Bookman should have been in BIG trouble for the broken elevator! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice Johnson · 09-10-2023, 10:02 PM

So, the elevator had a broken shaft and what does this IDIOT Bookman do? He didn't block the elevator, and he allowed the doors to be opened. Larry could have fallen to his death because of Bookman's inexcusable incompetency. When an elevator doesn't work, the doors shouldn't open at all, and should be blocked.

Good Times Fans were like,"Why was Larry walking backwards into the elevator in the first place? People would be facing forward into the elevator and would be able to see that there was a broken shaft even if it opened when it was out of service. I don't know anyone who walks backwards into an elevator. "

I think that Larry was facing forward into the elevator, heard someone saying,"Larry," and turned around (Back to the elevator)to see why they were calling him. But in any event, the elevator door should never have opened in the first place with a broken shaft.

rusty spike · 09-11-2023, 03:09 PM

Bookman is one of my favorite characters on GT. Not because he's a great guy, but because I know so many people who think and act just like him.

Janice Johnson · 09-11-2023, 11:49 PM

About the elevator, Fans of Good Times were like,"The green screen of Larry falling into the empty elevator in the end of Florida's Favorite Passenger Part 1 looked horrendous." It was 1978 or 1979 and green screen wasn't all that advanced yet. Harry Potter this was not.

Besides, I had fallen asleep during a Good Times Marathon and I woke up just as Larry green screen fell into the empty elevator. I was shocked!

hch · 12-21-2025, 11:11 PM

Your frustration aligns with a common criticism from the Good Times fanbase regarding Bookman's negligence and the strange logistics of the accident.

Bookman’s Gross Negligence
As the building superintendent, Nathan Bookman was directly responsible for tenant safety, yet his handling of the broken elevator was dangerously incompetent:

Failure to Secure
Despite knowing the elevator was undergoing its annual service check and was unsafe, Bookman failed to properly block off the area or ensure the doors could not be manually or accidentally opened.

The Broken Shaft
In reality, modern safety mechanisms prevent elevator doors from opening if the car is not present. The fact that the doors opened to an empty shaft reflects either a catastrophic mechanical failure or, more likely, a major continuity error to facilitate the plot.

The "Walking Backwards" Mystery
Fans have long debated why Larry (played by Derek Wells) was walking backwards into an elevator. The narrative justification for the near-tragedy was:

The Hearing Loss Plot
The scene's primary purpose was to prove to Larry’s mother that he had a severe hearing impairment.

The Warning
Florida and others shouted for Larry to stop, but because of his hearing loss, he did not hear them.

The Rescue
Just as Larry was about to fall into the empty shaft, Keith rushed in to rescue him. While his exact movement—walking backwards—is often mocked by fans as unrealistic "sitcom physics," it was used by the writers to explain why he didn't see the missing floor.

Ultimately, this episode remains "nightmare fuel" for many viewers because it highlighted how the Evans family’s lives were constantly endangered by the city's neglect and Bookman's lazy maintenance.

09-10-2023, 10:02 PM	#1
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,738	Bookman should have been in BIG trouble for the broken elevator! So, the elevator had a broken shaft and what does this IDIOT Bookman do? He didn't block the elevator, and he allowed the doors to be opened. Larry could have fallen to his death because of Bookman's inexcusable incompetency. When an elevator doesn't work, the doors shouldn't open at all, and should be blocked. Good Times Fans were like,"Why was Larry walking backwards into the elevator in the first place? People would be facing forward into the elevator and would be able to see that there was a broken shaft even if it opened when it was out of service. I don't know anyone who walks backwards into an elevator. " I think that Larry was facing forward into the elevator, heard someone saying,"Larry," and turned around (Back to the elevator)to see why they were calling him. But in any event, the elevator door should never have opened in the first place with a broken shaft.
	Last edited by Janice Johnson; 09-11-2023 at 02:13 AM.

12-21-2025, 11:11 PM	#4
hch Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 07, 2001 Location: Montross, VA 22520 Posts: 983	Your frustration aligns with a common criticism from the Good Times fanbase regarding Bookman's negligence and the strange logistics of the accident. Bookman’s Gross Negligence As the building superintendent, Nathan Bookman was directly responsible for tenant safety, yet his handling of the broken elevator was dangerously incompetent: Failure to Secure Despite knowing the elevator was undergoing its annual service check and was unsafe, Bookman failed to properly block off the area or ensure the doors could not be manually or accidentally opened. The Broken Shaft In reality, modern safety mechanisms prevent elevator doors from opening if the car is not present. The fact that the doors opened to an empty shaft reflects either a catastrophic mechanical failure or, more likely, a major continuity error to facilitate the plot. The "Walking Backwards" Mystery Fans have long debated why Larry (played by Derek Wells) was walking backwards into an elevator. The narrative justification for the near-tragedy was: The Hearing Loss Plot The scene's primary purpose was to prove to Larry’s mother that he had a severe hearing impairment. The Warning Florida and others shouted for Larry to stop, but because of his hearing loss, he did not hear them. The Rescue Just as Larry was about to fall into the empty shaft, Keith rushed in to rescue him. While his exact movement—walking backwards—is often mocked by fans as unrealistic "sitcom physics," it was used by the writers to explain why he didn't see the missing floor. Ultimately, this episode remains "nightmare fuel" for many viewers because it highlighted how the Evans family’s lives were constantly endangered by the city's neglect and Bookman's lazy maintenance.
	__________________ "You don't own the rights or the patent on scuffling!" Willona from "Good Times"

09-11-2023, 03:09 PM	#2
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Bookman is one of my favorite characters on GT. Not because he's a great guy, but because I know so many people who think and act just like him.

09-11-2023, 11:49 PM	#3
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,738	About the elevator, Fans of Good Times were like,"The green screen of Larry falling into the empty elevator in the end of Florida's Favorite Passenger Part 1 looked horrendous." It was 1978 or 1979 and green screen wasn't all that advanced yet. Harry Potter this was not. Besides, I had fallen asleep during a Good Times Marathon and I woke up just as Larry green screen fell into the empty elevator. I was shocked!