I've always wondered what year L&S was supposed to have been set it. I know it was a spin off from Happy Days but is always confused me on the true year it was supposed to be.

L&S was set in the same time period as Happy Days so it started in the late 50's and had progressed to about the mid 60's by the end of it's run.

just like HD it started in the 50s, but then the setting changed to the 70s.

No it didn't. In the "the California Years" opening, you see the gang ringing in the new year, I think 1963.

No it didn't. In the "the California Years" opening, you see the gang ringing in the new year, I think 1963.

Actually, the California years went from 1965-1967, per the banner in the opening credits. L&S tacked the 60's with more gusto than HD, but So Cal was (is) more open to new trends than Wisconsin.

I beleive, however, that the wardrobe and make up departments were asleep at the wheel for the last two seasons.

I recall a TV Guide article published early in the show's run saying the show was set in 1960, so L&S would seem to have progressed its timeline close to actual passage of time.

"L&S" had to be set somewhere between 1957 and 1963, based on some interesting circumstantial evidence. In S3 and S4, at the end of the intro and theme, Laverne and Shirley go flying down on the street on a bicycle built for two. On the final "making our dreams come true," the bike passes an old "step-down" Hudson Hornet, then freeze-frames against a blurred 1957 Buick station wagon, which would pin down the 1957 side. In the final two seasons, the last scene in the opening is a New Year's Eve party where a banner can be clearly seen: "Happy New Year 1962!" and "Happy New Year 1963!" as the cast raise a glass to the coming year.

the last scene in the opening is a New Year's Eve party where a banner can be clearly seen: "Happy New Year 1962!" and "Happy New Year 1963!" as the cast raise a glass to the coming year.


Actually, the New Year's Eve ending was unique to the last three seasons and the banners read 1965, 1966, and 1967, respectively. There was a several year jump from Season 5 to Season 6 as indicated by Frank and Edna's 5th anniversary (they were married in Season 5) which took place in Season 6.

Season 3 featured one of my fave episodes, New Year's Eve 1960, so more of the show was set in the 60s than the 50s.

"The best thing about the 50s was you. And you'll be the best thing about the 60s too." -- Carmine to Shirley :heart: