KEY CREW BEHIND THE STARS: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera (producers/writers/directors), Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Bea Benadaret, Jean Vander Pyl (voices), Warren Foster (writer)

CAREER HIGH: THE FLINTSTONES (1960-66) - Prime time's longest running animated series; six seasons. The first animated series to be in the top 20 of Nielsen ratings for a whole year.

The Flintstone family originally consisted of Fred and Wilma, husband and wife. They lived in a modest stone slab home in Bedrock. Their neighbors were the Rubbles, Barney and Betty. They had two pets, Dino and Baby Puss. Into this happy family came Pebbles, a little girl to complete this modern stone-age family.

Fred Flintstone is an overweight, middle-aged married caveman. He wears an orange leopard skin and a tie. He has dark hair and a "five o'clock shadow" beard stubble. For many years, he worked as a brontosaurus crane operator at the Rockhead and Quarry Construction Company. He is a top bowler and belongs to the Royal Order of Water Buffaloes lodge. Fred often talks before he thinks. When challenged, he often increases his volume rather than considering other possibilities. He frequently tries to better his position in life through get-rich-quick schemes or by pretending to be someone else. His schemes generally backfire on him leaving him sadder but not necessarily wiser. Despite his being fat, he moves quickly and has a great deal of energy. He is well liked by others and loves his family. His favorite expression of happiness is "Yabba-Dabba-Doo!"

Wilma is Fred's slender, blond haired wife. She is more intelligent than Fred and less excitable. She loves her husband no matter how badly he sometimes handles things. Wilma is usually the voice of reason trying to rein in Fred's wild ideas. She is more cultured and well mannered than Fred. Despite her affection for her husband, she can be strong willed when she believes she's right or truly wants something. She is a fairly typical suburban housewife.

Pebbles is their red haired daughter. In most episodes she is a cute, inarticulate baby. However, over the years she has appeared in different series as an elementary school student, junior high age and high school teen. She takes after her mother. She is beautiful, intelligent and strong willed.

Dino is a Snorkasaurus. The purple dinosaur house pet behaves like a family dog. He is especially fond of Fred. He is a hyperactive pet. Despite the fact that he can only communicate by barking, he is amazingly expressive. Their other pet, Baby Puss is a saber-tooth tiger. He is mainly seen in the credits and other media, like books.

THE PREHISTORY OF THE FLINTSTONES

In the late Fifties, with syndicated shows like HUCKLEBERRY HOUND, YOGI BEAR and QUICK DRAW McGRAW, Hanna and Barbera were receiving critical and financial success. They were approached by John Mitchell, vice-president of Screen Gems, with the idea of developing the first prime time animated series. Mitchell told the team that "they couldn't expect to do animal stories forever. Why not try a cartoon about people?"

Hanna-Barbera decided to base the new series on the same concepts of the popular live action situation comedies of the time like I LOVE LUCY and FATHER KNOWS BEST. A middle class family and their day-to-day frustrations and joys would serve as the core of the show. In particular, they shaped the show around Jackie Gleason's THE HONEYMOONERS. Gleason's gruff but hilarious Ralph Kramden was the inspiration for the husband. Other characters from that show similarly inspired the wife and neighbors in the Hanna-Barbera proposal.

Hanna-Barbera experimented with the idea of making the family Pilgrims, Romans, Cowboys and Eskimos but none of the ideas seemed right. It wasn't until Hanna-Barbera cartoonists Dan Gordon and Ed Benedict began to draw sketches with the family in prehistoric furs and using prehistoric devices that the proper direction was determined. Originally the characters were named the Flagstones. The name was changed to avoid confusion with characters of a similar last name in the popular Hi And Lois comic strip. For a long while, the characters were named the Gladstones. At the last minute, the names were finally altered to the Flintstones.

The gimmick of taking a traditional family sitcom and setting it in the days of the caveman provided ample opportunity for clever sight gags and twists on cliched situations. It took eight long weeks to sell the show. While networks and sponsors liked the show, no one wanted to take the risk of handling this new concept.

"I remember distinctly how Joe Barbera had all the storyboards everywhere and did every voice" stated Stanley Ralph Ross, who worked for Wade Advertising representing One-A-Day vitamins. "I was amazed. I went back to the agency and they asked me what I thought. I said, 'well, I wouldn't watch it, but I think it'll be a hit!"

Finally, ABC decided to take a chance. The initial sponsors for the program were One-A-Day Vitamins and Winston Cigarettes. In the tradition of live action TV stars, the Flintstones promoted their sponsors' products in commercials during the shows.

