Scooby-Doo, where are you?
Probably eating birthday cake with those meddlin’ kids.
America’s favorite animated, mystery-solving pooch is now ready for AARP, as today marks Scooby-Doo’s 50th birthday.
Created by William Hanna and Joe Barbera, the animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! debuted on CBS on September 13, 1969. Five decades later, TV viewers, of all ages, are still watching the goofy dog, his stoner owner Shaggy and his three human friends on their wild adventures.
The series was the result of CBS and Hanna-Barbera’s plans to create a non-violent Saturday morning program that was considered a response to the violence and unrest filled Americans’ TV screens in 1968 with major news events including the Vietnam War, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy.
There were also protests from parent watch groups about the amount of superhero-based programming from the mid-1960’s. These shows dominated the airwaves in part because they embodied the themes of the time of such as The Cold War and spies.
But shows such as Space Ghost, The Herculoids andJonny Quest featured way too much violence they would say.
While several action-adventure and sci-fi cartoons were still on air, cartoon creators, including Hanna-Barbera began brainstorming new series with gentler story lines.
Originally titled Mysteries Five, and later Who’s S-S-Scared?, Scooby Doo, Where Are You! underwent a number of changes from script to screen (the most significant being the downplaying of the musical group angle borrowed from The Archie Show).
However, the basic concept—four teenagers (Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy) and a cowardly, clumsy Great Dane (Scooby-Doo) solving supernatural-related mysteries—was always in place
The series premiered as part of the CBS’ Saturday morning schedule on September 13, 1969. The first episode, “What a Night for a Knight,” saw The Mystery Gang investigate an archaeologist’s disappearance and faced off against a ghostly and ghastly knight. Watch the intro below:
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The premiere would launch memorable catch phrases, which are still in our lexicon, including “Jinkies!” “I would have gotten away with it if it hadn’t been for you meddling kids!” and “Zoinks!” This iteration of Scooby would air for two seasons until October 31, 1970.
The popularity of Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy, along with their talking Great Dane Scooby, can be attributed to the way they remained relevant in pop culture – mainly because they represented pop culture and the hippie movement at the time.
After its cancellation, Scooby-Doo would reappear in 15 different shows. Fans can still watch most of these on Boomerang.
The love for Scooby and his friends has been passed down from generation to generation, Maryellen Zarakas, senior vice president of franchise management and marketing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products said in a statement.
“With the release of content, unique experiences and a new assortment of products we’re giving fans an opportunity to celebrate Scooby in every way imaginable,” she said.
“I really wanted Shaggy, because he was the comedy part,” Frank Welker, 73, told USA Today. But producer Joseph Barbera “kept pushing me towards Fred. He said in the interview, ‘You know, you’re kind of the same age. Just do your own voice, and think ‘Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy’: You’re the leader of the gang and got a driver’s license.’ And that was pretty much it.”
Former America’s Top 40 host Casey Kasem would voice Shaggy and Welker would move onto voicing Megatron in Transformers.
In honor of the great dane’s birthday, Redbox has listed its top five favorite movie dogs (according to a poll of avid users). The rental giant apparently provided a list of movie pooches and their personality type — Loyal and curious? Scooby. Adventurous and heroic? Sam in I Am Legend. Rambunctious and fun? Hooch. Ask yourself: Which one is your spirit animal.
Top 5 Movie Dogs
1. Scooby Doo in Scooby Doo
2. Hooch in Turner and Hooch
3. Marley in Marley and Me
4. Sam in I Am Legend
5. Bolt in Bolt
Source: Redbox
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com.
