Saturday morning television used to be reserved for children’s programming on the three broadcast networks. Afternoons, timed for when school was out, was when local channels used syndicated programming to command children’s attention.
The 1950s and television ushered in a growing and receptive young audience, “hungry” for what the advertisers of children’s programming had to offer. Cue the breakfast cereals and toys.
Hanna-Barbera Productions was a major supplier of children’s animation to television in the 1960s and 1970s.
Other productions companies included Jay Ward Productions (Rocky and Bullwinkle), Al Brodax and Bob Kane, Bob Graham Productions, Warner Bros., Paramount, Bob Clampett Productions, Walter Lantz Productions, Rankin-Bass, Filmation, Total Television, DePatie–Freleng Enterprises (The Pink Panther), Sid and Marty Kroff. It would surprise no one that breakfast food companies and toy manufacturers were prime sponsors of these animated series. Although the target demographic was children on Saturday mornings, or afternoons, don’t overlook the strategy of some series being scheduled for primetime (The Flintstones).
Below are animated programs from my childhood, series that mostly disappeared after one or two seasons, although many of these ended initial production, they lived on in syndication and have survived as valuable assets owned by the biggest media conglomerates. A few, were brought back as updated series or turned into feature films. And don’t forget the brand merchandising!
High production costs were frequently listed as a reason for the cancellation of many of these series, and the pressure of delivering old-fashioned animation.
Any of these bring back memories?
Clutch Cargo – Ran for a single season, 1959-1960, 52 5-minute episodes. Utilized the Syncro-Vox technology, invented by Edwin Gillette, television cameraman and partner in Cambria Studios, as a means of superimposing real human mouths on the faces of characters. Clutch Cargo was an adventurer, traveling the world with his young 9-year-old ward Spinner and his pet Dachshund Paddlefoot. I watched this program in the early 1960s after school in the afternoon.
The Ruff and Reddy Show – The earliest original color Saturday-morning cartoon. This was the first series made by Hanna-Barbera. The series follows the adventures of Ruff (a smart and steadfast cat) and Reddy (a good-natured and brave but not overly bright dog). 156 four-minute episodes. It ran from December 14, 1957 –April 2, 1960.
Quick Draw McGraw Show – From Hanna-Barbera, ran in syndication from 1959-1961 for 45 episodes on CBS. Sponsored by Kellogg’s. Three cartoons in each episode. The first featuring Quick Draw and pal Baba Looey, then Augie Doggy and Doggy Daddy, and finally Snooper and Bladder.
Space Ghost – An intergalactic crime-fighter from the “Ghost Planet” who wears a white bodysuit, cowl, and cape, and uses energy-powered wrist power bands for flight and defense. Sidekicks Teenagers Jan and Jace, along with their pet monkey Blip, who assist him on cosmic missions. Each original broadcast included an unrelated backup segment titled Dino Boy in the Lost Valley, featuring a young boy named Todd, a caveman named Ugh, and a dinosaur named Bronty. From Hanna-Barbera Productions that originally aired on CBS from September 10, 1966, to September 16, 1967.
Cool McCool – Super agent McCool was created by Bob Kane (co-creator of Batman) and Al Brodax (producer of the Beatles animated series and Yellow Submarine). Sixty segments over 20 episodes. McCool’s father, Harry McCool, a uniformed police officer, presumed to have taken place decades before Cool’s time. Harry was supported by his brothers Dick and Tom. From September 10, 1966 –
January 21, 1967 on NBC.
The Perils of Penelope Pitstop – Penelope travels the world in her bright pink race car, unaware that her wealthy guardian, Sylvester Sneekly, is secretly her archenemy, the Hooded Claw. A spinoff of Wacky Races, from Hanna-Barbera Productions that premiered on CBS on September 13, 1969. The show ran for one season with a total of 17 half-hour episodes, the last first-run episode airing on January 17, 1970. The Ant Hill Mob are usually the ones called upon to rescue Penelope when she is caught in one of the Hooded Claw’s schemes. Voiced by Gary Owens, Paul Lynde, Paul Winchell, Mel Blanc and Janet Waldo.
Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines – A spinoff of Wacky Races. A total of 17 episodes, aired from September 13, 1969, to January 3, 1970, on CBS. Produced by Hanna-Barbera. Paul Winchell voice.
Wacky Races – Eleven bizarre vehicles and 23 zany characters race across various locations to win the title of “World’s Wackiest Racer”. The show originally ran on CBS from September 14, 1968, to January 4, 1969, producing 17 episodes (each containing two separate races for a total of 34 segments). Two of the characters were spun-off for their own short-lived series.
George of the Jungle – Inspired by Tarzan, George was a dim-witted, but lovable character. The show was produced and created by Jay Ward and Bill Scott. Aired September 9 –
December 30, 1967 for a total of 17 episodes. Each episode had three segments: George of the Jungle, Tom Slick, and Super Chicken.
Magilla Gorilla – Produced by Hanna-Barbera, broadcast Jan. 1964 to Sept. 1965) featured 31 half-hour episodes each consisting of 3 separate cartoons (starring “Magilla Gorilla”, “Punkin Puss” and “Ricochet Rabbit”). The premise is Magilla Gorilla is a fun-loving yet trouble-prone gorilla who spends his time languishing in the front display window of Melvin Peebles’ pet shop, purchasers of Magilla always ended up returning him due to Magilla’s antics or other circumstances, forcing Peebles to give a refund.
The Porky Pig Show – 26 episodes half-hour episodes on ABC Saturday mornings from 1964 to 1967. Porky hosted an anthology show with hosted by Porky Pig, was composed of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoons made between 1948 and 1964.
Linus the Lionheart – Linus, a rather good-natured “King of the Beasts” who ruled from his personal barber’s chair. General Mills cereal sponsorship, brand characters: Sugar Bear (Sugar Crisp), a postman named Lovable Truly (Alpha-Bits), a young Asian boy named So-Hi (Rice Krinkles), and Rory Raccoon (Post Toasties). Ran on CBS from September 26, 1964 to December 11, 1965 for 39 episodes. Developed by Ed Graham Jr. and General Mills.
Jonny Quest – Jonny Quest, a young boy who joins his father Dr. Benton C. Quest, bodyguard and government agent Race Bannon, adopted friend Hadji Singh, and their bulldog, Bandit on thrilling adventures. From Hanna-Barbera, 26 episodes during its initial prime-time run on ABC from 1964 to 1965. Tim Matheson voiced Jonny.
Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tails – produced by Total Television. Tennessee Tuxedo, a penguin, and his dimwitted friend Chumley, a walrus. They live in the Megapolis Zoo along with friends Yakkety Yak and Baldy the Eagle. The Megapolis Zoo is run by the ill-tempered zoo director Stanley Livingston and his zookeeper assistant Flunky. Saturday mornings on CBS from 1963 to 1966 for 70 episodes.
Rod Rocket – Five minute segments over 26 episodes with cliffhangers, following scientifically inclined boy named Rod Rocket and his best friend, Joey, explore space in a spaceship called the Little Argo. Syndicated during 1963.
The Yogi Bear Show – A spin-off of The Huckleberry Hound Show, the show centers on the adventures of forest-dwelling Yogi Bear in Jellystone Park. The show debuted in syndication on January 30, 1961, and ran for 33 episodes until January 6, 1962. Two other segments for the show were Snagglepuss and Yakky Doodle.
Beany & Cecil – January 6 –
June 30, 1962 with 26 episodes for ABC by Bob Clampett Productions. Originally a puppet character, Clampett changed to an animated show, featuring characters Beany, a boy, and Cecil the Sea-Sick Sea Serpent embarking on a series of adventures. These escapades were rife with cartoon slapstick and puns.
The Jetsons – Amazing that this show only lasted one season. Aired Sep 23, 1962-Mar 3, 1963. Only 24 episodes were produced, it aired in primetime on ABC, and was the network’s first series in color.
