| WALTONS DIGEST 12:
Hi there everyone, I do wish each and every one of you a very happy Easter Sunday. It is Easter Sunday here as I am writing this, and we have had a lovely day. We had lunch with my Mother in law, and just about the whole family went which made it really nice. We seem to catch up with people all the time, but we never seem to be in one place at one time, so it was nice that most of us were able to be there. She loves to have us all and everyone pitches in and helps too. We are also celebrating another milestone today too. It was Easter time last year when the first Waltons digest was sent out to about 30 people. I thought that was a lot of people! I am pleased to say that nearly all of those original 30 are still members, and that the list has grown incredibly over the 12 months that it has been running. What's more ...we still find heaps to talk about. :-) So Happy Birthday to the digest and it's members, and thank you to all of you who contribute letters, thoughts, information etc. each week and make the digest happen. Without all those who contribute, there wouldn't be a digest. I thought that today might be an appropriate time to announce the results of our Waltons poll which I conducted recently. Thank you to all of you who replied, as it made the results much more accurate. As many of you predicted, Grandpa did indeed come out at the top with 27% of the votes. John Boy was next with 19%, and John with 12%. Interesting to see that the men folk won the top 3 positions! Anyway you can all view the results at my site: http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/2792/poll.htm There are also some comments from members which came in with their vote, so I thought that I'd add some of these to the page as well. Currently there is not a link from my main page, so don't lose this address just yet. :-) Speaking about new things on the site, I have also added all of the last years digests to the digest site, as well as adding about 7 or 8 of this year's lot. If you go to the main Mailing list page there are links to both the 1997 and the 1998 digests. That main index page is: http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/Set/4536/index.html This week I have also had time to view "The Hunt" again. You might remember that there was some discussion some time ago about it being billed on the box as the premiere episode, when we all know that "The Foundling" actually aired first. I found it very interesting. Olivia's character began sounding quite a bit like Patricia Neal's Olivia in "The Homecoming" and seemed to be not as warm a character as she was in later series. It was very interesting to see the changes in her in particular. If this indeed was meant to be the first episode, I think it was a wise decision to air "The Foundling" instead as it moved much more quickly. Having said that, however, "The Hunt" did introduce the characters to us very well, especially the character of John Boy, who was such a sensitive person that he could not take the life of an animal, until it threatened someone he loved. I do wonder who makes the decisions on which episode in a series airs first? Well there we are for this week. Have a wonderful, safe and happy Easter with your families and friends. Talk to you all next week. Goodnight everyone, Karen.
About the episodes "The Violated" and "The Waiting", not airing on the Family Channel: Dear Claire and Karen, I am almost positive that I have indeed seen these two episodes on the Family Channel. My memories are fuzzy, but I believe in "The Violated" - Olivia is asked by a soldier to go check on his wife who has stopped writing to him and discovers she has been raped. In "The Waiting", Olivia does begin volunteering for the Red Cross. If these two episodes are the correct ones, than they have been shown on the Family Channel. Though I believe I have only ever seen them both once and it was sometime last year. Perhaps they were only shown once and then the channel decided not to show them again - I can't imagine a reason why, however. Regards, Maggy
Karen- I just read in the digest that FAM didn't show the episodes titled 'The Violated' and 'The Waiting' There was a question as to content - whether or not Family Channel didn't show it for a reason. I have been taping episodes off of the Family Channel for several years and I have both of these episodes on tape, so they have been shown at some point, although I don't know how recently that would have been. I have to say that I am disappointed in the Family Channel's 25th Anniversary Season airing of the episodes 'in order' Ha! Their idea of 'in order' and my idea of 'in order' must be two different things! Anyway, I don't believe content is the reason why they left them out. I check out your page from time to time to see what you've been up to and I love getting your digests. Keep up the great work!! Your friend in Illinois- Michelle KAREN'S COMMENT: Perhaps as they are nearing the end of their run on the FAM channel, they aren't showing the 2 part episodes or something. Who knows!
I feel that the Baldwin Sisters had a tendency to fantasize from time to time. I know exactly what you are saying but in some families especially old class southern families they tend to name their children after relatives and include their name . Perhaps it would have been clearer if Ashley Longworth. Erin's beau, was known as Ashley Longworth III but it would have come across as a mouthful. Try to say that full name several times and you will understand what I mean. Perhaps none of Ashley Sr. children were named after him for some reason maybe there was only one son and several daughters. So the name Ashely Longworth passed on to the grandson rather than to the son. Perhaps this explains the confusion Donald F Nelson KAREN'S COMM,ENT: You may be correct Donald, but I do seem to think that Ashley was the son Miss Emily's Ashley. Whatever, the storylines where both Ashley Longworth Senior and Junior were featured, were just terrific I thought.
