| WALTONS DIGEST 14-98
Hi there everyone, It seems that I was a bit premature in my well wishes last week for Arthur, when I said that he was going into hospital during the week for his heart valve investigations. He wrote to me JUST as the digest was going out and told me that it had been postponed unfortunately. Hopefully though, the tests will be organised fairly soon for you Arthur. There has been a lot of mail coming in this week, both about Ralph Waite's political career, and about the move of The Waltons to TNN. I actually knew about Ralph Waite a few weeks ago. There was a small newspaper article about it which I have included in this digest. I kept meaning to include it before but kept forgetting.
I have also had a couple of requests for the email address for The Walton Legacy video so I thought I'd put it in again this week. You can contact Tracey Jewell at: Just a reminder too, about our Waltons Poetry Contest. There don't seem to be many entries coming in yet, but I know that we have some wonderful writers amongst the people on the mailing list, so check out the contest information on either my site, or Ralph's.
Incidentally, I have just uploaded my trivia questions page, so you might enjoy going and testing out your knowledge. Please feel free to comment (be gentle please!), make corrections, or add some more questions for the next trivia quiz. You will find the page at: As we were reminded last week, the anniversary of Will Geer's death was this past week. Not too many letters came in about your memories of Grandpa on The Waltons which is a shame. I always liked the way Grandpa was so close to nature. He always seemed to talk about the trees, flowers and animals with the children when they went walking with him. He always had so many stories too, about anything and everything. I also loved the way he used to give Grandma big hugs and kisses and call her "old woman". They seemed so perfect together, it just wasn't the same when they were separated. I especially love the later movies where the family still refer to Grandpa. His photo is still around the house, he is often mentioned, and it's almost as if he is still there watching over his family. It's just what would happen in any family home. Well that's it from me today,
Goodnight everyone, Karen. In Memory of Grandpa Walton It's hard to believe that we lost Grandpa twenty years ago. I never got to know any of my grandfathers, so getting to see grandpa each week on TV when I was growing up sure gave me a feeling that he was my grandfather. I recall this one show when grandpa was telling the story of the great thing he got in his Christmas stocking as a child. And that thing was an Orange. How I remember, that feeling when I found an Orange in my Christmas stocking and a great feeling it was to eat every juicy bite. There was the time when the children was selling lemon-aid and Grandpa had the recipe in the lemon-aid for the men, while the pink lemon-aid was for the ladies and children. I am now so grateful in getting to know grandpa and have these memories, and now TNN is letting me recall those Walton days again. Thanks, Shirley of Ottawa, Canada KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for these memories Shirley. Wasn't he just wonderful the way he tried to hide the recipe whenever Esther or Livvy were around? As if they couldn't see him drinking out of that huge flask! Any more special memories of Grandpa!
RALPH WAITE'S ELECTION: This is how our Melbourne paper reported Ralph Waite's political loss on April 9th. I thought you might like to see it: "Bono's Widow Beats TV Star Sonny Bono's widow has won his seat in Congress by beating the actor who played "Pa" on The Waltons television series. "I believe it's really very simple - running a positive campaign on the issues," Republican Mary Bono said at a victory party last night after the special election. Her husband died in a skiing accident this year. "He'd be proud and he'd be thinking 'I knew you could do it'," she said. The race attracted national attention as both major parties looked to build momentum going into November's congressional elections. With more than half of the precincts reporting, Mrs Bono had 66% [of votes] while actor Ralph Waite, a Democrat, had 27%. Four other candidates trailed."
KAREN: Obviously the reporter didn't watch The Waltons. :-)) I haven't read it on the list, but I may have overlooked it. Last week, someone wrote regarding Ralph Waite and how to contact him. He was last in the news here in the US when he ran for Congress in the election to fill Sonny Bono's seat. As most of you know, Sonny was killed recently and his wife ran on the Republican ticket, while Ralph Waite ran on the Democratic side. Well, Ralph lost, but I'm sure the Californina Democratic Party would be able to fill you in on how to get in touch with him. (Hmm, Sonny Bono in Congress, "Gopher" from the Love Boat there too. Ralph Waite running for a seat. I wonder what 70s TV character will make the next political appearance!!) G'nite everybody! Marty
Saw where Ralph Waite lost his race for office against Sony Bono's widow. This is probably good news for Walton fans. Means he will still be available for future movies. One funny thing reported by Associated Press in identifying Waite. They said he played "Pa Walton." Easy to tell a non-Walton person, isn't it?
