Does anybody else here remember the ABC Saturday Matinee block from the late 90's-early 2000's?

[Route66Fan]

Back in the late 90's-early 2000's, ABC would, at least once a year on a Saturday afternoon, show a 90 minute block of 3 episodes of a Disney TV cartoon (Usually one that aired as part of the Disney's One Saturday Morning block also on ABC.) as part of what they called the "ABC Saturday Matinee".

Whenever this was supposed to be shown, my local ABC affiliate, KMBC-TV, Ch. 9 in Kansas City, MO, would air it on a Saturday afternoon, between 12PM-1:30PM, right immediately after the Disney's One Saturday Morning block on ABC & in place of episodes of Popular Mechanics for Kids, Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures & whatever usually aired at 1PM on Saturday afternoons on KMBC-TV whenever ABC didn't have any sports programming.

When I saw this, they would start the block off with an open that was a modified version of the "ABC Big Picture Show" open with the Saturday Matinee byline replacing the Big Picture Show byline.

One Disney TV cartoon that I remember getting the ABC Saturday Matinee treatment was Disney's House of Mouse.

I also seem to vaguely remember ABC also doing this, pre-1997, under a different title.

I am just curious if anyone else here remembers ABC doing this & what other ABC affiliates, besides KMBC-TV, Ch. 9 in Kansas City, MO, cleared this occasional programming block?

 

[radiofan2023]

I also seem to vaguely remember ABC also doing this, pre-1997, under a different title.

I am just curious if anyone else here remembers ABC doing this & what other ABC affiliates, besides KMBC-TV, Ch. 9 in Kansas City, MO, cleared this occasional programming block?

I don’t remember that before 1997, just the ABC Saturday morning kids shows growing up. Around that same year, on Saturday afternoons KCTV/CBS would have a movie in early afternoon too but it was more geared to older kids/viewers, like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

 

[Route66Fan]

I don’t remember that before 1997, just the ABC Saturday morning kids shows growing up. Around that same year, on Saturday afternoons KCTV/CBS would have a movie in early afternoon too but it was more geared to older kids/viewers, like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

I remember that KCTV would also sometimes show the 1989 Disney movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids as well.

I think that the ABC Saturday Matinee block was only run on an infrequent basis when ABC had no sports starting before 3PM CT.

From what I remember, the block was also never promoted & the only way to know if the block was airing was by checking TV guide listings every week.

I'll probably have to eventually go digging through some online newspaper archives & see if I can find some old newspaper TV listings showing when it aired.

I do know that Newspapers.com does have old editions of the Kansas City Star newspaper with local TV listing inserts in them from that time period, however I currently don't have a subscription to that site at the moment.

 

[radiofan2023]

I remember that KCTV would also sometimes show the 1989 Disney movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids as well.

I think that the ABC Saturday Matinee block was only run on an infrequent basis when ABC had no sports starting before 3PM CT.

From what I remember, the block was also never promoted & the only way to know if the block was airing was by checking TV guide listings every week.

I'll probably have to eventually go digging through some online newspaper archives & see if I can find some old newspaper TV listings showing when it aired.

I do know that Newspapers.com does have old editions of the Kansas City Star newspaper with local TV listing inserts in them from that time period, however I currently don't have a subscription to that site at the moment.

You could try to find old TV Guides too

 

[Cool_guy81]

I do see in some of the old tv guides I have around 1999-2000 (Iowa Edition) that they aired House of Mouse on at 2pm on WOI 5 (ABC)

 

[Totally]

OP, I know exactly what you are referring to. I have a complete list. First, I will list the ABC time, then KMBC's local slot.

If anyone has any TV recordings of these, please let me know.


-"The Secret Garden" (1994)
ABC: Sunday, 12/3/95 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Unknown or not shown (In the newspaper I looked at, the TV pages for 12/9 are missing. It's not listed for 12/3 or 12/10 or 12/16.)

