Almost all the animated Christmas TV shows in the mid-1960s were specials. There was one exception—“A Christmas Flintstone,” just another episode in the 1964-65 TV season.
Well, it was a little more than “just” another episode. A couple of original songs were ordered for it and some of the backgrounds are more elaborate than what you’ll find in a usual Flintstones show, at least in my opinion. Whether the Hanna-Barbera studio budgeted more for this show, I don’t know, but Bill Hanna found a way to save a bit of money.
During the song “Dino the Dinosaur’s Christmas Tree,” there’s no animation at all. There are just dissolves from one piece of artwork to another. It’s actually a nice visual change from what’s been happening in the cartoon until that time.
Below are the drawings. The lyrics are, as best I can transcribe Alan Reed,
Dino the dinosaur heard some children say
We don’t have a Christmas tree
To trim for Christmas Day
So Dino the dinosaur said “I mustn’t fail!”
And he found a tree, and sawed it down
With his funny tail.
And the children were surprised and said
“Who trimmed this lovely tree?”
And who do you think just gave a wink
And smiled secretly? He!
Dino the dinosaur stood proud when Santa called
“That’s the finest tree I ever did see,
Merry Christmas one and all!”
Merry Christmas one and all!”
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Now, as a bit of a Christmas present, here are a few short cues from the Flintstones, not available in any stores. They sound like cassette dubs so there a lot of top end and some hiss on them. Click on the title to download. Thanks to all who have read, and contributed to, this blog over the past year.
CUE 1
CUE 2
CUE 3
CUE 4
CUE 5
CUE 6
CUE 7
CUE 8
Well, it was a little more than “just” another episode. A couple of original songs were ordered for it and some of the backgrounds are more elaborate than what you’ll find in a usual Flintstones show, at least in my opinion. Whether the Hanna-Barbera studio budgeted more for this show, I don’t know, but Bill Hanna found a way to save a bit of money.
During the song “Dino the Dinosaur’s Christmas Tree,” there’s no animation at all. There are just dissolves from one piece of artwork to another. It’s actually a nice visual change from what’s been happening in the cartoon until that time.
Below are the drawings. The lyrics are, as best I can transcribe Alan Reed,
Dino the dinosaur heard some children say
We don’t have a Christmas tree
To trim for Christmas Day
So Dino the dinosaur said “I mustn’t fail!”
And he found a tree, and sawed it down
With his funny tail.
And the children were surprised and said
“Who trimmed this lovely tree?”
And who do you think just gave a wink
And smiled secretly? He!
Dino the dinosaur stood proud when Santa called
“That’s the finest tree I ever did see,
Merry Christmas one and all!”
Merry Christmas one and all!”
Now, as a bit of a Christmas present, here are a few short cues from the Flintstones, not available in any stores. They sound like cassette dubs so there a lot of top end and some hiss on them. Click on the title to download. Thanks to all who have read, and contributed to, this blog over the past year.
CUE 1
CUE 2
CUE 3
CUE 4
CUE 5
CUE 6
CUE 7
CUE 8