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Archie Bunker's Place was a CBS sitcom that had previously been known as All in the Family. In 1979, All in the Family was retooled, and renamed as Archie Bunker's Place. While not as popular as All in the Family, the show was popular enough with fans to last four seasons, until 1983. Some sources consider it to be a separate series (i.e., a spin-off of All in the Family), while others consider it to be a continuation of the earlier program.
The major difference this series had from its predecessor is that – although some of the scenes were set in the Bunker home long familiar to viewers – most of the stories were set at Archie Bunker's Place, the neighborhood tavern Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor) purchased in 1977 (in the eighth-season premiere of All in the Family). He had purchased what was then known as Kelcy's Bar from former proprietor Tommy Kelcy when his health declined. During the premiere of Archie Bunker's Place, he takes on a Jewish partner, Murray Klein (Martin Balsam) when co-owner Harry Snowden decides to sell his share of the business. Early in the first season, to increase his clientele, Archie and Murray build a restaurant onto the bar; the additions include a separate seating area for the restaurant and a well-equipped kitchen with service window.
Archie Bunker's Place was the sounding board for Archie's views, support from his friends, and Murray's counterpoints. Later in the series, after Murray re-marries and leaves for San Francisco, Archie hires a business partner, Gary Rabonwitz (Barry Gordon), whose views were liberal in contrast to Archie's political conservativism.
This series was reminiscent of a 1950s radio and TV sitcom called Duffy's Tavern which also featured a blue collar tavern owner named Archie who commented on life and society with a group of colorful characters.
The regular patrons are Barney Hefner, Hank Pivnak, and Mr. Van Renssalaer.
Archie Bunker's Place, like All in the Family before it, was set in the borough of Queens in New York City. The opening credits featured a view of the Queensboro Bridge, which connects Manhattan to Queens.
The theme of Archie Bunker's Place was "Those Were The Days." It was a re-scored version of the long-familiar opening theme to All in the Family, sans vocals from Archie and Edith. The closing theme, "Remembering You," was a re-scored version of "Family's" closing theme.
Main characters
- Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker, a bigoted blue-collar worker whose ignorant stubbornness tends to cause his arguments to self-destruct. By the time of Archie Bunker's Place, however, the character has mellowed somewhat and is no longer as explicitly bigoted as he had been during All in the Family, even agreeing to go into business with a Jewish man.
- Jean Stapleton continued to play Archie's wife Edith Bunker when Archie Bunker's Place premiered. The show featured Edith occasionally during the first season, but Stapleton decided to leave the series late in 1979; her character was referred to but unseen during the rest of the 1979-1980 season. The writers and producers addressed Stapleton's departure in the Season 2 premiere, explaining that Edith had died of a stroke. Archie reflected on his wife's passing, and eventually, began dating other women.
- Martin Balsam as Murray Klein. Murray was Archie's Jewish partner, who held similar liberal views to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic.
- Danielle Brisebois as Stephanie Mills. Stephanie, a 10-year-old girl who is Jewish, is taken in by Archie and Edith after her father, chronic drunk and unemployed Floyd Mills (Edith's cousin), had abandoned her during the final season of All in the Family. She loved to sing and dance, and her talents were showcased in several episodes.
- Allan Melvin as Barney Hefner, one of Archie's best friends and a regular at the bar. Their friendship was first established in 1972 during an episode of "All in the Family."
- Danny Dayton as Hank Pivnik, another regular and good buddy of Archie's. First appeared in 1977 on "All in the Family." Hank disappeared with explanation given afer the 1979-1980.
- Bill Quinn as Mr. Edgar Van Ranseleer, a blind patron and regular at the bar. He was almost never referred to by his first name. First appearance dates to 1978 on "All in the Family."
- Jason Wingreen as Harry Snowden, Archie's former business partner who continued to work at the tavern as a bartender. Another holdholder character from "All in the Family," which Wingreen joined in 1977.
- Abraham Alvarez and Joe Rosario as Jose Perez and Raoul Rosario, two Latin American immigrants employed as assistant cooks at Archie's bar. Archie later learns they are illegal immigrants after they refuse to give a statement to police after having witnessed a mugging.