This was the space age version of the Flintstones. They live in Orbit City and George’s boss is Cosmo Spacely, the bombastic owner of Spacely Space Sprockets.
Top Cat – Produced by Hanna-Barbera for ABC primetime, 30 episodes, airing from September 27, 1961, to April 18, 1962. Live in the alley. Parody of Sgt. Bilko, Top Cat (T.C.), is the leader of a gang of Manhattan alley cats living in Hoagy’s Alley: Benny the Ball, Brain, Choo-Choo, Fancy-Fancy and Spook. They are one step ahead of police officials Charlie Dibble.
Josie and the Pussycats – Produced by Hanna-Barbera, by Hanna-Barbera Productions, 16 episodes of Josie and the Pussycats aired on CBS from September 12, 1970 to December 23, 1972. Josie and the Pussycats featured a teenage all-girl pop band that toured the world with their entourage, getting mixed up in strange adventures, spy capers, and mysteries.
The Dudley Do-Right Show – Dudley Do-Right is a dim-witted, but conscientious and cheerful Canadian Mountie who works for Inspector Fenwick. Do-Right is always trying to catch his nemesis, Snidely Whiplash, and rescue Inspector Fenwick’s daughter, the damsel-in-distress Nell Fenwick. Aired on ABC from April 27, 1969, to September 6, 1970. Each half-hour show included two segments each of “Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties” and “The World of Commander McBragg”, along with one segment each of “Tooter Turtle” and “The Hunter”. Produced by Jay Ward Productions and Total Television.
The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show – An hour-long American Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1965 to 1967 for NBC, 26 episodes. There were six segments Atom Ant: A cartoon about a superheroic ant; The Hillbilly Bears: A situation comedy (inspired by The Beverly Hillbillies) about the Rugg family of hillbilly bears; Precious Pupp about a mischievous dog; Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole: The adventures of a secret agent squirrel and his trusty assistant Morocco Mole;
Squiddly Diddly about a friendly anthropomorphic squid; Winsome Witch a friendly yet inept witch.
The Beatles Cartoon – 39 episodes from 25 September 1965, in the United States on ABC with new episodes airing until 21 October 1967. after Al Brodax of King Features Syndicate was approached by an ABC executive to produce a cartoon based on The Beatles, who had no involvement in the series.
The Super 6 – is an animated cartoon series which was produced by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and Mirisch-Rich Television Productions in 1966. 13 episodes produced. three segments, with the first and the third segment centered around a superhero agency called the Super Service.
The Fantastic Four – featuring character designs by Alex Toth, originally aired on Saturday mornings on ABC from September 9, 1967, to September 21, 1968. It lasted for 20 episodes. The Thing, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, and the Human Torch.
The Archie Show – Based on the Archie Comics, created by Bob Montana in 1941, The Archie Show aired Saturday mornings on CBS from September 1968 to 1969. The show featured the main characters in the Archie series, including Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, Reggie Mantle, Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge. Filmation Associates
The Banana Splits – Not an animated series, but a live-action program about a fictional rock band composed of four costumed animal characters in red helmets with yellow crests. The costumed hosts are Fleegle (guitar, vocals), Bingo (drums, vocals), Drooper (bass, vocals), and Snorky (keyboards, effects). Hanna-Barbera produced 31 episodes, airing September 7, 1968 –
September 5, 1970.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! – A mystery adventure series involving teenagers and a dog solving mysteries that ran from September 13, 1969 till October 31, 1970 for a total of 25 episodes. From Hanna-Barbera, it was revived for another series, films and other media.
Hot Wheels – 17 episodes. High school student, Jack “Rabbit” Wheeler, who led the Hot Wheels Racing Club. Broadcast on ABC from 1969 to 1971, under the primary sponsorship of Mattel Toys. Voice cast included Albert Brooks and Casey Kasem.
H.R. Pufnstuf – Created by Sid and Marty Kroff for NBC. It aired from September 6, 1969, to December 27, 1969 over 17 episodes. A live-action, life-sized-puppet program. The show centered on a shipwrecked boy named Jimmy who encounters a variety of real and puppet characters.
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