The Flintstones premiered on ABC on September 30, 1960. The classic animated series takes place in the Stone Age town of Bedrock and follows the life of Fred and Wilma Flintstone, their child pebbles, and of course, their pet dinosaur, Dino. The Flintstones did an incredible job of combining modern life in a prehistoric setting while keeping audiences giggling.
After just six seasons, The Flintstones was the most financially successful network animated franchise, until the 90s when The Simpsons took the mantle. After the show came to an end in 1966, there have been more than ten spin-offs, over a dozen television specials, five made for TV movies, and two live-action films. With theme parks and merchandise dedicated to The Flintstones, it has become a cultural phenomenon.
Like anything successful, there have been some setbacks along the way. These are some dark secrets you never knew about America’s classic cartoon, The Flintstones.
Appropriate for all Ages
The show’s creators weren’t sure if they wanted The Flintstones to target young children. Williams Hanna and Joseph Barbera first found success with the hit cartoon Tom and Jerry for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM). The Dup decided to team up and start their own company Hanna-Barbera Productions.
After their first few cartoons received mixed reviews, the partners knew they needed to come up with a sensational idea. They wanted to create a show that would appeal to both children and adults. When they came up with the Flintstones, it was a fantasy setting in prehistoric earth that intrigued TV watchers of all ages. They made sure to include plotlines focused on everyday family problems while making audiences crack up. The result was a massive success.
The Truth About Flintstones Vitamins
The Flintstones Complete Chewable Multivitamins were introduced in 1968 and advertised as the perfect supplement for young children. It eventually became the most successful Flintstone related product ever. As a 90s kid, I even took Flintstone vitamins, but it turns out, they’re not as healthy as they were marketed to be.
Parents were convinced that these vitamins were ideal for their children who refused to eat their vegetables. Unfortunately, research was done looking into the ingredients of the vitamins, and the results were unsettling. They contain an ingredient called sweetening agent sorbitol, which is typically found in laxatives. This means the kids taking them might feel nauseous, get stomach cramps, and severe diarrhea. Ingredients also include fructose, a sugar linked to obesity and diabetes.
