BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.........in a number of episodes, both subways and buses are mentioned numerous times.

In the 1977 episode,"MIKE THE PACIFIST", Archie, Gloria, and Mike are heading back to Queens on the subway, after Mike and Gloria dragged Archie up to "Da Bronx" to look at a house they were interested in.

Archie derided "Da Bronx" as only he could:

"...'Bronx' is an old Indian word meaning,'Hey, Chief! Look around, the trees are dead!' "

Gloria to Archie: "Daddy, the Bronx is not at the end of the world."

Archie: "Well, it sure smells like the end of something!"

The subway car set is interesting; "generic" of course, but it did give the "authentic" feel of a prewar car (the last prewar IND cars had just been retired that year)

The set design also reminded me of the old prewar Broad Street cars that were then still running in Philadelphia.

The destination sign box reads:

DYRE AVE

GR CENTRAL (note "GRAND" is abbreviated)

SOUTH FERRY (lit in green)

The signs, of course, reflect the IRT, but the overall car design was more atkin to an IND/BMT car (the painted prewar-style straps looked as though they might have been salvaged from a scrapped SIRT ME-1, or perhaps, a prewar IRT car)

Car number is #1184 (this number would have corresponded to an R-6)

Watching this episode, now well over 40 years old, I still get that warm, nostalgic feeling for the ancient prewar cars Mom and I once rode, when I was just a lad.

Buses:

Archie to the "kids":

"What do you two know about the subways? You only take the buses, I ride the subways twice a day."

For years, I thought Archie worked at a plant either in Queens or in Brooklyn; however, in "THE MAN IN THE STREET" episode, it is revealed that Archie's plant was located in Manhattan.

Recall, also, for some time, Gloria took the bus to and from her department store job; Mike had a college position.

I wonder what bus routes they might have ridden on?

Supposedly, the Bunkers resided in Astoria; personally, I always thought they lived in Woodside.

Though no "ALL IN THE FAMILY" episode ever featured the Bunkers on a city bus, the subway, at least, was featured in one (aforementioned) episode.

One can only imagine what Archie would think of "Da Bronx" today, nearly 50 years later?

I'm wagering it would NOT be complimentry, for sure!

"Oh, geeze!"

["THOSE WERE THE DAYS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The "ALL IN THE FAMILY" episode I just posted about, 'MIKE THE PACIFIS", aired in 1977.

At that time, the "Em-Tee-Yay's" bus fleet was entirely Fishbowls and "Dangerfields"; the "Borough Bombers" and the RTS were still several years into the future...........

"NYO"

["704-HAUSER ST. VIA QUEENS BLVD"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In the later series, "ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE", the opening credits feature an air-conditioned Fishbowl, as well as a non air-conditioned one (STEINWAY)

I personally recall seeing these buses in the credits; this was also briefly mentioned in another topic here on the board, several years ago........

"NYO"

["STEINWAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

There was also one quick scene featuring the subway conductor in "MIKE THE PACIFIST"; though I could not make it the conductor's cap badge lettering, it was clear that the cap badge was either a prewar badge, or, at least, some sort of a replica.

It certainly had a distinct prewar look to it.

(Archie also mentions that, coming home from "da Bronx", that they had to change trains at Grand Central, which would have meant a transfer to the #7 Flushing line)...................

"NYO"

[" 7 FLUSHING"]

In some of the later AITF episodes (after Mike and Gloria's baby was born), there are some references here and there to Mike taking the subway, and not the bus.

In "MIKE AND GLORIA'S WILL" (1976), Mike arrives home from work, clothes torn and bruised, telling Gloria that he was waiting for the train, and leaned over the edge of the platform, and lost his balance and fell to the tracks, as a train was pulling in.

He (of course!) was rescued by two other men on the platform.........

["DO NOT LEAN OVER EDGE OF PLATFORM"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The house seen in the opening credits of AITF is actually location at 89-70 Cooper Avenue, Astoria.

If, indeed, the Bunkers did reside in Astoria, they would have used the "RR" (BMT Astoria line), at least to make connections to other lines.

Taking a train from "Da Bronx" (with obvious IRT signage would have,indeed, required "a change at Grand Central" (as Archie explained in the "MIKE IS A PACIFIST" episode from 1977.

As the Bunkers' neighborhood was, in fact, a combination of elements representing different Queens neighborhoods, it would have made sense that Archie mentioned transferring at Grand Central, to get to Queens (of course, at GC,they could have taken the shuttle to TSQ, and transferred to the "RR", living in Astoria.

The buses they would have used, I'm guessing, would have been STEINWAY..........

"NYO"

["RR ASTORIA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

When these 1979 photos of STEINWAY buses were snapped, AITF would soon be giving way to "ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE".

In 1979, Fishbowls were still pretty much the backbone of the STEINWAY fleet.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153408

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153399

["Q101"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

STEINWAY Fishbowls in 1981...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153396

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153403

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Q104 QUEENS BLVD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The BMT's Astoria line, back when "AITF" was still a fairly-new show........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?73357

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?26572

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?47523

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["RR ASTORIA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

It's 1971, and "ALL IN THE FAMILY" has only been airing on CBS for but a few months; here, we have a "Tee-Yay" green Fishbowl (#4460), on the job in the Bunker's home borough........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154294

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["13 TO MAIN ST-IRT SUBWAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Roosevelt & Main, 1971..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154603

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["13 TO FORT TOTTEN"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

I am sure you can "shed some light" on the following........

During the years (beginning in 1971) when "ALL IN THE FAMILY"was a prime show (and the Bunkers were living in Astoria):

1: What bus routes then served the general area:("Em-Tee-Yay"/private carrier)

2: What garages were in the general area?

Appreciate info, as always......

"NYO"

["Those were the days"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting note:

In "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES" (Martin), it says that in 1984 (by which time "AITF" was in syndication) several Queens operators received used 35-foot '"Dangerfields" when the CDTA purchased a fleet of new ORIONS........

"NYO"

["Q25"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In 1973, there were still some of the venerable (and iconic) "Shermans" still on the job in Queens...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153751

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["TO QUEENS"]

[X-Astorian]