The voices were handled by four veterans from the days of radio. Jean Vander Pyl was the voice of Fred's long suffering wife, Wilma. Bea Benaderet, now remembered for her work in such series as PETTICOAT JUNCTION, was the original voice of Betty. Before the show aired, the original voices of Fred and Barney were replaced. Their replacements were radio and movie performer Alan Reed as Fred and top voice talent Mel Blanc as Barney. Blanc also did the voice for Dino, Fred's dinosaur housepet. Alan Reed was the one who suggested changing the expression "wahoo" in the script to "Yabba-Dabba-Doo!"

THE FLINTSTONES ROCK TV

The show premiered September 30, 1960. The pilot episode of the show was entitled "The Pool Party." It was a typical situation comedy story. Fred and Barney build a pool together. Half the pool was in Fred's yard and the other half was in Barney's yard. As soon as the pool is built, disagreements arise regarding the use of the pool. Unlike the live action situation comedies, these disagreements were shown using the exaggerated, violent slapstick that can be done so effectively in animation. By the end, they are once again best friends, bosom buddies and life long pals.

The other early episodes had familiar storylines. The boys try to get out of going to the opera so that they can go bowling. Despite their deceptions and the use of the "Flintstone Flyer," the wives discover the truth. "Hot Lips Hannigan" had Fred using a magician's cabinet to make the wives disappear. He and Barney decide to take advantage of the situation by going to a night club where Fred becomes a singing star. In "No Help Wanted," Fred got Barney a job as a furniture repossessor whose job turns out to be to repossess Fred's TV set!

These standard stories were enlivened by the use of stone age appliances. Whether it was a mastodon's trunk as a vacuum cleaner hose or a variety of birds who became parts of record players, sirens, or cameras, these inventive twists added to the show's appeal.

Critics were mixed. The New York Times, in its review, stated that "the masculine figures are notably unattractive, coarse, and gruff and the women nondescript." It declared the show an "inked disaster." Time Magazine, on the other hand found the pilot "a little too rocky," but generally liked it stating "In prime evening time, the half-hour ABC show is aimed at adults, but how can children be asked to sleep while Runtasaurus (a sort of paleolithic Pekingese ) is on the screen?"

Audiences agreed more with Time's sentiments. The show appealed to all ages. Despite the roughness of that first season, the show was nominated for an Emmy and won a Golden Globe award among other recognitions. It was rated #18, just behind BONANZA, in the Nielsens for the year. It topped such shows as ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS, THE BUGS BUNNY SHOW and WALT DISNEY PRESENTS!

The first episodes were written by Hanna and Barbera. However, the work load on the ever increasing number of H-B shows was getting larger and larger. Former Warner Brothers' writer Warren Foster was brought in to do scripts. Later writers would include Mike Maltese, R. Allen Saffian, Barry Blitzer, Tony Benedict, Herb Finn, Jack Raymond, Sydney Zelinka, Arthur Phillips and Joanna Lee.

The second season continued the same story focus with episodes like "Fred Flintstone Woos Again" in which Fred took Wilma on a second honeymoon, with the Rubbles. Fred and Barney attended charm school in "Social Climbers." "The House Guest" had the Rubbles move in with the Flintstones when Barney's house was being repaired. Once again the show was in the top 25 rated for the year.

Also this season was "Alfred Brickrock Presents," the first of their many TV series satires. The story told of Fred's attempt to prove a neighbor had murdered his wife. Other series that would get the Flintstones treatment included HAWAIIAN EYE (as Hawaiian Spy in "Hawaiian Escapade"), CANDID CAMERA ("Peek a Boo Camera") and FLIPPER ("Dripper"). In one satire, the original cast appeared! "Samantha" featured not only animated versions of the BEWITCHED cast but the voices of Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York.

The second season also introduced the famous theme song, "Meet the Flintstones" by Hanna, Barbera and Hoyt Curtin. During the first year, the opening song was an instrumental called "Rise and Shine." "Meet the Flintstones" was so popular that the studio went back and changed the opening on the old (first season) shows. "Rise and Shine" can still be heard as background music on the early episodes.

A NEW FLINTSTONE

These types of adventures continued into the third season, until "Mother-in-Law's visit." It was this episode that the nation discovered Wilma was pregnant! It was a "first" in animation that has never been duplicated.

