14 Captain Kangaroo
The TV series Captain Kangaroo ran from 1955 to 1984. It was the longest-running children’s television show of its time. Bob Keeshan created the series, playing the role of Captain Kangaroo as the host.
It proved a profitable enterprise for both Keeshan and the network, CBS. According to some estimates, $10 million was spent on Captain Kangaroo’s entire production. That’s a lot considering that it was on the air for almost 30+ years.
Keeshan has also appeared on several children’s shows, including Clarabell the Clown in Howdy Doody. Corny the Clown was on Time for Fun. His estimated net worth was $4 million at his death in 2004.
13 The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
The Banana Splits Adventure Hour was an old variety show hosted by Hanna-Barbera. The Banana Splits was a fictional band that consisted of four characters dressed in helmets. Fleegle and Bingo were the characters. Drooper was Snorky.
Because it was heavily syndicated during the seventies and eighties, the show proved to be very profitable on the market. The show’s costumes and other props would have been more costly than $40,000 per episode.