Hi there everyone,

I hope you've all had a great week wherever you are in the world. It's been a terribly hectic month for us here so far. It always seems as if we are particularly busy in May and November. There are meetings at school, things for the children, and all of the birthdays seem to start about now in our family. We have enough trouble keeping up with things and we only have 2 children. How on earth do you manage with 7? :-))

Anyway I'm keeping it very brief this week, so until next time.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

I was wondering in season 8 where is Olivia suppose to be? Early in the season she was suppose to be at the hospital with John-boy but where was she after he came home?

D. Nelson

KAREN'S COMMENT: I received this a couple of weeks ago, and replied just this week, but it's been a while since I have seen season 8 so if you can sort this out, please do.

Hi Karen -

I saw a preview last night on TV of an upcoming episode (either this coming Sunday or next) of "Touched By An Angel" and Richard Thomas is going to be a guest star. Wish I could be more specific but your readers might want to keep their eyes peeled.

Bridget

KAREN'S COMMENT: Now I was a bit confused about this, as people have mentioned about Richard Thomas being on Touched By An Angel before, especially on episodes with Gerald McRaney. But they have also mentioned The Promised Land with both actors too. Originally I had thought that The Promised Land was the name of the TBAA episode. I recently taped an episode of TBAA, which we get out here, and saw an episode such as people on the list had described. There was no Richard Thomas in it, but his character was mentioned! See my confusion now. I thought perhaps it was a 2 parter, but no it definitely was not. Anyway I spent some time on the Internet during the week and all was solved. For those of you who don't live in the USA here is the story.

Touched By an Angel had an episode featuring Gerald McRaney and this created a spin off which was called The Promised Land. Both these shows seem to overlap at times, and yes, Richard Thomas does indeed appear as a guest as the same character in both series at times. We don't get The Promised Land here, so I'll have to be patient to see him in that, but maybe he will pop up on my screen in Touched By an Angel soon. I hope that clears up any confusion for anyone else...or perhaps I'm the only silly one!!!!

One person that has not been mentioned in the comments of Where are they Now is Rachel Longaker who was Amy Godsey. Does any one know where she is now? I didn't realize that Lewis Arquette who played the part of the slave driving misogynist JD Pickett was the son or nephew(?) of Cliff Arquette, the Charlie Weaver of the old Hollywood Squares and other shows.

Will try to help other people find videos. I thought Critics Choice had more available from what their catalog said. Try www.columbiahouse.com; although for some reason its hard to log on to them at times.

Sincerest wishes

Donald F nelson and Erin the cat

KAREN'S COMMENT: Here's the latest information on Rachel for you Donald, courtesy of the Internet Movie Database. She was a lovely actress.

1.Night of the Demons 2 (1994) .... Linda

2.Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, A (1993) (TV) .... Aimee Godsey

3.Pudd'nhead Wilson (1984) (TV) .... Rowena

4.Oh, God! (1977) .... Becky

I thought there should be more things mentioned than just these. Does anybody know of any others we can add to Rachel's list?

Hi everyone,

That was a most interesting review of The Waltons in Digest 16. Thank you Alan for sending it in. I did notice, though that it perpetuated a mistake (I've seen the mistake before somewhere) about an "Emily Hunter"... Oh no - Miss Hunter (the schoolteacher) her first name was Rosemary! Emily of course was one of the Baldwins.

Thanks Silvia for your good wishes. However, I'm not at present feeling better, nor will I until I have this valve replacement op. But - by the time you read this, I will be in hospital and have just had the op. - and not a day too soon....... I'll be in there for 10 days to a couple of weeks it seems. However, in case there is anyone interested, I'm putting "updates" about it "as and when" there's anything significant to report, on a page on my site -

www.surflink.co.uk/users/arthurdungate/heart.htm

Funny thing about heart trouble - when I'm sitting still doing nothing really physical (such as the computer), I feel more or less OK, but as soon as I get up or start walking, then O Boy - do I know about it....... I understand that after the op, one usually takes 2 to 3 months for a complete recovery! Looking forward to this recuperation period, I've taken down from a top shelf, (because I won't be able to do so immediately I come out of hospital) my tapes of the Waltons which I've not so far done any synopses for. There are about 40 episodes to do (on 14 tapes) so as I recover, I propose to sit and watch some of them as I get better - and do something useful at the same time!

