Hi to everyone on the new Waltons Mailing List. I hope by now you have all received the welcome message, which I will continue to send out to all new members. Hopefully this will have answered any questions you may have had, especially for those of you who are new to mailing lists and aren't sure how they work.

Some of you have been writing to me quite regularly and I feel as though I know some of you well, however it would be good if everyone could introduce themselves to the group so that we all know who we're talking to. You might want to include why you enjoy The Waltons and perhaps if you have a favourite character or episode.

Well, I'll go first...I am a Teacher-Librarian in a primary school, married with 2 teenaged boys. My hobbies are reading, music, stage musicals, family history and gymnastics. I also enjoy the Internet which I discovered while I was studying at University (I have only just completed my librarianship training). One of my assignments last year required me to produce an HTML page, which I did on family history sources in Victoria, and I was hooked. I have since written the one on The Waltons, and have been delighted with all the mail I have received from people who have visited the site...including Earl Hamner and his sister Marion (the real Mary Ellen)!

Our family lives in Ringwood which is about 13 miles outside Melbourne, the capital of Victoria. We are quite close to the Dandenong Mountains which are to the east of Melbourne. We love the mountains and perhaps this is one reason why I like The Waltons...the countryside is lovely and so peaceful.

Here in Australia we didn't see the show until a couple of years after those of you who live in the USA. I personally didn't discover it until the late 1970's so I came in after several seasons had aired, however I did see many of the episodes when it was replayed during the afternoon in the mid 1980's. Apart from the movie specials, it was not seen on TV here recently until the past year when it has aired on one of our cable channels, so I have been able to catch up on seasons 4 and 5. I have just received my magazine for April though and it has been taken off again, but I suppose it will return again some time. We have not seen 1993 movie though, but we did see John Boy's wedding, so I am hopeful that we might get the Easter one which you are all about to see.

I can't decide who my favourite character is but I particularly like all of the children in the show, especially Jason and Erin.

One of the questions which I have been asked quite often is what the actors are doing now. It's been interesting writing to some of you who have current information on what the actors are up to now. Perhaps you might like to share this with the list.

One other question people have been asking me have been where videos of the show are available. I have recently bought two videos from a video online store and I am thrilled with them. I bought A Decade of the Waltons, and The Thanksgiving Story. If you know where to get videos please let everyone know. By the way, does anyone know whether the episodes have been cut or not?

Well that's about it from me for the moment. I hope to hear from you all so you won't have to continually hear me rambling on! If you have any questions about the show, send them on and I'm sure someone on the list will know the answer. You might like to let me know what you think of the new Waltons movie too.

I will be looking forward to receiving all your mail. Have a happy and safe Easter break everyone.

Warmest regards, Karen.

kearney@aardvark.apana.org.au

http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/2792/walton1.htm

N.B. Some of you have been really busy and have sent replies in already. Here are a few below. Read and enjoy!!!

From Ethel:

I saw Richard Thomas (John Boy) on the Rosie O'Donnell Show today. They showed clips for the Easter Special.

I watch the Waltons every morning. It feels as if they're part of my family. The Grandpa reminds me so much of my own grandpa. My kids also like to watch them and with the magic of VCRs maybe their kids will too!

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm really glad that they did some promotions for the special. Did anyone else see it? What did they talk about on the show? Fill me in on all the details please as we don't get this show over here and I'm starved for gossip.

How did Richard Thomas look? I don't think that he's changed much since he did The Waltons all those years ago.

From Marlene:

I have a question for you.....When you said you had to stand in line to use the computer---are you at a library -- etc. --or at home? To answer your question about Richard Thomas---as far as I know he had only one divorce from Alma Gonzalez who he had married on Feb. 14, 1975 and had 4 children: Son Richard F. was 5 years old when Triplets were born---Barbra, Gwyneth and Pilar. He married a second time to Georgiana Bischoff Nov. 20, 1995.

I spent one day last week with Maggie, a Walton Fan Club Member. (Carolyn, Editor of the Blue Ridge Cronicle, a Walton Fan Club Newsletter) had given me her name. She had so many articles and things to go through--I didn't get through it all. She had been collecting almost from the beginning of the series. Your Mailing List might like to know that Judy and her husband, Randy Apostle, had a baby boy born May 16, 1996. His name is Devin Aric. (Aric is spelled with an "A".) Jon and Lisa Walmsley have a daughter, Elizabeth Brighton born July 7, 1993. Richard and Georgiana had a baby boy born July 28, 1996 named Montana James and Erin has a girl whose name is Sydnee Winstrom (I do not have the date of her birth) Eric's wife died of Leukemia 2 days after his baby girl, Ashley, was born November 3, 1992. She never got to see the baby. Kami and husband Kim Howard, are expecting their baby shortly. Does anyone know anything about David?

KAREN'S COMMENT: Marlene, I live in a family of computer buffs. We have an Internet link at home, but with everyone trying to get to their favorite sites, do schoolwork and catch up on their email, we have to take turns, sharing Walton style! Thanks so much for the updates on all of the actors Marlene. I believe Kami's baby is due in April so if anyone sees anything let me know and I'll post it to the list.