What's up with the gypsies? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Tankeryanker · 07-11-2022, 04:13 PM

S7 E 26
Were they roaming the country back in the 60s in mass?

rusty spike · 07-12-2022, 10:07 AM

Fear?

Even the Munsters had an episode when they were trying to sell their home to move to Buffalo. They were terrified of "Gypsies".

stevea · 07-12-2022, 10:20 AM

Andy Griffith, Dennis the Menace--it must have been a thing to have a gypsy episode in the 60s.

Bonniegirl · 07-12-2022, 10:46 AM

I think Green Acres had a Gypsy episode? And I know the Waltons did too, but that was 70's TV taklng place in the 30's !

stevea · 07-12-2022, 11:05 AM

There could have been two for Green Acres:

The Vulgar Ring Story

The Blue Feather

GentlemanJim · 07-12-2022, 01:10 PM

In total seriousness, I believe this is one of those instances where Hollywood reshaped reality.

I think there was a movie made in the 1940s dramatizing that gypsies would steal your children. And this thought process escaped into the public consciousness. Parents warned their children to not wander off, for concern that the gypsies might snatch them.

I remember being told that gas stations were a favorite place for gypsies to grab children. Of course this was generally reinforced during gas stops on family vacations, mainly as a tool of convenience to keep the kiddies organized.

So, the use on tv sitcoms might have been spillover from contemporary gossip?

Tankeryanker · 07-12-2022, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I think Green Acres had a Gypsy episode? And I know the Waltons did too, but that was 70's TV taklng place in the 30's !

In the Walton one, the old gypsy woman stated that the Waltons would steel gypsy children. I thought that was an odd thing to say.

biffbronson · 07-12-2022, 06:28 PM

In Season 5 of The Beverly Hillbillies, the Clampetts encounter a couple of scammers who are purportedly gypsies. Also, much earlier in the series, Jethro's mother fears he'll be taken away by gypsies, and in that same episode Miss Jane wears a wig and says she is a gypsy woman who'll take Jethro to her camp.

07-11-2022, 04:13 PM	#1
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,048	What's up with the gypsies? S7 E 26 Were they roaming the country back in the 60s in mass?

07-12-2022, 01:10 PM	#6
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	In total seriousness, I believe this is one of those instances where Hollywood reshaped reality. I think there was a movie made in the 1940s dramatizing that gypsies would steal your children. And this thought process escaped into the public consciousness. Parents warned their children to not wander off, for concern that the gypsies might snatch them. I remember being told that gas stations were a favorite place for gypsies to grab children. Of course this was generally reinforced during gas stops on family vacations, mainly as a tool of convenience to keep the kiddies organized. So, the use on tv sitcoms might have been spillover from contemporary gossip?
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

07-12-2022, 10:07 AM	#2
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Fear? Even the Munsters had an episode when they were trying to sell their home to move to Buffalo. They were terrified of "Gypsies".

07-12-2022, 10:20 AM	#3
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,639	Andy Griffith, Dennis the Menace--it must have been a thing to have a gypsy episode in the 60s.

07-12-2022, 10:46 AM	#4
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,718	I think Green Acres had a Gypsy episode? And I know the Waltons did too, but that was 70's TV taklng place in the 30's !

07-12-2022, 11:05 AM	#5
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,639	There could have been two for Green Acres: The Vulgar Ring Story The Blue Feather

07-12-2022, 06:28 PM	#8
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,488	In Season 5 of The Beverly Hillbillies, the Clampetts encounter a couple of scammers who are purportedly gypsies. Also, much earlier in the series, Jethro's mother fears he'll be taken away by gypsies, and in that same episode Miss Jane wears a wig and says she is a gypsy woman who'll take Jethro to her camp.