The Flintstones Turns 65: The Adult Sitcom That Accidentally Became a Kids’ Classic
BEDROCK – Sixty-five years after first appearing on television, The Flintstones remains a cultural touchstone, but its origins were far from the children’s programming it’s now largely remembered as. Premiering on ABC on Friday, September 30, 1960, at 8:30 PM – a prime “maximum audience schedule” slot – the animated series was initially conceived as an adult sitcom in the vein of The Honeymooners, cleverly transplanting the tropes of mid-20th century American suburban life to the Stone Age.
While already known for having been one of the moast popular segments of The Tracey Ullman Show, there was precedent for The Flintstones. Though by the late 1980s it was perceived as a series for children, this wasn’t promptly obvious. The show’s protagonists weren’t fantasy heroes, children, or animal characters, but Fred and Wilma Flintstone (Pedro and Vilma Picapiedra in Spain), alongside Barney and Betty Rubble (Pablo and Betty Mármol). These two couples navigated life in Bedrock (Piedraura), facing situations mirroring those of any American middle-class family.
One of the series’ key attractions was its ability to satirize the burgeoning consumer society following World War II by relocating its advancements to the Stone Age. The Flintstones universe featured televisions wiht remote-foot controls,dinosaur-powered excavators,saber-toothed tigers as pets,modern appliances,and even a car – the foot-powered “flintmobile” – used for trips to drive-in restaurants for a brontosaurus rib dinner.
Despite its prehistoric setting, The Flintstones tackled remarkably current themes for its time. Episodes explored relationships, life insurance, Fred’s gambling addiction, motherhood, women entering the workforce, exploitative buisness practices, and the rise of countercultural movements like the beatniks. The show also referenced jazz music, the phenomenon of rock and roll, The Beatles’ arrival in the United States, nights at the bowling alley, men’s lodges, and poked fun at celebrities like Alfred Hitchcock (Alvin Brickrock), Cary Grant (Gary Granite), Tony Curtis (Stony Curtis), and Rock Hudson (Rock Quarry).Even the Cold War and tensions with the Soviet union found their way into the storylines.
