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True, but it was also a different time back then. Every cartoon showed people smoking cigarettes or cigars. It wasn't something people really read into like that, and it wasn't considered inappropriate. What I meant was I'm happy it isn't going to be a kids show. It'll probably be more adult themed like that Muppet show that ABC put out a few years ago. Ex: Kermit and Fozzy go to a bar after work and talk about how pumpkin beer shouldn't be considered beer, episode where they all come into work hung over after a giant office party, etc.
At least one Looney Tunes character (Slow Poke Rodriguez) also smoked weed! That or the people at Warner Bros. didn't know the English translation to "La Cuchracha" (highly unlikely)
Mr. Jackie Gleason knew the Flintstones was based upon the Honeymooners, but always refused any suggestion of taking legal action. While within his rights, and most surely would have won any infringement case brought his reasoning was simple; Jackie Gleason said he didn't want to be responsible for taking the Flintstones away from children.
The guy was a class act in so many ways, and the above just added further proof.
Another tidbit: the voice over actors were offered a choice of flat scale fees for their work, or a lower sum plus a percent of the action. They all declined because who thought the Flintstones would still be running decades later, and all over the world. They were proven wrong sadly, and just think of the money left on the table to themselves and now their estates.
To another post, yes, the Flintstones much like Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes (early) cartoons were part of a long line of such things originally geared towards adults. Yes, children did watch such cartoons and enjoyed, but large parts of the broad humor was directed clearly towards adults.
The Flintstones had "guest starts" such as "Ann Margrock" (Ann Margaret), Samantha Stevens (Bewitched), "Stoney Curtis" Tony Curtis), "Gary Granite" (Cary Grant), and others.
Of course children then may have been aware of those actors, but you wouldn't ordinarily cast them in programming aimed at kids.
Mel Blanc's voice for Barney Rubble was a variation of one he used for Cecil Turtle in Bugs Bunny cartoons.
Ok, now that makes sense. I always thought her last name was Gotrocks, for obvious reasons.
J.L. Gotrocks was some "millionaire" or business owner on the Flintstones. Back then just having a few million was something. Today it barely rates a mention. *LOL* I mean you can't buy a house in some parts of USA for under one million.
Was kind of cheesy by today's standards, but Ann Margaret did provide the singing and other voice.
As to why famous actors and actresses would allow themselves to be portrayed in animation form, this even for a widely successful series like the Flintstones, answer was simple. Screen Gems was behind a ton of televison of 1960's and 1970's such as Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Father Knows Best, and many more.
Depending upon terms of their contracts Screen Gems had various control over actors and actresses from their film/television division. This besides actors were getting paid for only doing voice over work, which is less strenuous I imagine than live acting.
Warner Bros. did this for ages, right up until the studio system was dismantled. Watch Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes cartoons and you'll find references and or depictions of various WB stars such as Betty Davis, Carmen Miranda, Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre and others.
I can live without Alan Reed (voice of Fred) and Jean Vander Pyl (voice of Wilma) and even Mel Blanc (voice of Barney) as there have been iterations of the Flintstones without them however Harvey Korman will always be The Great Gazoo and without him they just need to forget the character
She was the best friend of the mother of a housemate/roommate I had in the 80s. I had dinner at their house a number of times. I thought she was a very nice lady.
At least one Looney Tunes character (Slow Poke Rodriguez) also smoked weed! That or the people at Warner Bros. didn't know the English translation to "La Cuchracha" (highly unlikely)
Excited to hear The Flintstones is coming back on! The schedule says September 30 at 6 p.m. on MeTV
The problem with that is a lot of the local networks that show MeTV on their "antenna channel" don't show all the MeTV shows. In the afternoon I'd love to watch some of the westerns they show (Bonanza, The Rifleman) but instead we have to put up with Jerry Springer. And instead of MASH at 6, they show the news.
I'm glad to see at least the Flintstones are coming back. But I'd like to see more of all the good cartoons we grew up watching. Looney Toons, Pink Panther, Tom and Jerry........ But it's harder to find them anywhere. I'd read somewhere they aren't being shown as much because of "all the violence between the cartoon characters". I grew up watching Jerry hitting Tom so hard with a shovel an imprint of his face showed up. But I never had the faintest hint of trying to hit my brother with a shovel to see if it happened!
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