Best kids’ TV shows from the 50s
Today, it seems there’s hundreds of shows dedicated to kids – Play School to name just one – but back when we were little there wasn’t quite as much choice. Aside from a few short-lived local children’s shows, most of our entertainment came from the US of A. Here are some of our favourites.
Lassie
Who could forget this legendary pooch? One of the longest running series of all time, Lassie was one of the first TV shows to hit our screens and continued to air until the mid-‘70s. Each week we were treated to a new adventure with the Rough Collie and her animal and human companions.
Dennis the Menace
Based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham, Dennis the Menace followed the mischievous antics of Dennis Mitchell, a well-meaning but trouble-prone young boy and ran from 1959 to 1964.
The Mickey Mouse Club
The Mickey Mouse Club was a huge hit in Australia when it first broadcast in 1956, when television was introduced, and ran through the 1960s despite ending in the US in 1959. The variety show hosted an ever-changing cast of “mouseketeers” and has been revived twice since.
Felix the Cat
The creator of this iconic character has always been a bone of contention between the US and Australia, but ultimately it was the Yanks who took the reins and created this popular TV show, which followed the cat’s cheeky adventures.
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
Another four-legged star, Rin Tin Tin bounded into our hearts as the companion of a young orphaned boy being raised at a US Cavalry post. The series ran for five seasons and starred Lee Aker, James E. Brown, Joe Sawyer and Rand brook alongside the German Shepherd.
The Huckleberry Hound Show
It’s the show that introduced us to such characters as Yogi Bear, Boo Boo, Snagglepuss and more. The Huckleberry Hound Show aired from 1958 into the early ‘60s and followed the well-intentioned, Southern-accented hound on his many adventures.
Which of these shows was your favourite as a kid? Tell us in the comments below!
Related links:
8 things only people who grew up in the 1950s will remember
5 classic TV series to revisit