Hi there everyone,

I do hope you've all had a great week. We're still having fairly nice weather over here, although a bit wild at times, but it doesn't seem like autumn yet. Very few of the trees have started to shed their leaves yet. It always amazes me that autumn can start so late in the year for us here. I would love to be able to visit Schuyler in autumn, as I think the trees changing colors would just be spectacular.

We are into our last week of school this week before our Easter break. Term 1 will be finished and we will have a well earned, 2 week break, before heading back for another term again. Speaking of Easter, will you be seeing A Waltons Easter again this year? It seems such a short time since it aired for the first time, yet here it is already two years down the track.

There's not a lot of news on the Waltons front from this end, but I've been able to catch up on more of the episodes which I had taped, which is good. Since Keith brought up the question of the boys going barefoot and the girls wearing shoes, I've been very conscious of watching for this in the episodes I've been looking at. My findings are that quite often some of the children are without shoes, while others have them on, but I've been noticing that the girls often have barefoot and that quite often Jason does too. I've definitely noticed this as a trend during season 2. I have just watched The Separation and seen Mary Ellen in her best dress at the dance, which becomes Erin's good dress in later seasons too. It's fun to pick up these little details. Only a true fan would know that!

Well I'll talk to you all again next week.

Goodnight everyone, Karen.

With regard to the question abut why the children don't wear shoes; one reason is because people from the country don't like to wear shoes (I went to high school with 16 yr. olds who went to school without shoes) another reason is that it feels s000 good even today and I'm 59. Also they were poor and were probably saving wear on the shoes. When they went to church the shoes were on.

Pat

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm with you Pat. I take my shoes off as soon as I get inside the door. I can't stand them!

Hi Karen,

I live in the Bay Area and I think I can explain the time change for the show. Until last December I think TNN only had one feed (I'm not sure if that is the correct term) nationwide and The Waltons was broadcast here at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Now there is a delay and the show is on at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

I think I read years ago that the family of Earl Hamner's mother came over from Italy to help Thomas Jefferson when he wanted to grow grapes.

Leigh Ann :)

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the info. I hope our reader has finally caught up with the time change.

<< I have recently gone back to the profession of teaching. I got to watch the Waltons twice a day during the summer and keep current with things by reading your digest during the school year. I just had a day off and was very disappointed to find that The Waltons was not on at the time that I was expecting it. Can anyone living in the San Francisco Bay area tell me when the program is on? Thank you! >>

Hi....I'm in AZ. There are two tape feeds...east coast and west coast. I get the west coast feed as you do. So you will find The Waltons on TNN at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Hope this helps you.

Cathy

Mesa, AZ

Hi, Karen!

One of our fellow digest members from the San Francisco Bay area mentioned not being able to find The Waltons on TV at the time she thought it would be shown. I seem to recall that when The Waltons first went on TNN they were shown at 1pm and 6pm Eastern Time...then the later show was moved to 7pm Eastern Time. I don't know if that is the cause of the confusion or not, nor do I know if this helps our friend. If you get a more accurate response than this one, please don't hesitate to choose not to include this in the next digest.

All the best,

Claire

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks Cathy and Claire.

Greetings from Arizona,

I was wondering if anyone caught the mistake in the episode called "The Legend". In this episode they referred to Reckless the dog as a boy. But I'm sure I remember in a later episode, I'm not sure of it's name, that Reckless has a puppy on Erin's bed and that Yancy Tucker thinks that his dog is the father of the puppy....I was just curious if anyone else caught that mistake.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes I also noticed that Reckless was definitely referred to as "boy" in this episode.

Hi All,

Here is the next part of the article from Tiger Beat magazine.....incidentally there is a lovely color full page picture of John Boy with his hand behind is head as well as one (B&W) of the family, like a family portrait picture, taken in the lounge room.

There are also several smaller pictures.

Here's what it says about David Harper "Jim Bob":

David S Harper was born in Abilene, Tex, Oct 4th 1961. In show business only one year, he has already co-starred with Ernest Borginine in a pilot, guest starred on "Man and the City" as well as appearing on the network CBS Special "the Homecoming : A Christmas Story".

A student at Colfax Elementary School in North Hollywood, he plays drums and guitar and sings "not to be a professional but because I like it".

Along with his father, actor Paul Harper, mother Bunny and sister Michele, 20, he spends his spare time horseback riding and target shooting.

____________________

I am glad the little profiles are being enjoyed, will post another one next week.

Good night all

Kaz in Oz

KAREN'S COMMENT: I can't remember, but I think that a Paul Harper may have guested on one of the early episodes. I wrote it down and wondered whether it was his Dad. Thanks once again for this one.

