For those of you who followed the Jeffersons characters from All in the Family to their spinoff, why would a middle age couple move out of a house and go live in a apartment building where they had to then pay rent. I always thought you go from living in a apartment to livng in your own home instead of the other way around. And the fact that they were a middle age couple didn't make sense to me. A Family giving up their property to live on someone's property. Any thoughts on this?

I've always wondered that myself, unless the building was co-op, but I don't think so many buildings were co-op in the 70's.

Actually, I've always wondered how George was able to make so such money from dry cleaning in just four years to be able to be able to afford to move to a high rise. I don't see how he could have done it without being involved in something illegal, such as money laundering (excuse the pun).

Are you sure that they were renting? I thought they just bought like you by a condo.

Originally posted by kittflynn
Are you sure that they were renting? I thought they just bought like you by a condo.

yeah they were renting because there was a episode when george and mr. cunningham were arguing and Mr. cunningham said-I hold the lease to your apt-and then george said and i pay the rent. Can remember which episode that was

Do you mean Wittendale? Mr. Cunningham was on Happy Days.

Originally posted by jon123
Do you mean Wittendale? Mr. Cunningham was on Happy Days.

Yes i meant wittendale-LOL

Keep in mind that they moved into an upscale apartment building with his dry cleaner just downstairs.(So he wouldn't have to commute too much.) He may of once owned a house, but the neighborhood wasn't exactly the greatest. Who knows if he even owned the house, maybe he paid rent on that too?!

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Keep in mind that they moved into an upscale apartment building with his dry cleaner just downstairs.(So he wouldn't have to commute too much.) He may of once owned a house, but the neighborhood wasn't exactly the greatest. Who knows if he even owned the house, maybe he paid rent on that too?!

I thought the Bunkers neighborhood was based in the suburbs of queens? So usually people would moved from the city to the burbs rather than the burbs to the city

The way I perceived it is that they rented the house in Queens and he then decided to move to Manhattan with the dry cleaners downstairs in the fancy building. The building was fancy because he had a doorman. In the 70's there were affordable high rises in Manhattan.

Originally posted by SOLOMON


I thought the Bunkers neighborhood was based in the suburbs of queens? So usually people would moved from the city to the burbs rather than the burbs to the city

Just because it was a suburb of Queens, doesn't mean it was a good neighborhood.

Originally posted by Brian Damage


Just because it was a suburb of Queens, doesn't mean it was a good neighborhood.

i know but i'm just used to seeing the pattern of a family moving from a city to to more relaxed environment. Not leaving a relaxed environment to a loud and busy environment

As a midwesterner, it is very odd to me that someone would go from house to apartment, but in very big cities like NY this is usually a giant step up. We have 3 cars and my brother parks his pickup in the yard. In a big city, you might have to rent a garage parking space for several thousand a year, and with a house there are all kinds of expensives.

A lot of really wealthy people minimize what they own so that their money isnt
tied up. A lot of us would probably take $90,000 and buy a house outright. A business type person would rent something for a few thousand a month, then invest the rest in hopes of doubling or tripling the original investment.

I know what you're gonna say, real estate is the best investment, it appreciates, but it doesnt always.
My mom and I live in a large 90 yr old house my friend from Chicago calls a Victorian mansion, but no matter how nice it is and how much the oak is worth that its made from, the neighborhoods gone to heck and we are sandwhiched in between several rental properties.
Oh great, now im bummed. :(
Later all ~~~

:)

SOLOMON, I asked this very question last year and got some good feedback.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14116

Originally posted by Janice
SOLOMON, I asked this very question last year and got some good feedback.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14116


thanks Janice

The Jeffersons definetely owned the house in Queens, not rented. Remember when they orginally bought it from Jim Bowman? Also, when they moved on up they rented it out to the Stivics.

Actually, there was mention of the name Cunningham on The Jeffersons. Cunningham Cleaners was the name of George's competitor.

I forgot about that.

Originally posted by Lil Kelso
Actually, there was mention of the name Cunningham on The Jeffersons. Cunningham Cleaners was the name of George's competitor.


I think that's where i got the name from-i remember the song. Take your dirty clothes to Cunninghams-LOL

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Keep in mind that they moved into an upscale apartment building with his dry cleaner just downstairs.(So he wouldn't have to commute too much.) He may of once owned a house, but the neighborhood wasn't exactly the greatest. Who knows if he even owned the house, maybe he paid rent on that too?!

But why would the Jeffersons still keep their old house? Since they rented it out to Mike and Gloria. Why would they keep their house if they are paying for an apartment?



Nate

Originally posted by RainMan

But why would the Jeffersons still keep their old house? Since they rented it out to Mike and Gloria. Why would they keep their house if they are paying for an apartment?
Nate
People often keep their property for rental income. If the Jeffersons didn't have a large mortgage on the house, the rent they collected would offset the high rent they were paying themselves.
My in-laws bought a 3-family home back in 1963 for about 25 thousand. It's fully paid for now and they live elsewhere, but they rent the 3 apartments and collect $1,500 a month for each apartment. Rents are high in Boston.
It was a great investment.

Originally posted by Janice
It's fully paid for now and they live elsewhere, but they rent the 3 apartments and collect $1,500 a month for each apartment. Rents are high in Boston.
It was a great investment.

:eek:$1,500 a month?!? Yikes!

Originally posted by Janice
People often keep their property for rental income. If the Jeffersons didn't have a large mortgage on the house, the rent they collected would offset the high rent they were paying themselves.
My in-laws bought a 3-family home back in 1963 for about 25 thousand. It's fully paid for now and they live elsewhere, but they rent the 3 apartments and collect $1,500 a month for each apartment. Rents are high in Boston.
It was a great investment.


