5 Wild Facts About ‘The Flintstones’

Lauren Novak September 30, 6:19 pm

The Flintstones Wilma Flintstone, Pebbles Flintstone, Fred Flintstone, Dino, 1960-1966 — Everett Collection

Following the adventures of Fred, Wilma and Pebbles Flintstone along with their neighbors Barney, Betty and Bamm-Bamm Rubble in Bedrock, The Flintstones is one of those iconic cartoons that just about everyone has watched. The beloved cartoon premiered on Sept. 30, 1960 and remained a classic, spawning many spinoffs over the years, not to mention products (who remembers Flintstones vitamins?!). In honor of our favorite prehistoric families, let’s learn some fun facts about The Flintstones:

1. A voice actor invented the show’s famous catchphrase

Alan Reed (Fred Flintstone), Ann-Margret (as Ann Margrock), during production of 'Ann Margrock Presents', (Season 4, ep 401, aired September 19, 1963), 1960-1966

Alan Reed seen here with Ann-Margret (Sheedy-Long/TV Guide/Everett Collection)

If you’ve ever seen The Flintstones, you know that Fred often yells “Yabba dabba doo!” The catchphrase originated from Alan Reed, the voice of Fred. He asked if he could say “Yabba dabba doo” instead of “Yahoo” in one scene and the phrase stuck.

2. Mel Blanc voiced Barney while recovering from a major accident

THE FLINTSTONES, Mel Blanc, the voice of Barney Rubble, 1960-1966

Everett Collection

Talk about commitment. Even though Mel Blanc suffered from a horrible car accident in 1961 and had to stay in the hospital for around 70 days, he continued to work right after. When he got home, they arranged for him to record the show from his bed; he said that he was happy to have something to take his mind off of his injuries and recorded around 40 episodes from bed. There are just a few episodes where Barney is voiced by Daws Butler, recorded while Blanc was first recovering.

3. Hanna-Barbera tried many concepts before The Flintstones stuck

The Flintstones Barney Rubble, Bam-Bam, Betty Rubble, Wilma Flintstone, Pebbles, Fred Flintstone, Dino, 1960-66

Everett Collection

Hanna-Barbera wanted to make a primetime animated sitcom but they couldn’t figure out what kind. They considered doing a show around a hillbilly family, a Native American family, a pilgrim family or a Roman family. When they decided on prehistoric times, they were originally going to be following a family called the Flagstones. There was even a pilot created with the name, but they realized it was too close to a comic strip called The Flagstons.

4. The iconic theme song wasn’t used until the third season

“Meet the Flintstones” is the instantly recognizable theme song of the show, but did you realize it wasn’t used until the third season? The song was based on the second “Tempest” movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17, Op. 31. In the first two seasons, the opening features an instrumental piece of music titled “Rise and Shine.”

5. It was the first animated series to show a married couple in the same bed

THE FLINTSTONES, Wilma Flintstone, Fred Flintstone, 1960-66

Hanna Barbera/Everett Collection

While the first sitcom to show a married couple sharing a bed was Mary Kay and Johnny in 1947, the very first animated show to depict it was indeed The Flintstones.

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