Here in the UK our Channel 4 TV, currently running Season 5, has got to the place where I stopped, so last Sunday I added that episode (The Nightwalker) to my synopses.

The seasons which are complete are on Ralph's excellent site (www.the-waltons.com) and the uncompleted bits are on my site (www.surflink.co.uk/users/arthurdungate/wltnp1.htm)

'bye for now!

KAREN'S COMMENT: I probably speak for all of us on the list Arthur, when I wish you all the very best for your operation, and hope that you have a very speedy recovery and that things go well for you.

Good evening, Karen and all,

You asked which episode featured the debut of Rev. Fordwick, which referred to him as a cousin of the Baldwin sisters. I believe it was "The Sinner", and the episode guide dates that one 10/26/72.

I noticed something funny tonight while watching "The Reunion", which was written by Earl Hamner. The Baldwin sisters make mention of a cousin named Cora Baldwin. In last nights episode, "The Dustbowl Cousins", wasn't Olivia's cousin named Cora? And then of course, there was Cora Beth (Walton) Godsey appearing later. Maybe the name Cora has some special meaning to Mr. Hamner?

Better end now, we have a storm brewing and I don't want to be on the phone lines or the computer either for that matter.

Till next time,

Robin

KAREN'S COMMENT: Perhaps the name Cora was a fairly common one of the time and area too. Names are interesting though I think.

Hello all!! I thought I would let you know that if you haven't been watching "The Waltons" on TNN, you should tune in. Scenes not aired on The Family Channel are being aired on TNN. In most episodes, the first commercial break isn't for 13-20 minutes into the episode. The way TNN is able to air the episodes virtually un-edited is because they bought a version of the series in which the tempo is slightly speeded up. Thus the voices and the music sound normal, but with a virtually un-noticeable acceleration in the movement of the film. You have to really look close and hard to be able to see this. I just thank TNN for picking the series up and providing the extra scenes, which makes it seem like you're watching a whole new episode when compared with previous Family Channel airings.

TNN does not have "An Easter Story" or "The Thanksgiving Story" scheduled to air because Warner Brothers doesn't offers these two episode in a 2-part format, thus TNN can't air them at this time. Another episodes that Warner Brothers doesn't offer in a 2-part format are "The Children's Carol" & "A Decade of The Waltons". I'm not sure about "The Wedding" or "The Grandchild", but what I am sure of is the fact the infamous episode called "The Ghost Story" WILL be airing on June 24th. So after 7 years of trying to see this episode on FAM, TNN now has it scheduled to air. It's only plausible to assume that "The Changeling" will be airing once we get up to that season.

Michael

KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad you're enjoying the series Michael. I can't really understand why they can't show the 2 hour ones that you mentioned. Is it because they are available on video and someone else has the rights or something?

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note. I saw the message below on the net about the death of Gene Fowler Jr. who edited several Waltons episodes. He also won an Emmy for "THE LITERARY MAN" from season 1.

"LOS ANGELES (AP) - Gene Fowler Jr., an Oscar- and Emmy-winning director and editor who made the cult classic "I Was a Teen-Age Werewolf" and edited the comedy epic "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," died Monday. He was 80.

Fowler directed or edited more than 100 films and TV shows, winning an Oscar for the documentary "Seeds of Destiny" and a Golden Globe for editing "Wall of Fire". His work on "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" garnered an Oscar nomination.

For television, he won Emmys for "The Waltons", "Rawhide", "The Glass House" and "The Blue Knight", all for editing.