Hello Karen and all Waltons' enthusiasts. I have a request ...I'm particularly interested in the Waltons' House ... I've long planned making a 1:12 scale copy ... complete with furniture, even the old 'wireless', etc. Does anyone know of any plans in, say, a hobby magazine that may already exist? Has anyone any sources of photographs, inside and outside shots to enable me to make my own plans? Or, does anyone know the web-site for the Waltons' Warner/Lorimar studios (I may be able to get a ground-plan from them?) All other suggestions welcomed. (This is a personal project, not commercial) Best regards, William Hartley, Mid-Cornwall UK KAREN'S COMMENT: It sounds an interesting project William. I hope that someone can help you.
Hello again! By the way I am from Montezuma, NY (West of Syracuse). Any way I am eagerly awaiting news of the October reunion, it sounds exciting! Wedding plans are going along well, but there is always something more to do. I thought I would share the books that I have in my Walton's collection. The Whitman series: The Bird Dogs, The Puzzle, The Accident, The Penny Sale, The Treasurer, and Up She Rises. Paperbacks: Spencer's Mountain, The Homecoming, The Easter Story, and Fifty Roads To Town. Hardcovers: Elizabeth and The Magic Lamp, The Birthday Present, The Homecoming, Fifty Roads To Town, and You Can't Get There From Here. If any one needs some books to add to their collection I have extra Whitman books and some paperbacks of Spencer's Mountain and The Homecoming. God Bless! Cindy KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad to hear that the wedding plans are going well. It can be a very stressful time sometimes. :-) Your paperback copy of "Fifty Roads to Town"....what is this one based on? Sounds intriguing.
Wonderful that you reproduced the article in the New York Times. As a Dallasite{although I was born in New York City and lived 2 years in Washington DC before coming to Dallas) I read with tongue in cheek the article from the now deceased Dallas Times Herald about the Waltons. I know who wrote the article-the TV critic named Bob Brock who panned all the shows I liked: Waltons and especially the Brady Bunch- how wrong he has proved to be. Donald F Nelson KAREN'S COMMENT: Donald is referring, of course, to the article in last week's digest. It's fascinating to read critics impressions about different shows. There are some here who seem to hate anything with good family values, and yes, I liked the Brady Bunch too!
Hi Karen and everyone, I've read some of the first digests and noticed that you all introduced yourselves. So I'll do the same. My name is Frieda and I live in Belgium. I'm 34 years old and as so many of you my first memories of the Waltons date back to when I was a child. My family life was exactly the opposite. I'm an only child and I've only ever known my mother and her family. I used to think how lovely it would be to have so many brothers and sisters, but as my mother was already 40 years old and my father wasn't around anymore, there was no chance for that. On the other hand I quite liked to have the undivided attention of the adults around me. At the moment I work as a secretary and my only access to E-mail that I have is at work. So all the mails I do are done during lunch hour. I've never seen the complete series. Our television broke down when I was twelve and at that moment we couldn't afford to buy a new. For five years we didn't have a telly. I can't say I really missed it, but then I'm also an avid reader.... When they began to give The Waltons again on Dutch television, I decided to tape it. But now that I have access to the net, I noticed they began with "An Easter Story" and that's the end of the First season. Also they stopped with John Boy deciding to move to New York. Somewhere along the road I forgot to set my video a few times and then gave up taping it altogether. Boy, do I regret that now !!! Karen, reading these older digests, I noticed that you mentioned a few times having missed the 1993 Thanksgiving Reunion. If your video system in Australia is the same as ours in Europe (PAL-VHS), I'd gladly tape it for you. They showed it over here, I think, three Christmasses ago. One of my favourite quotes is from Grandma (saw it again last night). In "An Easter Story" at the beginning they are all preparing to go to church, except John. Grandpa says he especially likes the singing. "Anything that gives an old man like me enjoyment, should be encouraged." Grandma answers in saying "You can even make going to church sound wicked." I just love Grandpa and Grandma. In my opinion these lists are just the tops. You get to 'meet' people who share the same interests and that's lovely. My friends are just as big Waltons fans as I am, so I've never felt a closet fan. But these digests are just lovely. And Karen, I just love to hear about Australia. Your country has fascinated me since I was five years and saw 'Skippy' on the telly over here. My mother said I just pointed at the set and said 'Mum, I want to go there.' She had quite a time explaining to me that that would be very expensive. If everything goes right, my friends and I will come to Australia in two or three years time. One of my other favourite series was 'The Flying Doctors'. Frieda
Hi Karen, Every Monday I really look forward to the next Digest. I looked at the CBS poll today. The results up to date are:
So Olivia can still use a bit of support. I tried to vote for my friends, but that didn't work. They were counted as a multiple vote from me. Pity. Hear from you soon Frieda (Antwerp, Belgium) KAREN'S COMMENT: Frieda, welcome to our family of Waltons enthusiasts. Thank you for the offer to tape A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, but I have since caught up with that one as they aired it here late last year. I must say that I have enjoyed both the shows you mention. Skippy when I was much younger, and certainly The Flying Doctors. I'm glad you've been able to see the better quality Aussie shows though. Some of the things which have been produced over the years have been absolute DISASTERS!!!! I hope everyone has voted in the CBS poll. I keep checking, and the results are always much the same as this.
