# Which Chicago Housing Project did "Good Times" take place in?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chicago-housing-project-did-good-times-take-place-in/166078
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 2, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chicago-housing-project-did-good-times-take-place-in/166078 "2003-04-02T23:26:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mr.Frink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Frink)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chicago-housing-project-did-good-times-take-place-in/166078/1 "2003-04-02T23:26:20Z")
Now that most of the high-rise housing projects are being torn down here in Chicago, it led me to wonder: Which housing project did the Evans family live in on the 1970s TV program, **Good Times**? I’m just curious as to if J.J. & all have had to relocate yet.
(OK…I know…on the last episode they all moved out of the projects).
I think it was either The Robert Taylor Homes, or Cabrini-Green. There’s a shot of the buildings during the opening credits…but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the show. Can any Chi-towners (or anyone else) help me out here?
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### Author:  [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chicago-housing-project-did-good-times-take-place-in/166078/2 "2003-04-02T23:48:28Z")
I always thought the opening shot was Cabrini Green. However, I grew up in St. Louis, and only know about that neighborhood, so I cannot confirm absolutely that the opening shot was actual buildings from that neighborhood.
However, according to [this](http://www.valdefierro.com/times02.html) site, the creator grew up in Cabrini Green, so that’s good enough for me:
> [@](#):
>
> Good times was originally created by Eric Monte. Eric grew up in a similar environment in Chicago’s Cabrini Green Projects.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chicago-housing-project-did-good-times-take-place-in/166078/3 "2003-04-03T03:54:04Z")
More to the point, how can Mrs. Evans live in Chicago and be Maude’s maid in New York? Did that ever get explained?
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### Author:  [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chicago-housing-project-did-good-times-take-place-in/166078/4 "2003-04-03T18:52:20Z")
The same way Benson evolved from a Butler to a Lt. Governor over time. “Razzle Dazzle!”
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### Author:  [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chicago-housing-project-did-good-times-take-place-in/166078/5 "2003-04-04T03:08:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by watsonwil \*
> \*\*The same way Benson evolved from a Butler to a Lt. Governor over time. \*\*
Especially in California, where the Gov and Lt Gov run on separate tickets in the primary and general elections.
To actually answer the OP, I lean towards Robert Taylor, solely because that’s the biggest housing project in the US.
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### Author:  [@The\_Man\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_Who)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-chicago-housing-project-did-good-times-take-place-in/166078/6 "2003-04-04T03:24:34Z")
I’d just like to say that I opened my copy of Brooks and Marsh’s _Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows_ exactly to the page Good Times is on.
Not that it did any good, as the answer to the question isn’t there. But still.