Where IS Raytown located? - Mama's Family (1983) Discussion

[–] sourpussss 9 years ago

Raytown is a working class suburb of Kansas City, MO. They talk about places that existed, like Sam's BargainTown and Wild Woody's. I've heard that the show was somehow connected to Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres creator Paul Henning, who grew up in the next town over, Independence (with Harry Truman). I'm not sure why they didn't set it in Independence, where the native character is similar to Mama's (Raytown tended to be either pretty quiet white suburbanites or dangerous rednecks). And why they say it never snows I can't say, because there was plenty. I think it's about 100 degrees there at the moment and by January it can get to 10 below.

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[–] Mickolynj 9 years ago

Raytown is definitely in MO. As mentioned, it is a suburb
of KCMO. There IS/WAS a Bigger Jigger (also a Jimmy's Jigger) in
Kansas City. Raytown is not Hicksville nor do the people talk
in Higgins-speak. "Both" Raytowns have a small town feel. This
might have been what Joe Hamilton found perfect for "Mama's Family".

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[–] tinkerbell_jonna 9 years ago

I have been to Raytown and to ME it was very similar to how it was portrayed in the syndicated episodes.

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[–] Mickolynj 9 years ago

Raytown is definitely in MO. As mentioned, it is a suburb
of KCMO. There IS/WAS a Bigger Jigger (also a Jimmy's Jigger) in
Kansas City. Raytown is not Hicksville nor do the people talk
in Higgins-speak. "Both" Raytowns have a small town feel. This
might have been what Joe Hamilton found perfect for "Mama's Family".

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[–] jenn-lynn1219 8 years ago

I just watched bubbas double date and the borden girl down the street had to go to kansas city for a family reunion.. which makes me think that raytown was in misouri

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[–] tinkerbell_jonna 9 years ago

Yeah it's based on Raytown Missouri. Mama and her family always talk about living in a tri-state area, Raytown Missouri is in a tri-state. area, and Mama has mentioned living in the Heartland of America...Raytown, Mo. is almost exactly in the center of the US.

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[–] novastar_6 9 years ago

But even in winter it never snows and it doesn't get cold enough that they'd have to wear heavy winter clothes. They have grass all year round.

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[–] tinkerbell_jonna 9 years ago

Of course it doesn't match up perfect, I mean there is no Hinkley in Missouri either, but the town is based on Raytown, Mo. I was there once and it does look very Mama's Familyish. The names of the businesses are very much like what you hear on the show, There was a Rayview Construction, a For Heaven Sakes! Christian book store, and a Shooters gun shop lol

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[–] darkridedan 9 years ago

I thought growing up that the show took place in the south. In the Carol Burnett sketches and on NBC, the cast had a southern drawl.

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[–] tinkerbell_jonna 9 years ago

I think there is a lot of sourthern influence in Missouri.

I HEARD once Carol Burnett was traveling through Raytown Missouri and she was stopped and given a speeding ticket, she claims she was NOT speeding but said the trial was held by a bunch of hicks...I HEAR that was where they got the idea for it being set in Raytown.

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[–] TheArtfulDetective 9 years ago

I always thought it was Missouri also because Bubba (Alan Kayser) was living in Missouri. Maybe still is?

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[–] dakotasdad 9 years ago

Per replies, Missouri. The license plates on Aunt Fran's yellow Plymouth (in the episode where mama learns to drive) were red and white Missouri style plates from the mid 1980s. BTW, the street where mama is driving is Oakland Avenue in Pasadena, CA a few miles from Mama's house in South Pasadena, CA.

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