Hi everyone,

Well I hope that you all had a really nice Easter break. We did here. The weather has been just lovely, and has only really got cold today. School is back on Monday for another term of around 10 weeks, which will take us up to the end of June, then we're back on holidays again.

I was up at my parents place during the week. They live at a place called Moama, which is just over the border of Victoria, in New South Wales. The Murray River runs between Victoria and NSW, so they are right on the Murray River. It was very hot up there, and is usually quite a bit warmer than it ever is down here in Melbourne. I don't know if you've ever seen an Australian miniseries called All the Rivers Run, but if you have, that was set in Echuca, in Victoria. Moama is just across the bridge from Echuca. The port area that they set up for the miniseries is still the same and looks really old fashioned. There are lots of paddle steamers which head up and down the river on cruises too. It's a very touristy place and very Australian I think. Far more so than you see on Survivor that's for sure.

Anyway, onto the letters which you all sent this week. Keep them coming.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Eldon and Marie wish you all a very Happy Easter, and hope all is well with each and all of you and yours. We went to Good Friday services this morning and it was just very touching with many of the Pastors taking part in the service. It lasted 3 hours. We have so many churches here in Titusville and lots of really good Pastors. We have been to quite a few, but we feel the Lord has led us to the church Brenda and her family go to.The cross in the church this morning was draped in black. They have made a big cross and put it outside the church, and everyone has been asked to bring a flower out of your garden Sunday morning and put it on the cross which is setting out in the green grass around trees. it has green Palms to hook the flowers in. It will be very pretty. The church is very big. They have one service sat. night and 3 Sunday morning. There are 3 Pastors, all of whom are very friendly. They have made us feel very welcome.Keep well, Happy, and enjoy your day Sunday. Love to all of you and yours. Eldon and Marie

KAREN'S COMMENT: It would have looked really nice on Sunday morning with all the flowers around the cross. At this time of the year, we wouldn't have anything to bring, although lots of gardens have lovely dahlias blooming, and the chrysanthemums aren't too far away either.

Hi, its been a while since I wrote. Kind of hectic around here.

Anyway, I just watched the Easter Episode of The Waltons in where Olivia contracts polio. My father watched it with me (since my grandfather has taken over his TV.). It got us talking about the Christmas he and my mother (May she rest.) got me the cardboard Waltons House.

Happy Easter to all!

Beth

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's nice when shows are able to help you talk about some lovely memories you have tucked away.

Judy Norton was born in California. And also I haven't heard of First Years yet. I am glad to get the info about it and will look forward to seeing some episodes.

Danke Schoen Fur Die Waltons! But did you see what they called Zeb! He owns Sams Club!

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes it was quite funny to see Zeb referred to as Sam on this German Waltons site. I think someone may have mentioned that some time ago so it didn't come as a surprise to me, but you wonder why they couldn't simply call him Zeb. BTW the site we are talking about here is a German one that I wrote about last week Die Waltons.

THE WALTONS in the UK ------

Just before 1pm on Saturday 4th November last year (2000), Channel Four's showing of "The Revel" (the final episode of the ninth season) came to its close.

This marked the end of Channel Four's repeat weekly showings of very nearly all episodes of this remarkable series. This last 5-year run of around 220 episodes was occasionally interrupted for a couple of the succeeding Specials (shown out of order).

The Waltons first came to the UK in 1974 when shown by the BBC. When that weekly run ended, the first three of the Specials were shown sometime around 1983, then nothing for many years. Until 1986 when Channel Four acquired the rights and began a 5-year run of all except one of the normal episodes. When that ended around 1991 there was another gap of 5 years. Now C4's second showing has ended and it seems unlikely that the UK will see any more of The Waltons for some time.

A few of the later Specials have been seen on a subscription satellite channel some years ago, but this was available only to a minority. Some of the Specials (and including A Decade of The Waltons) have never been seen here.....

It is somewhat ironic that we in the UK are so ill-served by the broadcasters, considering that Earl Hamner, the show's creator, has publicly acknowledged that fans in the UK have been prominent in supporting The Waltons over the years.

Meanwhile, our complete synopses of each episode is growing, with William Atkins contributing his fine writings, replacing my earlier very condensed ones. All of Season 1 is complete, with, so far, the first fifteen of Season 2, together with most of Season 5, and all of Seasons 6 through 9 and the Specials. Eventually all my condensed synopses will be replaced by Bill's excellent ones, which we hope will provide a valuable research and enjoyable facility. Please go to the URL below whenever you wish to read up on the Walton family saga!

Arthur (in the UK)

The Complete Waltons Synopses

KAREN'S COMMENT: Lovely to hear from you Arthur. You've been a little quiet of late, but no doubt keeping very busy. :-) Your history of The Waltons in the UK is fairly similar to our own here in Australia. I don't know if we've had A Decade of The Waltons or not. I don't remember ever seeing it. How lucky we were to have finally seen A Walton Easter during this Easter break. The Waltons seems to have a far greater following in the UK than it does here so I'm very surprised that it hasn't been shown more often. What has happened in the USA after it finished its initial run? Did it go straight to cable? Repeats? What about in other countries? Interesting to compare.

Hi Karen,

This is the first time I am writing to you, but I do so enjoy your letters on the Waltons and when you discuss your family. I came to this list later than other people so can you explain who your family members are and what they do, I try to figure it out when I am reading, like I know your son goes to school and is very active in the theatre, but do you have any other children and how is your husband?

I do have some Waltons questions too, I just finished watching the Easter special when John Boy and his wife have twins but they never told you there names, does anyone know them? Also what happened to Ben's wife and children?

Again I enjoy your letters very much and it is nice to see how life is in Australia I am from New Jersey, USA. Thank you.

