On the Flintstones

September 30, 1960 marked the debut of the first animated series to run in primetime. There may be no better way to debut my Saturday posts dedicated to cartoons than The Flintstones (although they initially aired on Friday nights).

It was The Flintstones that brought us prehistoric celebrities as Gary Granite, Stony Curtis, Ed Sulleystone, Ann Margrock, Alvin Brickrock, Perry Masonary, Larry Lava, and Rock Quarry.

It was The Flintstones that brought us timely last names as Slate, Rumble, Rockhead, Hardrock, Slagheap, Muchrocks, Shufflehopper, Granite, McBricker, Darrock, Rockwell, Rockbind, Dempstone, and more.

It was The Flintstones that looked into the future by using birds as airplanes, alarm clocks, automatic garage door openers, crochet needs, clothespins, camera, fire starters, hedge clippers, record players, sewing machines, intercoms, letter openers, shift-change whistle, broom, pens, rakes, and who knows how many more devices.

It was The Flintstones that used crabs as lawnmowers, dinosaurs as a pitching machine, mammoths as a shower, octopi as dishwashers, monkeys as traffic lights, a turtle as a checkers table, mastodons as vacuums, swordfish as knives, bumblebees as razors, pelicans as garbage cans, rabbits as television antennae, porcupine as hairbrushes, sewing needs, and scrub brushes.

Did you know?

• The town of Bedrock is in Cobblestone County.
• Fred’s license plate number is XYZ 643.
• Wilma’s maiden name is Flaghopple.
• Fred’s parents are Ed and Edna.
• Except for the first episode, Betty always wore a blue ribbon in her hair.
• Fred’s bowling nickname was Twinkle Toes.
• The Great Gazoo was from the planet Zetox.
• Fred served as the sheriff of Rocky Gulch.
• Fred didn’t graduate from high school, but attended Prinstone University.
• 77 Sunset Strip followed The Flintstones.

To Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty, Bam-Bam, Peebles, and the gang – many thanks – so take the time to watch the one-minute express version below of this classic show.