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FLINTSTONES ON ICE, THE (TV)

Summary

This televised special, taped in Hamburg, Germany, features champion ice-skaters portraying the beloved Hanna-Barbera characters from "The Flintstones": Fred, Wilma, Barney and Betty. The program begins with Fred and Barney backstage, getting ready for the performance and planning to hide it from their wives, just as Wilma and Betty are unaware of their husbands' presence. The opening performance is a large group number with the ensemble skaters featuring Cliff McArdle; the Rubbles and Flintstones soon join. Next, McArdle has a solo to the song "I Got Love," joined by Betty and Wilma. Following this is a beach-themed number with Barney and Fred and a number of skaters in bathing costumes, culminating in a dance with beach balls. A drunken admiral appears and attempts to "swab the deck," eventually going into the audience and joking with spectators as Barney and Fred observe. They perform a slapstick routine and are joined by the admiral's wife—or daughter. Guy Longpre performs, followed by Mitsuko Funakoshi, who comes out onto the rink for a winter-themed performance featuring bears and penguins, Next is a group number with elaborate matador costumes, ending in duet from Gudrun Hauss and Walter Hafner. Betty performs by herself, then joined by the ensemble in ball gowns and top hats. Next up are two chimpanzee performers, who perform impressive skating feats, including jumping over hurdles while hooded. They finish with a can-can-themed dance and leave the rink. Next is a German-themed piece featuring Donald McPherson and Betty and Wilma, who "fight over" the dashing skater as they skate with him. After this, the characters prepare for the big finale, and the couples are stunned to run into each other backstage. All four of them perform the big closing number together, joined by the others in Germanic costumes. The featured skaters are then introduced and take their bows. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: February 11, 1973 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:58:26
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:53498
  • GENRE: Specials
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Ice skating
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1973
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - Cracker Barrel cheese
    • TV - Commercials - Kraft macaroni and cheese dinners
    • TV - Commercials - Kraft miniature marshmallows
    • TV - Commercials - Kraft natural swiss cheese
    • TV - Commercials - Kraft salad dressing
    • TV - Commercials - Miracle Whip salad dressing
    • TV - Commercials - Parkay margarine

CREDITS

  • Joseph Cates … Executive Producer
  • Walter C. Miller … Producer, Director
  • Eli Basse … Writer
  • Roy Rowan … Announcer
  • Lothar Dobberstein … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Mitsuko Funakoshi … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Walter Hafner … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Gudrun Hauss … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Guy Longpre … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Cliff McArdle … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Donald McPherson … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Malcolm Smith … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Terri Tucker … Performer, Ice Skater
  • Alan Reed … Cast, Voice, Fred Flintstone
  • Mel Blanc … Cast, Voice, Barney Rubble
  • Jean Vander Pyl … Cast, Voice, Wilma Flintstone
  • Gay Hartwig … Cast, Voice, Betty Rubble