It was taped in a different studio during the later years -- perhaps the audience was smaller or the acoustics were different or the audience had to be coached more with signs (this happens all the time, BTW) to get the reaction the producers desired.
But the audience was not eliminated until the ninth season, due to Carroll O'Connor's desire for a shorter work week (the scenes were taped gradually during the week, rather than all together at a performance of the entire show at the end of the week).
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