1966 Best Cartoon Shows! | Superhero pow!

[@RobertGoldman-o2p]

Growing up, my favorites were Space Ghost, The Herculoids, Birdman, Galaxy Trio, Mightor, and Young Samson.

[@DarthSideous63]

Fun fact Frankenstein Jr. was voiced by Ted "Lurch" Cassidy.

[@ameliawarfield5637]

Space Ghost was one of my favorite shows growing up in the 1970's. I wasn't born until 1969.

[@timothym.salley3602]

Space Ghost hands down , and that Phantom Crusier was too damn cool 😎 👌

[@LeviAWilson]

Out of all the cartoons mentioned here I can't believe that they left out Jonny Quest. I know that it came out in 1964, and it only ran for one season because the animation was so expensive, but that show was just to, too, Awesome! And a few more superhero ones that I liked to watch as well was Birdman and the Galaxy Trio, the mighty Mightor with Moby Dick the whale and the two kids, The Herculoids, Shazan, Samson and Golath and The Fantastic 4. And the music for these shows were great! Also, the sound effects. They have all these fancy things for cartoon sound effects today and they still don't have any sounds that sounded as great and the sound effects for the cartoons from back then. Great theme music for these cartoons, as well as the background music during the cartoon.

[@rodneywashington51]

Growing up in the 1960's and 1970's. Sooo many favorite cartoons. Some of my favorites were, The New Adventures of Huck Finn (1968 on NBC), The Adventures of Gulliver cartoon (1968 on ABC), Mushmouse & Punkin' Puss, The Jackson 5 & The Osmonds cartoons.

[@georgeanthony7282]

I was 8 yrs old... turning 9 on Nov 20th 1966. It definitely was a magical time to be a kid back then!

[@barbararey-constantin5679]

I remember the Beatles cartoon, it made me like them long before I ever heard their music. I loved their sense of humor. Thank you for this program.

[@craigmurphy2046]

Always loved the sound effects of all the super heroes of that era.

[@joellafargue9882]

Contrary to what you said, superheroes were NOT completely gone by the end of the 1960s: There were the Super Friends, which debuted in 1973 as an hour-long cartoon; later incarnations of the show would be a half-hour in length. Filmation had The New Adventures of Batman in 1977, with Adam West and Burt Ward voicing the Dynamic Duo. This show also featured Batgirl and that pesky imp, Bat-Mite from the late 1950s-early 1960s Batman comic books. Filmation also had the live-action Shazam! and Isis shows in the mid-1970s. 1992 saw the debut of Batman: The Animated Series. Superman had an animated show a few years later. The CW had Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which saw the Dark Knight team up with various DC Universe heroes. After that one left after 5 (?) seasons, The Batman debuted, with Tim "Robin" Drake. (I think Dick Grayson appeared as Nightwing on that show, but I can't be positively sure about that.) Cartoon Network had a decent version of the Teen Titans, but the version they run now should be declared a crime against animated shows, it's such a piece of garbage. Several Marvel Universe heroes had animated shows during those years as well.

[@paganjew0108]

1965 was the first year I really remember the television shows. I was four in 1965, so in 1966, I remember how I felt that the Johnny Quest series was over. I watched the New Adventures of Superman and the Lone Ranger regularly. I saw one episode of Elevator Man and my older brother and I really liked that one. We never saw another come up. GoGo Gophers was one I saw with these two friends. Hilarious. The impossible caught my eye because I was taken to Help! the previous year and I had my siblings scratched up v Beatles 33s and 45s, with an impressive collection by agev5. The Beatles cartoon was one I never missed. Thanks for this.

[@bigdaddyl-rob7445]

AWESOME!! I remember watching CBS which in my opinion had the BEST Saturday Morning lineup from 1966 to 1971! My favorite all time Saturday morning cartoon was The New Adventures of Superman which TV critics at the time have said that nearly 70% of ALL TV sets were tuned in for the debut of Superman on September 10th 1966! A record that wasn't broken until the X-Men series in 1992 on FOX!

[@danieljohnson9351]

This brings back great memories.