Hi everyone,

Here's the next installment of profiles found in the Tiger Beat magazine I had sent to me. For Beth who was asking about the actors ages , here they are according to the clippings I have in front of me. I have no idea how the accuracy of this information. I know when it came to info printed in these magazines in the 70s re my fav group, the Bay City Rollers, the editors wrote what they liked without consulting the band. However perhaps in the case of the Waltons it could be 100% correct. If anyone has any clippings that they compare the ages I would love to hear from them.

Richard Thomas....………………..June 13th 1951

Kami Cotler............………………June 17th 1965

David harper.........………………..Oct 4th 1961

Mary Elizabeth McDonough………May 4th 1961

Judy Norton………………………Jan 29th 1958

Jon Walmsley………..……………Feb 2nd 1956

Eric Scott…………………………Oct 20th 1958

Mary Elizabeth McDonough

Mary Elizabeth McDonough was born May 4th, 1961 in Los Angeles. Described by her mother as 'part monkey' she is an avid student of acrobatic and ballet dancing, even on her bicycle, and she likes to stand on her head. The maternal side of her family has been in the United States for more than 300 years and is believed descended from President Andrew Jackson. Bibles verifying the family background were burned around 1900. Mary Elizabeth attends Our Lady of Lourdes School in Northridge. Her parents Lawrence and Elizabeth McDonough, operate an atuomatic transmission service. She has a sister, Elaine 7 and two brothers, Mike 17 and John 14.

Goodnight

Kaz in Oz

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think the birth dates are pretty right Kaz. Thanks again for the articles.

Hi Everyone,

Someone in this latest digest asked if their last name had ever been mentioned in the series. Can't say mine has, but I do think that my hometown has. I'm referring to the episode where Jim Bob runs away and Grandma and Olivia get worried enough to take off and look for him. There is a scene in the kitchen - I think it is when they are just getting ready to leave - where Grandma mentions some other person who ran away "all the way to Portsmouth". At least this is what it sounds like to me. Portsmouth (Virginia) is right next to Norfolk and across the James River (also mentioned by Grandpa in some episode) from Newport News.

That she says this always tickles me. And if I have just been hearing it wrong all this time, please let me down easy!

Bye now,

Larissa

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well none of my names have ever been mentioned. By the way, how's your baby coming along...and you for that matter?

Oh look, it's me again! I'm sure many others will write in and tell you this also, but oh well. The British version of Antiques Roadshow is shown on our Public Television stations over here under that name. There is also an American version here with the same name which appears to be extremely popular. My local cable doesn't carry the Home & Garden channel so I've never heard of the Great Antiques Hunt. But antiquing (antiqueing?) is my hobby so I'll definitely keep an eye out for the show!

Larissa

KAREN'S COMMENT: Someone else did write and mention that they love the show too. Antiques are really very overpriced at some places over here. Some aren't even really antiques. I must say some of the furniture on The Waltons was rather nice, especially the old bath, and the dresser in Grandma and Grandpa's room. And I still love their quilts. :-))

Hello Karen,

Mary in Lilburn, Georgia here. Was just reading the digest this evening and read your comment on the last post and was wondering ........in it you said, "The preps celebrated with formal ..... and had green sponge cake and green pikelets." What are preps and pikelets?? I am curious!!

Thanks for your time; I am still enjoying the digests so much. Thanks for keeping it going.

Mary

KAREN'S COMMENT: Sometimes it's hard to believe that we speak the same language isn't it Mary, when you get terms like that! Well the food was green (because of food colouring, not mould!!!!) in honor of St Patrick's Day. The children in their first year at our schools, the 5 year olds, are known as Preps, simply because it is their Preparation for School Year. Some states call the first year Kindergarten, but we have that as well. It's not given a number like Grade 1 or 2 etc. Now I really don't know how to describe pikelets. They're like small pancakes I suppose ...made with batter and they are fairly thick, but only about 3 inches in diameter. I don't know what you call them. Maybe drop scones, or griddle cakes or scones? They are definitely made out of a pancake type batter and pan fried. Hope that helps. :-)

Hi Karen. I've dug up some answers to some of the questions in the last digest.

Regarding Baz's question about the family history:

In episode 12, The Dust Bowl Cousins - Cora Denby is John's cousin. John's brother, Matt, is Cora's father. If this is correct John is Cora's uncle. The Walton adults call Cora and Ham "cousin" and the children call Ham "Uncle Ham". Matt is dead.

In episode 17, The Love Story - Rome and Rebecca Lee Walton lived on the mountain. All that is left of their house is a stone fireplace.