INFORMATION ON TNN Next Friday April 24 will be the last day that the Waltons will be exclusively on the Family Channel. On April 27 Monday they will be on the Family Channel at the usual time 9 am and 7pm edt and then they will be on TNN at 1pm and 6pm EDT. That will also be the case on Tuesday the 28 and I think also Wednesday the 29th, but after that the Waltons will depart the Family Channel and will only be on TNN. I dont know yet what episodes will be shown on those days. Last Friday they had one of my favorites-the Triumph(VE Day) but they were not on in the evening. I think it might be difficult to have a regular Walton series again after they have been away for so long, but it is always good to have Walton reunions from time to time. Donald F Nelson and Erin the cat
Greetings from INDY! I do hope the FAMILY CAHNNEL will stop airing the WALTONS. We the public need to see them in there entirety and not what the FAMILY CAHNNEL decides we need to see. Maybe now we will finally see THE CHANGLING! Remember all I have them all on video. Eric
Dear Karen and Walton friends, I thought you may be interested in knowing what Walton shows that they will be showing next week when TNN starts showing the Waltons. Episodes listed on TNN for April 27th to May 1st, 1998
Information is based on the listings from the TV Guide.
Shirley in Sunny Ottawa, Canada Hi Karen, Here's the official notice from the TNN Web Page about the Waltons. I'm hoping that they'll broadcast each episode intact. The Family Channel has always deleted around four minutes from each story so they could include all those extra commercials. Fortunately, the Warner Brothers home video versions contain the complete episodes. For instance, the Family Channel version of "The Hunt" has deleted a poignant scene with John and Olivia (2:40) and a scene with John-Boy, John, Hawthorne and Charlie by the old cabin site on the mountain (2:05). "The Love Story" is missing a scene with Jenny, John and Olivia at the kitchen table and the following scene with Jenny and John-Boy at Mary-Ellen's frog pond (3:10). It makes me wonder about the deleted scenes in all the other episodes that probably haven't been seen since the original broadcasts. In closing, here are a few more shows in which some of the cast had appeared before "The Waltons."
Alan
The Waltons Finds A Home On The Nashville Network The Waltons, the popular dramatic series about the love and struggles of three generations of a large, close-knit family in Appalachia during the Depression, finds a home on TNN beginning Monday, April 27. TNN, which has acquired all 221 episodes of The Waltons, will telecast the series Monday-Friday (1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., ET; repeats 6:00-7:00 p.m., ET). The Waltons stars Richard Thomas as the oldest child (John-Boy Walton) with Michael Learned and Ralph Waite as the parents, Olivia and John Walton. During its nine years on CBS (1972-1981), The Waltons garnered 13 Emmys and a host of other awards. The premiere episode opens with John-Boy going hunting for the first time. John-Boy is reluctant to take any life but, as the oldest son, feels compelled to help his father provide food for the family. John-Boy's conflicts are resolved when his father is attacked by a bear, and John-Boy is forced to protect him. Thomas, as John-Boy, an aspiring writer and the eldest child, earned an Emmy for Best Actor during his first season. Learned, as the strong-willed mother, won three Emmy Awards as Best Actress in a Drama Series. Ellen Corby, in her depiction as Grandma Walton, won an Emmy as Best Supporting Role in a Drama Series.
