TIDBITS® WATCHES THE FLINTSTONES
by Janet Spencer
The world’s first primetime cartoon debuted in 1960 on ABC. ―The Flintstones‖ ran through 1966 with 166 episodes, airing on Friday nights. The show was the most financially successful and longest-running animated franchise for the next 30 years. Come along with Tidbits as we watch ―The Flintstones‖!
FLINTSTONE FACTS
• William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were animators working for Metro-GoldwynMayer (MGM) when they developed the cartoon show ―Tom and Jerry.‖ It was a hit. When MGM later closed its animation studio, the two artists formed their own company. HannaBarbera’s first hit was ―HuckleberryHound‖ in 1958. Next they wanted a show geared more towards an adult audience, and ―The Flintstones‖ was the result
• Alan Reed was a well-known movie actor who starred in many films in the 1940s and 50s. As the voice of Fred Flintstone, animators drew the character to match Reed’s looks, with a large nose and broad body. In an early script, Fred was to holler out, ―Yahoo!‖ However, Reed remembered his mother quoting the Brylcream slogan, ―A little dab will do ya!‖ He asked producers if Fred could yell ―Yabba dabba do!‖ instead, and the result was an instantly recognizable trademark shout. (cont)
Of The Mid-Ohio Valley
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FLINTSTONE FACTS (cont)
• Jean Vander Pyl voiced the part of Wilma. She was paid $250 per episode. When the series ended, she was given a choice of either a lump sum of $15,000 ($140,000 today) or getting residuals from syndication. She chose the lump sum, never expecting syndication to be so successful. From her home in San Clemente, CA she later said, ―If I had chosen residuals, I wouldn't just live in San Clemente; I'd own San Clemente.‖ She died in 1999, the last surviving cast member of the show.
• Bea Benaderet provided the original voice of Betty Rubble. She was well known for her appearances on ―The Jack Benny Show‖ and ―The George Burns Show.‖ She later landed a major role in the series ―Petticoat Junction‖ playing Kate Bradley, owner of the Shady Rest Hotel and mother of three daughters. Because the shooting schedules conflicted, Bea gave up her role as Betty Rubble. The part was taken over byactress GerryJohnson
• Mel Blanc, known as “the man of a thousand voices‖ played the role of Barney Rubble. Blanc was already famous for being the voice behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, and others. Tragedy struck when Blanc was involved in a serious head-on collision in 1961 which put him in a coma and left him hospitalized for 70 days. Voice actor Daws Butler filled in for Blanc for five episodes, until Blanc recovered enough to speak from his hospital bed. Producers and engineers set up a recording studio in his hospital room. Blanc then recorded another 40 episodes from his recovery room at home.
• The song “Meet the Flintstones” only came on the scene for the third season onwards. Before that, the opening music was a peppy upbeat instrumental tune. When the show went into syndication, the theme song was retroactively added to previous episodes. (cont)
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FLINTSTONE FACTS (cont)
• In the third season, writers decided to add a baby to the family. The show was already pushing the envelope by depicting Fred and Wilma sharing a single bed. Now they pushed boundaries further as the pregnancy proceeded through the season. Wilma discovered her pregnancy, shared the news with Fred, became increasingly pregnant, returned from the hospital with baby Pebbles, and then adjusted to having a baby in the house.
• The child was first scripted to be a son, ―a chip off the old block,‖ until the president of Ideal Toy Company phoned producers to ask if the impending child was going to be a girl or a boy. When informed it would be a boy, the response was, ―Gee, that’s too bad; I have the ideal toy if only it was a girl!‖ The gender of the child was changed on the spot. The baby became ―a pebble off the old Flintstone.‖ Over three million Pebbles dolls were subsequently sold in the next few months.
• The baby’s name was fitting because Wilma’s maiden name was Pebble. Therefore it was also fitting that Jean Vander Pyl, the voice of Wilma, was also the voice of Pebbles.
• The arrival of Pebbles spurred other marketing concepts, including Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles breakfast cereal, still available today.
• The show was also one of the first to explore other difficult topics including infertility, depression, and suicide. After the arrival of Pebbles, Betty and Barney also wanted a baby. Betty found she was unable to bear children and sank into depression. Then the possibility of adopting baby Bamm-Bamm arose. When the adoption nearly fell through, Barney almost committed suicide by throwing himself off a bridge, but Fred stopped him. Eventually the adoption was successful and Bamm-Bamm entered the cast of characters. (cont)
FLINTSTONE FACTS
(cont)
• With the success of the Flintstones, HannaBarbera expanded into more primetime cartoons with ―The Jetsons,‖ set in the future instead of the past. The actor who voiced George Jetson had previously written two episodes of ―The Flintstones.‖ Jean Vander Pyl, the voice of Wilma, provided the voice of Rosie the Robot and Mrs. Spacely. In several cross-over episodes, the Flintstones were invited into the Jetson’s world and viceversa.
