Different Apartments - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

pilotguy · 08-03-2005, 08:25 PM

Do you know what always struck me as weird on "Make Room For Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show" (Especially during the "Marjorie Lord-Angela Cartwright" years)?

The Williams' apartment kept changing and being different every season...although no mention was ever made of them moving or even doing extensive remodeling!

For the first several "Marjorie & Angela" seasons, each new season would bring very noticeable changes to the apartment....a different type of staircase, a dividing wall in a different location, a doorway on a different wall, etc. After a few of those "subtle change" seasons, the Williams family suddently turned up in an apartment which looked absolutely NOTHING like any of the previous apartments...a COMPLETELY different layout and look...yet NOTHING was ever said about them moving!

When Lucy and Ricky Ricardo moved (even to that larger apartment with a window) it was acknowledged and dealt with within the series. When George Burns & Gracie Allen's Beverly Hills TV home changed dramatically, it was explained that the Burnses had the house remodeled while they were in New York City. Just about every sitcom that has had a drastic "home set" change offers the viewer SOME sort of explanation for the change....but "The Danny Thomas Show" never did.

Has anyone else here noticed that about the Williams' constantly changing apartments?

PracTz · 01-31-2009, 07:01 PM

Yeah, I'd noticed the fact that they never made any effort to explain the apartment's/s' drastic changes but I guess they thought the viewers were supposed to accept that the same way the viewers accepted there being a full off-stage orchestra backing Danny up anytime he wanted to sing!

Howard · 12-24-2025, 07:10 PM

Seasons 5-6 were the same apartment and the last 3 seasons 1961-64 was the same place as well. I think the production designers were trying new ideas out but luckily they settled on the final set for 3 years which I think was the best!

stevea · 12-25-2025, 12:06 AM

Single-season apartments were seasons 4, 7, and 8. It would have made sense for a move after season 4, since single Danny married Kathy and gained a child, although I don't think, as stated above, a move was mentioned.

Several apartment designs had slight elevations to bedroom quarters, maybe 4 or 5 steps. The season 4 apartment had a definite upstairs, which I'd think would be odd in a city apartment building.

08-03-2005, 08:25 PM	#1
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	Different Apartments Do you know what always struck me as weird on "Make Room For Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show" (Especially during the "Marjorie Lord-Angela Cartwright" years)? The Williams' apartment kept changing and being different every season...although no mention was ever made of them moving or even doing extensive remodeling! For the first several "Marjorie & Angela" seasons, each new season would bring very noticeable changes to the apartment....a different type of staircase, a dividing wall in a different location, a doorway on a different wall, etc. After a few of those "subtle change" seasons, the Williams family suddently turned up in an apartment which looked absolutely NOTHING like any of the previous apartments...a COMPLETELY different layout and look...yet NOTHING was ever said about them moving! When Lucy and Ricky Ricardo moved (even to that larger apartment with a window) it was acknowledged and dealt with within the series. When George Burns & Gracie Allen's Beverly Hills TV home changed dramatically, it was explained that the Burnses had the house remodeled while they were in New York City. Just about every sitcom that has had a drastic "home set" change offers the viewer SOME sort of explanation for the change....but "The Danny Thomas Show" never did. Has anyone else here noticed that about the Williams' constantly changing apartments?

01-31-2009, 07:01 PM	#2
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Yeah, I'd noticed the fact that they never made any effort to explain the apartment's/s' drastic changes but I guess they thought the viewers were supposed to accept that the same way the viewers accepted there being a full off-stage orchestra backing Danny up anytime he wanted to sing!

12-24-2025, 07:10 PM	#3
Howard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 238	Seasons 5-6 were the same apartment and the last 3 seasons 1961-64 was the same place as well. I think the production designers were trying new ideas out but luckily they settled on the final set for 3 years which I think was the best!

12-25-2025, 12:06 AM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,161	Single-season apartments were seasons 4, 7, and 8. It would have made sense for a move after season 4, since single Danny married Kathy and gained a child, although I don't think, as stated above, a move was mentioned. Several apartment designs had slight elevations to bedroom quarters, maybe 4 or 5 steps. The season 4 apartment had a definite upstairs, which I'd think would be odd in a city apartment building.