| WALTONS DIGEST 23-98: Hi Waltons Fans, Remember how I said just a week or so ago that winter had been really mild! Well I take it all back...it has been absolutely freezing here for the past couple of weeks. Certainly colder than I can remember it for a while. Mind you, if I tell some of you the temperatures we've been having, you'll probably wonder what on earth I'm on about, as I know many of you do experience extremely cold winters where you live. For Melbourne though, it's cold. :-) Finally I'm on holidays. Tim left for Central Australia on Tuesday night, work and school has finished for the term, and all of James's performances went really well and have finished for a while too. His rehearsals still continue though as they start preparing for their end of the year season. So it's time for us to have a real break doing nothing but relaxing. How I'm looking forward to that. I don't have a lot of Waltons news this week, so there will be room to include Kim's biographies this week. Thank you again, Kim for sending them. They are excellent. All the "Talking Point" letters you have sent in I will hold over until next week, so if you still want to contribute to this one you have plenty of time. Remember the topic is:
You might want to extend it and include other shows of any era, which you feel have been comparable to The Waltons. Definitely Little House on the Prairie comes to mind when you think about how family orientated it was, and the way they dealt with different issues. I hope that none of you have become confused by the "Talking Points" and think that they are all we will discuss in each digest. They have been introduced solely so that we can have a focus for discussion each fortnight. Any other Waltons news and snippets will still be welcomed and included each week. Please don't think that you only can contribute mail about the Talking Point topic. Just on another note, I have had an email from Arthur this week, which is included in this digest. For the several new members we have, Arthur has been in our thoughts for some time now as he has been in hospital having a heart operation. I was very pleased to hear that he is well and truly on the mend, and is home again now, and madly catching up with his digests, and all his internet friends. Arthur I hope that your health continues to improve and it's great to have you back with us. Finally it gives me great pleasure to be able to announce that Earl Hamner has decided that the winner of the poetry contest is Rebecca Irby. You will soon be able to read Rebecca's winning poem on both my site and on Ralph's Waltons site. Congratulations Rebecca, and thanks, from both Ralph and myself to all of you who took the time to write a poem to contribute. Goodnight everyone,
Karen. Hi Karen, everyone, I was surfing the internet and found a site which had a short biographies of Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, Ellen Corby, Will Geer and Michael Learned. I thought you might like to read them. Have a wonderful day!
Kim C. (Belgium) Richard Thomas Birth Jun 13, 1951 - Manhattan, New York City, NY Occupation Actor Countries USA
Genres Action, Comedy, Drama, Historical Film, Docudrama BIOGRAPHY
Richard Thomas was seven years old when he made his first Broadway appearance in Sunrise at Campobello (1958). The wide-eyed, mole-cheeked, sensitive-looking Thomas soon found himself very much in demand for television roles. He was seen in the distinguished company of Julie Harris, Christopher Plummer and Hume Cronyn in a 1959 TV presentation of Ibsen's A Doll's House, worked as a regular on the daytime soap operas As the World Turns and Flame in the Wind, and co-starred with Today Show announcer Jack Lescoulie in the captivating 1961 Sunday-afternoon "edutainment" series 1-2-3 Go. While attending Columbia University, Thomas made his theatrical-film debut in Downhill Racer, then settled into a series of unpleasant, psychologically disturbed characters in films like You'll Like My Mother (1971) and such TV series as Bracken's World. In 1971, Thomas was cast as John-Boy Walton in the Earl Hamner-scripted TV movie The Homecoming. Though there would be a number of cast changes before The Homecoming metamorphosed into the weekly series The Waltons in 1972, Thomas was retained as John-Boy, earning a 1973 Emmy for his performance and remaining in the role until only a few months before the series' cancellation in 1981. During the Waltons years, Thomas starred in several well-mounted TV movies, including the 1979 remake of All Quiet on the Western Front. Ever seeking opportunities to expand his range, Thomas has sunk his teeth into such roles as the self-destructive title character in Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story (1983) and the amusingly sanctimonious Rev. Bobby Joe in the satirical Glory! Glory!. In 1980, Thomas made his first Broadway appearance in over two decades as the paralyzed protagonist of Whose Life is It Anyway. Working through his own Melpomene Productions, Thomas has continued seeking out creative challenges into the 1990s. Richard Thomas has also served as national chairman of the Better Hearing Institute. -- Hal Erickson Ralph Waite Birth Jun 22, 1928 - White Plains, NY Occupation Actor Countries USA
Genres Action, Drama, Crime, Western, Disaster Film BIOGRAPHY