• The first major advertiser of the show was Winston Cigarettes. This was written into the script, with Fred and Barney often sneaking a cigarette. After the birth of Pebbles, Winston withdrew their advertising. Later it became illegal to advertise tobacco on TV and radio.
• Welch’s grape juice and jelly became the next advertising sponsor. In the show, Pebbles would often ask for grape juice, while Fred explained the superior methods that Welch’s used for making jelly. Welch’s released a line of jelly that came in reusable jars with each one depicting a character from the show.
• Miles Laboratories advertised their One-ADay vitamin brand on the show. In 1968 they released chewable vitamins shaped like the Flintstone characters. Miles Laboratories was later acquired by Bayer, but Flintstone Chewable Vitamins are still available at most drugstores today. No one is quite sure why there was never a vitamin shaped like Betty Rubble. However, following the success of the first full-length Flintstone movie in 1994, Betty finally got her own vitamin.
• Since the original series ended, there have been many spin-off series, a dozen TV specials, five made-for-TV films, two liveaction movies, video games, comic books, theme parks, a stage show, and merchandise all of which contributed to it becoming such a cultural phenomenon.
S'more Delights: Elevate Your Campfire Treats with These Delicious Twists
Confession time: I'm not a happy camper. I really don't enjoy camping. Roughing it, sleeping in a sleeping bag in a tent in the wild. No thanks. It's a little too quiet for me. If my hotel room faces the trees, I would consider that to be camping. But it seems like everyone's going camping, and that got me thinking about the one camp tradition I can get behind: S'mores! This warm, ooey, gooey treat always leaves us wanting some more. Which is where the name is believed to originate. As in "I want s'more!" It's uncertain who invented the s'more, but Loretta Scott Crew, who made them for Girl Scouts by the campfire, is given credit for the recipe when it was first published in a 1927 publication called "Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts." But it wasn't until 1974 when Merriam-Webster added it to the dictionary, making it official. Of course, much of the fun of s'mores is cooking them with friends and family over a campfire, but if you don't have access to a fire, don't despair! These can be made on a BBQ, the stovetop or, my personal favorite, with a kitchen torch. Just in time for National S'mores Day on Aug. 10, here's how to make classic s'mores and a few creative variations to enjoy.
Classic S'mores
Yield: 1 serving
Total Time: 3 minutes
2 graham crackers
1 large marshmallow
1 pc of milk chocolate (about 1 ounce) If you're using a campfire, roast the marshmallow on a skewer over the flames until it's golden brown and gooey (about 1-2 minutes). If you're indoors, you can toast it over a gas stove or in the oven under broiler for a few seconds. Place one graham cracker on a plate. Top it with a piece of chocolate. Once your marshmallow is toasted, carefully place it on top of the chocolate. Add the second graham cracker on top and press down gently. Let it sit for a few seconds to allow the chocolate to melt a bit, then dig in!
There's Always S'more to Love There is nothing lacking in the traditional s'more. The ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find. But let's take the humble s'more and give it a Diva makeover, because it's what I do. We can switch out crackers and candy bars, and add some unexpected ingredients. This way you have a ridiculously delicious finale for every BBQ, cookout or campout for the rest of the summer.
Top 10 Variations for S'mores
1. Reese's S'more: Graham Cracker + Peanut Butter Cup + Marshmallow
2. Chocolate Mint S'mores: Chocolate Graham Cracker + Peppermint Patty + Marshmallow
3. Cookie S'mores: Chocolate Chip or Oreo Cookies + Chocolate + Marshmallow
4. Salted Caramel and Chocolate
S'mores: Graham Cracker + Chocolate + Caramel Topping + Sprinkle of Coarse Sea Salt + Marshmallow
5. Lemon Meringue Pie S'more: Graham Cracker + Lemon Curd + Marshmallow
6. Nutella Banana S'more: Graham Cracker + Nutella + Banana Slices + Marshmallow
7. Cheesecake S'mores: Graham Cracker + Whipped Cream Cheese + Strawberry or Raspberry Jam + Marshmallow
8. Berries and Cream S'mores: Graham Cracker + White Chocolate + Strawberries + Marshmallow
9. Banana Split S'mores: Graham Cracker + Chocolate + Banana Slices + Strawberry Slices + Marshmallow
10. Black Forest S'mores: Chocolate Graham Cracker or Cookie + Grilled Cherries + Chocolate + Marshmallow
Now that we have all these s'mores ideas to try, we'd better get started. With or without the camping part, let's roast some marshmallows!
