On what exact date did Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! first premiere in the United States?

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! first premiered in the United States on September 13, 1969.

The animated mystery comedy was created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears for Hanna-Barbera Productions. Its first episode, “What a Night for a Knight,” introduced the talking Great Dane Scooby-Doo and the four teenage members of Mystery, Inc. The series combined spooky settings, comic chases, and usually human villains disguised as supernatural creatures.

The premiere date is sometimes confused with the year 1969, which is the more commonly quoted fact. September 13 was the Saturday date on which CBS launched the series as part of its Saturday-morning schedule. The original run eventually produced 25 episodes across two seasons, although later broadcasts and specials made the franchise seem much larger.

Scooby-Doo’s debut was part of a broader late-1960s shift toward animated programs designed for family audiences. Despite its monsters and ghosts, the show generally resolved mysteries by revealing practical explanations rather than confirming genuine supernatural activity.