[@billkassman3182]

Growing up I saw all these shows thank s for the look back

[@dorickopinto575]

I was in third grade when the TV super-hero cartoon craze of 1966 started because of the popularity of ABC-TV's mid-season replacement series Batman. When the Autumn of 1966 came super-heroes were the big thing. CBS-TV's Superman put the classic hero back in the spotlight with brand new adventures and he finally faced comicbook super-villains rather than ordinary gangsters. The other big plus that CBS had was Space Ghost with great designs by Alex Toth. I think those 2 shows were the real draws of 1966 and their popularity spawned more hero shows like Birdman ...Superman-Aquaman Hour ... Herculoids ... Mighty Mightor ...Fantastic Four & Spiderman the next year in 1967. It was fun times for a boy who liked super-hero adventures! Thanks for the fun video! ❤❤❤😂❤❤❤

[@starquack]

I was 4! Loved it all, and the next season even more (1967). Of course in 1968-69 it all started to fall apart. Even as a 6 yr old I could tell the difference. No more action and no more heroes!

[@westrich54]

Absolutely agree with the choices of the award winners. I religiously watched all those shows as an 11 year old boy totally into cartoons at the time.

[@jamesharrison1279]

I was there . I definitely remember these cartoons from the past I was at least 5 or 6yrs old my shows were strictly superhero cartoons. I miss those days.

[@waynebrooks880]

Space Ghost’s music was crafted by Ted Nichols (see the credits). He also created the themes for: The Herculoids, Young Samson & Goliath, The Fantastic Four, Birdman and The Galaxy Trio, Moby Dick and The Mighty Mightor, Shazzan, and Frankenstein, Jr. and The Impossibles. He also produced the non Hoyt Curtin background adventure music too.

[@starquack]

Indeed he did! The unsung creative genius that made these toons so magical

[@martincolvill5453]

I loved GO GO GOPHERS! The theme song is ear worming even now!!!

[@tobykelly4606]

Yes. I was there with my siblings--and a box each of Captain Crunch, Lucky Charms and Trix.

[@5argetech56]

The Mighty Heroes was an American Saturday morning animated television series created by Ralph Bakshi for the Terrytoons company. Diaper Man, Strong man, Rope Man, Tornado Man, Cuckoo Man. Loved that show!

[@joellafargue9882]

Each Mighty Heroes cartoon was a 2-part episode wrapped around two Mighty Mouse cartoons. The show's official title was "Mighty Mouse and The Mighty Heroes". Yes, I'm that old.

[@5argetech56]

@@joellafargue9882 Me too! We boomers had the best cartoons ever!

[@edwinstovall3334]

The character's name was "Hoppity HOOPER!" I watched that show! And it was Uncle Waldo who was the "get rich quick scheme" guy!

[@goredongoredon]

In 1966 my favorite Saturday morning cartoons were The Mighty Heroes, Space Ghost and Go Go Gophers. I was 5yo

[@Monkofmagnesia]

I am 62 and watched Wonderdog as a kid, but always remembered it as airing on NBC. Strange.

[@40stbotolph]

Underdog did originally air on NBC. I remember because it replaced my favorite show, Fireball XL5.

[@ivane5110]

Saturday mornings were definitely a magical time for us, but so wild after all these decades to only now learn that they started (as the staple it instantly became) specifically in 1966. This was just before my time, so for me it was always so. Liked these (nearly everyone shown) as a kid, but Filmation Superman (especially Superboy) and Aquaman were the reason I becamea big fan of their and comics in general. From comedy to drama, they really gave us a treasure trove to pick from (sometimes to our frustraction since it left you having to either miss out on 2 to see a 3rd or do the infamous commercial jumping).

[@superheropow1]

Yup, just growing up with it, I still find it stunning that it's gone!

[@DavidWalensa-n5o]

I really like the older cartoons the first Spiderman with a great theme song Michael bubla did a very of that dave w

[@ericsmith8373]

I loved Underdog and Tenessee Tuxedo.

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

Unfortunately they're not on anymore.

[@songwriterjj6022]

They're on the MeTV Toons channel.

[@toomuchstuff4828]

@@songwriterjj6022 Love it so much!! That is my main squeeze.

[@jashary15]

I remember those cartoons. I was 6 in 1966.

[@ericsmith8373]

I remember "Fearless Fly"

[@shirleytyler-szkolny6981]

First cartoon I remember is Bullwinkle.

[@DavidSmith-xs3or]

Klondike Kat always got his mouse....eventually.

[@robranney-blake8731]

“My glasses!”

[@bdpickett]

Frankenstein Jr. had nothing to do with Doctor Frankenstein. It's the name Buzz Conway gave his giant robot, which resembled Frankenstein's Monster.