He also directed the 1957 movie "I Was a Teen-Age Werewolf", a film known both for being the blueprint for later teen horror movies and for starting the career of actor Michael Landon."

Greetings from Holland,

Marca.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thank you for this information Marca. He was obviously a very talented man. He did a lot of work on The Waltons.

You might remember that last week there was a small piece added by a reader, about an early Richard Thomas program called 1,2,3, Go. Cathy, one of our more recent list members, has kindly sent some information both on Richard Thomas, and on 1,2,3, Go. I am reproducing the 1,2,3, Go information this week, and I'll see if I can fit the rest next week. Many thanks to Cathy for so kindly sending this. By the way, has anybody ever seen it?

1,2,3, Go! - Saturday morning children's show (October 1961 through May 1962) - The program was nominated for an Emmy for Best Children's Show 1961-62. This educational series for children was seen on early Sunday evenings. Irving Gitlin produces the half-hour series.

10-08-61 - DEBUT - Host Jack Lescoulie guides 11-year-old Richard Thomas through a variety of exciting adventures on this series of half-hour tape-and-film programs. Today's subject: Mountain climbing.

10-15-61 - Host Jack Lescoulie and his protégée Richard Thomas visit Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Langley Air Force Base in Virginia to get a first hand look at the Nation's astronaut program.

10-22-61 - Richard Thomas takes a trip to Washington D.C. where he meets Elizabeth Rudel Smith, treasurer of the United States.

10-29-61 - To celebrate Halloween, Richard Thomas and spook master Zacherly climb aboard a super broom and head for a haunted house. The origins of Halloween and information about bats are shown in film segments. Host Jack Lescoulie shows Richard a film on the terrors and hardships suffered by children around the world. The boy decides to go "trick-or-treating" for UNICEF and ends up at the home of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who talks about the work of UNICEF - the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund.

11-05-61 - Richard Thomas visits some Eskimos in Kotzebue, Alaska. There he rides a dogsled, examines some igloos made of sod and is tossed in a welcome blanket. Host Jack Lescoulie shows excerpts from Robert Flaherty's film classic "Nanook of the North."

11-12-61 - Richard Thomas gets a few pointers on basketball from Boston Celtics coach "Red" Auerbach and All-Pro guard Bob Cousy. The Celtics, 1960 National Basketball Association champions, are seen in action on the court.

11-19-61 - Richard Thomas visits the Bronx Zoo in New York City. There he meets a rhinoceros named Good Old George, who reminisces about the days on the old country (Africa). As George talks, we see films of his former way of life.

12-3-61 - Richard Thomas visits Yerkes Laboratory of Primate Biology in Orange Park, Fla. He assists the laboratory director Dr. Arthur Riopelle in experiments in animal behavior. We see a squirrel getting nuts out of a glass tube - by pulling a string; a pigeon earning his food by responding to patterns of light and sound; and a baby chimpanzee being given a physical examination.

12-9-61 - What was it like when knighthood was in flower? Basil Rathbone narrates as "Sir" Richard Thomas and "Sir" Jack Lescoulie re-enact a typical legend of the era.

12-23-61 - Richard Thomas visits Saratosa (Fla.) High School and participates in a unique part of the curriculum - circus training. While host Jack Lescoulie gets into a clown costume, Richard learns a few basic techniques of aerial routines and high-wire walking. Highlights of the school's annual circus are shown.

12-24-61 - Richard Thomas narrates "The Little Star of Bethlehem," a musical Christmas story by Paul Tripp, composed by George Kleinsinger and illustrated by children's drawings.

12-30-61 - Richard Thomas and host Jack Lescoulie start out to tour the city of London. But Richard soon slips off on his own, meets a boy of his age named Dominic, and sees the sights. They visit the Tower of London, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace.

12-24-61 - Richard Thomas narrates "The Little Star of Bethlehem," a musical Christmas story by Paul Tripp, composed by Georga Kleinsinger and illustrated by children's drawings.

