Carroll O'Connor "Archie Bunker" and Jean Stapleton "Edith Bunker" Iconic Living Room Chairs, Beer Can Table, and TV Remote fr... (Total: 6 Items)

Description

Carroll O'Connor "Archie Bunker" and Jean Stapleton "Edith Bunker" Iconic Living Room Chairs, Beer Can Table, and TV Remote from All in the Family (CBS, 1971-1979) and Archie Bunker's Place (CBS, 1979-1983), All in the Family is nothing less than the most influential series in the history of broadcast television, and these two careworn chairs from an erstwhile era served as the working-class thrones of its subjects, Archie & Edith Bunker of Queens, New York. The shining gem in the Norman Lear treasure box of programming, All in the Family was the first to tackle real-life issues-from race, ethnicity, civil & women's rights to gender, sexuality, and LGBTQIA rights-at a time when other sit-coms were content to contemplate how to fix mom's broken vase before she found out. The series represents the highest watermark of storytelling; written, directed, and performed by the most talented artisans of the medium. The Bunker's drab living room was intended to give the impression of a dingy, sepia-toned photograph. Sitting prominently at center stage was Archie's well-worn wing chair covered in orange tweed upholstery with a vertical grain, and dark wooden arm rests and legs, sat upon by the bigoted family patriarch. From here, Archie (portrayed by Carroll O'Connor) held court and offered the world his bigoted views and social commentary on issues he pontificated with full gusto and unabashed ignorance. The program was perceived by the network as so potentially shocking to their 1970s audience that it employed an army of extra switchboard operators to arm the phones immediately following the airing of the premier episode, ready to deal with the flurry of complaints they expected, but never received. The first episode would air with a warning: "Warning: The program you are about to see is ALL IN THE FAMILY. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show-in a mature fashion-just how absurd they are." With these words, CBS introduced All in the Family on January 21, 1971, and changed the face of television forever. Together with the low-back living room chair of Edith Bunker (portrayed by Jean Stapleton) covered in a yellow upholstery featuring a yellow floral and leaf pattern, with dark wooden arm rests and legs, and brass head detailing. Literally and figuratively, always by Archie's side, Edith sat quietly and obediently, repairing her husband's socks, until she could take no more; her squeaky, sparse, soft-spoken words often serving as the voice of reason. The original chairs were acquired by the production from a Southern California secondhand furniture store for reportedly less than $20 for use in the show's pilot episode. They went on to star in eight seasons, and after the final episode of Season 8, believing it to be the show's last, they were donated to The Smithsonian Institution on September 18, 1978. However, in the weeks that followed, the network would order another season of the show, but the original chairs could not be reclaimed from the national collection, so a second set were specially designed and fabricated for the final season. A mill was found in England that produced custom textiles and fabrics were handmade to match the chairs' original fabric, then laboriously distressed with a wire brush and other tools to simulate the original aged chairs. The cost of producing the second set of chairs exceeded $15,000 in 1978, about half the median price of a 3-bedroom house at the time. Accompanied by Archie's original three-legged living room beer can table of dark wood with a half-circle top that sat between Archie and Edith's living room chairs. Like the chairs, it was the second of two such accent tables that held Archie's beer cans and beloved TV remote control during the long run of the series, and then the popular spin-off series, Archie Bunker's Place, for five additional years, with many critically acclaimed episodes, including dealing with Edith's death. The historic ninth and final season of the series was especially poignant, tackling daughter Gloria moving to California with husband Mike and grandchild Joey, and their subsequent divorce. Also included is Archie's beloved living room RCA Victor television remote control featuring gold controls for "V" (volume) and "C" (channel) buttons and a brass-tone grill, often on his side table, at the ready, to drown out opposing, logical points of views, as well as his amber-colored glass ashtray that sat atop Edith's knitted lace doily. Since only two sets of the living room furniture were utilized in the production of the 1970s series, and one set will forever be celebrated within the national collection, these are the only Archie & Edith Bunker chairs & table known to exist for private collection. All objects directly acquired from series creator, Mr. Norman Lear. The Archie Bunker chair measures 38 in tall x 27 wide x 26 in deep. The Edith Bunker chair measures 34 in. tall x 22 in. wide x 19 in deep. The beer can table measures 24 1/2 in. tall x 10 wide x 21 in. deep. The ashtray measures 2 in. tall x 2 1/2 in. long x 4 in. deep. Please note that Archie & Edith Bunker's living room set walls, other furniture, and set decoration are offered separately in the following Lot #89619.

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