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A kids' cartoon for adults sponsored by a cigarette company and the first primetime animated series in TV history? Those are just two of the milestones that mark The Flintstones, the not-so-modern Stone Age family. I remember coming home from school for lunch and watching it every afternoon on Channel 9. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.
The linked article lists its quirks and oddities. But without it, would we have The Simpsons and Animation Domination or any cartoons meant for an older crowd? It pays tribute to a huge original that helped change TV.
The Flintstones Made TV History In The '60s Just By Existing
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The Flintstones didn't just push cigarettes. They also pushed Beer.
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The opening theme song "Rise and Shine" shown above was used for the first two seasons. The more memorable "Meet The Flintstones" was introduced in season three because it was thought that the original theme sounded too similar to that of the Bugs Bunny Show. As for the shows original sponsor Winston Cigarettes, that would end after the third season when Pebbles was born. Welch's Grape Juice and Jelly became the primary sponsor in season 4. The Flinstones did well in its first season in the Friday 8:30pm slot finishing 18th up against CBS's Route 66. Fred and Barney were also the lead in for the still wildly popular 77 Sunset Strip.