Aired: 1970-1973
Budget: $10,000 per episode
“Harlem Globetrotters” was a cartoon based on the famous basketball team of the same name. Each episode ran for thirty minutes, and there were a total of twenty-two episodes of the show. Of course, Hanna-Barbera was the producer behind the show.
The show featured an animated version of the basketball players as well as a fictional bus driver, manager, and Dribbles the dog – the team’s mascot. The series followed the team as they traveled, usually getting into a local conflict that led to one of the players proposing a basketball game to settle the issue.
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
Aired: 1959-1964
Budget: $125,000 per episode
"The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends" was known for its sharp humor and writing. Rocky, a flying squirrel, and his best friend Bullwinkle, a moose, lived in Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, a city that was based on a real city in the state called International Falls!
The cartoon aired on NBC for many years until ABC picked it up. This classic was one of the first cartoons in color and was so popular it became a movie in 2000!
The Bugs Bunny Show
Aired: 1962-1971
Budget: $750,000 per episode
One of the biggest animated hits from Warner Bros was none other than "The Bugs Bunny Show." It was mainly composed of cartoons from two different canons, "Looney Toons" and "Merrie Melodies."
The show initially debuted as a primetime half-hour program on ABC in 1960, before it was picked up as an hour-long special. It was best known as a Saturday morning special and was also broadcast on CBS. Unfortunately, it was canceled when Cartoon Network picked up the show's contract.
The Jetsons
Aired: 1962-1963
Budget: $300,000 per episode
A Hanna-Barbera Productions classic, "The Jetsons" was the space-age counterpart to "The Flintstones." The Jetson family lived in the future, in a world that writers in the sixties thought life would look like now. A world with robots, holograms, and aliens.
The original series aired on Sunday night and had twenty-four episodes. "The Jetsons" made history by becoming the first ABC-TV show to be broadcast in color.
Lassie
Aired: 1954 - 1973
Budget: $3.25 million in total
Perhaps one of the most infamous fictional dogs, Lassie first appeared in a short story by Eric Knight. The Collie was given her own book, called "Lassie Come-Home," - which essentially landed her the television show "Lassie," that aired from 1954 to 1973.
The show was followed by a handful of other TV spin-offs, including the animated series, "The New Adventures of Lassie," which aired in 2014.
The Yogi Bear Show
Aired: 1959-1964
Budget: $125,000 per episode
One of Hanna-Barbera's greatest successes even though its run-time was considerably shorter than other shows, "The Yogi Bear Show" was an animated series that ran for only two seasons. The show told the story of the adventures of Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo Bear, his sidekick.
The show had two segments, Yakky Doodle and Snagglepuss. The show had several spinoffs and movie specials extending beyond the original 33 episodes.
Tom and Jerry
Aired: 1965 - 1972
Budget: $50,000 per episode
The most famous frenemies on-screen may be the notorious cat and mouse duo, Tom and Jerry. The Hanna-Barbera smash-hit was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that created 161 short movies from it.
Though the first series aired in 1940, it was developed into a television show in the sixties. "Tom and Jerry" had many different writers and directors throughout it's running, but regardless of the show's writer, the show was always a hit.
The Flintstones
Aired: 1960 – 1966
Budget: $350,000 per episode
"The Flinstones" is one of the most popular cartoon television shows in history and the first animated series to have a prime-time slot on ABC. "The Flinstones" followed cavepeople in the Stone Age dealing with everyday problems.
Created by none other than Hanna-Barbera, the show featured the voices of some of animation's greatest such as Don Messick and Mel Blanc. The show was ranked the second-greatest animated TV show of all time by TV Guide. If that isn't an indication of its success, we don't know what is!
Felix the Cat
Aired: 1953 – 1961
Budget: $10,000 per episode
Before Mickey Mouse and Disney stole his success, Felix the Cat was the first animated character to have the same admiration as movie stars. "Felix the Cat" was a part of the silent film era, the black and white cat is one of the most recognizable cartoons in history.
Pat Sullivan, along with lead animator, Otto Messmer, kept the show going from 1929 to 1930, and in 1953 Felix cartoons began airing on American television. Felix has since starred in other television programs and two feature films.
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
Aired: 1968 – 2001
Budget: $45 million in total
"Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" is one of the most cherished shows of all time. The show starred Fred Rogers, who invited guests to come on the show for educational segments and skits. The show was aimed at children, though many adults would tune in as well.
"Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" debuted on NET and then on NET's successor, PBS, from 1968 to 2001, making it one of the longest-running shows of all time.