-"The Parsley Garden" / "The Secret of Lizard Woman"
ABC: Sunday, 3/24/96 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-"Jirimpimbira: An African Folktale" / "Daddy's Girl"
ABC: Sunday, 6/23/96 / KMBC: Saturday, 6/29/96 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM CT

-"The Magic Pearl" (1996)
ABC: Sunday, 8/4/96 / KMBC: Saturday, 8/10/96 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM CT

-Disney's Halloween Special (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949) / Trick or Treat (1952) / DuckTales: "The Curse of Castle McDuck") / School House Rock!:
ABC: Sunday, 10/13/96 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 10/19/96 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM CT

-Bump in the Night: "Twas the Night Before Bumpy" / School House Rock!: / "Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas"
ABC: Saturday, 12/14/96 at 1PM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 12/14/96 from 12:00PM to 2:00PM CT

-"P.J. Funnybunny" / "Educating Mom"
ABC: Saturday, 3/15/97 at 1:00PM ET / KMBC: None

-"The Magic Pearl" (1996) / School House Rock!:
ABC: Sunday, 6/8/97 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-"Here Come the Littles" / School House Rock!:
ABC: Sunday, 8/3/97 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Sunday, 8/3/97 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-"The Secret Garden" (1994)
ABC: Sunday, 10/19/97 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-Brand Spanking New! Doug x4
ABC: Saturday, 12/13/97 at 1:00PM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 12/13/97 from 12:00PM to 2:00PM CT

-"The Magic Pearl" (1996) / School House Rock!:
ABC: Saturday, 1/10/98 / KMBC: Sunday, 1/18/98 from 1:30PM to 3:00PM CT

-"Peter and the Wolf" (1995) / "The Parsley Garden"
ABC: Saturday, 2/7/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Sunday, 2/08/98 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-"P.J. Funnybunny: A Very Cool Easter" / "P.J. Funnybunny" / "The Velveteen Rabbit"
ABC: Saturday, 3/21/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: / The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: / "Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Chicken Little"
ABC: Saturday, 4/11/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: / The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: / "Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Red Riding Hood"
ABC: Saturday, 8/15/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 8/22/98 from 1:30PM to 3:00PM CT

-Disney's Doug: / Recess: / Pepper Ann:
ABC: Saturday, 10/17/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 10/17/98 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-Disney's Doug x3
ABC: Saturday, 12/5/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 12/12/98 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-Disney's Doug: / Recess: / Pepper Ann:
ABC: Saturday, 3/13/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 3/13/99 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-"P.J. Funnybunny: A Very Cool Easter" / "P.J. Funnybunny" / "The Velveteen Rabbit"
ABC: Saturday, 4/10/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 4/17/99 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-"Peter and the Wolf" (1995) / "The Parsley Garden"
ABC: Saturday, 8/14/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 8/21/99 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: (special compilation)
ABC: Saturday, 10/16/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 10/23/99 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: (special compilation)
ABC: Saturday, 12/11/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 12/11/99 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show:
ABC: Saturday, 2/5/00 at 7AM ET / KMBC: Sunday, 2/13/00 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM CT

-Mickey MouseWorks: (I don't know if it was a special compilation or just 3 separate episodes)
ABC: Saturday, 4/15/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 4/22/00 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-Mickey MouseWorks: (I don't know if it was a special compilation or just 3 separate episodes)
ABC: Saturday, 6/17/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 6/17/00 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-Mickey MouseWorks: (I don't know if it was a special compilation or just 3 separate episodes)
ABC: Saturday, 8/19/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-Disney's Doug x3
ABC: Saturday, 10/21/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 10/21/00 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-Mickey MouseWorks: (I don't know if it was a special compilation or just 3 separate episodes)
ABC: Saturday, 12/9/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-House of Mouse x3
ABC: Saturday, 4/7/01 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 4/7/01 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM CT

 

[Route66Fan]

OP, I know exactly what you are referring to. I have a complete list. First, I will list the ABC time, then KMBC's local slot.

If anyone has any TV recordings of these, please let me know.


-"The Secret Garden" (1994)
ABC: Sunday, 12/3/95 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Unknown or not shown (In the newspaper I looked at, the TV pages for 12/9 are missing. It's not listed for 12/3 or 12/10 or 12/16.)

-"The Parsley Garden" / "The Secret of Lizard Woman"
ABC: Sunday, 3/24/96 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-"Jirimpimbira: An African Folktale" / "Daddy's Girl"
ABC: Sunday, 6/23/96 / KMBC: Saturday, 6/29/96 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM CT

-"The Magic Pearl" (1996)
ABC: Sunday, 8/4/96 / KMBC: Saturday, 8/10/96 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM CT

-Disney's Halloween Special (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949) / Trick or Treat (1952) / DuckTales: "The Curse of Castle McDuck") / School House Rock!:
ABC: Sunday, 10/13/96 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 10/19/96 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM CT

-Bump in the Night: "Twas the Night Before Bumpy" / School House Rock!: / "Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas"
ABC: Saturday, 12/14/96 at 1PM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 12/14/96 from 12:00PM to 2:00PM CT

