Cartoons were sort of a television rarity back when I was a kid. We got them on Saturday morning, maybe early Sunday if we were lucky, and a few holidays.
Cartoons airing during the week, or at night, were unheard of.
Then, someone at the USA network had a brilliant idea. An idea way ahead of it’s time.
Playing cartoons, Monday through Friday!
For those lucky enough to have cable, it was a rare opportunity to watch cartoons right after dinner, during a school night – Grape Ape, Hong Kong Phooey, Jabberjaw, and Captain Caveman to name a few. Oh, and that weird one with the rhino thing that fired fireballs and his buddy, the blob guy? What in the world was going on there? Was it the Herculoids? I guess I can just Google ‘blob with fire shooting dinosaur thing’.
Then there was the Laff-O-Lympics, which I kept close score of.
The ‘Really Rottens’ managed to win twice. And once, if I remember correctly, all three teams managed to tie. I need to find my old trapper keeper to double check.
And then this little commercial for the show…
The Cartoon Express was the sole reason I asked my parents for Grape Ape footy pajamas.
