Cover image provided courtesy of Rutgers University Press
Fifty years have passed since the debut of the revolutionary sitcom All in the Family. This episode examines its impact on American television culture. We’ll explore the pivotal role of Edith Bunker, as portrayed by actor Jean Stapleton, discussing in particular the ways she brought to those performances a spiritual commitment tied to her Christian Science faith. Guests include Jim Cullen, author of the recently published Those Were the Days: Why All in the Family Still Matters, and Steve Graham, author of an article on Jean Stapleton in The Mary Baker Eddy Library’s “Women of History” series.
Read more: Women of History: Jean Stapleton
Podcast guests
Jim Cullen teaches history at Greenwich Country Day School in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is the author of numerous books, including The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation; Those Were the Days: Why All in the Family Still Matters; and From History to Memory: Television Versions of the Twentieth Century. His essays and reviews have appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, Rolling Stone, and the American Historical Review, among other publications, as well as on CNN.com. A father of four, Jim lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, with his wife, Lyde Cullen Sizer—a historian at Sarah Lawrence College.
Stephen Graham has edited the “Women of History” feature since its inception and written a number of the selections. He came to The Mary Baker Eddy Library in 2013 and is currently Senior Manager of Programs and Communications. Prior to working at the Library, Steve spent over 20 years in editorial and managerial positions at The Christian Science Publishing Society, including work as Managing Editor for the Christian Science religious publications. He was also editor of The Christian Science Monitor’s daily inspirational column for five years.