I thought I would let you and the digest readers know of the latest of the airing of "The Waltons" on TNN. The Family Channel has been sold to the Fox Network. It will be converted to an all kids channel later this year. Since The Family Channel will no longer exist after this happens, all of their current shows are apparently up for grabs from other networks. TNN, which was sold to CBS from Gaylord Entertainment several months ago, quickly purchased the rights to air "The Waltons" beginning Monday, April 27th at 1:00 P.M. EDT. & repeating at 6:00 P.M. EDT. TNN has said they will be airing the entire series, so it will be interesting to see (1) How they handle to 2-hour episodes that FAM never aired any other time except for movie specials, & (2) "The Ghost Story" and "The Changeling" episodes. The first episode airing on TNN isn't "The Foundling". The first episode airing will be "The Hunt".
Hi fellow Waltons devotees! My name is Lynda Poole--I'm from northern KY(just outside Cincinnati, OH). I was looking in our Cable Guide(it's a monthly TV schedule available through our cable company). It says "The Waltons" are going to start appearing on TNN on April 27th, at 1:00 PM(Eastern time). Also, it shows the Family Channel carrying it `til the end of April. Just thought some may like to know. Hi, Karen and fellow Digest members! Message for Heather: To answer your question, The Waltons begin on the Nashville Network on April 27th. They are going to be on twice a day I think (1pm and 6pm Eastern Time, from what I remember looking at their web site). "http://www.country.com/tnn/features/waltons.html" is the web site for Waltons info on TNN. Somewhere else on their web site, they list schedules. Message for Marca: I'm on ICQ, too, and I think it's great. I go by the nickname CtB (which stands for "Claire the Bear") or the ICQ # 10570352. Look me up sometime! Talk to you all later! Claire Natola
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA Hi Karen, I'm really looking forward to next Monday! Finally getting to see the Walton's again on TNN up here in Canada is going to be great. I also have updated my Walton page with new photographs. Instead of pictures that I had scavenged from around the Net, I put up 10 photos that my wife and I took in August of 1987. They show the house, school, church, etc. in Schuyler. When I get a chance I'll put up the photos of when I met Jon Walmsley and some of the Blue Ridge Mountains around Schuyler. Good Night Everybody, Rob Crang
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~kcrang/walton.htm
I just read in my local newspaper that TNN will be showing all Walton's episodes in chronological order beginning this Monday. That came as no surprise, after reading the list. HOWEVER, the article also said that the Family Channel will ALSO continue to air the show. I thought FAM was going all-children? Anyone know the deal here? One good thing--If TNN and FAM both show the series, TNN will do so at 6PM and FAM will continue to do so at 7PM. Since FAM also shows different episodes at 9AM and 7PM, that means there will be 3 different episodes daily! WOW! What a Waltons Mountain fix! Get out your VCRs! Opportunities like this happen once in a lifetime! Hope we're not disappointed! G'nite! Marty. KAREN'S COMMENT: Well as you can see there are a lot of very excited Waltons fans out there, all waiting for the screenings to begin in TNN. I hope that they do show all of the episodes, in order and without cutting them. Shirley's information of the episodes screening were interesting. They are quite different already to how the episodes originally aired. Remember we commented not so long ago though, that the box which The Hunt video came in, claimed that it was the first episode. Do they know something that we don't?
Hi Karen and Fellow Walton Fans, I hope you are all doing well! A special hello to Arthur... I hope you are feeling better. It looks like California will have some dry weather this week :) I saw Mary Beth McDonough and Jon Walmsley in an appearance on TNN this weekend. Mary Beth was talking about the filming of the Waltons and also mentioned Jason's musical contribution to the show. It was a nice interview. Then Jon played and sang one of his songs. It was great! Mary Beth also mentioned the close relationship that Jon has with Ellen Corby. I saw Will Geer on an episode of Andy Griffith. He played Aunt Bea's suitor and was a retired Naval Captain. At the end of the show they parted however, because he knew his heart still really belonged to his career at sea. Also, Mary Beth McDonough had a brief part on the soap opera One Life to Live a few years ago. Do any of you have any updates or information on Robert Wightman? I am still trying to find information about him. Thanks everyone and have a great week. Silvia from California KAREN'S COMMENT: I didn't know that Mary was on a soap opera, but I think someone may have mentioned to me that the actress playing Verdie was. Nice to have the interviews airing. Have they had any others on?
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