Hi everyone,

We're coming up to the Easter season here again, as I begin writing this. It would have been wonderful to have finally had A Walton's Easter air out here, but according to another digest member, it's not to be. Channel 9 had the rights, but didn't air it, and now the rights have expired. Perhaps it will be on cable some time in the future. We do have all the usual Easter fare though, such as Easter Parade (one of my favourite musical films) and How Green Was My Valley also seems to pop up either at Easter or Christmas. Oh well.

During this week, I finally managed to get this years digests onto the site, so if you are new to the digest this year, you can catch up on the most recent ones by going to the following site and following the link to the 2000 digests.

http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/Set/4536/index.html

This is an index page for Digest members only, although I believe it can be found through some search engines.

I have also been working very hard to finish the Walton Photo Album part of my site. Finally it has been done and is on. It's a series of photos from different important events in The Waltons lives. I have included things like the graduations, weddings, anniversaries. The photos aren't terrific but they'll have to do until I can work out something better, and they're better than nothing. So have a look and enjoy.

http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/2792/walton15.htm

or go to the main page and follow the links.

Finally I have added a search engine to both sites. It will help you to look for mentions of your favourite actor, guest star or episode. With the digests, I think it would be particularly good if you have a specific query. A while ago we talked about bible readings at weddings. If you put "weddings" in, or "bible readings" it should come up with a list for you. I haven't played around much with it, but hopefully it will be useful. There's a lot of information in the digest about guest stars and other shows actors have appeared in, and the search engine will make it easier to compile (FIND!) that information.

Have fun with the new parts, and have a wonderful Easter.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Hi from Geri Ann!

I thought the story about Earl Hamner telling Ellen Corby not to play Grandma so tart, because his own grandma was a loving and caring woman, was very interesting. Because what happened was that even though Ellen played Grandma in a very tart way, you could feel how loving and caring Grandma was underneath the tartness! Everyone in the whole Walton family knew that underneath that somewhat gruff exterior was a real softie! So that was such a tribute to Ellen's acting talents, to be able to portray Grandma as being tart, but loving and caring underneath it all. I bet Earl Hamner was happy Ellen wound up getting her way on how to play the part!

Geri Ann

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm glad that Earl allowed her to have her interpretation too Geri Ann. I think a lot of women would have been the same...you know, calling a spade a spade, a no nonsense sort of woman. But yes, you can see how loving and affectionate she was with the whole family, and of course, her Zeb.

Karen,

Most American's had some minor disruptions and inconveniences during the war with rationing and coupons etc. However I do not think those were hardships compared with accounts of World War II victims and survivors over in Europe. I think if you read what most Holocaust survivor's and Japanese camp survivors, as well as refugees and European citizens etc ate you would be amazed they survived at all. Some of the best written accounts other than the camp accounts are Dutch citizen's accounts of what they call "The Starvation Winter" or "The Long Winter".

This was the winter of 1944-1945 until they were liberated by the Canadians. Unless you were lucky enough to own a farm that was not plundered by the German army or partially plundered, or you spent money on the black market you survived on eating tulip bulbs and maybe the odd potato and turnip. This is why there was not one tulip bulb left in all of Holland and when the war ended the Canadian Government planted tulip bulbs all over in order to beautify the country again as well as to cover up all the land that was dug up to find land mines etc. The Walton's did touch on the deplorable food conditions in Europe in a few episodes. One was the episode with Ben being held prisoner in the Japanese camp. Another was the refugees episodes with the Jewish Family who escaped Germany and the one with the British Children (The Children's Carol).

Cally!

KAREN'S COMMENT: What can I say Cally? The victims who were persecuted during the war had the most horrific time. I recently watched Schlindler's List with James as he's studying it for English, and was appalled by some of the things that went on. I have since also seen another few things discussing some of the horrific things people suffered during the war. Same with the Vietnam, and even the more recent wars in Europe. Our newspapers have had stories from some of the Kosovar refugees telling what they saw, and it is just awful to think that people had to put up with such attrocities. As for food, yes it is a wonder they survived, and most with a wonderful spirit too.

Someone wrote to me privately during the week, asking me about Anzac Day, and when I replied, I forgot to tell her, so here's the explanation. It stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and is held each year on April 25. That is the date that commemorates the soldiers landing in Gallipoli during World War 1. There is always a march through the streets of Melbourne on both Anzac Day and Remembrance Day (November) with all people who have fought in wars. Sometimes family members also march...grandchildren with their grandparents etc. It allows us to remember those who fought in Wars, and hopefully reflect, remember and learn from our past involvement in different wars.

<< I loved Richard Thomas' comment about the reunion movies! He joked that the purpose of the movies was to show people how much older and fatter they all were! LOL>>

That's funny! I actually think they look better now!

<<The episode is "A Walton's Easter"...the special that ran in 1997>>

I ordered mine from Columbia House the night the special aired. check out their website and ask them!

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: I thought Richard's comment was funny too. I think it's like catching up with old friends.

FYI Jon Wamsley and Mary McDonagh will be on the chat auditorium on the website country.com on Tuesday, April 18 at 7:30 ET. The site is providing a place for questions now. The song from the new Christmas CD, "That's what Christmas means to me," is being nominated for a Dove Award.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Sorry I didn't notify everyone about this earlier. Is there an archive on this site? I couldn't find one.

>>KAREN'S COMMENT: Does Canada also have their temperatures in Celsius? I would have thought that being so close to the States that they would have used the same measurements. We used to have Fahrenheit and Yards etc, but over the years it has all changed to metric the thinking being that it is easier. I'm not sure of the thinking behind Fahrenheit to Celsius though. I knew there was some sort of formula which gave an indication, but couldn't remember it.>>

Canada uses the metric system and Celsius. Only the UK and the US 9as far as I know) are backward enough to use Fahrenheit and feet!

