I really like this show but this still was an obstacle for me in suspending the disbelief.I know,It's a TV show but...... even before the kids moved in,why was a single man like Uncle Bill in need of a 4 bedroom apartment in Manhattan and a gentlemans gentleman ? Any theories ? I mean he must have been making serious dough to spend money like that. I don't know,I've always wondered about this.Of course it's a TV show but wouldn't it have made more sense that when the kids moved in, that Uncle Bill would have had a have a smaller place and then they move into a 4 bedroom apartment ? It would have been more believable that way.

Re: gentleman's gentleman

I don't think it was unusual for Uncile Bill to have a valet. He was a suave, rich man who needed someone to attend to his home and personal affairs while he was out of the country working on construction projects. Mr. French would have protected his home, kept it clean, paid the utilities and rent, notified the landlord if anything was broken, kept the pantry stocked, etc. When Uncle Bill was home, he would have gotten his clothes ready, prepared his meals, arranged his schedule, run errands, helped him entertain his friends, etc. In the first episode, Mr. French ran Uncle Bill's bath.:lol: I guess someone would be more likely to have a personal assistant than a valet today, but they are similiar.

Uncle Bill wasn't the type of man who would have come home to a dirty apartment and a cold can of beans. Perhaps working on grungy construction sites in foreign countries made him crave the comforts of home more than the average man and since he had the money he indulged himself.

Someone could do a nice fan fiction out French's life when Bill was out of town, and before the kids moved in.


Yeah! ;) Mr. French might have been a wild and crazy swingin' guy!!! :D :lol:

Yeah! ;) Mr. French might have been a wild and crazy swingin' guy!!! :D :lol:

His friends call him "Frenchie." :lol:

Re: The 4 Bedroom Apartment

I've been watching different episodes today and I've discovered a couple things. In episode 2, Mr. French tells Uncle Bill that he's placed Buffy and Cissy in the guest room and Jody in the den now that he has returned from Peru. (Jody used the master bedroom while Uncle Bill was away.) Later on, Uncle Bill mentions possibly converting their "little store room" into a room for Jody.

So, I guess we're suppose to assume that whatever bedroom Jody has in future episodes, it was converted from another room of some kind. A bachelor with a 3 bedroom apartment is a little more reasonable than a 4 bedroom apartment.

In episode 6, Uncle Bill's girlfriend, an interior decorator, says that she decorated the guest room (now Buffy and Cissy's room), the den and the living room for his "male-visiting" business friends.

If Uncle Bill bought the apartment with the intention of having his construction buddies over that would be another reason for such a large apartment.

i dunno, if he was THAT rich, you'd think he'd have a gentleman's gentleman's gentleman.

I was watching an episode of Mission: Impossible today, and there was the apartment. What a hoot to see Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, and Peter Lupus hanging out at the Davis residence. Even the distinctive entry doors, with their centered knobs, were visible.

I was watching an episode of Mission: Impossible today, and there was the apartment. What a hoot to see Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, and Peter Lupus hanging out at the Davis residence. Even the distinctive entry doors, with their centered knobs, were visible.

Did Mr. French bring them tea? :lol:

Regarding Bill's wealth, note that in the 1st episode the company is "Gaynor & Davis" -- soon to be changed to Davis & Gaynor. Perhaps the change had something to do with it being credible that the main man could afford such a cushy setup.

And let's not forget that at the end, we also have Emily (Nancy Walker) in the mix, so now Bill has another person on board in addition to French.

In this case, the valet was basically his wife but without the carnal knowledge. He kept things going while Bill makes the coin.

LOL - I'm reminded that Marlon Brando once said that if Wally Cox were a woman, he would've married him/her...!

I suppose if Bill Davis got married, there would be a higher likelihood for his buying a house. Then again, his wife would enjoy living in a big, high-rent apartment in the heart of the city.

Re: The 4 Bedroom Apartment

I've been watching different episodes today and I've discovered a couple things. In episode 2, Mr. French tells Uncle Bill that he's placed Buffy and Cissy in the guest room and Jody in the den now that he has returned from Peru. (Jody used the master bedroom while Uncle Bill was away.) Later on, Uncle Bill mentions possibly converting their "little store room" into a room for Jody.

So, I guess we're suppose to assume that whatever bedroom Jody has in future episodes, it was converted from another room of some kind. A bachelor with a 3 bedroom apartment is a little more reasonable than a 4 bedroom apartment.

In episode 6, Uncle Bill's girlfriend, an interior decorator, says that she decorated the guest room (now Buffy and Cissy's room), the den and the living room for his "male-visiting" business friends.

If Uncle Bill bought the apartment with the intention of having his construction buddies over that would be another reason for such a large apartment.

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A Family Affair Apartment Tour that includes an interview with Kathy Garver, "Cissy" on the tv series. Family Affair starred Brian Keith as Uncle Bill, Sebastian Cabot as Mr. French, Kathy Garver as Cissy, Anissa Jones as Buffy and Johnny Whitaker as Jody. You'll get a nice dose of Mid Century Modern Apartment design! This wasn't just any apartment in New York City, it was a luxury penthouse, full of divine interior design, making it one of our favorite TV homes.

I would allocate the 4 bedrooms as follows, if only Bill & French lived there:

1 room as Bill's bedroom
1 room as French's bedroom
1 room as the Guest bedroom
1 room as the Study / Library / Home Office / Den

King Size bed for Bill of course, potential for a lot of hot & heavy action there! :)

King Size bed for Bill of course, potential for a lot of hot & heavy action there! :)

I always wonder if Uncle Bill treats his dates the way he wants Cissy's dates to treat her. :D