Michele

KAREN'S COMMENT: Welcome to Michele and of course, all of our newer members. We seem to have people going off the list and joining continually. You can catch up on more of my ramblings from Oz by going to the digest archives site.

But just in case you don't want to search through the entire 4 years worth, here's me in a nutshell:

I am married to Rod and have been for 22 years now. We celebrated our anniversary just recently, March 31st. Our two children are Tim, 19 and James, 17 but turning 18 at the end of May. I can't believe how they've grown up.

Tim will turn 20 in August. He is studying at University, doing a Bachelor of Engineering (Networks & Computing)/Telecommunications and Internet Technologies. That's the official title anyway. Let's just say that he is into computers and programming in a very big way. He's talking about dropping the Engineering part because he's not really enjoying the maths part of the course. He is hoping to go overseas next year and do work experience for 12 months, but as he's not really good at saving, he might end up doing that here. LOL

James is the one still at high school, doing his final year. Yes, he's the one into performing arts, and is looking at studying either arts or performing arts or some such thing next year. Just recently he's been talking about combining it with Law, but we'll have to see if his marks are good enough to get him there. He may be just under the cut off for law as they are very high scores here. He will definitely get into Arts though and is equally looking forward to studying that at University next year.

Rod is currently working with Telstra here at the moment, but has been offered a package (please read that as being you have to take the package because we don't have a job for you!!!) so unless they find him another job in Telstra before July he will be taking his package at the end of June. This happened about 18 months ago and he was picked up again at the last minute, but it's not looking so hopeful this time. However in the meantime he has gone back to study for a Diploma of Education which he will finish at the end of this year, and so he will be able to get a job as a teacher next year. He will be qualified to teach maths, science (including physics) and business management. Since there is a huge shortage of maths and science teachers especially physics, we're hopeful that something will come up. Anyway we're not worried about it...something will come up.

Now me...I am a teacher librarian at a primary Catholic school. I work 3 days a week and have a really busy time when I'm there. I love musical theatre, reading and of course, The Waltons. We all live together at our home in Ringwood, a suburb of Melbourne. So there you have it...hope that helps you to picture me and my life a little better now. :-))

Hello everyone! Thanks so much Karen for the info about the Waltons Easter special! First time I've seen it! It was very good! So good that I can't imagine them not making another special!!! I missed the first 15 minutes or so, where was Cindy?? Also, any explanation on Mary Ellen or Erin's marital status?? My one thought was that how terrific it would be to see Elizabeth get married to Drew in the next special! Also, I peeked at the Walton quilt, just wonderful! That's all for now! Take care.

Judy in Illinois

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think I'll leave some of the others to answer your questions about the latest movie.

Hi Karen,

This weekend I did see the Easter show, where Olivia develops Polio, and to tell you the truth, I don't recall seeing it as a child. My favorite part was when all the children said good night to her.

I also saw a spot on Entertainment Tonight this weekend, and said that John-Boy went partially deaf. It also said that he couldn't find any other roles after the series because of the "John Boy" stereo-type.

Thanks for the brief history of Judy Norton Taylor's name, very interesting!

Speaking of names, do you recall any of the children's middle names, except for James Robert and Elizabeth Tyler? (It was during an episode where John-Boy read a letter from Elizabeth, while he was working at the paper in New York)

Well, I'm off to look for summer jobs this week, now that college is finished until the fall.

Good-night everybody!

~Nicole, Victoria, BC Canada.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Wow College has finished already! Enjoy your summer break Nicole.

Karen,

Hi. I'm interested in finding out whatever happened to Ken Wolger, who starred in "The Dust Bowl Cousins."

I've searched the Internet as well as your digest site. Could you please tell me how to post this question and check for replies, or if you have any information on whether he ever acted again or did anything in public life.

Thanks a lot.

Sincerely,

Don

KAREN'S COMMENT: Don is another new member to our Waltons List and the actor he is interested in knowing more about played the part of Job, the son on The Dust Bowl Cousins. There were just a couple of listing on the Internet Movie Database and these were:

1.Where the Buffalo Roam (1980) .... Kid #1

2.Cahill: United States Marshal (1973) .... Boy

... aka Cahill (1973) (UK)

... aka Cahill: U.S. Marshal (1973) (USA)

... aka Wednesday Morning (1973)

3.Mechanic, The (1972) .... 1st Hippie

... aka Killer of Killers (1972)

Can anyone add any more to this please?

Hello Karen and All, I hope all is well with everyone. Karen, I am glad that your son has recovered so well from his surgery. He and I have something in common, surgery the same week. I have a lot more recovery time than he did, but I am doing well and can use the computer again.

Recently, I told you all about Ronnie Claire Edwards book being on ebay. Well, I was one of the lucky ebay winners. I received the autographed copy yesterday. Well, I have to tell you all that if you get a chance buy the book. I read it all in one day because I couldn't put it down. She tells the funniest stories and a few sad ones. It was the best book I have read recently and highly recommend it.

Thanks Karen for keeping the digest going it has been great to read during my recovery.

Good Night All, ------Jennifer

KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad you're making a good recovery too Jennifer, and I'm sure the book will help you along the way. Is there anything about The Waltons in it?

Hi Karen

To Judy in Illinois--I caught the movie "Linda" starring Richard Thomas. It was very interesting but it was hard for me to see "John-Boy" in the present time. I kept expecting to see one of his brothers or sisters come and rescue him!

I was watching an old episode of "Bonanza" the other day and there was this middle-aged woman on it. I wouldn't have recognized her if it hadn't been for her voice. It was Maude Gormley. Does any one know much about this actress?

Keep up the good work on the digest!

Joyce in Boones Mill

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes, I think I've seen Maude (really Merie Earle) in some of the 60's sitcoms. She certainly did have a distinctive voice, and that baby face!