But, I'll bet some of you didn't know, the official measurement of the US is metric, we just haven't gotten around to switching signs and such.

-Bethany

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well we were backward for some time here too. Seems strange to have such differences.

Hi Karen, thanks for the correction on John Boy's offspring quantity! ha ha. I guess I was thinking of his 'real life' babies...he DID have triplets (Richard Thomas that is). I now remember that John Boy in the Waltons had just the 2. Thanks for a great Waltons Digest...keep up the good work!

Kim

KAREN'S COMMENT: I wonder what Richard's feelings were when he knew they were expecting triplets? I would think it would be quite daunting for a young man to suddenly have a ready made family. Are his triplets identical does anyone know? I think they're about 18 now. Time flies. :-))

Information for CJ

Snowy River is on in the evening on the Odyssey Channel--the one that was called Faith and Values channel until about 1997. It is on right after Avonlea and I sometimes like to turn it on after the Waltons has been on, on TNN.

Lifetime has dropped Chicago Hope and this means Unsolved Mysteries is back. However I have seen a lot of the Unsolved Mystery episodes and they may not be making any more. I would rather watch Avonlea.

Back in a minute with more Walton news:

Did you hear that Donald Balluck died? He was the script writer for a number of Little House episodes (Barnburner was one of them) but I don't know if he did any Walton writing.

Very early on The Outrage (the episode in which they find out that Harley was accused of murder many years before and later pardoned by FDR on the last day of FDRs life) it is mentioned that Serena and Jeffrey went back to their father because he married a woman who "converted him from alcoholism". In The Thanksgiving Reunion of 1963 (shown in 1993) Rose is working for the Northridges. Since Paul had abandoned Erin, it is probably due to the fact Rose needed the pay of the Northridges so that is the only reason she would work for them.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: I don't recall the name of the writer you mention, but I do remember the LH episode. It did seem a bit strange that Rose was now working at the Northridge's.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I received a note during the week, of a new Waltons related site, featuring Richard Thomas. Have a visit:

http://hometown.aol.com/ftrprez/RTHome.html

I just wanted to let you know how much I have been enjoying the Waltons Digest! The Waltons is my all-time favourite show and thanks to the Digest, I am able to read all sorts of interesting things about it from people who feel the same way I do! I recently was married and moved from southern California to northern California. The Waltons became my surrogate family and helped me survive the loneliness.

I was so thankful that someone wrote in to tell about the "Life and Times of the Waltons" being on. I would have missed it otherwise. That was such a great show! Earl Hamner did say at the end that CBS has a script for another reunion show but they haven't made up their minds what to do with it. If all 400+ of us write to CBS (and get our friends to), perhaps that will help. Please write to:

Ray Faiola

CBS Audience Services

524 W. 57^th

New York, NY. 10019

(212) 975-3166

Their e-mail is: audsvcs@cbs.com

I also wrote to TNN to ask them to run the Easter reunion movie, which is the only "episode" I have not seen. It's probably too late, but here's the address:

TNN

2806 Opryland Dr.

Nashville, TN. 37214

I watched my tape of "A Wedding on Waltons Mountain" to see what the Bible readings were for Erin's wedding. There weren't any! Just a very traditional wedding service. Here's a question for you all. During the wedding, Erin is called "Erin Esther Walton." What are the middle names of the other characters on the show? Besides Mary Ellen, James Robert, Cora Beth, and John Curtis, I don't know of any.

A fellow fan,

Valerie

P.S. Do you know of an address where we can contact Earl Hamner?

KAREN'S COMMENT: I didn't think any bible readings were shown for Erin's wedding. Elizabeth is Elizabeth Tyler Walton. Comes from Martha Corinne I think, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Do we know others? What is John Boy's....John Boy Walton???????

Since today, April 14th marks the day we lost our dear grandma Ellen, I thought I would pass on my memorial to the digest.

In Memory

In loving memory of our dear Grandma Ellen Corby, who passed away one year ago today.

We hold you close within our hearts and there you shall remain

To walk with us throughout our life until we meet again.

As time goes on without you and days turn into years,

There will be a million memories and just as many tears.

Sadly missed by Shirley

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thank you for the timely reminder Shirley.

Hi Karen. Just thought I'd tell you about the Canadian measurement system. We use the metric system here. Anyway, we also use Celsius here. Like you said, it doesn't make much sense since we are so close to the States and everything is written differently. It makes things a real hassle with recipes and measurements with food. BTW-I'm really miffed that I missed that Waltons life and times program. I've been sick recently and have gotten REALLY behind in my e-mail.

Farrah

KAREN'S COMMENT: Email is definitely a great way to keep abreast of things but it is very annoying to find that you haven't read your email for a while, and have missed something you desperately wanted to see!

Dear Karen,

Several months ago a Walton fan emailed me wondering if the Walton house existed somewhere in the country. I did not have an answer for him, until this week when I found the following web site:

http://www.mountwashington.com/1164/ranch/photos/waltons/home.html

Then I found another web site

http://www.flashnews.com/news/9rha8rh4.htm

that provided a few comments from Earl Hamner about the site where the Walton house stands and the memory of "Grandpa" Will Geer. I think the readers will enjoy the two web sites. I've also expanded my number of Waltons links at my web site if the readers wish to take a look

http://www.galesburg.net/~atkins/waltons.html

Sincerely,

Bill

URL http://www.WilliamArthurAtkins.com

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thank you for the links Bill. I'll have to check them out.