Remembering The Golden Age Of Saturday Morning Cartoons

Kids today couldn’t possibly remember what this was like, but can you recall the days each Fall when the three networks — ABC, CBS and NBC — would premiere their new Saturday morning schedules? The anticipation was palpable! Usually, it would be preceded the night before by TV specials previewing what we could expect, making the journey from Friday night to Saturday morning seem like it took forever. But then, finally, we would be in front of the TV, probably still in PJs, armed with breakfast cereal and ready to watch.

Programming geared towards kids was there from pretty much the beginning of television history. Live-action shows like Howdy Doody and early animated efforts such as Crusader Rabbit and The Ruff and Ready Show paved the way for generations to come. There were also series consisting entirely of animated theatrical shorts that would be compiled together for beloved characters such as Popeye. But as time passed, the landscape of children’s programming began to change.

It's fascinating to witness the evolution of Saturday morning programs. Once original shows started being produced, we were treated to a variety of talking animal shows featuring singing dogs like Huckleberry Hound, gun-slinging horses such as Quick Draw McGraw, and even a picnic-stealing bear named Yogi Bear. The creativity didn’t stop there; sitcom-like shows like The Flintstones and The Jetsons brought humor to the screen, while the clever work of Jay Ward entertained kids in ways they didn’t even realize, with shows like Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Bullwinkle.

As the years passed, popular singers were adapted into animated series, showcasing their music and cartoon versions pursued by hordes of fans. Icons like The Beatles, Jackson Five, and The Osmonds became part of our Saturday mornings. We saw the rise of superheroes with adventures featuring not just the likes of Superman and Spider-Man, but also many original creations, especially from Hanna-Barbera, including Frankenstein, Jr. and the Impossibles.

Among the most unforgettable characters introduced was Scooby-Doo and the gang, who have remained popular ever since. Additionally, live-action shows were transformed into cartoons, like The Brady Bunch, Star Trek, and Gilligan’s Island. Unique concepts like live chimpanzees playing spies in Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp and a family navigating a world filled with dinosaurs in Land of the Lost kept the content fresh and exciting.

In conclusion, kids’ programming from the 1950s through the 1970s offered a remarkable array of shows that continue to resonate in our hearts and memories. For a refresher course on many of those shows, please scroll down.