What was the exact premiere date of The Flintstones on ABC?

The Flintstones premiered on ABC on September 30, 1960.

Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the series followed Fred and Wilma Flintstone, their daughter Pebbles, and their neighbors Barney and Betty Rubble in the prehistoric-inspired suburb of Bedrock. Its setting was fantastical, but its domestic-comedy structure drew heavily on modern family sitcoms.

The premiere date is especially notable because The Flintstones became television’s first animated series to occupy a regular prime-time slot and is widely recognized as the first animated sitcom. It ultimately ran for six seasons and 166 episodes, ending on April 1, 1966.

The date is sometimes confused with 1961 because the show became more widely established during its second season, or with nearby calendar dates in reference listings. Those alternatives are incorrect: ABC’s original broadcast began on Friday, September 30, 1960. The series’ later success also helped establish animation as a viable format for prime-time television.