*All In The Family* was one of the greatest shows ever, and I believe its lessons are still relevant today. It made several actors famous – and Sally Struthers was one of them.
Today, the beautiful woman with her iconic blonde hair looks quite different – but she’s still working in the industry…
**A Precocious Talent**
For many of us, Sally Struthers will always be remembered for her role as Gloria Stivic in the ’70s sitcom *All In The Family*. The iconic show was about a working-class white family living in Queens, New York, and it received an incredible 73 award nominations and won 42 times during its run.
However, I wonder if people born after the show ended can really understand how groundbreaking it was. There had been funny sitcoms before, but they rarely addressed social issues and taboos. *All In The Family* took many of these topics and made them funny, heartbreaking, or sometimes both.
Watching old episodes of the show on YouTube really makes you feel young again. It makes you laugh and helps you forget about today’s problems. Many of the issues back then are still the same ones we face today, just presented in a comical way.
The main characters in *All In The Family* are Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor), Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton), Gloria Bunker-Stivic (Sally Struthers), Michael Stivic (Rob Reiner), and Stephanie Mills (Danielle Brisebois). They all had great chemistry together.
In my opinion, Sally Struthers was very talented and often underrated as an actress. She even sang in some episodes of *All In The Family*, and I could see how she grew as a performer throughout the series.
“At first, I behaved like an idiot on the set. I thought that was how to get people to like me. I’ve learned to be myself, and now they respect me,” she told *Longview Daily News* in 1973.
When the series premiered in January 1971, Sally was a 22-year-old unknown with little TV experience. Producer Norman Lear, who Sally called the “father of us all,” discovered her while she was dancing on *The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour*.
Despite her lack of experience, Sally did a fantastic job, just like the rest of the cast. Six months after the premiere, she was a certified star as *All In The Family* became the No. 1 show on television.
At the peak of her fame, she could hardly walk outside or go to dinner without being swarmed by fans. For an innocent 22-year-old, it was a very challenging experience.
During the first seasons of the show, Sally was happy playing Gloria Stivic. However, she was rarely given a chance to fully develop her character or showcase her acting skills. During a break from *All In The Family*, she told producers that she wanted to try a more dramatic role.
“When we go on hiatus, I want to do something different,” she said.
“There are so many ways to represent a woman. I would like to play a murderess, an unwed mother, a nun, and an old Jewish mother. At the end of my career, I’d like people to say that I am as funny as Judy Holliday and as respected as Ruth Gordon.”
Unfortunately, typecasting can hurt a career – how often do we see someone become famous from an iconic show, only to struggle afterward?
Sadly, that was somewhat true for Sally.
She won two Emmy Awards for her role as Gloria and was given leading parts in a few other shows after leaving *All In The Family*. But the reality was that she didn’t receive many offers, and work soon began to slow down for her.
In the 1990s, Sally was a semi-regular panelist on the game show *Match Game*. Others might recognize her as Babette Dell in *Gilmore Girls*.
Today, she has been a regular at the Ogunquit Playhouse since the early 2000s. This regional theater is located in Ogunquit, Maine, and produces four or more shows each season.
In 2022, she starred alongside AJ Holmes as Frau Blucher in Mel Brooks’ *Young Frankenstein* at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The *All In The Family* star has also worked hard to advocate for impoverished children in developing countries. Sally has been a spokesperson for the Christian Children’s Fund for many years and has appeared in their well-known TV commercials.
**Sally Struthers’ Daughter**
Many might not know this, but Sally is a mother of one, even though she never really wanted a child at first. After meeting famous psychiatrist William C. Rader, she changed her mind. The couple married in 1977, and two years later, they welcomed a daughter named Samantha.
Over the years, Sally has had her ups and downs. She lost her mother to Alzheimer’s in 1996; her mother passed away in Sally’s arms just two days before Christmas. Sally has also faced mean comments about her looks and weight over the years, mostly from random people on social media.
But the actress has handled all these challenges with charm, integrity, and a sense of humor.
“From the time I was able to walk and say a few words, my whole aim in life was to make people laugh,” she told *Spectrum News* in 2022.
“And when I hear other people laugh, and I know that some silly face I’ve made or some line reading has made them double over, I’m transported to heaven. That’s my thing. Laughter.”
Fоund it in my in-lаws drаwеr whеrе thеy hаd buttеr dishеs еtс Whаt’s this?? Fоrk thеrе fоr sсаlе..
HERE ARE SOME OF THE ANSWERS:
it’s a bone for a glass dog. they were bred in the early 19th century; but short life span made it impossible to keep them viable.
A serving knife rest, so your lovely lace tablecloth will not be stained.
Congrats on keeping the comments clean everyone!
Baby dumbbell. No one likеs a weak baby.
It’s a knife rest. These are not only for the carving knife, but one is at each place setting for resting the table knife after it’s used. It is NOT for the butter knife. The butter knife remains across the bread plate.
My grandmother had two. I don’t know about her background, buy she had many instruments that showed she entertained often.. I have a set of 12 salt cellars with tiny crystal spoons to sift the salt from the cellars over individual food. We used them at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Today none of my children know how to “play” fancy meals.
Sad tradition. If it won’t get washed in a dishwasher, they won’t keep them in their house.
No talking- no experiences other than food from a paper bag.
To lay you knife on after you cut your meat so you don’t mess up your tablecloth
Knife rest. Kind of likе a chopstick rest
Dirty knife rest keeps table cloth clean.
Lol I have one from my mom, never knew what it was for. Now I do! Thanks
Wow!! Thank you for insights!! So cool to have this group!! The knife rests sure are beautiful!!
Have one just likе this. Resting of the carving knife, if you only have one.\
I’ve never seen one, they are beautiful!
Wow! I thought I knew different types of serving utensils, but I didn’t know this one. Thank you for sharing!
We used t have one likе that, my Mom and my Grandma’s. Salt roller maybe?
I have a set of them
It’s to set a knife holder.
A knife rest is a small, often decorative, object used to keep the blade of a knife from touching the surface of a table or countertop when it’s not in use. They come in various shapes and materials, ranging from simple metal designs to more ornate versions made of silver, porcelain, or other materials. They can add a touch of elegance to a dining table while also serving a practical purpose.
Certainly! Knife rests have been a part of dining culture for centuries, originating in the 17th century in France. Back then, they were primarily made of metal or porcelain and were often adorned with intricate designs, reflecting the opulence of the time.
In addition to their decorative function, knife rests serve a practical purpose. Placing a knife directly on the table can not only damage the table surface but also transfer food residue and germs. Knife rests elevate the blade, preventing contact with the table and maintaining hygiene standards during meals.
Over time, knife rests have evolved in design and materials, catering to various tastes and aesthetics. While traditional designs still remain popular, contemporary versions featuring minimalist styles or innovative shapes have also emerged, appealing to modern sensibilities.
In formal dining settings, such as fine restaurants or elegant dinner parties, the use of knife rests adds a sophisticated touch to the table setting. They are often part of a coordinated set of tableware, complementing the overall aesthetic and enhancing the dining experience.
Beyond their practical and decorative aspects, knife rests also hold historical and cultural significance. They evoke a sense of tradition and etiquette, reminding us of bygone eras when elaborate table settings were an essential part of refined dining.
Whether used for everyday meals or special occasions, the humble knife rest continues to play a subtle yet essential role in dining etiquette and table presentation, embodying a fusion of functionality, beauty, and tradition.
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