Which neighborhood would be better? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TheLittleFaerie · 03-11-2022, 04:50 AM

Which neighborhood would you feel safest in and which would be the most dangerous... Fred Sanford's, the Evans' from Good Times, or Archie and Edith's?

I know the Evans lived in a ghetto, but would you consider Sanford's and the Bunkers' neighborhood to be ghetto as well?

To me the Sanfords and Bunkers seemed a cut above the Evans

Yong Fang · 03-11-2022, 07:37 AM

Good Times took place in the Chicago Housing Projects. Sanford and Son was in Watts, a neighborhood in California and Archie Bunker was from Queens.

I think for the first two, the area did not really match the show.The housing projects of Chicago were very notorious for wanton gang violence, and rampant drug trafficking. There was a Chicago mayor named Jane Byrne (who was white), who in some kind of political stunt, decided to live in one of the projects for a time and she quickly left. It was just that dangerous.

On Good Times, the front door wasnt locked, or wasnt locked much since Willona always waltzed in. In that universe, the area wasnt that dangerous, but could be dangerous. JJ did get shot, JJ and Michael were both attempted to be coerced into gangs. In real life, a lot of people in the projects were not hard working people looking for a break, most were multi-generational welfare people. Most were not like the Evans family who were trying to get out, most liked their position in life, dont have to work, free money and food stamps, cheap if not free rent. In the 1980's, the projects became a warzone because of crack cocaine. But even in the 1970's, there were lots of gangs carving out turf.

Sanford and Son took place in Watts which was the area of one of the worst racial riots in 1967. The Los Angeles Police detained a black driver and (more than likely) beat him, which got around the neighborhood which caused a riot which lasted a week or so which the National Guard was brought in to stop the violence and rioting. This was four years before Sanford and Son went on the air in 1971.

Fred was a bigot but he had friends of different backgrounds. Hoppy the cop's two white partners (especially the second dumber one Swanny). Fred was friends with a Jewish man named Goldstien who lived in the neighborhood and was such friends that Fred would don a Yalmulke for Friday Sabbath soup. These were Lamont's friends but Julio and Ah Chu (which was a stupid and yes, racist name for a JAPANESE character) were from the neighborhood, as well as Swanny's mother who rented a room at the Sanford Arms (but who was portrayed by her as a liberal who couldnt have cared less to be the only white tenant but had friendly black neighbors and Fred looking after her). But Fred also warned people, and especially white people he had business or was friendly with to get out of his neighborhood before dark. Also, Fred had a gun pulled on him once by some thugs in Julio's yard and his house robbed twice.

I have never been to New York so cannot really commment on Queens except for the shows I have watched. Besides Archie, George Costanza's parents (Seinfeld) lived in Queens and so did Carrie and Kevin on "The King of Queens". All three lived in decent, spacious housing. Working class to middle class. But again, I dont know New York and realize somewhat that the different areas (Buroughs) are different, and even inside the Burrough are different. I am sure Queens has spacious multi million dollar homes three miles from the projects. To me, the Bronx is the dangerous part of NYC. But this comes from someone who doesnt know beans about the place except for media and entertainment.

GoldenTV · 03-12-2022, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

The housing projects of Chicago were very notorious for wanton gang violence, and rampant drug trafficking. There was a Chicago mayor named Jane Byrne (who was white), who in some kind of political stunt, decided to live in one of the projects for a time and she quickly left. It was just that dangerous.

When the mayor Jane Byrne moved in the project, the police had to practically close off the building she moved in (only one way into the building) to make sure no unwanted persons secured an entrance. As you said, it was more of political stunt than anything else.

I had two projects in my town in the early 80s, and it was common knowlege not to hang out there at night. Mostly due to drug dealing that was going on. Finally the city tore it down in the 90s due to complains from project's nighbors from high crimes.

Bonniegirl · 03-12-2022, 12:14 PM

I think the Evan's neighborhood was the worst .

TVFactFan · 03-12-2022, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

Which neighborhood would you feel safest in and which would be the most dangerous... Fred Sanford's, the Evans' from Good Times, or Archie and Edith's?

I know the Evans lived in a ghetto, but would you consider Sanford's and the Bunkers' neighborhood to be ghetto as well?

To me the Sanfords and Bunkers seemed a cut above the Evans

The Bunkers didnt live in a high crime area like the Sanfords and Evans

Wawwie · 03-12-2022, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I have never been to New York so cannot really commment on Queens except for the shows I have watched. Besides Archie, George Costanza's parents (Seinfeld) lived in Queens and so did Carrie and Kevin on "The King of Queens". All three lived in decent, spacious housing. Working class to middle class. But again, I dont know New York and realize somewhat that the different areas (Buroughs) are different, and even inside the Burrough are different. I am sure Queens has spacious multi million dollar homes three miles from the projects. To me, the Bronx is the dangerous part of NYC. But this comes from someone who doesnt know beans about the place except for media and entertainment.