Well i thought it made sense to leave a house to move into a BIGGER House. Not an Apartment-LOL My Uncle receives rent from his old house and now lives in a BIGGER HOuse. He didn't give up a house to rent

My 2 cents on this one:

George always wanted to be in the thick of things and show everyone that he had money so he moved them into the heart of Manhattan and out of "Bunkerville" where he probably felt he outclassed his neighbors.

Also, when they moved to Flushing in 1971 there were 4 of them: George, Louise, Lionel and Henry. Henry left and Lionel was engaged and leaving soon so they probably figured they didn't need a whole big house (plus with all that space in a house the temptation would be for George to invite Mother Jefferson to move in and Louise wouldn't want that at all). So they rented out the Flushing house and moved to the building where George had the store that was making him the most money. Makes sense to me.

What is more unusual is how he made so much money cleaning and pressing clothes? Did they ever say what he did for a living before he took up dry cleaning?

Originally posted by jamesanthony
My 2 cents on this one:

George always wanted to be in the thick of things and show everyone that he had money so he moved them into the heart of Manhattan and out of "Bunkerville" where he probably felt he outclassed his neighbors.

Also, when they moved to Flushing in 1971 there were 4 of them: George, Louise, Lionel and Henry. Henry left and Lionel was engaged and leaving soon so they probably figured they didn't need a whole big house (plus with all that space in a house the temptation would be for George to invite Mother Jefferson to move in and Louise wouldn't want that at all). So they rented out the Flushing house and moved to the building where George had the store that was making him the most money. Makes sense to me.

What is more unusual is how he made so much money cleaning and pressing clothes? Did they ever say what he did for a living before he took up dry cleaning?



No i don't think it was ever mentioned because he owned dry cleaning stores during the All in the Family era. So it was never said whaT George did before he was in the dry cleaning business.

In the AITF episode "oh my aching back", Lionel says that his old man just opened up a cleaning store. Archie then asks if his old man still worked as a janitor at an apartment complex.

Originally posted by Dr. John Becker
In the AITF episode "oh my aching back", Lionel says that his old man just opened up a cleaning store. Archie then asks if his old man still worked as a janitor at an apartment complex.


Meaning What?

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Meaning What?


That's what George did before he was a dry cleaner.

Originally posted by Dr. John Becker
That's what George did before he was a dry cleaner.


Yeah it was a discussion about what George did before he was in the dry leaning business. I thought it was never mentioned.

Why weren't they in a nicer, bigger house if they wanted to move up? I thought the apartment was small and not so fancy for being on the east side. And the kitchen was small.

Also, when they moved to Flushing in 1971 there were 4 of them: George, Louise, Lionel and Henry.
The area of Queens that they all lived in is called Astoria, not Flushing.

And when they lived in Queens, they were probably moderately secure financially to finally own there own home and not have to share with 4 families like they did in Harlem. And they moved to Manhattan so the Bunker's wouldn't appear on the show. But they could have guest starred every once in a great while.

For those of you who followed the Jeffersons characters from All in the Family to their spinoff, why would a middle age couple move out of a house and go live in a apartment building where they had to then pay rent. I always thought you go from living in a apartment to livng in your own home instead of the other way around. And the fact that they were a middle age couple didn't make sense to me. A Family giving up their property to live on someone's property. Any thoughts on this?

Some people prefer to rent just because it relieves them of the responsibilities of home ownership. If sometime isn't working, call the landlord and let him or her worry about it. George at this point was wealthy and could afford the best apartment and live in leisure without having to worry about house maintenance issues. And his apartment was a lot nicer, and in a much more desirable neighborhood, than the home he left.

Why weren't they in a nicer, bigger house if they wanted to move up? I thought the apartment was small and not so fancy for being on the east side. And the kitchen was small.

Location! Location! Location!

____________________________________________
I just realized the OP posted this question in 2002, and the thread is back after more than 12 years???

Some people prefer to rent just because it relieves them of the responsibilities of home ownership. If sometime isn't working, call the landlord and let him or her worry about it. George at this point was wealthy and could afford the best apartment and live in leisure without having to worry about house maintenance issues. And his apartment was a lot nicer, and in a much more desirable neighborhood, than the home he left.



Location! Location! Location!

____________________________________________
I just realized the OP posted this question in 2002, and the thread is back after more than 12 years???


Right! And Lionel was grown up. They didn't need a yard for kids or anything! ;)

Right! And Lionel was grown up. They didn't need a yard for kids or anything! ;)


Well they actually did end up buying a house...........In Bel Air LOL

For a "deluxe apartment," I thought the set could've been a little more fancy. For example, all of the doors are very plain (then again, my brother's house was built in the mid-'70s and he has plain doors...). The Jeffersons did have a nice side-by-side fridge...!

If you want to see a classy apartment, Family Affair (1960s series) is one of the best examples. First-rate all the way. The Courtship of Eddie's Father also, although on that series the early '70s decorating can be a bit much.

I'd love to be in an apartment -- I have a long hedge I've had to trim 5 times already this spring and summer, among other maintenance. It's a big waste of time.

For a "deluxe apartment," I thought the set could've been a little more fancy. For example, all of the doors are very plain (then again, my brother's house was built in the mid-'70s and he has plain doors...). The Jeffersons did have a nice side-by-side fridge...!

If you want to see a classy apartment, Family Affair (1960s series) is one of the best examples. First-rate all the way. The Courtship of Eddie's Father also, although on that series the early '70s decorating can be a bit much.

I'd love to be in an apartment -- I have a long hedge I've had to trim 5 times already this spring and summer, among other maintenance. It's a big waste of time.

Well the audience of All in the family was very impressed with the Jeffersons Apt, listen how they react at 5:24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjdiH27MMI