The series biggest change came with the birth of Pebbles Flintstones on February 22, 1963 in "Dress Rehearsal." At one point, Fred and Wilma were going to have a son, Fred Jr. (In fact the son was first planned as part of the original family and appears in some of the early books.) At this time, a top team of Screen Gems executives met with Hanna and Barbera for several days to determine the baby's sex. The final decision seems to have been made based on merchandising potential. It was determined that girl dolls sold better. In 1963 when Ideal Toy Company released a Pebbles doll and line of accessories, over $20 million came H-B's way. The show with the birth of Pebbles was one of the highest rated shows ever.

The following (fourth) season, the Rubbles adopted a little boy named Bamm-Bamm who was slightly older than Pebbles. Possessing incredible strength and an intimidating looking club, he became Pebbles' protector and boyfriend.

The show's fourth season dealt with the problems of new parents. "Fred's Monkeyshines" had him putting on the wrong glasses and mistaking a monkey for Pebbles. Fred enters Pebbles in a beauty contest in "Daddy's Little Beauty." "Reel Trouble" had Fred boring everyone with his home movies of Pebbles. Once again, this format appealed to all ages. However, this season also saw the beginning of more fantasy oriented tales. "Ten Little Flintstones" had a flying saucer release Fred Flintstone robots.

Trying to keep pace with live TV shows like THE ADDAMS' FAMILY and THE MUNSTERS, a set of weird neighbors was introduced in the fifth season. The Gruesomes were Gobby, Creepella and Weirdly who felt that it was the rest of the neighborhood that was weird. Some feel that it was this season where the Flintstones began to lose their focus and eventually their popularity during prime time. The show featured more fanciful plots like haunted houses and space aliens.

Some of the episodes were fun. For example, "Time Machine" had the Flintstones and Rubbles end up at the 1964 New York World's Fair. (JW Book, Inc., in arrangement with Western Publishing, issued a special edition souvenir comic book with the Flintstones visiting the 1964 World's Fair.) While there, they met other H-B characters like the Jetsons, Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear and many others.

The sixth season brought The Great Gazoo, a scientist from another planet who used his magical powers to help Fred and Barney. However, this help usually resulted in further misadventures. It was this season where the plots went right through the roof! "Fred Goes Ape" had Fred take the wrong pills and turn into an actual ape! It also had a somewhat prophetic episode called "No Biz Like Show Biz" in which Fred dreams Pebbles and Bamm Bamm grow up to be rock stars. They fulfilled Fred's prophecy over a decade later in a Saturday morning series!

THE SATURDAY MORNING STONE AGE FAMILY

In 1966, the prime time show was canceled and by 1967 episodes began being rerun on Saturday morning for many years. CBS noticed the continuing popularity of the modern stone age family. So, in 1971, CBS Saturday morning premiered PEBBLES AND BAMM BAMM. This show dealt with the adventures of the pair as teen-agers at Bedrock High School. Fred and the gang were now supporting characters to the teens. New characters included friends like Moonrock, Penny, Wiggy and "bad guys" like Fabian and Cindy.

The show became part of THE FLINTSTONES COMEDY HOUR in 1972. Other characters like the bad luck Schleprock and the rowdy Bronto Bunch now became part of Pebbles and Bamm Bamm's adventures. The show only lasted one season. A half hour THE FLINTSTONES SHOW ran for one season the next year on CBS Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the early Flintstone shows were syndicated to local markets beginning in 1972 under the title FRED FLINTSTONES AND FRIENDS.

In 1979, NBC acquired the original show and redubbed 13 of the original episodes with Fred Flintstone's new voice supplied by Henry Corden. Gay Autterson redubbed Betty's voice. The original performers had passed away. THE NEW FRED AND BARNEY SHOW lasted from February to September.

In September FRED AND BARNEY MEET THE THING, an hour long comedy show, took its place. A teenage version of the popular Marvel Comics character, The Thing, appeared in his own stories that bore little relation to the comic book stories that originally featured the character. The next year the show was expanded to 90 minutes and retitled FRED AND BARNEY MEET THE SHMOO. The new 30 minutes segment featured mystery comedies based on THE NEW SHMOO, a show that had premiered the previous year. The Shmoo was a character from Al Capp's Li'l Abner comic strip whose animated personality was different from the source material. Actually, Fred and Barney only met The Thing and The Shmoo in brief seques between segments.

1980 saw the show revamped yet again and retitled THE FLINTSTONES COMEDY SHOW. The show was divided into six segments. "Dino and the Cave Mouse" was meant to be classic chase cartoons in the spirit of Tom and Jerry. "Bedrock Cops" had Fred and Barney as policeman who teamed with the Shmoo to protect Bedrock. "Pebbles, Dino and Bamm Bamm" solved mysteries in the spirit of SCOOBY-DOO. "Captain Caveman" had Betty and Wilma as reporters for a newspaper who were often saved by a super powered Captain Caveman. "The Frankenstones" were the latest set of monster neighbors who had been introduced in a prime time special. "Flintstone Family Adventure" is self-explanatory.

