You know, in the past couple of decades, a lot of things have changed for the better.
But there’s still plenty of truth to the saying: “They don’t make ‘em like they used to!” It’s an argument that can be applied to clothes, cars, and even movie stars, especially if you remember moments like Audrey Hepburn’s iconic window seat scene in Breakfast At Tiffany’s.
That’s why, every now and then, it’s important to look back at the good old days, and remember the roots of the entertainment world that we enjoy today.
In an era of binge watching and Netflix, it can be nice to look backwards, and remember the simple pleasures of an hour spent with the Cleaver family, or at the diner with Alice and Flo!
In fact, there are just tons of classic TV characters worth a nostalgic second-glance, especially if you remember them from growing up. These days, we’d bet that most people have forgotten all about some of the television icons of decades past.
How many of these classic characters do you remember?
Captain Kangaroo And Mr. Green Jeans
Captain Kangaroo is one of those shows that spanned generations, airing from the 1950s all the way into the 1980s!
As a result, 30 years' worth of kids grew up watching the Captain's grandfatherly antics, and seeing him goof around with favorite characters like Mr. Green Jeans and the colorful puppets that inhabited the Treasure House.
Buffalo Bob And Howdy Doody
Everybody remembers Howdy Doody! It's one of those iconic shows that started out as an idea on radio, and eventually spread to the small screen.
For more than 20 years kids looked forward to greeting puppy Howdy Doody by name, as well as tipping their hats to his puppeteer and the show's host, Buffalo Bob.
Ricky Nelson
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Be still, my beating heart, but if Ricky Nelson wasn't one of the original heartthrobs, I don't know who was! Along with his parents Ozzie and Harriet, and his big brother David, he took the TV world by storm.
Of course, all the Nelsons were a hoot, and David was certainly good-looking too, but who can forget Ricky performing "I'm Walkin'" on the show?
The Cisco Kid
In the golden era of westerns, everybody had a favorite cowboy!
Adults might go for John Wayne, but growing up, just about every girl or boy had a particular cowboy hero to hang his or her (10-gallon!) hat on.
The Cisco Kid, played by Duncan Renaldo, was a favorite choice.
The Lone Ranger
Of course, if the Cisco Kid wasn't your favorite, there was a very good chance that was because you were in the Lone Ranger camp!
This western classic followed the swashbuckling adventures of a masked vigilante and his dashing sidekick Tonto, as they meted out justice across the American West.
Beaver Cleaver
Another popular trend in TV of decades past? Impish scamps that were too smart for their own good!
Right up there with Dennis the Menace was Beaver Cleaver, the curious scapegrace at the heart of the Cleaver family in Leave It To Beaver. Of course, we were also fans of his big brother Wally, too!
Lucy Ricardo
"Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do!" was probably our favorite phrase ever back in the day, because we know it meant big laughs were just around the corner!
Lucille Ball's sitcom heroine was the ultimate screwball, and everyone in America just adored her for it — not to mention her sweet relationship with her husband Ricky.
Corky
In later years, most people remember Micky Dolenz from the Monkees, but back when he was just a little monkey himself, he starred as Corky in Circus Boy.
Do you remember his sweet relationship with the his pet elephant Bimbo, and the adventures they had together? What a great show!
The Little Rascals
Everyone but everyone grew up with the Little Rascals!
Whether you knew them as Our Gang or in one of their later incarnations, the silly and sweet adventures of Alfalfa, Spanky, and all the rest remain dear to our hearts, even though the earliest versions from the early 1920s were filmed more than 90 years ago!
Flo Castleberry
Naturally, we all still remember and adore Flo from Alice!
The show may have been named after just one of the waitresses in Mel's diner, but everyone at home knew that the best part was waiting for Flo's signature line, "Kiss my grits!" We still miss Flo and her sassy attitude.
Annette
These days, the Mousketeers are a long-standing tradition dating back decades. Needless to say, there's something really special about being one of the originals!
Annette Funicello was handpicked for the show by Walt Disney himself, back when she was just 12 years old.
We loved watching her perform with the other Mouseketeers, and cheered from home when she and Frankie Avalon made Beach Party a hit!
If you simply adored these classic TV stars growing up, make sure to SHARE on Facebook and tag all your friends who remember the golden age of television!
