The home behind Edna's Edibles

[cfr1970]

Antenna TV started the season with Edna's Edibles this week and I noticed 2 weird things about the home behind the store.

1. The front door opens out instead of in which just looks strange. I don't recall it being that way in my memory so it must have been changed to open in later on?

2. Also, immediately on top of that front door is the door to the bedrooms, yet if the front door is directly below that, then how on earth would the door above lead to the bedrooms when it would logically lead directly outside?!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Antenna TV started the season with Edna's Edibles this week and I noticed 2 weird things about the home behind the store.

1. The front door opens out instead of in which just looks strange. I don't recall it being that way in my memory so it must have been changed to open in later on?

Wow, good catch---I never thought of it opening "out"!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

2. Also, immediately on top of that front door is the door to the bedrooms, yet if the front door is directly below that, then how on earth would the door above lead to the bedrooms when it would logically lead directly outside?!

Yes, that is SO odd. My fan theory is that when you enter the doorway upstairs over the front door, you IMMEDIATELY turn right, walking "toward the audience", then you turn right again, walking "toward the left of the TV screen", and the hall ends that way and the girls' room is on the left, and the bathroom and Mrs. Garrett's room are on the right (hence the door "part-way" up the stairs leading to a left doorway that is presumably Mrs. Garrett's room).

You do what you can with your mind to make things work!

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Wow, good catch---I never thought of it opening "out"!




Yes, that is SO odd. My fan theory is that when you enter the doorway upstairs over the front door, you IMMEDIATELY turn right, walking "toward the audience", then you turn right again, walking "toward the left of the TV screen", and the hall ends that way and the girls' room is on the left, and the bathroom and Mrs. Garrett's room are on the right (hence the door "part-way" up the stairs leading to a left doorway that is presumably Mrs. Garrett's room).

You do what you can with your mind to make things work!

That would make sense. I don't know why they felt they needed that whole open landing up there that led to the door at the end. I think it would've been fine if the stairs just ended at the top without a long landing.

My memory of these seasons is foggy, but perhaps they used that landing to make long entrances or something? Otherwise, I see no point of it. Murphey Brown had a similar landing at the top of the stairs, but on that show, the layout was more logical.

Speaking of the upstairs bedroom, do they ever show it? I can't believe a big house like that only has 1 bedroom for the 4 girls to share like they did at Eastland. You'd think they'd have 3 or 4 bedrooms up there and have them split up 2 in each.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

My memory of these seasons is foggy, but perhaps they used that landing to make long entrances or something? Otherwise, I see no point of it. Murphey Brown had a similar landing at the top of the stairs, but on that show, the layout was more logical.

mmm, I don't think they did except maybe once or twice? Maybe. "Designing Women" had a similar one that seems even bigger and longer, and they only used it like ONE TIME in seven years. Can you believe that? What a waste! (see below) It was also one of only a couple or few episodes where we ever saw Julia's bedroom.

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Speaking of the upstairs bedroom, do they ever show it? I can't believe a big house like that only has 1 bedroom for the 4 girls to share like they did at Eastland. You'd think they'd have 3 or 4 bedrooms up there and have them split up 2 in each.

You'd think! lol Ostensibly there is a single room for Mrs. Garrett/Beverly Ann, and you'd think maybe 1 more, but we only ever see the girls' room, and a hallway. That's it.

-

[RetroGuy2000]

Yes, there's a big bedroom (for the girls), a bedroom we never see (for Edna), and later there's even an attic, which they turn into a third bedroom rather late in the series.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes, there's a big bedroom (for the girls), a bedroom we never see (for Edna), and later there's even an attic, which they turn into a third bedroom rather late in the series.

That's the episode that I vaguely remember. I saw it last year when a marathon of the show played on another channel. I think it was Blair who fell through the wall into the girl's room? I know someone fell through that wall lol. I remember seeing it.

So I did see the girl's room but just can't remember much about it except that I think it was nearly a carbon copy of the Eastland room? I'll just have to keep watching until they show it.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

That's the episode that I vaguely remember. I saw it last year when a marathon of the show played on another channel. I think it was Blair who fell through the wall into the girl's room? I know someone fell through that wall lol. I remember seeing it.

Yep! Like you, I'm pretty sure it was Blair.

So I did see the girl's room but just can't remember much about it except that I think it was nearly a carbon copy of the Eastland room? I'll just have to keep watching until they show it.

The Eastland and EE bedrooms were not really that similar, although I can see why people remember them that way. Memories fade and blend together. The Eastland bedroom had a window at Stage Right, while the EE bedroom had a window instead at Stage Left. The EE bedroom also had (at least in later years) a strange platform at the back, which is where they put a couple of their beds, as well as a bathroom accessed from Stage Right, while the Eastland bathroom was a shared bathroom accessed from the hallway.

Some things similar about both bedrooms is that both of the rooms opened from Stage Left, both rooms had four beds (until the last few seasons), and both of them had Blair's "The New Yorker" poster, which was seen in every season of the show (unlike Senor Tiger, the sombrero, the cat pillows, the grandfather clocks, the globes, or Mrs. Garrett herself).

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yep! Like you, I'm pretty sure it was Blair.



The Eastland and EE bedrooms were not really that similar, although I can see why people remember them that way. Memories fade and blend together. The Eastland bedroom had a window at Stage Right, while the EE bedroom had a window instead at Stage Left. The EE bedroom also had (at least in later years) a strange platform at the back, which is where they put a couple of their beds, as well as a bathroom accessed from Stage Right, while the Eastland bathroom was a shared bathroom accessed from the hallway.