[@maureencora1]

I Want 1966 Marvel Super Heroes on DVD / Blueray. The Series Had Great Dialog.

[@richardrincon3090]

I remember almost all these cartoons from the sixties back when I was A little boy.

[@westies1962]

I remember watching the vast majority of those cartoons as a 5-year-old kid in 1968! I loved Space Ghost as well as Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles!!

[@stebaer]

Klnodike Kat;Tom and Jerry,; Abbot and Costello;Go Go Gophers: and Superman are among the best bell tollers from my childhood Superman but I didn't See Space Ghost and Frankenstein Jr. until the reruns on NBC's Saturday Morning TV in early 1977.👻👻👻👻⚪⚪⚪⚪

[@johnmadden1605]

1966 that was the year I was born Pawtucket Rhode Island USA

[@gregkenwyngarvinlouison7712]

Nice vid. The Halas and Batchelor Lone Ranger series gets my pick for best overall series, as although the animation was somewhat limited, the subject matter was rather progressive, considering the time.

[@theoldar]

I was 5, and I watched most of the shows on ABC, with a few CBS shows mixed in.

[@arthurwright8827]

I was only 6 then but I remember almost all of them!

[@robranney-blake8731]

With so many shows in 3 segments, I could change channels during a show to watch all my favorite bits.

[@edg4441]

I was 5 in 1966 and loved most of these shows. I don't remember "Laurel and Hardy" or the "Abbott and Costello" Cartoon shows, but I watched The Three Stooges" cartoon show with live-action mixed in. When I was 3 years old in 1964, my mother would put cartoons on a Saturday morning before the 1st season of Saturday Morning Cartoons in 1966. I still get goosepimples every time I hear the Johnny Quest theme. A couple of Trivia facts. 1. The Opening of "Space Ghost" is the same as "The Jetsons". 2. Bob Hastings, who would go on to play the voice of Commissioner Gordon in "Batman: The Animated Series", was the voice of Superboy in" The New Adventures of Superman." 3. "The Three Stooges" Cartoon had live-action Slapstick comedy mixed in. Unfortunately, Larry was sick by then and Curly Joe had to do most of the slapstick with Moe. This also created an issue where "The Three Stooges" didn't produce enough live-action comedy segments for all the cartoons in the show. So some segments were shown again with new cartoon shorts leading kids to think the show was a rerun and wouldn't watch the remainder of the show. This led to its cancellation and then the network produced "The Laurel and Hardy" and "Abbott and Costello" shows. 4. Hanna Barbera used the same formula for most of its shows except for "The Flintstones" and "The Banana Splits." Most cartoons had only from 17 to up to 26 episodes, after which Hanna-Barnera would move on to another show. This was the case for "The Herculoids", "Mighty Mightor" with "Moby Dick", "Shazzan", "The Arabian Knights", "Sansom", "Birdman and the Galaxy Trio", etc... 5. Grantray-Lawrence produced "The Marvel Heroes" and 1967 "Spider-Man". The studio went bankrupt in 1968 after the second season of "The Marvel Heroes" and the 1st season of "Spider-Man '67" as that show has become known. Then Krantz Studio took over and Ralph Bakshie who would go on to make the adult cartoon that was rated X "Fritz The Cat" in 1972, produced seasons 2 & 3. IMO, Bakshi ruined the "Spider-Man cartoon by going away from the formula of Spidey fighting the villains from the "Amazing Spider-Man" comics to Si-Fi/Fantasy cartoons. Season 1 was great, but seasons 2 and 3 were mostly terrible. This was cause the budget was cut, but he could have done something different. It was a shame Hanna Barbera did "The Fantastic Four" Cartoon instead of "Spider-Man '67" because I think the animation quality would have been better. How different that show would have been. However, Hanna Barbera only did 20 episodes of the show per what I mentioned above, so "Spider-Man '67" wouldn't have had a 2nd and 3rd season. Yet, I don't think that would have been a loss as seasons 2 and 3 were terrible. Ironically the 1st season of Spider-Man '67" only had 20 episodes with 2 segments each episode. 6. The 1966 -1969 "Lone Ranger" cartoon was never released on DVD. You can buy bootleg DVD copies of the show through individuals on the Internet who converted the tapes or taped the show off syndication. It's poor quality. New episodes ran from 1966 to 1968, then reruns aired until 1969. The show had 26 episodes with 3 segments (78 Segments). Episode 8, Segment 3 "Attack of the Lilliputians" isn't available, and Episode 15's all 3 segments "The Kid / Stone Hawk / Sky Raiders" isn't available and there are two unknown segments from Episode 26 aren't available, so the individual resellers can only offer 72 segments of the original 78 segments. Agnes Moorehead played the Black Widow in the cartoon series. Coincidentally, she also guest starred in "The Wild Wild West" in "The Night of the Vicious Valentine". Moorehead won an Emmy. Moorehead played Endora on the 1964 - 1972 "Bewitched" TV series. Michael Rye who voiced The Lone Ranger went on to voice The Green Lantern in the later versions of the Hanna Barbera cartoon "The Superfriends" which ran from 1973 to 1986. 7. Action for Children's Television (ACT) pressured the Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Congress to remove violent Saturday morning cartoons from the air. The cartoons targeted by ACT included: The Herculoids Space Ghost Birdman and the Galaxy Trio Journey to the Center of the Earth The Lone Ranger Super President Fantastic Four As a result of the April 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King and the June 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, President Johnson created the U.S. National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence. One of the questions it tackled was whether violence on television, including graphic news coverage of the Vietnam War, was a contributing factor to violence in American society. The television networks, anticipating these allegations, moved to curtail violence on their entertainment programs before the September start of the 1968-69 television season. Probably why Bakshi went in the direction he did for "Spider-Man '67".

