Every prime-time animated television series traces its lineage back to The Flintstones, the first show to disprove the notion that cartoons are suited only for children. From 1960 to 1966, the comical adventures of the stone-age Flintstone family unfolded weekly on ABC. Essentially a pre-historic version of The Honeymooners, the program revolved around Fred Flintstone, an irascible blowhard (voice of Alan Reed), his pliant pal Barney Rubble (voice of Mel Blanc), and their long-suffering spouses. Cartoon veterans William Hanna and Joseph Barbera produced the cheaply-animated half hour. A live action movie version, starring John Goodman as Fred, was produced in 1994, but was not as popular with audiences as the original cartoon.

Further Reading:

Adams, T. R. The Flintstones: A Modern Stone Age Phenomenon. New York, Turner Publishing, 1994.