Underdog and Woody Woodpecker Make Debut

Today was good day for cartoons.  It was on this day in 1957 that "The Woody Woodpecker Show" debuted on ABC.  And, in 1964, "Underdog" debuted on NBC.

"The Woody Woodpecker Show" came about because the cartoon shorts in front of movies were becoming extinct.  The only place, besides history, that the cartoons could go was to Television.  Walter Lantz made a deal with Kellogg's Cereal and cartoons found a new home.

Cereal was also a factor when it came to "Underdog".  General Mills wanted to create characters to help sell their products.  Enter characters as King Leonardo,Tennessee Tuxedo and of course, Underdog.  The little shoeshine boys alter-ego.  Along with some of the best named characters ever. The love of his life, Sweet Polly Purebred, classic. and Villians Simon Bar Sinister and Riff Raff.  Don't forget about Smitty the Blacksmith.