All In The Family’ Turns 50

All In The Family’ Turns 50

(Original Caption) (Left to right): Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carol O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton ... [+] in a scene from the T.V. series "All In The Family." They are all standing in this photograph. Ca. 1970s, filed 1972.



Bettmann Archive

Regarded as one of the greatest television series in history, CBS' landmark All in the Family debuted on this day 50 years ago.

At the time in 1971, CBS was in search of comedies of a more timely and realistic nature and chose to purge its then rural-themed presence (aka “the rural purge,” which included occupants like The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres and Mayberry R.F.D.) for something unlike anything else on the air at the time, All in The Family. Based on the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, and produced by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, All in the Family changed the face of the situation comedy.

Set in Astoria, Queens, All in the Family, starring Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, broke ground for its contemporary depiction of issues never addressed on television before. Included was racism, antisemitism, homosexuality, women's liberation, abortion, infidelity, menopause, poverty, and the Vietnam War.