There are so many streaming services now, and it can be hard to what each one offers. Some specialize in new content, some are more suited to older programs, and others deliver a little bit of both. Amazon Prime is full of vintage content right now. Plenty of shows from the 1960s to the 1980s are politely waiting to be watched.
Not everything in older programming ages well, but some of it is still great decades later. A couple of the nostalgic series on Prime cost extra, but many are free with a subscription.
The Partridge Family: 6.4
The Partridge Family (1970-1974) is no longer free, but three of its fours seasons are still on Amazon Prime. The cheapest way to watch would be to buy whole seasons at $14.99 each, which means $45 for the lot of three.
This show is often compared to The Brady Bunch, but it is more musical overall since the story revolves around the Partridges' work as a family band. They deal with some serious issues including feminism and representation of race.
A Different World: 6.9
A Different World began in 1988 The Cosby Show, following Denise Huxtable in her first year of college. She attends Hillman College, a fictional historically Black college. Denise departed after the first season, but the show took on a life of its own and lasted for six seasons total. Check them all out for free now on Prime.
Petticoat Junction: 7.0
Petticoat Junction (1963-1970) is the meat in the Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies sandwich. The Beverly Hillbillies was the first series in the trio, Petticoat Junction was the initial spin-off, and Green Acres came last. As of now, only the first season of Petticoat Junction is available free on Prime, but perhaps others will eventually be added. Those first episodes are classic, though. They give viewers a taste of the everyday lives of Billie Jo, Betty Jo, and Bobbie Jo Bradley as they try to be teenagers under the watch of their mother, Kate Bradley, and their cantankerous Uncle Joe.
That Girl: 7.1
That Girl is a show every feminist needs to know about. It lasted for five seasons (1966-1971), all of which are included with Prime. Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) is destined to be an actress, but life gets in the way sometimes. As she goes after her big break, she has all kinds of crazy adventures working different side jobs. She has sweet parents and a neurotic but endearing boyfriend named Donald (Ted Bessell).
Green Acres: 7.2
"Green Acres is the place to be, farm livin' is the life for me. Land spreading out so far and wide. Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside." With its iconic theme song (by Vic Mizzy) and its hilarious lead couple, Green Acres truly is the place to be.
The show aired new episodes from 1965 to 1971. Oliver Wendell Douglas (Eddie Albert) is a city lawyer ready to trade in his penthouse for a tractor. Lisa Douglas (Eva Gabor) is the socialite who would rather be in New York. Together, they learn to live as farmers (sort of) and meet new friends along the way, like Eb the farmhand (Tom Lester).
The Donna Reed Show: 7.3
All five seasons of The Donna Reed Show are ready for viewing with an Amazon Prime hip. Donna Reed plays Donna Stone, wife of Dr. Alex Stone. They have two children and adopt a third, and Donna is the glue that holds everything together. The show is often cited in conversations on gender roles. Donna Stone may wear her dress and pearls around the house a lot, but she is also a great nurse and problem-solver. Donna Reed is a pretty neat lady to have gotten her own show at that time. Its first run was from 1958 to 1966.
The Doris Day Show: 7.3
Doris Day is fondly ed for her many movies and musical numbers. The award-winning actress brought love and light to the various roles she played. From 1968-1973, Doris Day played Doris Martin on The Doris Day Show. The sitcom centered on the single mother's life with her two sons, Billy and Toby. Single fathers were fairly common in television of that era, but like The Partridge Family, The Doris Day Show is unique for featuring a single mom.
The Cosby Show: 7.3
Given Bill Cosby's criminal history, it is understandable for a viewer to choose to skip The Cosby Show (1984-1992). However, the series is still one of the most important sitcoms to center on a Black family. Some have criticized the show for portraying too idealistic a picture of African-American family life at the time, and those claims are valid.
That is precisely why some may want to revisit the program. It is part of an ongoing conversation on the portrayal of Black people in television and media. For those who want to know what happens before and concurrently with A Different World, all seasons of its predecessor are available.
The Andy Griffith Show: 8.3
Head on over to Mayberry, circa 1960-1968, to see what Andy Taylor and Barney Fife are up to. The late Andy Griffith and Don Knotts were one of the best duos in Hollywood, and who doesn't love Aunt Bee ( Bavier)? Viewers can watch Opie as an adorable little kid or as a young teenager since all eight seasons are free to watch on Prime.
The Dick Van Dyke Show: 8.3
Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore are the ultimate in American television history. Their chemistry is remarkable, and they bring laughter to many generations of fans. On The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966), Dick Van Dyke plays Rob Petrie, a television writer, husband, and father.
His wife (Mary Tyler Moore) helps him out of some crazy situations, and every episode brings a new punchline. All five seasons of the hit sitcom are free with ads on Prime.