"The Flintstones" (1960) TV series 1960-1966

Writers:

Joseph Barbera (writer)
Ralph Goodman (story)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

30 September 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Comedy

Plot:

The misadventures of a modern stone-age family and friends.

Plot Keywords:

The Flintstones | Theremin | Suspend Disbelief | Cartoon Dinosaur | Dinosaur As Dog

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Jean Vander Pyl	...	Wilma Flintstone / ... (167 episodes, 1959-1966)
Alan Reed	...	Fred Flintstone (166 episodes, 1960-1966)
Mel Blanc	...	Barney Rubble / ... (166 episodes, 1960-1966)
Bea Benaderet	...	Betty Rubble / ... (161 episodes, 1960-1966)
John Stephenson	...	Mr. Nate Slate / ... (74 episodes, 1960-1966)

Also Known As:

The Flagstones (USA) (working title)
The Gladstones (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (166 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Ontario/Quebec) (video rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (some episodes) | UK:U (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | USA:TV-G | Brazil:Livre

Company:

Hanna-Barbera Productions

Trivia:

Dino would often change colors throughout the show, but mainly he was purple.

Goofs:

Continuity: Fred and Barney's boss's name keeps changing from George Slate to George Granite and back throughout the first season.

Quotes:

Fred Flintstone: Where's your get up and go?
Barney Rubble: It just got up and went.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)

Soundtrack:

Freddy Funkstone

King of the World!

The Flintstones was the cartoon to begin all cartoons. Head of Household (or so he thought) Fred Flintsone, his wife Wilma (what a woman's libber for the stone age!), their child Pebbles...and their very close neighbors and friends Barney (Fred's hanging buddy and partner in crime), Betty (Wilma's partner in crime!)and adopted son Bam-Bam (what a concept!), the dead end job with the egotistical boss (Mr. Slate...of late!)all set back in the 'stone age'...which I always thought was a personal Hanna Barbera joke due to many of Fred's views and the things that went on around his life...well, this cartoon is the grand-daddy of all cartoons.

As I remember correctly, The Flintstones was patterned after the live show "The Honeymooners". But a cartoon...can do more than human actors can! And in watching the Flintstones, it was imagination beyond belief - Stone Aged Dinosaurs tamed and used as building machinery, pelicans used to mix concrete, Fred smacking Barney so many times he should be in a hospital, cars run by foot power and also your feet as the breaks against the hard stone ground...OF COURSE THIS IS NOT REAL LIFE! It's cartoons, humor...fun. Remember that?

Loved this cartoon to death...what long lasting images, staying power and I can watch it 1,000,000 and not tire of it. Consequently, I can watch it 1,000,000 times and not develop a violent streak in my body either. (The Flintstone was also one of the first cartoons to be placed on the "violent cartoons" list...and now the smoking and drinking lists as well.) It's a piece of childhood (and now adult) fantasy...nostalgic...loads of fun and quite a look back at the foundation that runs through many cartoons today. Remember: Copying is the best form of flattery..and The Flintsones have been flattered...a lot.