Son of Rockzilla

Son of Rockzilla
Details
Show	The Flintstones
Season	4
Episode number	112
Production number	P-113
Original airdate	February 27, 1964 (ABC)
Recording Date	September 30, 1963
Crew
Animated by	Credited: Don Patterson Ralph Somerville Ed Parks Don Williams Uncredited: Ed Aardal
Layout	Dick Bickenbach Walt Clinton Alex Ignatiev
Background	Robert Gentle
Written by	Barry E. Blitzer
Chronology
Previous	"Reel Trouble"
Next	"Bachelor Daze"

"Son of Rockzilla" is the twenty-fourth episode of the fourth season and the one hundred and twelfth overall episode of The Flintstones. It aired on February 27, 1964.

Synopsis

Thinking he will be discovered, Fred takes a job wearing a monster costume in a publicity stunt for a new horror movie. However, he proves to be too good at this job, when he scares everyone in Bedrock.

Plot

Fiendish Films' chief executive, Mr. Fiendish, wants to sensationalise the upcoming release of his latest production of the prehistoric horror genre, The Son of Rockzilla, and his publicity manager, Bunkly, suggests the scare-'em-stunt of dressing a man in a rubber Rockzilla suit, "unleashing" him onto the streets of Bedrock, and announcing to the news media that a monster is "at large".

As fate would have it, Fiendish and Bunkly witness Fred's tantrum after Barney drops his bowling ball onto Fred's foot as Flintstone and Rubble are walking to their favourite bowling alley haunt- and, of course, decide that Fred is the man whom they require to wear the Rockzilla costume. Promising $50 for one night's work and prospect of fame and a movie career, Fiendish and Bunkly easily convince Fred to become Rockzilla for their somewhat less than community-responsible plan of scaring Bedrock into becoming Rockzilla-conscious.

Although Wilma and Betty are both sceptical of Fred's starry-eyed Hollyrock dreams and deem Fred to be ridiculous in his monster garb, Fred/Rockzilla embarks with Barney on the evening of his Fiendish Films assignment to the Bedrock Zoo to learn from an animal there how to act horrifying. Said animal is Doris the Finkasaurus, a female reflection of Fred's uncomely vestment, who, after Fred attempts to emulate her fits of rage and Fred and Barney walk away from her, breaks free of her cage- and now, a real monster is "on the loose".

Police, responding to the media reports, incited by a "tip" from Fiendish Films, that Rockzilla now stalks Bedrock, have increased their patrols and inevitably encounter and pursue Fred (Rockzilla) and Barney, firing stone-projecting pistols at them. Fred and Barney hide behind a park bush from the policemen. Fred is desperate to evacuate his troublesome guise, but Fred and Barney are unable to open Fred's Rockzilla attire due to its faulty neck-latch.

While Barney hurries to a hardware store to procure the needed costume-removal tools, Fred is beset by the amorous advances of Doris and thus flees both Doris and the minions of the law, finally arriving at the door to the house where Wilma is playing bridge with her friends and elicits Wilma's aid in shedding his beast "skin", which Wilma does- with one of her woman's implements.

Doris arrives at this place, as soon do Barney and the police. Doris proves to be fickle in her affections, almost drowning Barney with her salivating licks. For the time being, Fred forsakes his "movie star" ambitions, authorities do not prosecute Fred for his involvement with Fiendish Films' antics, and Barney helps to return Doris to her zoo cage.

Characters

• Fred Flintstone
• Wilma Flintstone
• Barney Rubble
• Betty Rubble
• Pebbles Flintstone
• Bamm-Bamm Rubble
• Pearl Slaghoople (mentioned)
• Arnold

Other Characters

• Henry (only appearance)
• Waiter (only appearance)
• Mr. Fiendish (only appearance)
• Mrs. Fiendish (mentioned)
• Bunkly (only appearance)
• Doris the Finkasaurus (only appearance)
• Frankenstone (only appearance in a poster)
• Two teenagers (only appearance in a poster)
• Officer Brickley (only appearance)
• Sergeant McAsphalt (only appearance)
• News Boy (only appearance)
• Fran and Thelma (only appearance)
• Uncle Herman (mentioned)

Locations

Bedrock

• Flintstone home
• Main Street
• Bedrock Theater (in a billboard)
• Micele's Sidewalk Cafe (only appearance)
• Bedrock Zoo
• Bedrock Police Station
• Bedrock News (only appearance)
• Fiendish Films (only appearance)

Other

• Rock Springs (mentioned)

Objects

• Fred's bowling bag
• Barney's bowling bag
• Barney's bowling ball
• Baseball
• Playing cards
• Record player
• Rock Bell Phone
• Grandfather Clock

Food

• Spaghetti

Animals

• Snorkasaurus
• Finkasaurus
• Octopusaurus
• Rabbitsaurus
• Pterodactyl (as a record player)
• Squirrelsaurus (as part of a record player)
• Blood Houndasauruses
• Parrotsaurus
• Apeasauruses

Vehicles

• Flintmobile
• Police car

Media

• Bedrock News (news broadcast)

Cast

Alan Reed	Fred Flintstone
Jean Vander Pyl	Wilma Flintstone Pebbles Flintstone
Mel Blanc	Barney Rubble Dino Parrotsaurus
Bea Benaderet	Betty Rubble Octopus
Gerry Johnson	Thelma
Don Messick	Bamm-Bamm Rubble Editor Ape #2 Announcer #2 Waiter Rabbit Arnold
Hal Smith	Father Cop #2 Announcer #1 Doris Boy Mr. Fiendish
Janet Waldo	Woman #2 Woman #1 Fran
Doug Young	Guy Bunkly Cop #1 Ape #1 Sergeant McAsphalt

Notes/Trivia

• The working title for this episode was "Rockzila".
• The officers are Brickley and Sgt. McAsphalt.
• Rock Rummy is a spoof of the classic card game, Rummy.
• Gerry Johnson, who would become the voice of Betty for the fifth season, provided several incidental roles in this episode, which was one of the last with Bea Benaderet as Betty in the episode, "Operation Switchover".
• This is the third episode to have a reference to The Wizard of Oz.

Allusions

• Rockzilla is a spoof of the famous and iconic Japanese movie monster, Godzilla.
• Searching for Fred, Barney says, "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" This references the Munchkinland scene in the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. Glinda the Good Witch of the North originally said this line. Doris also gives Fred the same kiss Glinda gave Dorothy.

Errors

• None known.