because the show was broadcast live, and the series pre-dated the inception of personal video recorders and VCRs, no film copies of the Captain Fortune show are known to exist.

Among the many actors who regularly contributed to the show was Les Foxcroft, best known for his stint on the Australian TV show Last Resort.

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