The Flintstones

The Flintstones, created by Hanna-Barbera Productions, was the most successful cartoon television series, until the arrival of The Simpsons in 1989. Appearing in prime time from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, The Flintstones depicted a suburban family in a prehistoric setting, complete with dinosaurian pets (Dino) and other creatures. Most entertaining about the series was the transformation of modern appliances into their prehistoric equivalents, such as Fred's sauropod crane at Mr. Slate's Rock and Gravel Company, Wilma's dragon toaster, a mammoth shower to clean up after a dusty day at work, or the exquisite octopus dishwasher, a cephalopod using its eight arms to take care of dirty dishes after a meal. The series appeared in print in comics, newspapers, and books, long after its television run. Flintstones characters appeared in movie theaters, theme parks, and even as vitamin pills.