"Those Were the Days" is the second of three pilots shot by creator Norman Lear in what would eventually become All in the Family. The first pilot, "Justice For All", was rejected by ABC in 1968, so Norman Lear changed the script slightly from the original pilot as well as some of the actors.

Chip Oliver was brought in to play Archie's son-in-law, whose name was changed from Richard to Dickie. Candice Azzara now played Gloria in the second pilot. The actor who played Lionel remained the same. This pilot shot in 1969 was again rejected by ABC and was never shown on television until TV Land in 1998 as part of an All in the Family marathon.