In the early 1950's, NBC and CBS try to figure out how to program Saturday daytimes. They decide the afternoons will be devoted to sports, with mornings to children. At first that means Saturday Mornings became the home for Howdy Doody, Pinky Lee, and Mr. Wizard as well as reruns of westerns.
Then in 1955 CBS buys the Terrytoons cartoon studio for $3.5 million. On December 10, 1955 at 10:30AM EST, the network debuts the Mighty Mouse Playhouse (sponsored by Colgate Dental Cream). The show's an instant hit and CBS will air (and profit from) it through 1966. The episodes originally aired four cartoons from the Terrytoons library- one Mighty Mouse with the rest featuring characters like Farmer Al Falfa and Gandy Goose. Over time the older toons are phased out and more Mighty Mouse cartoons added until the lineup is 3 Mighty and 1 "other". CBS, NBC and later ABC add more cartoons to their Saturday Morning schedule. By the time Mighty leaves CBS, the networks have 24 cartoons airing on Saturday morning. But he was the one who showed the way.
Then in 1955 CBS buys the Terrytoons cartoon studio for $3.5 million. On December 10, 1955 at 10:30AM EST, the network debuts the Mighty Mouse Playhouse (sponsored by Colgate Dental Cream). The show's an instant hit and CBS will air (and profit from) it through 1966. The episodes originally aired four cartoons from the Terrytoons library- one Mighty Mouse with the rest featuring characters like Farmer Al Falfa and Gandy Goose. Over time the older toons are phased out and more Mighty Mouse cartoons added until the lineup is 3 Mighty and 1 "other". CBS, NBC and later ABC add more cartoons to their Saturday Morning schedule. By the time Mighty leaves CBS, the networks have 24 cartoons airing on Saturday morning. But he was the one who showed the way.