In episode 20, The Deed - The year is 1933. Grandpa says that in 1796, John-Boy's Great Great Grandpappy Walton cleared a meadow on the mountain. Grandpa says that John-Boy's Uncle Charlie got attacked by a bear on the mountain.

In episode 39, The Awakening - Esther bore 3 children.

In episode 41, The Heritage - Zeb's full name is Zebulon Tyler Walton. If it is 1934, he and Esther were married in 1884. Zeb was born around 1862. John was born in the Walton house. In the cemetery on the mountain, two of the tombstones read: Rebecca Lee Walton 1845-1898 and Benjamin Walton 1889-1917 In Service Of His Country. I think Ben is John's brother.

In episode 49, The Conflict - Zeb's oldest brother is Henry (1845-1921). He was married to Martha Corinne (1846-1939). They had a son Boone and a son Henry Jr. who died in infancy. Boone was killed by a truck in 1943 while carrying 2 gallons of moon shine across a road. Boone had a grandson, Wade who was married to Vera. Last year was Boone's wife's funeral. Henry and Martha Corinne met in 1856 and were married in 1861. In 1865, after Henry served in the Civil War, he and Martha Corinne built their first (and only) house.

In episode 52, The Runaway - Jim-Bob's birthday is June 13, 1924.

In episode 62, The Birthday - It is Spring of 1935. Zeb is turning 73. Zeb and Esther have been married almost (according to Zeb) or just over (according to Esther) 51 years.

In episode 77, The Boondoggle - Zeb's father built the old homestead up the mountain which later burned down.

In episode 80, The Competition - John-Boy said his great grandfather settled the mountain in the 1700's. Zeb said the Waltons have been timbering up here for over 200 years. These times seem too far back.

In epsiode 84, The Estrangement - John Called Wade, Boone's nephew. Aside from this he was properly referred to as Boone's grandson throughout the show.

In episode 88, The Secret - Jim-Bob's birthday is January 13, 1923. His twin that died at birth was named Joseph Zebulon Walton.

In episode 106, The Pony Cart - It is the summer of 1937. Zeb's parents were the first Waltons in Virginia. Zeb's brother Henry lost his arm in the Civil War. Henry and Martha Corinne's child Henry, Jr. lived less than 2 weeks. Martha Corinne's maiden name was Tyler. Zeb and Henry's father's name was Samuel. He came from England in 1810. Martha Corinne is 90.

In episode 143, The Empty Nest - It is 1941. Zeb Walton's grave says 1865-1941.

So as you can see, there's no real consistency in any of their history.

A couple of digests back someone mentioned that the final episode The Revel reminded them of another episode. This episode, written by Scott Hamner was very similar to episode 13, The Reunion which was written by Earl Hamner. Both episodes had the Baldwin ladies organizing reunions which nobody attended. In The Reunion, the ladies wanted to have a family reunion while in The Revel they wanted to have a class reunion. At the end of both episodes, The Waltons and other locals came by to celebrate.

Speaking of the Baldwins, I saw an episode of Bewitched a few weeks ago that had Helen Kleeb (Mamie Baldwin) playing cards with a group of ladies at the Stevens' house.

FINALLY, I want to thank Debbie from Missoula for alerting me to the availability of Earl's "Hollywood Zoo" book at Barnes and Noble. I ordered it and after receiving it a couple of weeks later found out it was no longer available. What luck! I may have gotten one of the last copies. I also own The Homecoming and Spencer's Mountain (signed by Earl). For anybody interested in owning them, Barnes and Noble's site offers new and used copies for sale. Just click this link: http:www/barnesandnoble.com/ and search for Earl Hamner.

That's it for now. I hope there's room for all my blabbering. Good night everyone.

Rob

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thank you for all of this Rob, and yes, I managed to fit it all in! And with pleasure I might add. :-) With The Dust Bowl Cousins though, I got the impression that Matt was Zeb's brother, not John's? I've also just finished watching The Awakening, and Grandma tells Mary Ellen that she bore three children in that bed. These would be: John, the sister that died of diphtheria, and Ben, the brother killed in the war, wouldn't they? Is that all that have been mentioned?

Good evening, Karen and everybody!

We're watching The Love Story tonight. Doug noticed another boo-boo. John and John Boy were in the barn talking, and John says something about the cow would be ready to calf in a couple of weeks, but John Boy had told Jenny that he had already milked the cow that morning. Doug told me that a pregnant cow wouldn't be giving milk.

We're anxiously watching the Ebay auction site. Doug has bid on a couple of Buck Brothers wood carving tools, and I've bid on two Walton's books. Wish me luck!

Looking forward to this weeks digest,

Robin in Ohio

KAREN'S COMMENT: Hope you got your books Robin. Which ones were they?