Archie Bunker's Chair from All in the Family
Archie Bunker's Chair from All in the Family
- Description
- Wing chair used by character Archie Bunker on the television sitcom, All in the Family, 1970-1978. The upholstered, wood-framed chair was purchased for the show from a thrift store in Southern California and used in the show's production until the final season, when a reproduction was made after this chair was donated to the Smithsonian.
- All in the Family was one of the most popular and influential television programs of the twentieth century. Before the series' 1970 premiere, most sitcoms had only lightly discussed political and social change, focusing instead on family matters and character foibles. Show creator Norman Lear wanted to produce television programming that depicted "real people dealing with real issues" and adapted the British series Till Death Do Us Part for CBS. Set in Queens, New York, All in the Family followed the working-class Bunker family: Archie (played by Caroll O'Connor), a blue-collar World War II veteran and outspoken conservative, kindhearted wife and mother Edith (played by Jean Stapleton), college-aged liberal feminist daughter Gloria (played by Sally Struthers), and her husband, progressive Michael "Meathead" Stivic (played by Rob Reiner), who frequently sparred with Archie over politics.
- Social conflicts of the day played out in the Bunkers' living room as the bigoted Archie clashed with his liberal son-in-law and his wife Edith struggled to keep the peace. With sharp but affectionate humor, the show exposed the flaws and complexities of one American family.
- Object Name
- chair
- Object Type
- Chair
- date made
- before 1970
- user
- T. A. T. Productions
- Physical Description
- wood (frame; arms; legs; stretcher material)
- fabric (upholstery material)
- Measurements
- overall: 40 in x 26 in x 31 in; 101.6 cm x 66.04 cm x 78.74 cm
- ID Number
- 1978.2146.01
- accession number
- 1978.2146
- catalog number
- 1978.2146.01
- Credit Line
- Gift of Tandem/TAT Productions (through Norman Lear)
- subject
- Television
- All in the Family {Television Program}
- Television
- See more items in
- Cultural and Community Life: Entertainment
- National Treasures exhibit
- Domestic Furnishings
- Popular Entertainment
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Comments
Scott Napier
Wed, 2019-05-29 08:49
National Museum of American History
Thu, 2017-09-21 09:08
Ryan Lintelman
Mon, 2017-02-06 14:20
Chad Hallman
Sun, 2016-10-30 11:17
Jackie white
Tue, 2015-04-28 21:06
National Museum of American History
Wed, 2015-07-22 08:56
V.S.
Mon, 2014-10-06 00:23
Barbara Davis
Sun, 2016-10-02 02:20
Kevin Kryska
Wed, 2019-05-29 08:59