What was the show's time-frame? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

StevieB · 07-31-2009, 01:45 PM

Everybody knows that HD took place in the 1950's, but does anybody know the exact years this sitcom covered (from the first season to the final season)?

I would think that the setting was the mid '60's by the time the series was coming to an end. I do recall an episode where Potsie and Ralph joined the navy. Were they getting ready to enlist for the Vietnam War perhaps? Maybe the exact year was never mentioned (throughout the run of the show)?

Thanks!

Cheers!

Sincerely, Steve B.

anglemark10 · 08-01-2009, 12:06 AM

Based on dates given during the series, I think it's generally accepted that the series took place between 1955 and 1965. There are some conflicts with dates given, though. I ultimately go by a big poster Joanie held up while making a film for Richie in "Home Movies" that says "Summer 1962."

Also, Richie and Ralph joined the army, not the navy.

treky · 08-01-2009, 10:37 PM

I remember a Christmas episode from 1980 or 81 where at the end someone took a picture of the Cunninghams then they showed the picture with CHRISTMAS 1961 written on it.

faraj · 08-02-2009, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anglemark10

Based on dates given during the series, I think it's generally accepted that the series took place between 1955 and 1965. There are some conflicts with dates given, though. I ultimately go by a big poster Joanie held up while making a film for Richie in "Home Movies" that says "Summer 1962."

Also, Richie and Ralph joined the army, not the navy.

I think what StevieB means is that Ralph and Potsie joined the Navy just for that one episode from season 5, and that setting seems to be nowhere near the Vietnam War which was in the late 60s, I believe.

anglemark10 · 08-02-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faraj

I think what StevieB means is that Ralph and Potsie joined the Navy just for that one episode from season 5, and that setting doesn't seem nowhere near the Vietnam War which was in the late 60s, I believe.

You're right. I totally misread the statement.

StevieB · 08-03-2009, 06:34 PM

Actually Faraj...according to the Wikipedia, the U.S. started sending troops to Vietnam in the year: 1965.

Check out this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War

What I was trying to say is that if Ralph and Richie were going to Vietnam, we would have at least a clue regarding what approximate year this particular episode took place in.

If they were going to Vietnam, and you suscribe to the theory that Season 1 started in 1955, then this particular Season 5 episode did not take place in 1960, but 1965, or post 1965. Like anglemark10 said, there are some conflicts regarding the HD chronology. It has been years since I saw that episode. Did they even mention Vietnam in the script?

Thanks for all the help!

Cheers!

Sincerely, Steve B.

faraj · 08-03-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieB

Actually Faraj...according to the Wikipedia, the U.S. started sending troops to Vietnam in the year: 1965.

Check out this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War

What I was trying to say is that if Ralph and Richie were going to Vietnam, we would have at least a clue regarding what approximate year this particular episode took place in.

If they were going to Vietnam, and you suscribe to the theory that Season 1 started in 1955, then this particular Season 5 episode did not take place in 1960, but 1965, or post 1965. Like anglemark10 said, there are some conflicts regarding the HD chronology. It has been years since I saw that episode. Did they even mention Vietnam in the script?

Thanks for all the help!

Cheers!

Sincerely, Steve B.

How could Season 5 take place in 1965 if Season 1, which theoratically began in 1955, is only 4 seasons prior to that?

Season 1: 1955
Season 2: 1956
Season 3: 1957
Season 4: 1958
Season 5: 1959

So S5 would more likely to be in 1959.

StevieB · 08-14-2009, 03:54 PM

Faraj...I stand corrected. I guess Ralph and Richie joined the army in 1959 (several years before the U.S. sent troops to Vietnam).

Nip It · 08-14-2009, 09:40 PM

And some of the songs that were played through the 1st-4th seasons did not come out until the late 50's.

And with every passing year (especially after the 4th season), their hairstyles became more and more like the late 70's style. Why did Garry Marshall allow this to happen?

At least Fonz's hair remained the same. The beard he had towards the end of the show did not suit him at all.

robyrob · 08-14-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faraj

How could Season 5 take place in 1965 if Season 1, which theoratically began in 1955, is only 4 seasons prior to that?

Season 1: 1955
Season 2: 1956
Season 3: 1957
Season 4: 1958
Season 5: 1959

So S5 would more likely to be in 1959.

there are far too many anachronisms throughout the series to assume that each season corresponds to a different year - they actually treated the timeline pretty fluidly whenever it suited them, and pretty much abandoned the realism of the time period they were supposed to be portraying in the final seasons.

Avilos · 08-15-2009, 09:54 PM

This is Hollywood folks! Historical accuracy has never been its greatest strength. Lets also not forget that this was just a SITCOM! If they present teenagers in the 1950s as having longer hair they they did in reality, that's because this is the "Fictional Mythical Fifties". Which has become almost like the Wild West. Where the specific details, and sequence of events are mixed and adjusted for dramatic effect.