Leave it to Beaver
Aired: 1957 – 1963
Budget: $30,000-$40,000 per episode
"Leave it to Beaver" has made a reputation for itself as one of the most iconic shows in history. The sitcom aimed towards children had six seasons and 234 episodes and starred Barbara Billingsley, Jerry Mathers, Tony Dow, and Hugh Beaumont.
The Cleavers represent "The American Dream," the ideal version of a 1950s family, and centered around "The Beaver." The adventurous boy seemed to always get into trouble, whether it be at home, school, or in the neighborhood.
Mighty Mouse Playhouse
Aired: 1955 – 1967
Budget: $50,000 per episode
"Mighty Mouse Playhouse" was a collection of short films starring the animated character Mighty Mouse. CBS ran the show for a half-hour from 1955 until 1967, making the character much more popularized than ever before.
The low-budget animation company was sold to CBS when more and more companies left behind short films and moved towards television shows. "Mighty Mouse" had a total of an astounding eighty short films throughout its run!
Speed Racer
Aired: 1967 – 1968
Budget: $120,000 per episode
"Speed Racer" got its start as a Japanese graphic novel, otherwise known as a manga. The show featured the adventures of an ambitious young pilot who became a professional racer. The Speed Racer, known in Japan as "Mach GoGoGo," debuted in America in fall 1967 and was more contemporary animation.
Some say the original episodes underwent minor editing to reach the form which aired in America while others say it underwent significant editing. Either way, the show was considered appropriate entertainment for the whole family.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
Aired: 1969 – 1975
Budget: $130,000 per episode
Over the years, Scooby-Doo has become one of the most recognizable television characters of all time. The Scooby-Doo gang has been solving mysteries on television, in movies, and in books for decades. "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" was created by Ken Spears and Joe Ruby and started airing in 1969.
The show would later get picked up by Warner Bros. and is currently featured on Cartoon Network. With all of the changes made to the show, the main cast's names remain the same!
The Electric Company
Aired: 1971 – 1977
Budget: $7 million in total
Perhaps one of the most famous educational series for children, "The Electric Company," had 780 episodes throughout six seasons. The show was written by Paul Dooley and directed by several people throughout its years on PBS.
The show was eventually syndicated through its sponsor, Johnson Wax, and kept airing reruns through 1985. The show starred some of who would become Hollywood's biggest names; Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, and Lee Chamberlin.
The Muppet Show
Aired: 1976 – 1981
Budget: $427,000 per episode
Most don't know this, but "The Muppet Show" originated in the UK. With five seasons, the shoe was broadest to the US as a sketch comedy show. The variety puppet show was top-rated at the time and is still relevant in pop culture today, with toys, comics, and books based on the various characters.
They are even featured on many lines of clothing. "The Muppet Show" was hosted by Kermit the Frog, the showrunner, and Miss Piggy's partner. After its popularity grew in the UK, the series was acquired in over 100 countries.
The Huckleberry Hound Show
Aired: 1958 – 1962
Budget: $150,000 per episode
Another Hanna-Barbera classic, "The Huckleberry Hound Show," was the second one the studio ever produced! Interestingly enough, it was sponsored by Kellogg's, the cereal company.
The show was made up of three segments, one featuring Huckleberry Hound, the second with Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, and last but not least, Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinx. As we know, the Yogi Bear sketch was trendy and ended up getting its own series.
The Archie Show
Aired: 1968 – 1969
Budget: Unknown
Before there was "Riverdale," there was "The Archie Show." The comedic sitcom was based on the comic strip called "Archie Comics." The show featured the characters we know and love; Jughead, Archie Andrews, Veronica, Reggie Mantle, and Betty Cooper.
The fresh group of friends was part of a pop band, and their song "Sugar, Sugar" was a #1 hit in reach life. Though the show only had seventeen episodes, it would go on to spark movies, books, comic strips, and more!
Spider-Woman
Aired: 1979- 1980
Budget: $100,000 per episode
Voiced by none of other than Joan Van Ark Spider-Woman was the female version of the Marvel Comics character, Spiderman. The television series based on the character aired in 1979 and ran for one season - a total of sixteen episodes.
The cartoon was very different from the comic book on which the show was based; for example, the show did not feature any dark elements. The reason for this was most likely that the television show was sanitized for a child audience.
The Mickey Mouse Club
Aired: 1955 – 1996
Budget: $50,000 per episode
"The Mickey Mouse Club" was a variety of television show that aired for more than 40 years. The show aired intermittently and did not have a set schedule, with a total of fourteen seasons and 620 episodes.