[@toomuchstuff4828]

I adored Fantastic Four in 1967!! Thanks for your facts and passion. Born in 1961, too.

[@edg4441]

You're Welcome.

[@danielnewton3968]

Loved Cool McCool, Mighty Heroes, and Super 6. Even back then I was a little.....different.

[@larrycoldwater1964]

What about all those Japanese ones? Astro Boy, Marine Boy, Speed Racer, Gigantor, Kimba the White Lion - didn’t you get them in the States?

[@faolanliath6687]

Yes. At least in ny when I was a kid.

[@ovalvox7888]

I loved the Marvel shows the most. Super 6 and the Mighty Heroes as well. Honorable mention for the Impossibles. They don’t make them like this anymore.

[@MrEab2010]

I'm still trying to find this cartoon that had a mean guitar and jazz riff theme, it sounded like early 60s. I don't even remember what it was about but damn that theme was boss!

[@ron6083]

I used to love watching Frankenstein Jr., but my favorite by far was The Impossibles.

[@SalvorHardin-y1o]

Sorry to be one of those who are sticklers for accuracy, but it was Hoppity HOOPER, not Hopper . . . loved the look back, as I grew up on Saturday morning cartoons from 1965 on. . . 66-67 were the best years of all, as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the Herculoids showed up the next year. Heaven!

[@whatwouldwesleycook9759]

Captain America had the best theme song!

[@geoffsokoll-oh1gq]

When Captain America throws his mighty shield. All those who chose to oppose his shield must yield.... Yeah!

[@maureencora1]

I was 9 Fall of 1966 TV Cartoons were Great.

[@thomasdalimonte8559]

I was there! At 7, I was glued to these shows! My fav of all time... The Adventures of Superman! Still my fav version, even given the animation. Long before stupid renditions like the Super Friends, when everybody had to add stupid sidekicks. Then Space Ghost! King before they inexplicably turned him into an idiot talk show host. And yes, though I hate them ADDING idiot sidekicks, the Go Go Gophers/Commander McBragg and such were great!

[@mlongpre100]

being 8 years old and planning the saturday morning cartoons with the tv guide.

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

I was fortunate enough to have been alive and 9 years old at the time!

[@maureencora1]

I Want 1966 Lone Ranger on DVD / Blueray. I Loved the Sound of Him Fist Hitting the Bad Guys. (smile)

[@cabbitkisser2620]

i was born back in 1972. a lot of this cartoons were before my time.

[@tamaraclaw]

Fun fact: "Super 6" theme was performed by Gary Lewis ( and the Playboys)

[@JeffreyWLaRue]

Beany and Cecil,and Jonny Quest were the best cartoons in the 1960's!!!!!!

[@w41duvernay]

NOT surprised that Hanna Barbara would would have a top kids show. THEY wereking of kids Saturday mornings in the 70's.