This looseness with history was in place from the first episode. This is a universe in which every hit Rock song until 1959, had been released right along with Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock in 1955.

danzin01_1983 · 09-10-2009, 01:23 AM

I am not sure when the show started, probably in 1957 because Richie and Potsie were in 10th grade, and I want to say they graduated high school in 1959. However the show was never really consistent, because Joanie and Chachi were Seniors in High school for 3 years (we know this because at some point in Season 7 Joanie talks about being a Senior and Chachi and Joanie are the same age, and then it is mentioned numerous times during season 8 and 9 that they are Seniors getting ready for college). We do know that the show ended in 1965 because in Passages Joanie and Chachi are both wearing tee shirts that say The Kinks world tour '65.

danzin01_1983 · 09-10-2009, 01:26 AM

Vietnam was never mentioned in the show. Richie and Ralph were drafted in 1961 ( Richie was crowned king of the Delta Gammas for 1961, the same season that they left) and sent to Greenland. The show ended in 1965 which would of been around the time Vietnam would have been a major issue.

StevieB · 07-02-2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danzin01_1983

Vietnam was never mentioned in the show. Richie and Ralph were drafted in 1961 ( Richie was crowned king of the Delta Gammas for 1961, the same season that they left) and sent to Greenland. The show ended in 1965 which would of been around the time Vietnam would have been a major issue.

Thanks for all the info, everybody!

Cheers!

07-31-2009, 01:45 PM	#1
StevieB Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 97	What was the show's time-frame? Everybody knows that HD took place in the 1950's, but does anybody know the exact years this sitcom covered (from the first season to the final season)? I would think that the setting was the mid '60's by the time the series was coming to an end. I do recall an episode where Potsie and Ralph joined the navy. Were they getting ready to enlist for the Vietnam War perhaps? Maybe the exact year was never mentioned (throughout the run of the show)? Thanks! Cheers! Sincerely, Steve B.

08-01-2009, 10:37 PM	#3
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I remember a Christmas episode from 1980 or 81 where at the end someone took a picture of the Cunninghams then they showed the picture with CHRISTMAS 1961 written on it.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

08-01-2009, 12:06 AM	#2
anglemark10 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 06, 2004 Location: United States Posts: 787	Based on dates given during the series, I think it's generally accepted that the series took place between 1955 and 1965. There are some conflicts with dates given, though. I ultimately go by a big poster Joanie held up while making a film for Richie in "Home Movies" that says "Summer 1962." Also, Richie and Ralph joined the army, not the navy.

08-03-2009, 06:34 PM	#6
StevieB Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 97	Actually Faraj...according to the Wikipedia, the U.S. started sending troops to Vietnam in the year: 1965. Check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War What I was trying to say is that if Ralph and Richie were going to Vietnam, we would have at least a clue regarding what approximate year this particular episode took place in. If they were going to Vietnam, and you suscribe to the theory that Season 1 started in 1955, then this particular Season 5 episode did not take place in 1960, but 1965, or post 1965. Like anglemark10 said, there are some conflicts regarding the HD chronology. It has been years since I saw that episode. Did they even mention Vietnam in the script? Thanks for all the help! Cheers! Sincerely, Steve B.

08-14-2009, 03:54 PM	#8
StevieB Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 97	Faraj...I stand corrected. I guess Ralph and Richie joined the army in 1959 (several years before the U.S. sent troops to Vietnam).

08-14-2009, 09:40 PM	#9
Nip It Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 12, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 19	And some of the songs that were played through the 1st-4th seasons did not come out until the late 50's. And with every passing year (especially after the 4th season), their hairstyles became more and more like the late 70's style. Why did Garry Marshall allow this to happen? At least Fonz's hair remained the same. The beard he had towards the end of the show did not suit him at all.

08-15-2009, 09:54 PM	#11
Avilos Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 29, 2008 Location: Plymouth, WI Posts: 83	This is Hollywood folks! Historical accuracy has never been its greatest strength. Lets also not forget that this was just a SITCOM! If they present teenagers in the 1950s as having longer hair they they did in reality, that's because this is the "Fictional Mythical Fifties". Which has become almost like the Wild West. Where the specific details, and sequence of events are mixed and adjusted for dramatic effect. This looseness with history was in place from the first episode. This is a universe in which every hit Rock song until 1959, had been released right along with Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock in 1955.

09-10-2009, 01:23 AM	#12
danzin01_1983 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 26, 2001 Posts: 50	I am not sure when the show started, probably in 1957 because Richie and Potsie were in 10th grade, and I want to say they graduated high school in 1959. However the show was never really consistent, because Joanie and Chachi were Seniors in High school for 3 years (we know this because at some point in Season 7 Joanie talks about being a Senior and Chachi and Joanie are the same age, and then it is mentioned numerous times during season 8 and 9 that they are Seniors getting ready for college). We do know that the show ended in 1965 because in Passages Joanie and Chachi are both wearing tee shirts that say The Kinks world tour '65.

09-10-2009, 01:26 AM	#13
danzin01_1983 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 26, 2001 Posts: 50	Vietnam was never mentioned in the show. Richie and Ralph were drafted in 1961 ( Richie was crowned king of the Delta Gammas for 1961, the same season that they left) and sent to Greenland. The show ended in 1965 which would of been around the time Vietnam would have been a major issue.