Upon earning his BA at Bushnell University, Ralph Waite embarked upon no fewer than three careers before deciding upon acting. First, Waite was a social case worker in New York's Westchester County, a job he quit after running into the stone walls of indifference and bureaucracies. Then, after spending three at the Yale School of Divinity, he was a practicing Presbyterian minister; this, too fell by the wayside due to Waite's unwillingness to conform to church protocol and his disenchantment over the perceived hypocrisy of his fellow clerics. Finally, he worked as a religious editor for the publishing firm of Harper & Row. This job might have panned out, but Waite, separated from his wife and suffering an identity crisis, felt the need to "prove himself" by entering a tougher, more competitive field. Thus, at the age of 30, Waite began taking acting lessons. His professional debut in the off-Broadway production The Balcony proved so disastrous that it is little wonder he chooses to regard his 1965 Broadway bow in Hogan's Goat as the true beginning of his career. After an excellent showing as Jack Nicholson's impotent brother in Five Easy Pieces (1971) the offers began pouring in. In 1972, Waite was cast as John Walton in the immensely popular TV series The Waltons. During the nine-season run of that ratings bonanza, Waite helped form the Los Angeles Actors' Theatre. He also was prominently featured in the blockbuster miniseries Roots (1977), and wrote and directed (but did not star in) the 1980 film On the Money. His post-Walton credits include the TV series Mississippi (1985) and such films as Cliffhanger (1993). In retrospect, it is fitting that two of Ralph Waite's TV-movies of the 1990s bore the titles Crash and Burn and Sin and Redemption. -- Hal Erickson Ellen Corby AKA Ellen Hansen Birth Jun 13, 1914 - Racine, WI Occupation Actor Countries USA
Genres Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Crime, Western, Adventure Drama BIOGRAPHY
By the time she first appeared as Grandma Walton in 1971, American actress Ellen Corby had been playing elderly characters for nearly thirty years-and she herself was still only in her fifties. The daughter of Danish immigrants, Ellen Hansen was born in Wisconsin and raised in Philadelphia; she moved to Hollywood in 1933 after winning several amateur talent shows. Her starring career consisted of tiny parts in low-budget Poverty Row quickies; to make a living, Ellen became a script girl (the production person responsible for maintaining a film's continuity for the benefit of the film editor), working first at RKO and then at Hal Roach studios, where she met and married cameraman Francis Corby. The marriage didn't last, though Ellen retained the last name of Corby professionally. While still a script girl, Ellen began studying at the Actors Lab, then in 1944 decided to return to acting full time. She played several movie bit roles, mostly as servants, neurotics, and busybodies, before earning an Oscar nomination for the role of Trina the maid in I Remember Mama (1948). Her career fluctuated between bits and supporting parts until 1971, when she was cast as Grandma Walton in the CBS movie special The Homecoming. This one-shot evolved into the dramatic series The Waltons in 1972, with Ms. Corby continuing as Grandma. The role earned Ellen a "Best Supporting Actress" Emmy award in 1973, and she remained with the series until suffering a debilitating stroke in 1976. After a year's recuperation, Ellen returned to The Waltons, valiantly carrying on until the series' 1980 cancellation, despite the severe speech and movement restrictions imposed by her illness. Happily, Ellen Corby endured, and was back as Grandma in the Waltons reunion special of the early '90s. -- Hal Erickson Will Geer Birth Mar 9, 1902 - Frankfort, IN Death 1978 Occupation Actor Countries USA
Genres Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Crime, Western, Satire BIOGRAPHY
Though perhaps best remembered for portraying the wise and crusty Grampa Zeb Walton on the long-running The Waltons (1972-1978), character actor Will Geer had been a staple in films and television for many years before that. He had also been a Broadway regular since his theatrical debut in The Merry Wives of Windsor (1928). Born William Auge Ghere in Frankfort Indiana, his interest in acting began in high school. Geer studied botany at the University of Chicago and earned a masters in Botany at Columbia. During his college days, Geer also appeared in student theatre. Always a bit of a rebel, with a genuine love of people and the land, Geer hooked up with folksingers Woody Guthrie and Burl Ives during the Depression to travel about and perform, mostly at government work camps. Even late in life, Geer described himself as a folklorist. Actress Helen Hayes wryly described him once as "the world's oldest hippie." He got his professional start with Eva Le Gallienne's National repertory Company. During the '30s and '40s, Geer appeared often on Broadway. Beginning with The Misleading Lady in 1932, he began playing small occasional roles in films. By the late 1940s, he had become a character actor in such films as Intruder in the Dust (1949). He often appeared in westerns like Comanche Territory and Broken Arrow (1950). In 1951, after appearing in four films that year, Geer was blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee for refusing to answer their questions. Still Geer managed to appear in at least one film, Salt of the Earth, a defiant, incendiary documentary look at a worker's strike led by the wives of abused salt miners in New Mexico that featured a production staff largely comprised of blackballed Hollywood artists. Other than that, Geer returned to Broadway until 1962 when Otto Preminger cast him as a Senate minority Leader in Advise and Consent. During the '60s, the 6'2", 230 pound Geer was frequently cast in villainous roles. He often appeared on television throughout the decade in shows ranging from Gunsmoke to Hawaii 5-0 as well as playing a regular role on the short-lived series The Young Rebels (1970-71). He was a key member of The Waltons from the pilot special through his death when the series was on summer hiatus in 1978. His was among the show's most popular characters and he is said to have patterned Zebulon Walton after producer/creator Earl Hamner's book character, himself, and his own grandfather, a successful sourdough during the California goldrush who sported a mustache and white hair similar to Geer's own. It was his grandfather who taught the actor to love nature and to study botany. In addition to his work on the popular family series, Geer also continued a busy feature film and television movie career. His last film appearance was in the highly-regarded made-for-TV biography of Harriet Tubman, A Woman Called Moses (1978).His daughtrer Ellen Geer is also an actor. -- Sandra Brennan Michael Learned Birth Apr 9, 1939 - Washington, DC Occupation Actor Countries USA
Genres Drama, Crime, Martial Arts BIOGRAPHY The eldest of six sisters, Michael Learned spent her first decade on her family's farm in Connecticut. When she was 11, Learned moved to Austria, where her father worked for the U.S. State Department. While attending boarding school in England, she discovered the theater, and decided to make it her life's work. At 16, she married actor Peter Donat, a union that lasted until 1972. Dividing her time between stage acting and raising her sons, she appeared in Canadian and American Shakespeare Festival, and for several years was associated with San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre. While appearing in a production of Noel Coward's Private Lives, Learned was selected by John Rich to play Olivia Walton on his upcoming TV series The Waltons (she replaced Patricia Neal, who starred as Olivia in the 1971 pilot film The Homecoming). She remained with The Waltons until 1980, winning three Emmies in the process. In 1981, she was starred as Mary Benjamin in her own series, Nurse (1981-82), which earned her a fourth Emmy. Hoping to distance herself from the Olivia Walton image, she went to play Dr. Marie Teller in the 1988 weekly Hothouse and model agency head Trish Carlin in Living Dolls (1989). She also appeared in such theatrical features as Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) and such made-for-TV specials as All My Sons (1986). Eventually, however, Michael Learned returned to the Waltons fold in a 1995 TV-movie reunion. -- Hal Erickson KAREN'S COMMENT: Any idea of the URL for this site Kim?
Hello Karen and everyone! I returned home Monday 22 June having stayed 3 weeks "in the country" with some friends; I've been away from home for 6 weeks. I'm getting on fine, though I tire easily, and mustn't carry anything heavy for a couple of months. If anyone cares for more details, please go to my "heart" page - <www.surflink.co.uk/users/arthurdungate/heart.htm>. A big and grateful "thankyou" to all who've expressed concern over me. It's wonderful to know one has so many friends all over the world. I have now read all SIX Digests that were waiting for me! In Digest 21 Sahid asked how the Waltons compared with the Simpsons. In my estimation, they don't. I must say, though, that I have seen only a little of the Simpsons, and found them grotesque. Perhaps one should reflect on what President Clinton said not so long ago, in that he wanted American families to become more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons..... Doesn't that say everything? I feel a bit sorry to hear that the current Waltons showings in USA are from "speeded up" tapes, which has produced jerky movement. A pity this has been done, though good that previously deleted scenes have been restored. The Waltons was shot on 35mm film at the standard cinema speed of 24 frames per second (fps) and shown on American TV at that speed. Here in the UK, our TV system has a frame rate based on the mains electricity of 50 Hertz (cycles per second) and so films are run at 25fps, which is approx. 4% fast. This increases the pitch of music by approx. a semitone which, unless you have absolute "perfect pitch" isn't a problem. Voices are thus also raised slightly, but one has to have a direct comparison to detect any difference. We are quite used to seeing cinema films on TV at 25fps! Well, as the Warner Bros cartoons used to end - "That's all for now folks!" That is - until next time! Arthur D www.surflink.co.uk/users/arthurdungate/index.htm KAREN'S COMMENT: At least viewers have been able to see The Ghost Story this week, which the FAM channel hadn't shown for some time. Hope you all enjoyed it.