-"P.J. Funnybunny" / "Educating Mom"
ABC: Saturday, 3/15/97 at 1:00PM ET / KMBC: None

-"The Magic Pearl" (1996) / School House Rock!:
ABC: Sunday, 6/8/97 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-"Here Come the Littles" / School House Rock!:
ABC: Sunday, 8/3/97 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Sunday, 8/3/97 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-"The Secret Garden" (1994)
ABC: Sunday, 10/19/97 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-Brand Spanking New! Doug x4
ABC: Saturday, 12/13/97 at 1:00PM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 12/13/97 from 12:00PM to 2:00PM CT

-"The Magic Pearl" (1996) / School House Rock!:
ABC: Saturday, 1/10/98 / KMBC: Sunday, 1/18/98 from 1:30PM to 3:00PM CT

-"Peter and the Wolf" (1995) / "The Parsley Garden"
ABC: Saturday, 2/7/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Sunday, 2/08/98 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-"P.J. Funnybunny: A Very Cool Easter" / "P.J. Funnybunny" / "The Velveteen Rabbit"
ABC: Saturday, 3/21/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: / The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: / "Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Chicken Little"
ABC: Saturday, 4/11/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: / The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: / "Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Red Riding Hood"
ABC: Saturday, 8/15/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 8/22/98 from 1:30PM to 3:00PM CT

-Disney's Doug: / Recess: / Pepper Ann:
ABC: Saturday, 10/17/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 10/17/98 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-Disney's Doug x3
ABC: Saturday, 12/5/98 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 12/12/98 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-Disney's Doug: / Recess: / Pepper Ann:
ABC: Saturday, 3/13/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 3/13/99 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-"P.J. Funnybunny: A Very Cool Easter" / "P.J. Funnybunny" / "The Velveteen Rabbit"
ABC: Saturday, 4/10/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 4/17/99 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-"Peter and the Wolf" (1995) / "The Parsley Garden"
ABC: Saturday, 8/14/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 8/21/99 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: (special compilation)
ABC: Saturday, 10/16/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 10/23/99 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show: (special compilation)
ABC: Saturday, 12/11/99 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 12/11/99 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show:
ABC: Saturday, 2/5/00 at 7AM ET / KMBC: Sunday, 2/13/00 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM CT

-Mickey MouseWorks: (I don't know if it was a special compilation or just 3 separate episodes)
ABC: Saturday, 4/15/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 4/22/00 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-Mickey MouseWorks: (I don't know if it was a special compilation or just 3 separate episodes)
ABC: Saturday, 6/17/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 6/17/00 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM CT

-Mickey MouseWorks: (I don't know if it was a special compilation or just 3 separate episodes)
ABC: Saturday, 8/19/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-Disney's Doug x3
ABC: Saturday, 10/21/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 10/21/00 from 12:30PM to 2:00PM CT

-Mickey MouseWorks: (I don't know if it was a special compilation or just 3 separate episodes)
ABC: Saturday, 12/9/00 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: None

-House of Mouse x3
ABC: Saturday, 4/7/01 at 6:30AM ET / KMBC: Saturday, 4/7/01 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM CT

Thanks for that information!

It's kind of interesting that KMBC didn't always show that block when ABC fed it to their affiliates & when they did show it, they didn't always show it between 12PM-1:30PM on Saturdays.

Im guessing that KMBC couldn't always show it due to sports.

It appears that the "House of Mouse" broadcast, that I remember, was the last one!

 

[Route66Fan]

Also for the most part in the 90's, KMBC was airing the U.S. Farm Report & Capelli & Company between 5:30AM-7AM CT on Saturday mornings when ABC was feeding the ABC Saturday Matinee to it's affiliates.

I think that the openings that ABC used for this block are now lost media.

 

[radiofan2023]

Also for the most part in the 90's, KMBC was airing the U.S. Farm Report & Capelli & Company between 5:30AM-7AM CT on Saturday mornings when ABC was feeding the ABC Saturday Matinee to it's affiliates.

I think that the openings that ABC used for this block are now lost media.

You could try asking on the lostmedia subreddit on Reddit

 

[Route66Fan]

You could try asking on the lostmedia subreddit on Reddit

I did that just now.

The post, on Reddit, can be found here.

 

[guerrero7]

Great news, I found an ABC Kids' Matinee airing of a full episode of Disney's Doug (Quailman VI: The Dark Quail Saga), with commercials and the block's bumpers included, which can be seen here.