Some things similar about both bedrooms is that both of the rooms opened from Stage Left, both rooms had four beds (until the last few seasons), and both of them had Blair's "The New Yorker" poster, which was seen in every season of the show (unlike Senor Tiger, the sombrero, the cat pillows, the grandfather clocks, the globes, or Mrs. Garrett herself).

I just found a pic online of the bedroom and now i'm remembering it. It had steps that led to that back platform which is kind of strange to have for a bedroom. Episodes should start showing on Antenna TV soon of it so I can get a better view.

There's a You Tube channel that does pretty realistic walk throughs of classic sitcom houses. I saw one for Bewitched, Brady Bunch and Mary Tyler Moore show. I'd love to see one of those done for the Facts of Life house.

[Sitcommania]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Wow, good catch---I never thought of it opening "out"!

Yes, that is SO odd. My fan theory is that when you enter the doorway upstairs over the front door, you IMMEDIATELY turn right, walking "toward the audience", then you turn right again, walking "toward the left of the TV screen", and the hall ends that way and the girls' room is on the left, and the bathroom and Mrs. Garrett's room are on the right (hence the door "part-way" up the stairs leading to a left doorway that is presumably Mrs. Garrett's room).

You do what you can with your mind to make things work!

I count one extra hallway where you turn right, walk down and then enter the girls’ room on the left. So then there’s what, two bedrooms over the store and nothing but an enormous empty hallway running the upper perimeter of the living room. The attic is completely imaginary in that case; as is the kitchen staircase that is directly behind the main staircase. Are we also supposed to think that the bathroom off the bedroom has only a sink and toilet? Because Blair and Jo are using the shower in a different bathroom in one episode....somewhere in that labyrinthine hallway....

[cfr1970]

Ideally, the staircase should be on the right side next to the front door. This way you could still logically have the big landing up there, only it would then cross left to the rooms which would logically be in that area above like in Designing Women and Murphy Brown sets.

The set designers must have had their reasoning for putting the stairs where they were. Possibly because it was better positioned in the middle of the two main sets...or they were just on crack lol. After all, they did build the front door to open the wrong way, which was eventually corrected because I do remember it opening in later on.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

The set designers must have had their reasoning for putting the stairs where they were. Possibly because it was better positioned in the middle of the two main sets...or they were just on crack lol.

I've often believed that set designers were on crack.

How else do we explain the "attic" on The Brady Bunch or on Full House, when the exterior shots show there's no space for a third floor? Or, conversely, the exterior of the Huxtables' home, which shows three above-ground floors, but they have only two above-ground floors on the inside.

Growing Pains wasn't any better, with the staircase in the living room winding up and ultimately going the wrong way, towards the edge of the house. Family Matters' front staircase had the exact same problem.

In the final FOL season, they close the store and turn the shop into bedroom and kitchen space. But the layout is completely wrong, and nothing remotely resembles the space it's supposed to be in.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I just found a pic online of the bedroom and now i'm remembering it. It had steps that led to that back platform which is kind of strange to have for a bedroom.

Yes, it's very odd.

There's a You Tube channel that does pretty realistic walk throughs of classic sitcom houses. I saw one for Bewitched, Brady Bunch and Mary Tyler Moore show. I'd love to see one of those done for the Facts of Life house.

If you have a link, I'd love to see them!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Sitcommania

I count one extra hallway where you turn right, walk down and then enter the girls’ room on the left. So then there’s what, two bedrooms over the store and nothing but an enormous empty hallway running the upper perimeter of the living room. The attic is completely imaginary in that case; as is the kitchen staircase that is directly behind the main staircase. Are we also supposed to think that the bathroom off the bedroom has only a sink and toilet? Because Blair and Jo are using the shower in a different bathroom in one episode....somewhere in that labyrinthine hallway....

Wait... there's a kitchen staircase behind the living room staircase? (I know it's very, very common to see two staircases in houses in 1980s sitcoms; I just didn't remember one for the EE/OOH building).

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes, it's very odd.



If you have a link, I'd love to see them!

Here's the link to the Bewitched home walk through. It's really cool how she does these videos. In the description below that video she gives a link to all her work where you can see I Love Lucy, Brady Bunch, (even Alice's room!), Leave it to Beaver house, Mary Tyler Moore's apartment and more. It's a lot of fun and you feel like you're really walking through each of them. Enjoy!

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

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I've often believed that set designers were on crack.

How else do we explain the "attic" on The Brady Bunch or on Full House, when the exterior shots show there's no space for a third floor? Or, conversely, the exterior of the Huxtables' home, which shows three above-ground floors, but they have only two above-ground floors on the inside.

Growing Pains wasn't any better, with the staircase in the living room winding up and ultimately going the wrong way, towards the edge of the house. Family Matters' front staircase had the exact same problem.

In the final FOL season, they close the store and turn the shop into bedroom and kitchen space. But the layout is completely wrong, and nothing remotely resembles the space it's supposed to be in.

I don't remember that. Is that how the show ended? They turned the store into living space? Why on earth did they do that?! All I can recall from the ending is that Blair became some teacher at Eastland or the principal or something of the sort and it looked like it was kind of setting things up for a spin off that never happened. Other than that, my memories of the final show is very vague.