Today is finally the 50th Anniversary of Scooby-Doo. We’ve been working up to it all week.
Another thing that is happening today is my father, Kevin Kneisley’s, birthday. He was in 8th Grade when Scooby-Doo was released, so I thought for today’s final post, I’d interview him about his experiences with the character and show.
Q: What was going on before, and during Scooby-Doo’s initial release?
A: Back in 1969, all these people died or were being killed: Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, there were race riots, it was just considered a violent time.
There were some other good events too. The moon landing was exciting, and so was Scooby-Doo.
We used to have a Saturday Morning Cartoon Special showing what they would have, and once Scooby started, you felt a bit safer because mysteries would be solved.
I recently rewatched the first episode, and they were investigating a haunted suit of armor, but we know it wasn’t really haunted. That first show everything always seemed haunted, but it was always a human being who did it. It was exciting when it got solved.
Q: How do you think the show has influenced your life?
A: It’s made me more skeptical on things. I spend time thinking about whether or not something is actually real, because again, the show wasn’t about any real monsters.
It was all humans doing it.
Just spending a bit with the thought “are we being tricked” on everyday events is what I am doing a lot now.
The suit of armor from the first episode wasn’t even haunted, and as I got older, I realize more and more about life and people.
Q: What thoughts do you still have on the show?
A: There’s one thing I never understood about the show: How did Scooby-Doo get Scooby Snacks, and why are they called Scooby Snacks?
There was always a laugh track in the original show, because it was pretty funny to watch Shaggy and Scooby do things, but to me, it seemed like Shaggy was a lot dumber that Scooby-Doo.
Scooby-Doo was the titular character, so he had to be. It seemed like, to me, in some episodes Scooby-Doo came up with the answer to the problem before Shaggy did. And Shaggy seemed to depend on Scooby, but not the other way around.
One other thing I remember is when Fred had everyone split up to find clues. He always decided to go with Daphne. It was a kid’s cartoon, so they never said they were a couple or anything, but you know they were.
There was an episode soon after the haunted suit of armor where they go in a castle, and I bet Fred and Daphne had sex in the castle when nobody’s looking.
Q: What would to say to Scooby-Doo today in anticipation for his 50th anniversary?
A: I think they’ve done a great job and I want them to solve more mysteries around the world.
What I’m excited for them is that none of them has aged due to stress or worry throughout the years. They started out as what, 17? They’re probably on social security by now so they’re probably doing okay.
Q: Last question. Why do you think it’s still popular today?
A: They have a great storyline, humor, and compassion. A lot of cartoons now are violent, and Scooby-doo has never really been violent. Capturing villains has never been super-violent or scary. It’s been funny sometimes, but usually pretty tame.
And that concludes the week of Scooby-Doo. Happy birthday to that dog and my dad too. Here’s to 50 more years.
Kristopher K. Online 