Hi Karen, Yesterday evening I saw some more episodes. When they reran the Waltons on Dutch television, they started with An Easter Story, then came The Hunt, followed by The Reunion and then The Foundling. Now I've never been bothered by the correct order, but you'd think that when a channel buys a series, they'd run it in the original order. In The Reunion I sympathise with John Boy, when he wants to buy his mother the washing machine. I know how it feels when you save for something and then finally are able to get it. We've never been rich (I think I'll never be), but when I was younger my mother had a shop and she nearly went bankrupt. I can remember a time that we didn't know where the next meal would be coming from. She laid down her books and found a job, but it meant that she'd have to pay off her debts, fourteen years long. So when I wanted to take up ice-skating I had to save for my skates myself, babysitting-helping out in shops etc. And then finally when I got them, I felt far happier than when I had received them all in one go. And John Boy works hard to buy something for someone he loves, so the reward is even greater. Funny Comment in The Foundling from Elisabeth when they talk around the breakfast table about finding a child on their doorstep; 'Is that where you found us, Daddy ?' Afterwards she comes back and asks : 'Just where did you find me ?' John answers : 'Hiding behind one of you mother's smiles." Such things make me grab for my hanky. (Is that because I'm still single or have other people got the same reaction.) One of the episodes I would love to have on tape is "The Cradle". Can anyone help me here ? Well, I'll get back to work. Night everyone. Frieda
Hi Karen and Friends, I was watching Star Trek: The Next Generation when who did appear on there? It was Ellen Geer. Now I am now sure, but that wouldn't be Will Geer's daughter, would it? I am now all ready for the showing of the Waltons starting on the 27th. Shirley KAREN'S COMMENT: Well Ellen Geer is an actress and is Will Geer's daughter so it probably was her Shirley. Actually I saw her recently in an episode of "Maloney". She is much older than I had thought actually.
Following is some more information about the video "The Walton Legacy". I don't have a copy, nor have I seen it, but it does seem to be enjoyed by many Waltons fans. Thanks to Cynthia for sending us this information. Hi Cynthia- Thanks for the inquiry. I'm trying my best to get word to all of the Walton fans out there about our documentary, but it's slow going! Being a Public Television station, we don't have a lot of money in our budgets for mass-scale advertising. So, I'm depending on you Walton fans and your connections to each other :-) Let me tell you a little more about it, and perhaps you can forward this info to the Walton fans in your address book. THE WALTON LEGACY began as a conversation between me and the folks at The Walton's Mountain Museum in Schuyler, Virginia. I found out that they had a museum up and running and dedicated to the Hamners and the way of life represented on the series, "The Waltons." I went to their dedication ceremony, met and interviewed Earl Hamner, and did a five minute story on the museum for my magazine show, Blue Ridge Journal. I decided that we could expand a story into a half-hour show on Earl's family and his drive to create the series. The more I spoke with him, the more I wanted to know about his upbringing, his town, and "The Waltons." So, we produced a one-hour documentary, during which we travel all over Virginia, out to Hollywood, and up to Vancouver, British Columbia, to talk with Earl, the Hamners, the cast of "The Waltons," and Schuyler residents. We ended up with a wonderful tapestry of history and culture, and an inspiring story of how one man started a chain of events that would forever link people together in the commonality of family and community values. Earl and the cast were very candid and open about their feelings for each other and the struggles and impact of "The Waltons." It is a beautiful story of love and success that continues to affect me as a Producer. That is the documentary that you will see on-air, if your PBS station chooses to broadcast the program. The Programmer at the station will only make that choice if the audience--that's you!--voices a demand for it. It will be available in April of this year. Call or write your local PBS station and tell the Programmer to watch for it! The VHS tape version of the documentary, which we offer for retail at $29.95 (that includes shipping and handling), has an additional 20 minutes at the end, which is just a visit with Earl and the cast members. Michael Learned, Judy Norton, Jon Walmsley, Eric Scott, Mary McDonough, Kami Cotler, Joe Conley and other cast members talk about their funniest, most poignant and most memorable moments behind the scenes. Earl himself, his brothers and sisters, and several cast members have called and written to me, expressing their appreciation and admiration for THE WALTON LEGACY. We are now trying to market it overseas and to The Family Channel. Anyone who is interested in purchasing a copy of THE WALTON LEGACY can send a check or money order for $29.95 to: THE WALTON LEGACY WVPT Public Television 298 Port Republic Road Harrisonburg, VA 22801 We also accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. Anyone wishing to order with credit card may do so by calling 1-540-434-5391. Thanks again for your interest! Sincerely, Tracey Jewell, Producer THE WALTON LEGACY KAREN'S COMMENT: Cynthia adds in another email which gives extra information that it is only available in NTSC format currently. Tracey tells her that profits from the video go back into "producing/purchasing programs and community ourtreach programs". They are a non profit organisation. I would love to hear from anyone who has already seen it. What's on it? Do you like it? Comments etc.
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