12-31-61 - Richard Thomas wonders what "The Good Old Days" were like. So host Jack Lescoulie takes him first to the reconstructed 19th-century village of Old Sturbridge, Mass.

1-7-62 - Richard Thomas takes a few training courses with the New York City fire department. He climbs an aerial ladder, traverses an obstacle course, rides the hook and ladder track, and mans a hose.

2-18-62 - Host Jack Lescoulie and Richard Thomas board the nuclear submarine Nautilus at the New London (Conn.) Naval Base. There they meet the sub's skipper, Cdr. Lando W. Zech, who turns the vessel over to them for any kind of imaginary voyage they wish. The Nautilus is shown maneuvering through the ice field, surfacing at the Pole, and arriving in New York Harbor.

2-25-62 - Richard Thomas plays a sergeant in the Cincinnati Police Department on tonight's show. When a valuable Rembrandt painting turns up missing from the Cincinnati Art Museum, "Sergeant" Thomas takes charge. En route to solving the crime, Richard is shown in a patrol car, in the fingerprint and ballistics lab, in the identification room and in the police artist's room. Jack Lescoulie is the host.

3-17-62 - Richard Thomas and host Jack Lescoulie take a make believe journey down a Southeast Asian river on a raft. On the way, they learn how the monkeys in that region gather food, raise their young and fight off attacks from tigers, snakes and Asian brown bears. In one sequence, we see the method used to capture these monkeys.

3-11-62 - Host Jack Lesoculie and Richard Thomas learn the art of scuba diving off the coast of St. John Island in the Caribbean Sea. After receiving instructions and safety precautions, they don fins, masks, snorkels, depth gauges and aqualungs and enter the water. From between 10 and 20 feet below the surface they view coral formations, plant life, many varieties of fish - and an old anchor.

3-31-62 - The world of pirate lore is investigated by Richard Thomas and host Jack Lescoulie. On St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, they tour the ancient strongholds of Bluebeard and Captain Kidd, and use their scuba diving equipment to search for sunken treasure. Richard visits a pirate dungeon - and spots some pirate ghosts. Still pictures show some of the famous buccaneers of history.

3-25-62 - The air-sea rescue operations of the U.S. Coast Guard are explored by Richard Thomas and Host Jack Lescoulie. Capt. Robert Waldron, commanding officer of the San Diego Coast Guard Group, explains the methods of air-sea rescue and then Richard and Jack take part in some demonstrations and witness the recovery of a launch.

4-21-62 - At Edwards Air Force Base in California, Richard Thomas and host Jack Lescoulie meet Maj. Bob WHite who shows them the X-15 manned rocket plane and explains the training procedures preparatory to flight in the supersonic craft. Richard then takes off in an imaginary journey in the X-15.

5-5-62 - At Gene Autry's ranch in Newhall, Cal., Richard Thomas and host Jack Lescoulie learn the secrets behind the deeds of the Hollywood stuntmen. Jack is the victim of an arrow in the chest, and Richard dives through a window. Stuntman George Robothorn explains both tricks, then joins Red Morgan, Dick Crokett, Paul Stader and other stuntmen in an old-fashioned barroom brawl.

5-26-62 - Richard Thomas visits the Seeing Eye Institute at Morristown, N. J., to learn how German Shepherd puppies are trained to guide the blind.

5-20-62 - At Stewart Air Force Base, Newburgh, N.Y., Richard Thomas watches the "Thunderbirds" Air Force demonstration team, flying stunt formations in F-100 Super Sabre jets. Host Jack Lescoulie tells Richard the history of the plane and we see combat footage of the F-100's predecessor, the F-86 battling Russian-built MIG's in Korea.

6-9-62 - Richard Thomas and host Jack Lescoulie visit Colonial Williamsburg, which stands restored as it was in the days of the American Revolution.