I've lived in New York all my life. Doug & Carrie from King of Queens lived in Rego Park, Queens which is okay. Archie & Edith from All in the Family lived in Astoria, Queens which I think is below average and the Costanzas were in Woodside, Queens which is pretty nice.

TVFactFan · 03-12-2022, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

I've lived in New York all my life. Doug & Carrie from King of Queens lived in Rego Park, Queens which is okay. Archie & Edith from All in the Family lived in Astoria, Queens which I think is below average and the Costanzas were in Woodside, Queens which is pretty nice.

Queens is the only borough that I dont think Crime when mentioned like the others

Bronx
Harlem
Brooklyn

TheLittleFaerie · 03-14-2022, 02:38 AM

We passed through Queens and Brooklyn when I was about 11 and at first I was scared because I always saw TV shows about how dangerous those cities are, BUT to my relief they weren't bad really, at least not the parts we were in... places we stopped to eat, people were really friendly

03-11-2022, 04:50 AM	#1
TheLittleFaerie Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 1,949	Which neighborhood would be better? Which neighborhood would you feel safest in and which would be the most dangerous... Fred Sanford's, the Evans' from Good Times, or Archie and Edith's? I know the Evans lived in a ghetto, but would you consider Sanford's and the Bunkers' neighborhood to be ghetto as well? To me the Sanfords and Bunkers seemed a cut above the Evans

03-11-2022, 07:37 AM	#2
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Good Times took place in the Chicago Housing Projects. Sanford and Son was in Watts, a neighborhood in California and Archie Bunker was from Queens. I think for the first two, the area did not really match the show.The housing projects of Chicago were very notorious for wanton gang violence, and rampant drug trafficking. There was a Chicago mayor named Jane Byrne (who was white), who in some kind of political stunt, decided to live in one of the projects for a time and she quickly left. It was just that dangerous. On Good Times, the front door wasnt locked, or wasnt locked much since Willona always waltzed in. In that universe, the area wasnt that dangerous, but could be dangerous. JJ did get shot, JJ and Michael were both attempted to be coerced into gangs. In real life, a lot of people in the projects were not hard working people looking for a break, most were multi-generational welfare people. Most were not like the Evans family who were trying to get out, most liked their position in life, dont have to work, free money and food stamps, cheap if not free rent. In the 1980's, the projects became a warzone because of crack cocaine. But even in the 1970's, there were lots of gangs carving out turf. Sanford and Son took place in Watts which was the area of one of the worst racial riots in 1967. The Los Angeles Police detained a black driver and (more than likely) beat him, which got around the neighborhood which caused a riot which lasted a week or so which the National Guard was brought in to stop the violence and rioting. This was four years before Sanford and Son went on the air in 1971. Fred was a bigot but he had friends of different backgrounds. Hoppy the cop's two white partners (especially the second dumber one Swanny). Fred was friends with a Jewish man named Goldstien who lived in the neighborhood and was such friends that Fred would don a Yalmulke for Friday Sabbath soup. These were Lamont's friends but Julio and Ah Chu (which was a stupid and yes, racist name for a JAPANESE character) were from the neighborhood, as well as Swanny's mother who rented a room at the Sanford Arms (but who was portrayed by her as a liberal who couldnt have cared less to be the only white tenant but had friendly black neighbors and Fred looking after her). But Fred also warned people, and especially white people he had business or was friendly with to get out of his neighborhood before dark. Also, Fred had a gun pulled on him once by some thugs in Julio's yard and his house robbed twice. I have never been to New York so cannot really commment on Queens except for the shows I have watched. Besides Archie, George Costanza's parents (Seinfeld) lived in Queens and so did Carrie and Kevin on "The King of Queens". All three lived in decent, spacious housing. Working class to middle class. But again, I dont know New York and realize somewhat that the different areas (Buroughs) are different, and even inside the Burrough are different. I am sure Queens has spacious multi million dollar homes three miles from the projects. To me, the Bronx is the dangerous part of NYC. But this comes from someone who doesnt know beans about the place except for media and entertainment.

03-12-2022, 12:14 PM	#4
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 66,060	I think the Evan's neighborhood was the worst .

03-14-2022, 02:38 AM	#8
TheLittleFaerie Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 1,949	We passed through Queens and Brooklyn when I was about 11 and at first I was scared because I always saw TV shows about how dangerous those cities are, BUT to my relief they weren't bad really, at least not the parts we were in... places we stopped to eat, people were really friendly