Remember The 60s Golden Age?
Boomer children spent a lot of time plopped in front of the television, often alongside their parents, absorbing all these great shows. Evidently, many of them grew up to be Hollywood executives who greenlit numerous film adaptations. Let's take a look at some of the best shows from the 1960s.
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling’s iconic show revolutionized the anthology format through its stunning twists and heartbreaking sense of morality. It’s a show that could function as science fiction, horror, and drama.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Star Trek: The Original Series
The original show that launched a media empire, the first Star Trek to air might still be the best. Though, of course, The Next Generation has its dedicated fans.
Star Trek Balance of Terror (part 1 of 7) TOS (The Original Series), mike leo
The Flintstones
The Flintstones was the first animated program to catch adults' attention, not just children. Certainly, there we wouldn’t have The Simpsons if not for it.
The Flintstones 1960 - 1966 Opening and Closing Theme (With Snippet), TeeVees Greatest
The Andy Griffith Show
This good-natured sitcom represented the soul of America in many ways. For one, it formed the image of the post-WWII American small town.
The Andy Griffith Show | Warren Meets Barney Fife, Clean Comedy Clips
The Addams Family
The theme song might be more iconic than the actual show, but The Addams Family is still a major legacy TV show. The franchise had a good enough premise to spawn multiple film adaptations.
The Addams Family 1964 - 1966 Opening and Closing Theme, TeeVees Greatest
The Carol Burnett Show
This variety show helped the format stay relevant past the 1960s into the 70s. Though, apparently, Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels detested the performers’ habit of breaking out into laughter during it and wanted his own show to be the opposite.
Batman
It might be hard to remember a time when Batman was light and goofy. But this 60s show, for many fans of the Caped Crusader, is the ultimate iteration of the character.
Batman and Robin go to Drive-In for Bat-Burgers, Orangeades - 1966, Shatner Method
Get Smart
The wave of spy movies and television shows during the 1960s was turned on its head by the comedy Get Smart. The intellectual property lasted a while, even inspiring the 1980 film The Nude Bomb.
The Best of Get Smart (Season One) 1965 - 1966, TeeVees Greatest
The Jetsons
The futuristic counterpart to The Flintstones, one can’t help but wonder if they solved climate change in the show’s timeline. Does anyone remember when now-disgraced rapper Kanye West publicly announced himself as a design consultant on a never-made live-action film?
Open HD | The Jetsons | Warner Archive, Warner Bros. Classics
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock had obviously made a number of blockbuster hits, but it was his television show presenting him as a host that helped make him such a recognizable figure to the public. Hitchcock actually used much of the crew from the show when shooting one of his most iconic films, Psycho.
Mission Impossible
The Mission: Impossible intellectual property has no doubt come to be most associated with the long-running Tom Cruise franchise, but the original series certainly has its place. Of course, the teamwork format of the show took a while to find its way into the movies, which had to function as a star vehicle for Cruise initially.
[Mission Impossible] The Bank: Assignment and Briefing, Vintage Clips
The Wild Wild West
Two of the most popular genres of the 1960s, the Western and the spy romp, were combined in this popular show, which was an early showcase for steampunk. A running theme of the list, it was turned into a terrible movie during the 90s.
Wild Wild West - Best quotes of Count Manzeppi (part 2), Nathan Goedeke
Dragnet
Dragnet was initially a staple of 50s television that saw a revival in the late 60s. The franchise was important in innovating the police procedural, which will never leave television.
Dragnet S03E05, Charlie's Geekcast
Leave It To Beaver
A show that reaffirmed the family values of the Eisenhower era, Leave It To Beaver embodied a now-forgotten strain of Americana. That’s why it was odd to try and update it to the 90s in a film.
June Cleaver on womens changing roles in the 1960s, Sarah Gillette
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The most iconic iteration of The Tonight Show on NBC remains Johnny Carson’s run, which ran from 1962 to 1992. Once upon a time, you could stream all of the episodes on TUBI.
RARE Marlon Brando Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson - 05/11/1968, Johnny Carson
The Rocky And Bullwinkle Show
While it didn’t necessarily showcase the most groundbreaking animation style on television, The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show introduced a whole generation to the concept of surrealist humor. Just try and forget Robert De Niro in the 2000 film adaptation.
Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends Season 1, Studio De Desene
Perry Mason
Starring Raymond Burry, Perry Mason was one of the longest-running legal dramas in television history. It certainly eclipses the legacy of the forgettable prestige reboot from HBO.
Perry Mason - (Overly?) dramatic ending is unintentionally funny, York Timster
The Monkees
Beatlemania got a twist with this satirical sitcom about an American band, which was considered ahead of its time. The show got a follow-up with the 1968 film Head.
The Monkees - Episode 19: Find The Monkees (FULL HD EPISODE), The Monkees
The Man From UNCLE
James Bond’s impact on the 1960s was partly felt in this spy television show, which aired on NBC. The lead’s name of Napoleon Solo is certainly a great one.
Man from UNCLE - Glances, Serenaar
Candid Camera
The hidden camera concept is still paying off years later, as Canadians will attest to the long-lasting popularity of Just For Laughs Gags. Now, the format is probably more popular on YouTube and TikTok, though.
