.
Background
Barney Rubble is a classic second fiddle to the main character
Fred Flintstone’s best friend and neighbor
Real first name is Bernard
Husband to Betty; father to Bamm-Bamm
While working at a resort as a bellhop, he met Betty who was working as a cigarette girl
Interests include bowling, pool, poker, and being a member of the Loyal Order of Water Buffalo Lodge No. 26 (which was originally called the Loyal Order of Dinosaurs)
One episode suggests he is Mr. State’s nephew (Fred’s boss)
Occupation disputable, he has been seen as a dino-crane operator at Bedrock Quarry and Gravel and a repossessor; he’s done top-secret work; and he’s been a geological engineer” policeman
In Cockney, “Barney Rubble” means trouble (but this Barney is not a troublemaker)
Episode Notes
He served as president of the lodge in season one
His decisive vote against Fred in the Water Buffalo of the Year campaign results in a property line feud (season 4)
In the original’s first episode, he invented a human-powered helicopter
After finding the abandoned infant on their doorstep, a court battle led the way for adopting Bamm-Bamm (season 4)
Hoppy (a hopparroo) became the family pet in season 5
Later series identified Barney’s parents, brother, and grandchildren
Did you know Fred and Barney made a cigarette commercial?
.
Sayings
… “er huh huh… OK, Fred!” or “huh huh huh… whatever you say, Fred!”
Hey Fred, Yeah Fred?, Right Fred, Yeah Fred, Why?
Make it good Fred, I gotta tell Betty the same story.
History
Created by Hanna Barbera
First appeared on September 30, 1960
Originally voiced by Hal Smith, then also by Daws Butler, Mel Blanc, Frank Welker, and Jeff Bergman, Stephen Stanton, Kevin Michael Richardson, Brad Abrell, Seth MacFarlane, and Scott Innes
Barney’s personality is based on Ed Norton from The Honeymooners
Enjoy the Ballad of Barney Rubble
A Frank Angle 
I grew up with the Flintstones. I particularly enjoyed episodes when they brought movie stars on, Gary Granite and Ann Margrock. Hanna Barbera was a genius.
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Catherine,
They sure had many of the based-on-real-life characters … and hey … gotta love their names!
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The Flintstones was always a favourite of mine, Frank.
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Tom,
Glad you enjoyed them, thus sparking your memory!
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Love the Flintstones.. and my children too grew up loving them too…. Wishing you a wonderful Weekend… Sue xox
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Sue,
Cheers to the influence the Flintstones had on your family!
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Barney has been a long term and loyal sidekick.
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Jim,
Loyal is a great adjective for Barney.
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Love the cig. Commercial. Classic.
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Audra,
Definitely a throwback in time!
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What a nice treat to have your Cartoon Classics back. It’s gonna be a good weekend for sure!
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Elyse,
Glad to be back in the saddle with these!
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Barney Rubble was the Ed Norton (The Honeymooners) of the cartoon world. Great stuff.
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Hansi,
Glad you appreciate the connection!
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…based on Ed Norton of the Honeymooners. Yep, I can SO see that!
Have a great weekend, Frank!
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Alex,
Yep … and every main character needs a good second fiddle .. and Art Carney was a great example … plus he was very good at it!
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Holy Honeymooners, Frank! I was just starting to get my aging brain back under control, it being nearly full of decades of detritus, snippets, gossip, obsolescences, and moribund styles. Now, thanks to you, there’s a new layer of Rubble. Ouch. 🙂
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Jim,
Glad to add a new layer of Rubble into your gray matter archives.
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I love the Flintstones even more than the Jetsons! Thanks for the memories, Frank!
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Cathy,
Cheers to your enjoyment of this classic!
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loved his laugh. a great character built like a barrel. not in a good way.
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Rich,
Perfect description for the kind man from Bedrock.
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Oh, I had missed this series, Frank. They are guaranteed to bring a joyful weekend [like this one!] !!! 😉
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Marina,
Glad I was able to get this series back on its feet!
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This was a nice flashback to childhood… then I watched that cigarette commercial. My brain is knocking, asking for its childhood back… that is so weird, using a kids show to promote cigs.
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Trent,
Times were more than a tad different in those days! As a relative newbie here, I invite you to search the past posts on this topic because I’ve done many (62) … and you may find one of your favorites … https://afrankangle.wordpress.com/category/entertainment/classic-cartoons-entertainment/
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I just had a look, wow! You sir are a complicated person, and very funny… and somewhat weird. All qualities in my books.
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Now that is the best praise I’ve received in some time. Many who know me simply shake their head.
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I saw the Flintstone show when we visited Disney about 20 years ago. They are so funny. Thanks for the smiles, Frank. Happy weekend to you.
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Sylvia,
Flintstones have great longevity!
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How lovely, back to the classics. Loved the Flintstones growing up, Barney was such fun.
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Val,
Glad you enjoyed this one and the series as well.
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Thanks for all the Barney factoids Frank. As you might imagine, I loved watching The Flintstones when I was a kid. Plus, it was a show that was broadcast in prime time back in the day. It influenced my parents’ decision to invest in a color TV around 1963. We got an RCA. I was too young to remember that the Flinstones hawked Winston cigarettes. I recall a later sponsor, Welch’s. We were jam eaters, not jelly, probably because my mother hated jelly. So glad that Saturday Morning Cartoon Classics is back!
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Lame,
Flintstones had to be a financial plus for Hanna-Barbera. Interesting how HB created the Jetsons off the Flintstones. i think you will like the next cartoon post!
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The honeymooners inspired a bunch of cartoons.
I believe there were also a pair of mice somewhere named Ralph and Ed too with their own cartoon (or maybe just a few episodes on the Saturday Revues…)
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Guap,
As we know, Gleason influenced early television. … and away we go!
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I like Barney’s laugh.
I had no idea that he & Fred made a cigarette commercial.
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RoSy,
Everybody loves Barney, who is easy to like.
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Ah you have brought back memories Frank. 🙂 Hope you are doing well.
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Jackie,
Flintstones are truly a classic cartoon … and Barney is worthy of his own post.
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Wow. thought I was the only one on the planet who’d seen the cigarette commercial. Should have known you’d have all the down and dirty scoops.
You have fulfilled my daily mission; to learn one new fact or idea each day. Today’s Lesson: I had no idea that at one point Mel Blanc voiced Barney Rubble.
Thanks Frank. I’m good for the day!
xxx
p.s. “That Barney Rubble. What an actor!”
-name that movie. Hint: Michael Keaton and Henry Winkler-
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Rachael,
Glad I was able to fulfill your daily need for a new factoid! Meanwhile, I’m not a movie buff, but that’s a great quote for this post …. thanks to Google, Night Shift.
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…love a bit of Barney.
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Debra,
Many enjoyed the Flintstones … and Barney is Mr. Likable.
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Oh dear! The smoking ad is terrible! Tobacco companies got away with so much. It also seems a sacrilege to have Barney and Fred selling ill health.
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Cuttlefish,
I know what you mean … but hey … it was OK in that era. Thanks for dropping by!
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in the episode in which he adopts bam bamm, they were in danger of not getting him. there was a scene in which barney stood on a bridge with a rock tied to a rope and the rope tied to his ankle. i wonder if that would be included were it to have been created today.
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Rich,
No way!
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yes way. and then fred comes to tell him that they got the baby. so of course barney hands fred the rock, and fred fumbles it, pulling him off the bridge and into the river below.
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I did a quick search for a YouTube clip of this, but unsuccessful.
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me too, unless you’re willing to pay for it.
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