***
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, partyplanning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
From classic to creative: Celebrating National S'mores Day!
PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com
COPS & DOUGHNUTS
• Everyone knows that cops and doughnuts are a match made in heaven, but one story about their love affair really tops them all.
• The town of Clare, Michigan, with a population of just over 3,000, experienced a downturn, and businesses in the downtown district began to close. Residents were particularly saddened to hear of the impending closure of the Clare City Bakery, which had been serving pastries since 1896. The Clare police department was especially alarmed by the news, not only because many storefronts were already vacant on the street but also because the shop, located just a block away from the police department, provided city cops with a place to meet.
• Ultimately, a decision was made: Every cop in the city police force – all nine of them –pitched in $1500, outlined a business plan on the back of a pizza box, and bought the bakery in 2009. None of them knew how to make a doughnut. No one knew anything about running a business. One of them retired from the police force in order to manage the store, with the others helping out as much as possible. Thus began a steep learning curve that ultimately resulted in a wonderful success story.
• Re-branded as “Cops & Doughnuts,” the little bakery transformed, turning a struggling business into a community hot spot.
• When a press release announced the grand opening of this police-owned doughnut shop, the publicity ricocheted around the country. There were public appearances on TV shows, radio interviews, and newspaper coverage. Fox News, CNN, and ―Good Morning America‖ did stories about the cop -owned bakery. People lined up around the block to get doughnuts. Business boomed and never slacked off. (Continued page #7)
How far can a puppy hike?
DEAR PAW'S COR-
NER: I have a 1-yearold mixed-breed puppy named "Star" who I'd love to take on Saturday hikes with me. I'm an avid hiker who can do up to 20 miles or more per day. Is this too much for a young dog like her to handle? Gary in Boulder, Colorado
DEAR GARY: Your instincts are right-on that kind of mileage is too much for a puppy. But, depending on the dog, you can build Star's stamina gradually, adding miles as she grows.
For a 1-year-old puppy, start with no more than a mile or two, and keep it light and fun. If Star whines at three-quarters of a mile, take a break for a few minutes and see if she'll go on. If she shows signs of tiredness, like lagging behind and not being curious about things around her, it's time to head back. Some pet parents will carry their puppy for the remaining miles, but that's up to you I think that it's better to just gradually build the miles. Notice that I also said "depending on the dog." Some dogs just aren't enthusiastic about hiking long miles. Others especially small dogs, toy and pocket breeds cannot walk very far without tiring. (Fortunately, they can be carried easily.) Don't lament if hiking ultimately isn't Star's thing; just build an outdoor schedule where she can share in the fun on some days with short hikes, and you can still get in lots of mileage while she remains at home or with a friend.
An adult dog can do 5 to 20 miles depending on their fitness and enthusiasm. But you'll need to adjust your lifestyle to gradually bring Star up to that kind of distance. Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
COPS & DOUGHNUTS (cont)
• During its busiest times, the number of out of town visitors surpasses the number of people who live in the town. Tourists arrive by the busload. In 2015, over half a million people stopped by over the course of the year. The place is open round the clock, seven days a week during the summer, when the little shop sometimes turns out upwards of 15,000 doughnuts daily.
• The shop’s logo is a police badge encircled by a frosted doughnut covered with sprinkles. Customers can purchase a selection of 15 different doughnuts, all with punny names. There’s the nightstick (cinnamon twists), tasers (lemon-filled), squealers (bacontopped long johns), and the Jailhouse Rock (peanut butter-filled Bismark). However, the most popular item on the menu is always the giant-sized ―felony fritter,‖ a fried apple pastry as big as a plate.
• The bakery became so successful that the cops bought an adjacent vacant store, not only to provide additional seating, but also to set up the Cop Shop, where customers can purchase police-themed souvenirs. Customers get their ―mug shot‖ taken behind the bars of a realistic-looking jail cell door. Coffee mugs, T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and bumper stickers are emblazoned with favorite slogans such as ―Don’t Glaze Me, Bro,‖ ―Cereal Killer,‖ and ―DWI Doughnuts Were Involved.‖ A museum display shows a collection of police department patches from across the nation.
• Meanwhile, the steady stream of tourists and the revenue they bring revitalized the little downtown district. Now, vacant storefronts are a thing of the past.
• Members of the police force still meet there, just as they always did.
