The Tri-State Area - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

McGillicuddy · 02-08-2014, 01:33 PM

Mama and the family are always referring to Raytown as being in "The Tri-State Area". Missouri boarders on 2 other states in 5 different places. I believe they lived in Missouri, bordering Arkansas and Tennessee.

tlc38tlc38 · 02-08-2014, 04:04 PM

It probably IS in Missouri but I like to pretend it's "Every Small Town, U.S.A.". It's a safe (for the most part) place that I someday would love to live in.

pjpiazza · 02-13-2014, 01:16 AM

I felt hints of Oklahoma whenever I watched. Yes, I do believe it's most likely Raytown, Missouri the Bigger Jigger had a OK flavor to it. My Tri-States are Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.

ahafan02 · 02-13-2014, 11:40 PM

I believe it is Raytown, Missouri (it actually exists)...Vicki is from Missouri isn't she?

'80sSitcoms · 03-01-2014, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahafan02

I believe it is Raytown, Missouri (it actually exists)...Vicki is from Missouri isn't she?

California.

springb · 03-02-2014, 09:05 AM

I like the concept of "Everytown U.S.A." and believe the producers did that on purpose. I'd have to check for certain but I am almost 100% sure they never ever stated which state Raytown was in.

caladon · 03-02-2014, 10:32 AM

Welcome to Raytown, MO

'80sSitcoms · 03-02-2014, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springb

I like the concept of "Everytown U.S.A." and believe the producers did that on purpose. I'd have to check for certain but I am almost 100% sure they never ever stated which state Raytown was in.

I believe they did as well. And no, the state Mama and her family live in is NEVER stated in any of 130 episodes. But the origin for the writers was Raytown, MO.

PracTz · 03-02-2014, 03:21 PM

Like "Leave It to Beaver", I think they were deliberately vague about WHICH state Raytown was in so the home viewers could identify with/against the locale.

However; IMO, I always thought it most likely that since this was definitely a Southern family , there were never episodes dealing with snow or cold weather [and Thelma +Bubba both saw through and considered Eunice's excuse of not being able to drive back from Tallahassee, Florida for their dual graduation due to poor brakes and 'too many hills' lame], I tend to believe that this took place in the Georgia, Alabama, Florida triangle. If for no reason than there are few if any hills of note between Tallahassee and that locale.

'80sSitcoms · 03-02-2014, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PracTz

However; IMO, I always thought it most likely that since this was definitely a Southern family , there were never episodes dealing with snow or cold weather, I tend to believe that this took place in the Georgia, Alabama, Florida triangle.

Raytown has some cold winters. There's the Leland the goose episode where Iola makes him a scarf because he could catch a cold outside "on these chilly December nights", and there's also the episode where they're wearing coats inside and freezing because the furnace is broken and Vint tries to fix it (that's where Mama falls on the roll of pennies in the bank). And they also wear coats in general in some episodes during winter (Christmas shopping etc.). I think of it is maybe the MO/KS/AR area.

Jamey Greek · 03-05-2014, 12:06 AM

The Complete Directory to Peinetime TV shows refers to Raytown as a "Midwestern blue-collar suburb" or it could be a fictional State. With towns like Hinckley, Bundy, and Bump.

quincywagstaff · 03-05-2014, 09:39 PM

On the of the interviews, Beverly Archer mentions that when she auditioned for the role of Iola, she didn't know what kind of accent to use since she was told the setting was Missouri, which is sort of both midwest and southern, so she just copied the accent Vicki used for Mama.

Jamey Greek · 03-06-2014, 05:38 PM

Well Naomi's Ex-husband Leonard Oates flew from Tallahassee to Raytown.

02-08-2014, 01:33 PM	#1
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	The Tri-State Area Mama and the family are always referring to Raytown as being in "The Tri-State Area". Missouri boarders on 2 other states in 5 different places. I believe they lived in Missouri, bordering Arkansas and Tennessee.

02-08-2014, 04:04 PM	#2
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,259	It probably IS in Missouri but I like to pretend it's "Every Small Town, U.S.A.". It's a safe (for the most part) place that I someday would love to live in.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

03-02-2014, 09:05 AM	#6
springb Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 04, 2001 Location: Green Bay, WI, USA Posts: 131	I like the concept of "Everytown U.S.A." and believe the producers did that on purpose. I'd have to check for certain but I am almost 100% sure they never ever stated which state Raytown was in.
	__________________ Scott

03-02-2014, 10:32 AM	#7
caladon Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts state home for the bewildered Posts: 1,151	Welcome to Raytown, MO
	__________________ Jesus is the son of GOD and my savior; pretty cool.

03-05-2014, 12:06 AM	#11
Jamey Greek Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Elba Alabama USA Posts: 877	The Complete Directory to Peinetime TV shows refers to Raytown as a "Midwestern blue-collar suburb" or it could be a fictional State. With towns like Hinckley, Bundy, and Bump.
	__________________ Jamey Greek

02-13-2014, 01:16 AM	#3
pjpiazza Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2005 Posts: 164	I felt hints of Oklahoma whenever I watched. Yes, I do believe it's most likely Raytown, Missouri the Bigger Jigger had a OK flavor to it. My Tri-States are Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.

02-13-2014, 11:40 PM	#4
ahafan02 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 18, 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 108	I believe it is Raytown, Missouri (it actually exists)...Vicki is from Missouri isn't she?

03-02-2014, 03:21 PM	#9
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Like "Leave It to Beaver", I think they were deliberately vague about WHICH state Raytown was in so the home viewers could identify with/against the locale. However; IMO, I always thought it most likely that since this was definitely a Southern family , there were never episodes dealing with snow or cold weather [and Thelma +Bubba both saw through and considered Eunice's excuse of not being able to drive back from Tallahassee, Florida for their dual graduation due to poor brakes and 'too many hills' lame], I tend to believe that this took place in the Georgia, Alabama, Florida triangle. If for no reason than there are few if any hills of note between Tallahassee and that locale.

03-05-2014, 09:39 PM	#12
quincywagstaff Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 191	On the of the interviews, Beverly Archer mentions that when she auditioned for the role of Iola, she didn't know what kind of accent to use since she was told the setting was Missouri, which is sort of both midwest and southern, so she just copied the accent Vicki used for Mama.

03-06-2014, 05:38 PM	#13
Jamey Greek Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Elba Alabama USA Posts: 877	Well Naomi's Ex-husband Leonard Oates flew from Tallahassee to Raytown.