How old were Jim and Margaret when they had Betty? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Tankeryanker · 06-26-2020, 09:11 AM

I think I read where Jim was 47 and Betty was 17 when the show started. I thought they were college graduates. The math doesn't add up.

stevea · 06-28-2020, 11:41 AM

The age/school grades of Bud and Kathy kind of add up. With Betty they were using the age 17 in the first season and way into the second.

So let's say Betty way 17 in 1954--she would have been born sometime in 1937. A few times they refer to Jim's class at college being 1933. Margaret was one or two years behind him so let's say she graduated in 1935. They could have married in 1935 or 1936 so that adds up.

At some point I remember dialog with would imply Jim was not yet 40. So, right, 47 definitely wouldn't add up. That would mean he was 30 when Betty was born, and graduated from "State" when he was around 28!

Back to Betty--since they were using 17 in the 2nd season, that would mean by the last season she was 21 (she could have been 16 at the very beginning). That kind of makes sense--she could have started Springfield J.C. at 18.

Tankeryanker · 06-28-2020, 05:59 PM

Thank you. I thought they were saying they were 20 when they had her which doesn't make sense if they graduated at age 21-23

stevea · 06-29-2020, 08:58 AM

In "Voice from the Past" (S5/Ep04) today, I noticed Jim's high school class was 1928 and Margaret's 1931.

Maybe they skipped a year before they went to "State."

06-26-2020, 09:11 AM	#1
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,046	How old were Jim and Margaret when they had Betty? I think I read where Jim was 47 and Betty was 17 when the show started. I thought they were college graduates. The math doesn't add up.

06-28-2020, 11:41 AM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,530	The age/school grades of Bud and Kathy kind of add up. With Betty they were using the age 17 in the first season and way into the second. So let's say Betty way 17 in 1954--she would have been born sometime in 1937. A few times they refer to Jim's class at college being 1933. Margaret was one or two years behind him so let's say she graduated in 1935. They could have married in 1935 or 1936 so that adds up. At some point I remember dialog with would imply Jim was not yet 40. So, right, 47 definitely wouldn't add up. That would mean he was 30 when Betty was born, and graduated from "State" when he was around 28! Back to Betty--since they were using 17 in the 2nd season, that would mean by the last season she was 21 (she could have been 16 at the very beginning). That kind of makes sense--she could have started Springfield J.C. at 18.

06-28-2020, 05:59 PM	#3
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,046	Thank you. I thought they were saying they were 20 when they had her which doesn't make sense if they graduated at age 21-23

06-29-2020, 08:58 AM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,530	In "Voice from the Past" (S5/Ep04) today, I noticed Jim's high school class was 1928 and Margaret's 1931. Maybe they skipped a year before they went to "State."