All of these cartoons were tied together by educational segments, jokes and riddles, exercise and health tips and other similar bits like a dance-of-the-week. The show was reduced to a half hour in 1981 and renamed THE FLINTSTONE FUNNIES. The Frankenstones still plagued the Flintstones. Strangely, three episodes of THE FLINTSTONE FUNNIES aired in prime time. The show lasted until 1984.

THE FLINTSTONE KIDS debuted in 1986 and ignored all previous continuity. Now the Flintstone characters were elementary school kids and knew each other right from the earliest days. One of their favorite TV shows was "Captain Caveman and Son" which provided another segment to the show. This series ran two seasons.

Also in 1986, The Flintstones were given a 25th anniversary party by Taft Enterprises. (Taft owned Hanna-Barbera productions at that time.) Held at the La Brea tarpits in Los Angeles, there were Flintstone costumed characters as well as video monitors showing key episodes and sequences.

THE FLINTSTONES MOVIES

Despite the fact that his prime time show was canceled in 1966, Fred Flintstone got a shot at big screen stardom that same year. THE MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE was meant to parody all the spy movies and TV series that were highly successful like THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and OUR MAN FLINT.

International spy, Rock Slag has been injured. Fortunately, he ends up in Bedrock where his chief discovers that Fred Flintstone looks exactly like Slag. Enlisting Fred's help, the Chief sends the Flintstones (and the Rubbles) to France and Italy. Fred's mission is to capture the master spy, the Green Goose and to stop him from using his secret weapon to take over the world.

Though the story is a little overwritten, the film is pleasant to watch. It featured better animation than was seen on the TV series thanks to a larger budget. The score, by Doug Goodwin, John McCarthy, and Ted Nichols, featured a number of songs. The title song (by McCarthy) was especially memorable. Long unseen, the feature only became available for viewing again in the late 1980s.

It took almost two decades for Fred's next feature film appearance. THE JETSONS MEET THE FLINTSTONES appeared on TV in 1987. Elroy Jetson invents a time machine that inadvertently sends his family back to Bedrock. Once they are there, they meet the Flintstones. The Flintstones eventually get sent to the future for some further misadventures. Finally this mismatching is resolved.

A live action Flintstones film is now in the final planning stages. At one time, Jim Belushi was announced as the choice to play Fred. More recent announcements state that John Goodman will do the part.

THE FLINTSTONE TV SPECIALS

Fred and Barney got a cameo role as the caterpillar in Hanna-Barbera's half hour "hip" version of Alice in Wonderland. Entitled ALICE IN WONDERLAND OR WHAT'S A NICE GIRL LIKE YOU DOING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS? the show was shown in 1967.

A FLINTSTONE CHRISTMAS (1977) had Fred helping out Santa Claus who sprained his ankle on the Flintstones' roof. THE FLINTSTONES' LITTLE BIG LEAGUE (1978) had Fred coaching Pebbles' baseball team in a game against Bamm-Bamm's team, coached by Barney. Fred and friends first met the Frankenstones in THE FLINTSTONES NEW NEIGHBORS (1980) when the Flintstones and the Rubbles win a trip to Rocksylvania. The following week was another prime time special, THE FLINTSTONES MEET ROCKULA AND FRANKENSTONE, which again featured the monstrous new characters.

In 1981, three episodes of the Saturday morning FLINTSTONE FUNNIES were aired as specials. FRED'S FINAL FLING found Fred thinking he only had 24 hours to live due to an X-ray mix-up. In JOGGING FEVER Fred's boss, Mr. Slate, tells the flabby Flintstone to shape up or ship out. WIND UP WILMA (1981) had Wilma end up pitching for Bedrock's pro baseball team.

THE FLINTSTONES 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL (1986) was an hour of clips and new animation. Also on hand were a number of live action hosts including Tim Conway, Harvey Korman and Vanna White.

The Flintstone Kids starred in the first animated special to deal with the problems of drugs. 1988's THE FLINTSTONE KIDS' JUST SAY NO SPECIAL found Wilma falling in with a new gang of kids led by Stoney. (Then) First Lady Nancy Reagan appeared at the end of the special.

