8 ‘Flintstones’ Commercials for Products That Definitely Weren’t for Kids
The Flintstones wasn’t necessarily created for kids. When the show launched in 1960, it debuted in prime time and remained there for the duration of its run, much like The Simpsons (except the original Flintstones lasted six seasons while The Simpsons has lasted 200 and counting). So, although it was designed to be “family friendly,” The Flintstones was an adult brand that attracted adult advertisements, which, strangely enough, continued in the following decades even as The Flintstones became more and more identified as a children’s property.
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Winston Cigarettes
This trio of black-and-white ads featured Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty shilling for one of the show’s original sponsors, Winston Cigarettes. Fred even spouts the tagline, “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.” Because it’s The Flintstones, you might assume that a cigarette in their time consists of some sort of tobacco-stuffed chickadee that’s then lit on fire, but despite the fact that no one in Bedrock owns socks, they can get perfectly-rolled little cancer sticks whenever they want.
The American Cancer Society
In a supreme bit of irony, in 1968, The Flintstones did a spot for the American Cancer Society. Perhaps this was their mea culpa for previously hocking cigarettes.
Alka-Seltzer
Another original sponsor of The Flintstones was Alka-Seltzer. While not an “adults-only product” like cigarettes, it’s still an ad geared toward adults, unlike Fruity Pebbles or Flintstones Vitamins.
Busch Beer
In 1967, The Flintstones starred in an entire, 19-minute film promoting Busch beer. Intended to market Busch to wholesalers, this ad wasn’t for the general public, yet it’s still pretty astounding that it still exists. And unlike the Winston ads, The Flintstones wouldn’t try to make up for it years later by doing spots for AA.
Midas
This one is more LOL than anything else. That said, given that Fred uses his feet for brakes, it’s maybe the only Flintstones ad that employs even the slightest bit of relevance to the source material.
Geico
The Geico Cavemen weren’t the only cavemen to appear in Geico ads. In 2007, three years after the Geico Cavemen debuted, The Flintstones starred in an expose-like ad for the company that claimed the Flintstone family car was insured with Geico (like many Geico ads, it thinks it’s funnier than it actually is).
Halifax Bank
Using The Flintstones to promote an adult product or service isn’t a uniquely American phenomenon either. Here they are promoting a U.K. bank. Because, when I think of financial security, I think of a guy who spends all of his disposable income on bowling and brontosaurus burgers.
Swan Bank
Another country, another bank. This time a Japanese bank called “Lake.” At least, I think it’s a bank because it mentions loans, and the Flintstones are flying on an ATM card. To be honest, I don’t really understand what’s happening in this commercial, but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves — even when the entire Flintstone family is nearly eaten alive by an ATM machine.