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Television Shows From The 60s

Below you will find a number of TV shows that were popular back in the Sixties, many are available as DVD Sets or you can find them being repeated on specialist TV stations ( Terrestrial and Cable ) that feature popular old 1960s TV Classics. Great fun , while doing the research it bought back many fond memories of my childhood. I wonder how many others found themselves humming along with the theme music.

The Monkees

The Monkees was an American situation comedy featuring the antics of 4 young musicians . It featured Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork as the Monkees who had applied to an ad in Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter for "Folk & Roll Musicians-Singers for acting roles in new TV series. Series ran from 1966 till 1968.

Route 66

Route 66 is about Two young men "Tod Stiles" Played By Martin Milner and "Buz Murdock" Played By George Maharis who travel across America in their Corvette convertible. The credits of those who also appeared reads like a who's who of acting in the Sixties including James Brown, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Walter Matthau, Buster Keaton, Lee Marvin, Suzanne Pleshette, Martin Sheen, and Robert Redford. Series ran from 1960 till 1964.

The Saint

The Saint played by Roger Moore based on a fictional detective created by Leslie Charteris for a series of stories written in the 20s. The Saint is remembered for driving a white Volvo P1800 and a halo appearing over his head during the opening credits. Series ran from 1966 till 1969.

The Prisoner

The Prisoner co-created by Patrick McGoohan and George Markstein with Prisoner "Number 6" played by Patrick McGoohan, the series still attracts a cult following during repeats due to it's unusual surreal setting and story line. Series ran from 1967 till 1968.

Ironside

Ironside an American crime drama television series starring Raymond Burr as Ironside. Series ran from 1967 till 1975.

Hogan's Heroes

Hogans Heroes an American comedy series based in a German Prisoner of War Camp during World War II with Werner Klemperer as the commandant of the camp Colonel Wilhelm Klink and Bob Crane as Colonel Robert E. Hogan. The series is also remembered for the bumbling Sergeant Schultz who used the quote "I know nothing – nothing !" in order to avoid being blamed. Series ran from 1965 till 1971.

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The Man From Uncle

The Man From Uncle ( United Network Command for Law and Enforcement ) based around the exploits of two secret agents Napoleon Solo played by Robert Vaughn and Illya Kuryakin played by David McCallum fighting against the evil empire of THRUSH who's main objective was to conquer the world . Series ran from 1964 till 1968.

Doctor Who

Doctor Who British science fiction series enjoyed by each generation with current series restarted in 2005, The Doctor is a mysterious alien Time Lord who travels through time with his human assistant with the TARDIS most often portrayed as a blue British 1950s police box. Over the decades there have been many Doctor Who's played by William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy. Each generation has their own favorites for the best Doctor. Original Series ran from 1963 till 1989.

Gilligan's Island

Gilligan's Island American TV sitcom based on the crew and passengers of the charter boat S.S. Minnow who are shipwrecked on an uninhabited island where they attempt to survive. Original Series ran from 1964 till 1967.

Columbo

Columbo American crime fiction TV series starring Lieutenant Columbo a detective from the Los Angeles Police Department played by Peter Falk. The distinguishing features of the series are the scruffiness of Columbo and his old car and his way of going back to ask the questions of the suspected criminal after his original interview. Series ran from 1968 till 2003.

The Virginian

The Virginian ( changed to The Men from Shiloh 1971 ) a TV based western series starring James Drury as The Virginian and Doug McClure as Trampas based at Shiloh Ranch, Medicine Bow, Wyoming,. Series ran from 1962 till 1971.

Mr Ed

Mr Ed American TV comedy based on a Horse Mister Ed who would only speak to his owner Wilbur Post, I just do not know what else to say about this as sorry to say "I do not get it" . Series ran from 1961 till 1966.

I Dream of Jeannie

I Dream of Jeannie American TV comedy about a 2,000 year old female genie played by Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman her master. The series was created following the success of Bewitched. Series ran from 1965 till 1970.

Bewitched

Bewitched American TV series about a witch Samantha played by Elizabeth Montgomery married to a mortal Darrin Stephens. Gentle fun comedy which also featured the mother in law Endora played by Agnes Moorehead who despises mortals and disapproved of the marriage. How we all we wished we could twitch our nose to make things happen. Series ran from 1964 till 1972.

Flipper

Flipper TV classic series based on a Bottlenose Dolphin mainly played by a female dolphin named Suzy ( Who Lived at Miami Seaquarium, ) . The series features Flipper and his adventures helping Porter Ricks and his children to catch the baddies. The theme song features this well known first line "They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning", Series ran from 1964 till 1967.

The Benny Hill Show

The Benny Hill Show was a British comedy sketch show featuring Benny Hill ( the show originally was produced in 1955 by the BBC ), but most remember the shows created by Thames Television. The show was syndicated round the world including the United States but due to the extremely risque material ( Often called close to the knuckle of what is considered acceptable ) of many scenes they were edited out of the U.S. television versions. The show typically closed with a sped-up chase scene involving himself and a crew of scantily-clad women which offended many ( The video is one of those type so if you would not find it funny best not to watch. ) Series ran from 1969 till 1989.

Monty Python’s Flying Circus

Monty Python’s Flying Circus was a British comedy sketch show featuring surreal, risque and innuendo-laden humour, the show format allowed the team of ( (Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman American-born member Terry Gilliam ) to create a different kind of genre of comedy that still stands today. Many TV sketch shows do not translate to later audiences but Monty Python gains new followers from each new generation and still pull in large audiences today when shown. "And Now for Something Completely Different" Series ran from 1969 till 1974 with 45 episodes.

The Brady Bunch

The Brady Bunch was based on a large family when Mike Brady ( three sons ) marries Carol Martin ( three daughters ) and together with the live-in housekeeper and the family dog move into a suburban home. Series ran from 1969 till 1974.

Peyton Place

Peyton Place was an American soap opera set in Peyton Place a small New England town. I can remember my mother watching it and ensuring children did not disturb her during the show which put Mia Farrow and Ryan O'Neal on the road to stardom. Series ran from 1964 till 1969.

The Fugitive

The Fugitive was about Doctor Richard Kimble played by David Janssen wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, the doctor escapes custody and spends the next 120 episodes searching for the one armed man who did kill his wife, while being hunted down by the Police. Series ran from 1963 till 1967.

Steptoe and Son

Steptoe and Son about two rag and bone men Albert Edward Ladysmith Steptoe played by Wilfrid Brambell and Harold Albert Kitchener Steptoe played by Harry H. Corbett, living in Oil Drum Lane, a fictional street in Shepherd's Bush, London, The American series Sanford and Son is very close to the story line but based on American junk dealers . Series ran from 1962 till 1965.

Get Smart

Get Smart comedy based on the useless secret agent Maxwell Smart played Don Adams, even with his lack of spy credentials through pure good luck he always wins his battles. . Series ran from 1965 - 1970.

Green Acres

Green Acres was an American television series starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor about a couple who moved from New York City to a farm in the country . Series ran from 1965 - 1971.

The Addams Family

The Addams Family TV Series based around Charles Addams' New Yorker cartoons featuring an extended family with with supernatural powers and a macabre interests and a very gothic looking home. The Characters include Gomez and his wife Morticia, their daughter Wednesday Friday and their son Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Lurch and Thing T. Thing. Series ran from 1964 - 1966.

My Three Sons

My Three Sons was an American Situation Comedy about a widower Steve Douglas, played by Fred MacMurray and his three sons first on ABC and later on CBS , the show ran from 1960 to 1972