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The
Ultimate Flintstones Site |
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"The
Flintstones" was a Hanna-Barbera Production that originally
aired on ABC-TV in prime time from 1960-1966. It was network
television's first animated series to which there were 166
original episodes. |
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The original name of the
series in which a pilot was even made, was "The
Flagstones". When it was realized that the
"Hi and Lois" characters' surname was Flagston,
the name was changed. The name "Gladstones"
was considered and actually appeared on a number of
sketches before the final change to
"Flintstones".
The original opening
sequence features Fred driving home from work, racing
through the streets of Bedrock. Upon arriving home he runs his car
into the garage, then goes in the house to sit down and
watch TV (Not too dissimilar than the opening of
"the Simpsons"). In the original closing sequence, Fred
turns off the TV set, covers the bird cage, and attempts
to put the cat out, which puts Fred out instead.
These sequences were only used for the first two seasons
and many people have never seen them, because the later, more
familiar opening and closing themes were usually used for all episodes during
syndication. |
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It wasn't until the third season when
the opening and closing sequences had the "Meet the
Flintstones" theme song. This opening shows
Fred sliding down the tail of his dino-crane at the quarry,
then Wilma, Dino and the cat pile in the car where they
drive to the movies. The closing sequence shows them
driving from the movies to a drive-in restaurant where
Fred orders ribs which tip over the car, and then drive
home, and Fred still attempts to put the cat out. |
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These sequences were changed
slightly throughout the seasons
to include the Rubbles and then again to include Pebbles
and Bamm-Bamm.
The very first
episode aired on September 30, 1960. Titled
"The Flintstone Flyer" (P-2), it was actually
the second Flintstones episode produced (after The
Swimming Pool, P-1), but the first to air. Fred and
Barney want to go bowling instead of being dragged to the
opera by Wilma and Betty. Fred fakes being sick and Barney
flies them to the bowling alley in his hand-cranked
helicopter!
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"The
Flintstones" was nominated for an Emmy in 1961 for
"Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of
Humor". They lost to "The Jack Benny Show".
The show was a model for
many other animated TV series and had a major impact on
the world of animation. Many cartoons, even today,
show obvious influences from "the Flintstones".
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