The Swimming Pool (The Flintstones)

"The Swimming Pool" is the third episode of The Flintstones season one. It aired on October 14, 1960 on ABC. It was written by Warren Foster, and produced and directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the creators of the show and the co-founders of Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Fred and Barney decide to make one pool to fit both their backyards, but then get into a fight and start claiming property of both ends of the pool.

Characters

 * style="background-color:#clear"| Fred Flintstone
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Alan Reed
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wilma Flintstone
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jean Vander Pyl
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Barney Rubble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Betty Rubble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Bea Benaderet
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Swim Togs and Stuff employee
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Charlie
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Michael Rye
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Charlie's pool partner
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Angry neighbor
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Sergeant
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Alan Reed
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pete's partner
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pete
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Angry neighbor
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Sergeant
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Alan Reed
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pete's partner
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pete
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pete
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * Bedrock
 * Flintstone residence
 * Rubble residence
 * Swim Togs and Stuff
 * Rockhead & Quarry Cave Construction Co.
 * 5th Precinct

Objects

 * Do It Yourself Pool Kit
 * Fred's birthday cake

Vehicles

 * Flintmobile

Development
The scene where Wilma brings Fred's meal by the pool was originally the series pilot pitch under the name, The Flagstones. It featured Daws Butler as both Fred and Barney, and June Foray as the voice of Betty.

Aftermath
Decades later, Foray showed disappointment in not getting the role when the series was officially picked up.

Music
The music was composed by Hoyt Curtin.

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: October 14, 1960 on ABC

Behind the scenes

 * This is the first of many names given to the construction company Fred works for, this time being called Rockhead & Quarry Cave Construction Co.
 * This is the first appearance of the Rubbles' house.
 * This is the first of many different Charlies who pop up.

Everlasting influence
In The Jetsons episode "Elroy's Mob", a boy is watching a scene from this episode on his TV wristwatch. Despite this, the two worlds would later be retconned to exist in the same universe in the film The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones (although other media such as the magazines published by Marvel Comics had already established that they existed within the same universe).

Home availability

 * In the United States:
 * 1987: Worldvision Home Video releases The Flintstones: The First Episodes: Collector's Edition on VHS.
 * 1989: Hanna-Barbera Home Video releases The Flintstones: The First Episodes (Hanna-Barbera Super Stars edition) on VHS.
 * 1991: Hanna-Barbera Home Video releases The Flintstones: The First Episodes (Flintstones: Anniversary Collection edition) on VHS.
 * March 16, 2004: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.
 * October 28, 2008: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (limited edition) on DVD.
 * March 13, 2012: Warner Home Video releases 4 Kids Favorites: The Flintstones Collection on DVD.
 * November 13, 2012: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (standard edition) on DVD.
 * May 6, 2014: Warner Home Video releases Fred Flintstone and Friends on DVD.
 * May 23, 2017: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.
 * December 12, 2017: Warner Home Video releases Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection 4-Pack on DVD.
 * February 13, 2018: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.
 * October 27, 2020: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc.
 * In Australia:
 * March 2, 2005: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.
 * In the UK:
 * November 7, 2005: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.
 * May 28, 2012: Warner Home Video releases Fred Flintstone and Friends on DVD.