That same year, The Flintstone Kids also found themselves in a special public service spot to encourage the proper wearing of seat belts. The spot was produced for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

SUPPORTING CAST

Barney Rubble is Fred's next door neighbor and best friend. He is a short, blonde haired caveman. Often he is an unwilling accomplice in many of Fred's schemes. He is a likable character who is easily intimidated by Fred. He is also a bowler and belongs to the Royal Order of Water Buffaloes. He is married to the slender, brunette Betty. Betty is Wilma's best friend. Like Wilma, she tries to act as the voice of reason when Fred and Barney get carried away. Barney and Betty love each other as much as Fred and Wilma do. Barney and Betty have an adopted son, Bamm Bamm, who is incredibly strong. Bamm Bamm is blond haired, wears a little hat, and is slightly older than Pebbles.

Recurring characters included Wilma's mother, Mrs. Slaghoople and Fred's boss, Mr. Slate. Besides Dino, a variety of other animals made frequent appearances as pets including Baby Puss, a saber toothed tiger, and Hoppy, the Hopperoo.

One unique element of the series was the inclusion of guest stars via animation. "The Hit Song Writers" from the first season had noted tunesmith Hoagy Carmichael appear in animated form. Other stars who voiced their caricatures through the years included James Darren (as James Darrock, a surfer), Tony Curtis (as Stoney Curtis, movie star) and Ann Margaret (as Ann Margrock, singer).

OTHER MEDIA

The Flintstones immediate TV success made them prime material for merchandise. Through the decades, they've been put on just about every item imaginable.

In 1961 a comic strip began (drawn by Gene Hazelton) that ran for decades. There was also a series of comic books from various publishers. They were also seen in a number of promotional comics, including a series in 1988 for Denny's restaurants.

Fred and clan were also popular toy figures. Marx produced an elaborate play set featuring figures, vehicles, houses and a Bedrock plastic mat that was "ground." Other toys included working models of various vehicles and machinery in the show.

Like most H&B characters, the Flintstones were also used on projects like educational material prepared for schools. One such example is THE FLINTSTONES DRIVING GUIDE series which promoted automotive safety. The Flintstones were also involved with the Buckle-Up your seat belt safety program.

For awhile, there was a Bedrock City fun park in Custer, South Dakota. The park was open between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year. It had life size figures of the characters as well as items like "stonescrapers" and Fred's car. The Flintstone costumed characters have also appeared at Marineland in Southern California, ice shows and other presentations. Currently, they are at Universal Studios Florida where, in animated form, they are in a new thrill ride.

Food and Fred always went together, so it was only a natural that food makers would come to his door. Flintstone Vitamins were introduced and became the leading children's vitamin. Betty was the only major character who didn't appear as a vitamin. The company felt she would be confused with Wilma, so they substituted Fred's car in her place. Fruity Pebbles Cereal is still one of the top selling cereals for kids. It spawned a chocolate version, Coco Pebbles, as well as a series of clever animated commercials and print ads.

SUPERSTAR QUALITY

Fred and family are one of the longest running characters in TV animation. Starting out as the most successful animated series in prime time, they moved onto feature films, Saturday morning, and prime time specials. It has been proven that when viewers "...ride with, that family down the street. Through the courtesy of Fred's two feet," they'll "have a gay old time!" Yabba Dabba Doo!

CREATOR QUOTES

"When you go in, you have to think what will bring a glimmer to the flame of network executives, because they have parades of people coming in. Do you know what a security blanket is? If I say FLINTSTONE KIDS the security blanket is the word "Flintstone." It will incline them to buy it. If I say "Cherubimbim Kids," they'll go 'next.'" - Joe Barbera

"Called THE FLINTSTONES, the program uses first-rate animated cartoons in place of second-rate actors and its approach to satire of 20th century life is by way of the Stone Age." - Time Magazine's review, 10/10/60

"I find my heart more involved in some of the early stuff. The Flintstones, Yogi and the Jetsons." - Bill Hanna

"I mean we were the only ones that ever had a baby born in animation. And I gotta tell you, that show was such a hit." - Joe Barbera

"We pretty much split up the (female) voices, Bea (Benaderet) and I, except when it came to do Pebbles, ... I said, 'I'm Wilma and this is my child. I am doing this voice.'" - Jean Vander Pyl, voice of Wilma

"They were identifiable with every family... They weren't rich, they weren't poor, every mid-life American could understand them." - Joe Barbera

"(Alan Reed) was Fred Flintstone. He had a warm chuckle... and he was just distinctly styled to fit that role." - Joe Barbera

"Well, at first Hanna-Barbera wanted me to imitate Art Carney, and I said 'No. I don't imitate people. But I can use the same type of inflection and give you a different type of voice for him.'" - Mel Blanc