Some of you may be aware that The Flintstones could've easily been The Flagstones, but for a twist of fate that I still haven't been able to discern.
Anyway, this 95 second demo reel was produced for network executives and advertisers. Jean VanderPyl (Wilma) is the only regular heard in the pilot. Daws Butler voiced both Fred & Barney, and, as you probably know, filled in for Mel Blanc for a few episodes during the early years. June Foray is Betty, whose look would ultimately change......
Now, that's what I call a rough cut. The scene would eventually be used in the episode, "The Swimming Pool".
Rating: B-.
5 comments:
"Some of you may be aware that The Flintstones could've easily been The Flagstones, but for a twist of fate that I still haven't been able to discern."
I read that it was because there was already a comic strip at the time about a family called the Flagstones; at first I thought that said strip may have been Mort Walker and Dik Browne's 'Hi & Lois', but their surname is Flagston, no 'e'.
It's fascinating to see how much changed between this test and the actual series.
I had heard that besides a prehistoric theme, HB was also considering a Pilgrim themed show and an ancient Roman one. The Roman Holidays definitely fits as the remnants of the latter idea.
The characters all look VERY rough in design compared to how they would eventually look in the series proper, although the spirit is still very much alive. It seems like they took the caveman look a little too literally.
@Silverstar: I think the belief was, yes, despite the different spelling, there was a concern over litigation with King Features due to "Hi & Lois". H-B/Screen Gems decided to err on the side of caution, and created an icon.
@Magicdog: A Pilgrim themed variant? Yes, the Roman Holidays did come to fruition, lasting just 1 season as opposed to the Flintstones' initial 6 year run, but a Pilgrim show would've bombed out just as easily. They went the other way and, of course you know that led to the Jetsons.
Technically, the family name in "Hi & Lois" it spelled "Flagston". I suppose the similarity of the name is why they had to change it, still using the world "flint" certainly worked in this case.
As noted, they erred on the side of caution, just in case some spelling nazi got in the way.
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