Candid Camera Classic: Gorgeous Teacher, Candid Camera Classics
Lost In Space
Alongside Star Trek, Lost in Space was one of the definitive science fiction shows of the 1960s. The less said about the 1998 film adaptation, the better.
lost in space episode teaser 3, Bart Broadhead
Wild Kingdom
Frankly, who doesn’t love animals, from the furry to the slithery? That’s why Wild Kingdom was such an all-ages institution of American television.
Marlin Perkins Birthday | Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
The Rifleman
One of many Western shows that captured the imagination of the American public, The Rifleman also has the distinction of shepherding in new talent. Legendary film director Sam Peckinpah honed his talents by directing episodes of the series.
The Rifleman 2x15 Day of the Hunter 1960 Complete Seasons, The Rifleman Season 2 Full
The Avengers
No, not the superhero team, but the 60s spy show. Televisions across the world were particularly bewitched by its star, Diana Rigg, who portrayed superspy Emma Peel.
The Infamous Scene That Took 'The Avengers (1961)' Off The Air, Celebrity Before
Rowan And Martin’s Laugh In
This sketch comedy show proudly portrayed itself as against the counterculture of the time. This manifested in President Richard Nixon appearing on-air to utter “sock it to me”.
Goldie Hawn | Highlights | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Mister Ed
The kind of high-concept shows that drove families to television can be evidenced in Mr Ed. The premise is, in case you forgot, a horse talks—hilarity ensues.
Mister Ed Being Cute / Funny Pt.3, G G
Captain Kangaroo
Amidst all the primetime dramas and sitcoms on this list, we have a children’s show. The title alone is probably enough to make a small child smile.
McHale’s Navy
Ernest Borgnine was a beloved film star, but he could flourish on television, too. He, of course, later appeared in the 1997 film remake of the same name, which was widely hated.
McHales Navy S1E01 - An Ensign for McHale, Military Comedy
American Bandstand
For some reason, the avatar of American youth for decades was Dick Clark. It all started with the program American Bandstand, which highlighted Top 40 music.
American Bandstand 1963 – March 8, 1963 FULL EPISODE, YouCanDanceToit!
Gunsmoke
The lead character of the popular Western show Gunsmoke was named Matt Dillon. One wonders if that inspired the parents of the actor of the same name.
Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea
A television version of the film of the same name, this show impressed many science-fiction fans at the time. One wonders if the underwater themes made an impact on a young James Cameron, even.
Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea 2x09 The Peacemaker, Harriman Nelson
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Just the comedic duo name of “Smothers Brothers” gets us laughing, so you can imagine why this variety show was popular. It was also delightfully anarchic, capturing the youth market.
Frankie And Johnny | The Smothers Brothers | Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Smothers Brothers
The Dean Martin Show
Crooner Dean Martin had his last stand in showbiz with this long-running variety show. Martin’s best buddy, Jerry Lewis, never appeared due to a long-standing feud.
The Dean Martin Show - January 25, 1968, dino4ever
My Favorite Martian
The 60s were marked by an increased interest in outer space, and by extension, extraterrestrial life. This manifested in this sitcom, which, yet again, received a lame film adaptation during the 90s.
MY FAVORITE MARTIAN - Series 3 - Episode 30 - "Stop the Presses, I Want to Get Off" by MOPPY-KUN TV
Have Gun Will Travel
One of countless Western dramas from the 60s was this long-running CBS show. It notably featured a prominent role for Asian-American actor Kam Tong.
Catch a Tiger HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL Series Season 3 Episode 1, Bay Area Ghost
Adam 12
During the 60s, and especially into the 70s, the police procedural began to become the true staple of television. Adam 12 was one of the shows that helped establish this.
Adam-12 - See You Again, RHCinderellaThe Huckleberry Hound Show
The Huckleberry Hound Show might be best known for launching Yogi Bear, but it was a distinct cartoon in its own right. The southern drawl of the titular character is certainly soothing to listen to.
Huckleberry Hound Show - Knight school Part.1, Fun Islands Walkin ́Tour Wide World Of Sports
Other than all the Western shows, this sports anthology was probably the unanimous pick for the dads of America’s favorite television program during the 60s. Could the format work in the streaming era?
Daniel Boone
The 1950s American fascination with Davy Crockett extended to Daniel Boone. We may expect this to be an “intellectual property” that isn’t revisited in the years to come due to political sensitivities.
Daniel Boone | Season 2 - Episode 1 | Empire of the Lost, Timeless TV Classics
I Dream Of Jeannie
Alongside Bewitched, this sitcom defined the fantasy tinge that captured the imaginations of television viewers so strongly in the 60s. It became one of the best shows of the decade—but it all started to go downhill after Jeannie's bizarre wedding scene.
Fans loved the romantic tension between Jeannie and Tony, but showing the couple living together unmarried was controversial for the time. Unfortunately, the nuptials featured in the season 5 episode "The Wedding" killed the much-loved "will they, won't they" dynamic between the characters, and also made Jeannie herself seem more human, taking away from her ethereal nature as a 2,000-year-old genie. After 14 more episodes, the show came to an end for good.
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Jeannie Makes It Sunday | I Dream Of Jeannie, I Dream of Jeannie
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