The show was created by none other than Walt Disney and featured teenage performers who hadn't had prior acting experience. As you have probably imagined, the cast was always changing. Some of the biggest names that started on the show are Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake, and Brintey Spears.
Josie and the Pussycats
Aired: 1970 – 1972
Budget: $250,000 per episode
"Josie and the Pussycats" was a spinoff of the girls' group that was formed in the "Archie Comics" books. The show featured a girl band that was trying to play music while solving any mystery that came their way!
Josie was known for the music, the in-your-face leopard-print costumes, and for being the first show to feature a Black character regularly on a Saturday morning cartoon. The show ran for one season and had sixteen episodes, and got a live-action movie in 2001!
The Little Rascals (Our Gang)
Aired: 1955-58
Budget: $10,000 per episode
"The Little Rascals" was a series that blossomed from the series of short films from the 1920s, "Our Gang." The show featured a group of children growing up in a poor neighborhood in the early twentieth century.
TLR aired thirty years after the first show aired, and MGM signed on as distribution of the show's episodes. The second the show hit the TV screen, its popularity came rushing back. In 1994 Universal Pictures release a family comedy by the same name.
The Gumby Show
Aired: 1955-68
Budget: $2.8 million in total
Art Clokey created the "Gumby Show," and after he showed the pilot of the kids' show to an executive at NBC, he was asked to make a second pilot. That's when "Gumby on the Moon" was created.
The segment was a significant success on the "Howdy Doody Show," and that's when Clokey was given a single season. The show featured claymation and ran from 1955 to 1968, though it is still well-known today. To this day, Gumby is one of the most famous examples of stop-motion claymation.
The Jackson 5ive
Aired: 1971-73
Budget: $6.6 million in total
As you may have already guessed by the name, the show followed the lives of Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, Michael, and Jackie Jackson - The Jackson Five. The show was animated and was created for ABC by Jules Bass.
The band got their start in 1965, so they had been around for a few years before they got their own animated series. The famous five brothers were voiced by actors, though Diana Ross voiced herself, and like most 1970s Saturday morning series, "The Jackson 5ive" had an adult laugh track.
The Osmonds
Aired: 1972
Budget: $40,000 per episode
Much like "The Jackson 5ive," "The Osmonds" was an animated series based on the Osmond family. Though unlike The Jackson 5ive, the show was voiced by the brothers themselves. The show aired for a few months in 1972 and had seventeen episodes in total.
The show was an interesting one as it followed the Osmonds as they traveled around the world performing music. Each episode opened with the family in a new location.
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Aired: 1973-74
Budget: $100,000 per episode
"Star Trek: The Animated Series," followed the space adventures of the Starship Enterprise as it traveled through the intergalactic worlds. Interestingly enough, the voiced on the animated series were the same as in the live-action series, including William Shatner, James Doohan, and more.
The animated series was cheaper to produce than the live-action show. The show aired in September 1942 and ended in October 1974. Of course, that wasn't the last we saw of "Star Trek."
Schoolhouse Rock!
Aired: 1973-79
Budget: $50,000 per episode
"Schoolhouse Rock!" aired from 1973 until 2009. The series aired during ABC's Saturday-morning kids' shows and consisted of educational short musical films.
The show turned "boring" topics like science, history, economics, math, and grammar, into fun, in a way that didn't make kids feel like they were learning. "Schoolhouse Rock!" won an Emmy, there were 64 episodes in total airing new episodes and songs until 1979, and playing reruns all the way to 2009.
Looney Tunes
Aired: 1930-1969
Budget: $28 million in total
You're probably well aware that "Looney Tunes" is one of the most popular cartoon series of all time. The show had many versions, but the one that ran from 1930 to 1969 is considered the "original" series. It was a rivalry between Warner Bros. and Walt Disney that started it all.
The show began in the late twenties as a competition against Mickey Mouse shorts. Throughout time, "Looney Tunes" has expanded into amusement parks, video games, comic books, and toys!
Top Cat
Aired: 1961-62
Budget: $21,000 per episode
Another sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera, "Top Cat," ran in the early sixties for a total of 30 episodes and one full season. The ABC show followed a gang of alley cats in Manhattan and was inspired by the 1940's characters the East Side Kids.
The title character, Top Cat, was loosely based on a comedy about a con-man called "The Phil Silvers Show." The show was a rating failure in prime time yet managed to find a receptive audience in the Saturday morning timeslot.