Hello everyone. Before I forget, one of my favorite guest stars was Ned Beatty who played Curtis Norton in one episode. He always plays the bumbling character in whatever role he is in. Loved his performance in "Deliverance". It's beginning to get very HUMID here in Pennsylvania. Can't wait till October when we head to Charlottesville, Virginia for vacation (along with the MANDATORY side-trip to Schuyler to visit Walton's Mountain Museum, my favorite part of the trip!). For those of you who are collectors of Walton's memorabilia, in the past month I've been able to add the Mary Ellen and the "Mom" dolls, The Walton's Christmas Album, and another T.V. guide to my collection through E-bay. What a great way to be able to "pick and choose" what I add to my collection. To Silvia from California who asked if there was a minimum number purchase requirement from Columbia House. There is no minimum. You can cancel after you receive your first tape or continue till you have them all. By the way, I have received my copy of "The Walton Legacy" available from WVPT (a public television station in Harrisonburg, Virginia. What a wonderful documentary about the Hamner family and the town that they grew up in. I would highly recommend all Walton fans to obtain a copy for your video collection. The address is: The Walton Legacy WVPT Public Television 298 Port Public Road Harrisonburg, VA 22801 The producer of the video is Tracey Jewell. You can e-mail her at Tracey_Jewell@WVPT.pbs.org. The cost of the video was $29.95 which included shipping. This video will not disappoint anyone who purchases it!! Well, that's all for now. Sharon in PA KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad your collection of Waltons things is growing. Sharon I have edited out your talking point comments, and will include them with the others next week. Hope that's OK. :-)
Hi there Karen, Its sweltering here today. Last weekend we had the central heating on and it there was actually a frost. This weekend end it has hit 30 degrees ( must be the mid eighties in Fahrenheit ). My brother, who is touring Australia ( he started last November in Adelaide ) has written to say that your winter is arriving but as he has just crossed the Tropic of Capricorn ( hope that is the right one) things are warming up again for him ( he is in Queensland packing sugar cane until August). I am still really enjoying the digest, apart from all the Walton's Gossip it is nice to "meet" all these people from all over the World. Waltons Stuff Last weekend I got to see The Pony Cart ( I'm in the middle of report writing ( I'm a teacher ) and I can only do this if I set myself break times......I decided that an hour watching the Waltons was a must ). I did see this episode along time ago but not in the repeats that Channel 4 showed five-ish years ago. I have always been interested in the family tree for the Waltons and have the Dust Bowl cousins on tape. Sadly I did not tape The Pony Cart but I drew these conclusions: Henry Walton married Martha Corinne ? ( maiden name mentioned but I forget ) Boon Wade = Vera Floyd This episode says that Henry Walton was Grandpa's brother and it was their father who left England and settled on the mountain in 1810. Again I think they gave his first name, does anybody know what this is ? This man would be John-Boy's Great Grandfather, his wife JBs Great Grandmother. When Martha Corinne came to stay with the Waltons she gave Jason some pictures of her parents in law and this was mentioned. I am lucky enough to have the paperback Waltons by Robert Weverka called just "The Waltons". This tells the story shown in two episodes which I do not know the name of. In one of these stories John-Boy falls in love with Jenny Pendleton. They visit the site on the Mountain where John-Boy's Gt.. Grandfather first settled ( which ties in with the above) but the Gt.. Grandparents are called Rome and Rebecca-Lee ( Becky-Lee). I do not think that the Pony Cart used these names. Also when was Grandpa born? I know it says on his grave stone but I do not have this on tape anywhere but guess it would be about 1860. This means that his father had been in the USA for FIFTY years before Grandpa was born. It could be possible if Gt.. Grandpa emigrated as a child ( and married after emigrating) but the stories imply that he emigrated with his wife. Having said all that I always thought Boon looked a lot like Grandpa so maybe Henry was much older than Zeb, although Boon was technically of the next generation maybe he and Grandpa were of similar ages. I have not watched it for a while but I do have a story on tape that shows a cousin of Zeb's coming to stay with the family, his name also begins with Z. He visits not long after Grandpa dies, I intend to watch this to see if I can work out how he also fits onto the tree. Anyway back to reports. I do so envy all those teachers who have already broken up for summer, we still have another month to go !! Alison KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for all this information Alison. Rome Walton is mentioned in several episodes as being the first Walton to settle there, but I particularly remember Founders Day as one. Other readers would be able to add more probably. What about the date on Grandpa's grave?
Hi Karen, My favorite guest star is Beulah Bondi. Her portrayal of Martha Corinne was simply marvelous, I think. She made the character come alive and enabled the viewers to really understand Martha Corinne. Thanks again for your digest, Karen. I am really enjoying it! Silvia from California KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad you're enjoying it.
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