- Anne Meara as Veronica Rooney (1979-1982), the cook at Archie Bunker's Place. She often made wisecracks and gave Archie a hard time. She insisted that Archie also hire her openly gay nephew Fred as a waiter to help him pay for law school. She was an alcoholic and deep down pined to get back with her ex-husband, Carmine (who appeared in a few episodes and was played by Meara's real-life husband, Jerry Stiller), but knew it wasn't going to happen.
- Barbara Meek portrayed Ellen Canby (1980-1982). Ellen was a black housekeeper who was hired by Archie. She also took care of Stephanie, and kept Archie's views in check. Though Archie still harbored some resentment toward black people by the time she arrived on the scene, he deeply respected Ellen and was grateful for the job she did in helping to raise Stephanie.
- Denise Miller, who joined the cast in 1981 as Archie's 18-year-old niece, Barbara Lee 'Billie' Bunker. Billie – who worked as a waitress at Archie Bunker's Place, was the daughter of Archie's long-estranged brother, Fred. Her principal love interest was Gary Rabinowitz (see below).
- Barry Gordon, another 1981 addition to the cast, as Archie's Jewish accountant Gary Rabinowitz. Gary would quickly begin dating Billie, who was 15 years younger than he was. Just like Mike Stivic and Murray Klein before him, Gary's liberal beliefs often contrasted with those of conservative Archie.
- Sally Struthers returned as Archie's daughter, Gloria Stivic, for a few episodes. In addition to "Thanksgiving Reunion," Struthers guested in the 1982 two-part episode, "Gloria Comes Home," where she returns home from California with her son, Joey after divorcing Mike (who had run off to a commune). The character eventually moved on to her own spin-off series, Gloria. (Note: The original unaired pilot episode to the TV series which begins with a short cameo by Caroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker was later repackaged as an Archie Bunker's Place episode).
Others who made occasional appearances were Celeste Holm (as Estelle Harris, Stephanie's wealthy grandmother, who would often be at odds with Archie over his rearing of Stephanie) and Ben Slack as Floyd Mills (Edith's cousin and Stephanie's chronically unemployed father).
Notable episodes
The series' most notable episode among critics was "Archie Alone" (the 1980-1981 season premiere). In that episode, viewers learn that Edith had died of a stroke a month earlier (Jean Stapleton had resigned from her role), and Archie refuses to grieve. His refusal to let go of his emotions takes its toll on the family, until one day Archie sees Edith's slippers while in their bedroom. Archie finally breaks down and cries. Later, after a talk with Stephanie, he agrees to take her to visit Edith's grave.The first season episode, "Thanksgiving Reunion," marked the final time the original ensemble from "All in the Family" – O'Connor, Stapleton, Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner – appeared together. In that episode, Mike announces that he has lost his job as college professor after his participation in nude protest of a proposed nuclear power plant becomes public. This puts a further strain on his already troubled marriage to Gloria (who also admits she participated in the protest), and will foreshadow the Stivics' imminent divorce.
Later, comedian Don Rickles guest starred as a crusty boarder named Al Snyder, who rented a room from Archie's friend and neighbor Barney, whose wife Blanche had left him sometime earlier. Highlights of this episode are exchanges combining Rickles' insult humor and his character's curmudgeonly disposition with Archie's sincere but misguided efforts to resolve disputes between Snyder and Barney ("Okay, there whaddyacallit, you and me's gotta have talk." "Hey, I don't wanna talk to you; take a hike." "Don't tell me to take a hike; I ain't goin' anywheres."). Eventually, the Rickles character is exhausted by the constant chatter and decides to rest ("I need a nap. When I wake up, Barney, I'll give you back your bathrobe. You can tear in half and use one half as a bed for your dog and the other half to clean out your dirty oven."). The Rickles character drifts off to sleep and dies. The episode ends with Barney pondering whether he'll wind up like Mr. Snyder: "Sore at the world, 'cause I'm all alone."
DVD releases
Season ReleasesDVD Name Release Date Episode # Season 1 January 31 2006 24 Season 2 TBA 24 Season 3 TBA 25 Season 4 TBA 24 External links
1970s TV shows in the United States | 1980s TV shows in the United States | CBS network shows | Fictional bars and inns | Sitcoms | Television spin-offs | Sony Pictures Television shows
"Archie Bunker's Place"