Valley of the Dinosaurs
Aired: 1974
Budget: $50,000 per episode
Hanna-Barbera's Australian Studios produced this Saturday morning series. You weren't expecting that, now were you? The show featured a team of scientists on a mission along the Amazon River when their raft hits a rock.
The team capsizes and is swept down a whirlpool only to find that when they resurface, they're in a realm in which humans live alongside dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures, and neanderthals. The series ran for thirty minutes, and unfortunately, there were only sixteen episodes in total. This is a show we'd love to see make a comeback!
Cool McCool
Aired: 1966-67
Budget: $15,000 per episode
From the man who brought you "Batman," we introduce to you "Cool McCool." The show created by Bob Kane, the show followed a spy who defeated villains even though he wasn't a good detective.
"Cool McCool" had a satirical spin to it as it was poking fun at James Bond, which was very popular at the time. NBC was the original airing network, and the show ran from 1966 to 1967.
Commander McBragg
Aired: 1963-73
Budget: $500 per episode
Voiced by veteran voice actor, Kenny Delmar, Commander McBragg was a character based on the stories from "The Four Feathers," "Another Thin Man," and "Baron Munchausen." The show followed a retired British military commander, McBragg, who would tell stories to his gentleman's club.
These stories would only last a minute and a half, hence the low budget. The episodes aired for a decade; they were mainly featured on "Tennessee Tuxedo and his Tales."
The Funky Phantom
Aired: 1971-72
Budget: $50,000 per episode
What most would claim is the Australian version of "Scooby-Doo," next up we have "The Funky Phantom." In total, there were seventeen episodes of "The Funky Phantom," which aired on a subsidiary of ABC, Air Programs International.
The show featured three teen detectives who drove around the country, solving crimes and mysteries. Scooby-Doo's role was swapped out by a ghost from the Revolutionary War era. Interesting, right?
Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
Aired: 1969-70
Budget: $20,000 per episode
"Dastardly and Muttley in their Flying Machines" feature two aviators Dick Dastardly and Muttley, his sidekick dog, who are part of the Vulture Squadron. The Vulture Squadron’s primary goal is to trap Yankee Doodle Pigeon and prevent him from delivering paper messages to the other side of the Revolutionary War.
The show repeated the phrase "stop the pigeon," or "catch the pigeon" so many times, it was often mistaken as the title of the show!
Milton the Monster
Aired: 1965-68
Budget: $30,000 per episode
"Milton the Monster" features the adventures of Milton, a monster with a Frankenstein-like head that releases steam or smoke depending on what mood he's in. Milton was created by Professor Weirdo, who also created a ghoul named Heebie and a cyclops named Jeebie.
While creating Milton, Professor Weirdo used too much "tenderness tincture," which makes him the opposite of mean; in fact, the monster is quite friendly. The series had one season and a total of twenty-six episodes.
Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies
Aired: 1972-73
Budget: $20,000 per episode
"Groovie Goolies" was set in the same realm as "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," and "The Archie Show," which made for an exciting twist every time the groups crossed paths. "Sabrina" was a spinoff of the original show, "Groovie Goolies," a show about monsters that lived in a decrepit castle.
After they were canceled as a lone show, they were featured in eight "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" episodes during the shows 1972 season.
The Beagles
Aired: 1966-67
Budget: $10,000 per episode
The show aired on CBS and ABC and was originally black and white but was telecast in colors in its later episodes! "The Beagles" featured a duo of pups who parodied, The Beatles. "The Beagles" followed the adventures of the band during their troubles and triumphs on the road.
American audiences will remember it from Saturday mornings on ABC or CBS while the show was featured on Channel 9 in Australia throughout the seventies.
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
Aired: 1972
Budget: $65,000 per episode
A spinoff of the ever-so-famous "The Flinstones," "The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show," featured two of the youngest members of the Flinstones family. Now that they've grown up, they're facing all the challenges of being a teenager at Bedrock High School.
The show also featured a Bedrock Band, leading some critics to believe that the show had a lot in common with Archie. The show aired on CBS and was canceled after one season, which is surprising considering how long the original "The Flinstones" aired.
Shazzan
Aired: 1967-69
Budget: $10,000 per episode
Yes, you read that right; it's "Shazzan," not the superhero show, "Shazam!" The two shows have different premises, "Shazzan" features the adventures of two teen siblings, Chuck and Nancy, who use the help of a genie named, Shazzan, to help them face uncertainties and dangers as they travel around the world.
