"Yyyyyyyyyabba-dabba-doooooooo!"

My first born, Douglas Sumner, was one year and one week old in this picture taken August 17, 1963. He looks as though he was very happy to be holding one of his birthday gifts - a Knickerbocker vinyl Fred Flintstone character figure. Or he may have just been happy to be sitting on the foot stool, having his picture taken.

I remember taking this picture "just like it was yesterday". It was taken in the living room before the front window in the Hanzie house in Brooks. Doug's one piece corduroy jumpsuit was a light turquoise blue. The other thing of note in this picture are the lined plastic drapes - the only curtains we could afford. The gold colored flowers were embossed on clear plastic; the liner was white plastic. The monthly rent for our little two bedroom bungalow was $35.00.

The Flintstones, produced by Hanna-Barbera, was the first animated (cartoon) show to air in prime time. It was a big hit with families. The show ran from September, 1960 until April, 1966. The show was revived in the early 1970's appearing in the Saturday morning cartoon line-up.

The Knickerbocker Toy Company was founded in 1925. They are probably best known for their Walt Disney character dolls, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and the cloth Holly Hobbie dolls. The company was sold to Hasbro in 1983.
Doug would probably still like to have his Fred Flintstone, not only for sentimental reasons, but also because it would be worth about $75.00 now. That is the price one on line seller is advertising - mentioning also that this is a hard to find figure.

"Flintstones -- meet the Flintstones, They're a modern stoneage family.
From the town of Bedrock, They're a page right out of history.
Let's ride with the family down the street, through the courtesy of Fred's two feet.
When you're with the Flintstones, have a yabba dabba do time,
A dabba doo time,
We'll have a gay old time."