[@clementjohnson2666]

I remember most of these cartoons , though some I dont remember at all . But you left out one of the "Best" animated cartoons of all time ..... and I'm speaking about Jonny Quest !!!! That was one hip , badass cartoon . How could you leave that one out of your commentary ??!!!?? As I understand it , supposedly Johnny Quest started out on Friday nights either just before or just after The Green Hornet . But I only remember watching J .Quest on Saturday mornings . But my point is , you omitted the Johnny Quest cartoon completely . In my opinion this was the equivalent of secret agent 007 put in animated form 😊 .

[@flux928]

He didn't mention Jonny Quest because it first aired in 1964.

[@clementjohnson2666]

Oh , o.k. now I understand . Thanks for clarifying that for me 🤜🤛 .

[@faolanliath6687]

C'mon dudes. Marvel superheroes was cheesy but you gotta give em cred for those opening theme songs for each character. 🎼🎵"Tony Stark makes ya feel, he's the coolest cat with a heart of steel."🎶 😎

[@TwoLeftFeetDancer]

Great video. However, it is pronounced Space Kid Ettes (sounds like cadettes). Not Space Ki ditties.

[@DarthSideous63]

It was these cartoons which was fantastic that we got Scooby Doo and the lame 1973 Superfriends. Hanna Barbera and network TV got spooked by parent groups.

[@toomuchstuff4828]

Scooby Doo was a 1960's cartoon that never left.

[@bdpickett]

Fans of Space Ghost would do well to check out the new ongoing Space Ghost comic from Dynamite. It does a great job reimagining the original series' setting and villains for a modern story and uses episodic storytelling where each issue tells a self-contained story.

[@strettoasino9006]

Hanna-Barbera gave a generation more than Micky mouse 🐭

[@Bargle5]

King Kong had a very catchy theme song.

[@robertdayton5503]

Rocky and Bullwickle was the GOAT

[@sg6633]

Great year 1966, the year I was born. Of course I didn't see them then, but I did see most of them in 1970s re-runs. I agree with your picks. Loved Superman, I also think it was less crude than some of Filmations later offerings. Space Ghost was great. And I never warmed to Cool McCool. Just one thing your pronunciation on some of the tunes was a little off. Space Kiddeties? I never saw or heard of the Super 6.

[@stevezilla1961]

Loved the Marvel Superheroes

[@michaelblanchard5627]

Hercules and Johnny Quest is my favorite

[@JuliaLang-t5s]

Thanks for sharing such valuable information! Could you help me with something unrelated: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). Could you explain how to move them to Binance?

[@JeffreyWLaRue]

Have you noticed that Cool McCool sounds like Jack Benny!!!!!!

[@user-hf8ie8mf3n]

I loved the Roadrunner and Bugs, anything Jay Ward did and the original Johnny Quest. Total cartoon snob, even at age 6. 😂. Oh well. 👍🤪🏳️‍🌈

[@unclecreepy4324]

I was 15 in 1966 but still loved the Saturday Morning cartoons. Today's cartoons suck big time thanks to our government they screw every good thing up.

[@anthonypirera7598]

Wow you didn't have my favourite it also came out in 1966 Prince Planet a Japanese cartoon

[@DerekWolfford]

For anyone who doesn't hear your callout at the end of the video, Batman's creators are now listed as 'BOB KANE with BILL FINGER' as he was the one who created the foundation of the character. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5SldZ2gjpemrac

[@larrycoldwater1964]

What about Fantastic Voyage and Johnny Quest? And The Herculoids?

[@haroldshubert5251]

Superhero violence is back now even worse and profanity added.

[@luisreyes1963]

I was born in 1966, so I didn't get to see a majority of them until the late 70s on TV. Also, I find The Beatles cartoon more loathsome than Cool McCool. 😤

[@GarySchuler-s8v]

Stephen cartoons were the best

[@TheOriginalDJMrVee]

🥰🥰🥰

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

CAPT. WHAMO

[@richardbridges5268]

You start out by insulting children who go to private school means you are ignorant as to who gets the better education. Check stats and find that private school students do far better in society and business than government students. Guess I will not be listening to your shows

[@larrycoldwater1964]

Your class consciousness is showing. Anyway private school kids didn’t watch Saturday morning cartoons, they were too busy playing polo and show jumping and taking drugs on father’s Yacht😂

[@JAMESMEAUX-h3j]

That's HOPPITY HOOPER! not hoppity hopper.