Created by Alex Toth, the show aired on CBS from 1967 to 1968. Though the show had a great storyline, it aired for a lone season, eight half-hour episodes that were made up of two 11-minute segments.
Batman
Aired: 1966–1968
Budget: $100,000 per episode
"Batman" was an adaptation from the DC comic book character, and this sixties show was one of the first live-action adaptations of the superhero! Though we may be used to a particular persona Batman portrays, this show was different from the action depictions of the superhero we know today.
The show had upbeat theme music, simplistic mortality, and humorous storylines. The show's creator, William Dozier, described the show was the only sitcom that didn't have a laugh track.
The Magical World of Disney
Aired: 1954–1991
Budget: $6,000 per episode
As you know, Disney's had its fair share of iterations over the years, "The Magical World of Disney" was the first. The show began airing in 1954 and contained cartoons of all your classic favorites, Donald Duck, Bambi, and more.
ABC aired the program first on Friday nights and then on Sunday nights - where it had its greatest success. Since the network favorited it, it became a staple of ABC's Sunday night lineup for more than twenty years.
Annie Oakley
Aired: 1954–1957
Budget: $10,000 per episode
Perhaps one of the most famous sharpshooters of the wild, wild west, Annie Oakley has had books, movies, and of course, television shows based on her life. "Annie Oakley" featured Gail Davis in the title role, wearing the same fringed cowgirl outfit in every episode.
The show reportedly made over fifteen copies of the look for the production. The show had eighty-one episodes, all in black and white, and allegedly had minimal resemblance to Annie's actual life.
Dennis the Menace
Aired: 1959–1963
Budget: $30,000 per episode
"Dennis the Menace" starred Dennis, the Mitchell family's mischievous son who often went back and forth with their neighbor, George Wilson. The family-oriented sitcom was based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham.
The show aired on CBS on Sunday evenings and had special appearances by many of Hollywood's most celebrated. Still very culturally relevant, the television show had four seasons and 146 episodes in total.
The Pink Panther Show
Aired: 1969–2011
Budget: $10,000 per episode
We can't read the words "The Pink Panther" without the catchy theme song popping into our heads! Season one of the comedy-mystery show was made up of short animated episodes created by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng. The shorts came out after the live-action movies that were released in the sixties.
The first "The Pink Panther Show" episode featured two Panther cartoons and one Inspector cartoon. The show made history by becoming NBC's first production to have a fitted laugh track for broadcast television.
The Addams Family
Aired: 1973
Budget: $50,000 per episode
"The Addams Family" has had its fair share of televisions series and movies, with the first airing in 1964. The 1973 version of "The Addams Family" aired nearly ten years later in 1973 and was broadcast on NBC's Saturday mornings.
The show took the Addams family on tour in a Victorian-style RV - weird even for the Addams family, right?! One of the most intriguing facts about this reboot is that it featured a ten-year-old Jodie Foster.
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Aired: 1955–1960
Budget: $20,000 per episode
"The Adventures of Robin Hood" was a black-and-white television show that aired on BBC and consisted of 143 episodes that starred Richard Greene as the legendary outlaw.
The show consisted of a few dramatized tales from the books, but most of the show's storylines were new and created by the show's writers and producers. The half-hour episodes ran for five years and followed Robin Hood as he is forced into a life of an outlaw.
The All-New Popeye Hour
Aired: 1978–1983
Budget: $10,000 per episode
The "The All-New Popeye Hour," was produced by the celebrated studios of Hanna-Barbera, which tried to cling to the original starred the famous comic book strip character. Though the show had several themes that fans had grown accustomed to from the comics, the show was a lot less violent.
Due to restrictions on violence on television cartoons for children at the time, Popeye did not throw punches at Bluto but would instead lift him and hurl him away.
Davey and Goliath
Aired: 1960–2004
Budget: $500 per episode
A claymation classic, "Davey and Goliath," was a kids' show that was based on the Bible Story. The United Lutheran Church in America produced the show, and though it was a children's show, it dealt with some pretty severe issues.
The show shined a light on racism, religious intolerance, prejudice, and many more serious subjects that were considered taboo. At first, the thought of a religious show caused hesitance, but it quickly vanished because the show did not reference the Lutheran Church directly.
The All-New Super Friends Hour
Aired: 1977–1978
Budget: $110,000 per episode
"The All-New Super Friends Hour" was an animated program that featured the adventures of the DC Comics’ characters, The Justice League. The animated show was created by Hanna-Barbera Productions and featured all The League's classic characters as well as The Wonder Twins and Gleek.
