In September of 1969, a silly, scared, and lovable Great Dane was introduced on CBS TV to their Saturday morning cartoon lineup. I was born about a year and a half before Scooby Doo, Where Are You? was. 

Halloween is only a couple of weeks away, so I felt the need to profess my love for the original Scooby Doo cartoon. It was my first introduction to the concept of mysteries, ghosts, and scary monsters.

Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Norville “Shaggy” Rogers, and Scoobert “Scooby Doo” are cartoon legends! 

I was perplexed how the Mystery Incorporated gang cruised around in the Mystery Machine and just happened to find themselves in the middle of the craziest predicaments. I wanted to be part of their gang! Those teens were solving mysteries in carnivals, castles, and at the beach, while my biggest dilemma was whose house were my friends and I going to play?

The gang met the Ghost of Captain Cutler, the Creeper, and the Black Knight face-to-face. The closest thing we ever had to a scary confrontation was a neighborhood bully over who would be the pitcher at our next kickball game. Their lives were exciting! 

I never felt afraid watching Scooby Doo as a kid—quite the opposite. I felt adrenaline. Maybe that’s why I am the only woman I know today who enjoys horror movies and all things creepy. You gotta love a good “who-done-it” scenario. 

My kids also loved Scooby Doo, but I think it’s unfortunate they didn’t grow up with the original episodes like I did. Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase in 2001? What the heck was that? 

My youngest has a tattoo that looks exactly like the Space Kook from the 15th episode of the 1st season, titled Spooky Space Kook. He denies it’s him, but secretly I like to think that Space Kook is a permanent fixture on his arm..lol  A couple of years ago, he and some friends dressed up like the Mystery Gang, and I have to say, he was the perfect Shaggy! 

I thank Saturday morning cartoons for Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, for presenting the only creepy show for kids back in the 70s. I eventually discovered Encyclopedia Brown books, author Peggy Parish’s mystery books, and years later, watching Vincent Price’s The House of Wax on a Saturday afternoon with my Mom. ..but it all started with a brown dog with the “hee, hee, hee” laugh.