Almost everyone has seen either the 1950 or 2003 version of the film Cheaper By The Dozen.
In 1950, Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy starred as Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr. and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, who have 12 children and raise them in a unique and efficient manner.
What some people don't realize is that Lillian and Frank were real people, and their many children definitely grew up differently than everyone else.
Frank was an engineer and was known in the field for his work in efficiency, management, and time and motion.
Lillian was also an industrial engineer and psychologist. Lillian and Frank worked together to mainstream home economics and domestic management.
Two of their children, Frank Jr. and Ernestine, wrote the 1948 Cheaper By The Dozen, which chronicled their family's life.
And if you ever wondered where the title came from, it was actually one of Frank Sr.'s favorite jokes. Any time people would ask him why he had so many children, he would respond, "Well, they come cheaper by the dozen, you know."
Find out more about the family below!
In 1948, Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey published Cheaper By The Dozen, a biographical novel based on their own family upbringing in the 1920's.
The book quickly became a bestseller, and takes it title from their farther's glib explanation whenever anyone commented on the size of the family: "Well, they come cheaper by the dozen, you know."
In 1950, the book was adapted into a feature film by Twentieth Century Fox featuring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy.
The story follows the journey of a large family, in which both parents are engineers, and day-to-day proceedings are organized to run with maximum efficiency.
Frank, the father, tries to streamline everything his family does, creating elaborate systems in order to wrangle his many children and keep the household running smoothly.
When Frank passed away in 1924, Lillian continued his work.
Lillian, though not domestic by nature, revolutionized the modern kitchen, creating the linear kitchen layout many of us still use today.
In addition, she's credited with inventions like the shelves on the inside of refrigerator doors, the foot pedal on the trash can, and wall light switches.
Lillian had an incredible career. Not only did she raise 12 children, she also helped companies with management, worked with IBM, worked for General Electric, and wrote books.
She and her husband are most well-known for their efficient lifestyle and teaching methods they employed with their children.
In 2003, the 1950 film was adapted into another 20th Century Fox film by the same name.
Cheaper By The Dozen starred Steve Martin and Bonny Hunt as Tom and Bonnie Baker.
Although the 2003 version of the film doesn't have many connections to the Gilbreth family, there are a few subtle mentions.
Did you know that there was a real family behind the Cheaper By The Dozen movies?
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