No one ever understood why but during its first run, the show's viewership was down. A few years later, ABC rebooted the show, and it was a massive rating success, which led to the show getting a total of sixty episodes.
Flipper
Aired: 1964-1967
Budget: $15 million in total
The television show starred Flipper, a bottlenose dolphin and the pet of Chief Porter Ricks, the Head Warden at the Coral Key Park & Marine Preserve. Flipper was portrayed at first by a female dolphin named Susie and occasionally by other females. Female dolphins were chosen for the role because they are less aggressive than males.
The show's marine preserve was based on the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, located in Key Largo, Florida. Dubbed "the aquatic Lassie," the show ran on NBC for eighty-eight episodes and is still inspiring children's merchandise today.
The Batman/Superman Hour
Aired: 1968-1969
Budget: $150,000 per episode
"The Batman/Superman Hour" was based on the DC Comic Books characters and featured Robin, Batgirl, and Superboy. The show marked the beginning of Batman appearing as an animated character and was also the first time the classic Batman villains were featured on television.
When CBS secured the animation rights of Batman, the series moved to that network where it would air reruns well into the nineties.
Harlem Globetrotters
Aired: 1970-1973
Budget: $10,000 per episode
"Harlem Globetrotters" was a cartoon based on the famous basketball team of the same name. Each episode ran for thirty minutes, and there were a total of twenty-two episodes of the show. Of course, Hanna-Barbera was the producer behind the show.
The show featured an animated version of the basketball players as well as a fictional bus driver, manager, and Dribbles the dog - the team's mascot. The series followed the team as they traveled, usually getting into a local conflict that led to one of the players proposing a basketball game to settle the issue.
Fat Albert
Aired: 1972-1985
Budget: $360,000 per season
Filmation produced the show, and it ran from 1972 until 1985. New episodes were released sporadically during that time, so the show consisted mainly of reruns. The show was based in North Philadelphia, and most episodes had an educational lesson to them.
"Fat Albert" was widely known for its episodes ending song the gang would play. The show was directed by veteran Tv executive Hal Sutherland and featured the voice of Bill Cosby.
The Partridge Family
Aired: 1970-1999
Budget: $6,000 per episode
One of the best-known sitcoms of the twentieth century, The Partridge Family, starred Shirley Jones. The family traveled around the world, playing music. The show aired as a part of ABC's Friday-night lineup and would later go on to have reruns in syndication.
The family was based on a real-life family band that was popular in the sixties and seventies, The Cowsills. "The Patridge Family" had it all, comic books, animated series, movies, and CDs - not to mention various spin-offs of the show.
Birdman
Aired: 1967-1968
Budget: $10,000 per episode
"Birdman" was based on the adventures of the superhero Birdman, part bird, part human. The show's original name was "Birdman and the Galaxy Trio," but was often referred to as just "Birdman."
The superhero who was also a lawyer was voiced by Keith Andes and was not originally written as a comedic superhero. "Birdman" made him into a comedic character, though he was still a superhero who drew his power from the sun's rays, and managed to fly using his solar-powered wings.
The Monkees
Aired: 1966-1968
Budget: $10,000 per episode
The family-friendly sitcom, "The Monkees," aired on NBC between 1966 and 1968. The premise focused on a four-man-band trying to make a name for themselves before becoming famous.
The show stood out at the time because it introduced a whole new genre of filming techniques that helped it win two Emmys for Outstanding Comedy. Even after the show went off the air, it was rerun for many years overseas and in syndication.
The Fantastic Four
Aired: 1978
Budget: $40,000 per season
Based on the Marvel Comics series by the same name, "The Fantastic Four" was an animated series that Hanna-Barbera produced for twenty episodes. "The Fantastic Four"'s first animated series aired in 1967 and was on-air until 1970.
After its 1978 run, the show was picked up an animated series in the nineties. True to the comic book classic, the show featured some famous villains, suck as Mole Man, Dr. Doom, Diablo, as well as many others.
Mister Magoo
Aired: 1960-1967
Budget: $250,000 per season
"Mister Magoo" starred the voice of Jim Backus, as the nearly blind main character. Magoo ran for one season - and 130 episodes, which may sound ridiculous, but it's true! Each episode lasted only a few minutes.
From time to time, "Mister Magoo" would air as a bumper to other cartoon series. Though the original shoe was only a few minutes long, the show became so popular; the character got two spinoff shows, "What's New, Mr. Magoo," and "The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo."