Hi Waltons Fans,

Hope you've all had a great week and are gearing up for a fun 4th of July weekend. I've been told there is another Waltons marathon on to celebrate. Further details about this are in the digest.

Since its been another slowish week, I have added another part of a Waltons article I've found, so I hope you enjoy this one too.

I had another letter during the week from someone who is a Little House on the Prairie fan, as well as a Waltons fan. I thought it was interesting that many of us are fans of both shows, myself included. It was interesting for me when I first began my Waltons site, because I had never realised before just how much publicity Little House on the Prairie was given out here, yet how little The Waltons was given. Both shows began around the same time, here in Australia, even though The Waltons was a little earlier in the USA, and they were put into the same timeslot, against one another....7.30 p.m. on a Thursday evening. Little House on the Prairie remained in that timeslot, I think, almost until it was taken off air out here, but The Waltons moved around a fair bit, firstly to a Friday evening, and later to a Sunday at 5 p.m.

It seems strange that one show was given so much publicity, while another was given so little. There were many full colour pieces about Little House in the TV magazines, and relatively few about The Waltons. I did find it very puzzling, that's for sure. It's interesting to look back at how things were marketed and then how they fared. Certainly, Little House would have been the more successful show of the two, over here.

My only explanations are:

1. That Michael Landon was very well known here in Australia, due to his long run on the very successful Bonanza series.

2. That Little House was on a more successful and well established network, Channel 9, whilst The Waltons was seen on Channel 10, which was a relatively new station. It had only been around for a couple of years when it gained the rights to The Waltons, so perhaps there was not much money in the budget for publicity.

Since I've mentioned the rights to a show, does anyone out there know how it works? Does a network buy the rights to a whole series, or perhaps just a part? Are some of the episodes repackaged and sold as movies, which seems to have been the case with The Easter Story? What about repeats...are there stipulations on the number of times shows can be repeated. I'm intrigued by how it all happens. Perhaps I've missed my calling...I should have been a television programmer. :-)

Oh well, enough for now. Enjoy this week's digest and I'll see you all again next week.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Hello all from Hershey Pa.

It's hot and crowded here, many tourists. I just received my newsletter and inside was a listing of things in Ike's store. They are having several new items which I am interested in, but they never listed a price. One being an afghan.

I was also wondering if anyone saw the picture of Patricia Neal in the circular that came with it about the cruise? However her name is not listed with the cast members that will be there.

The only other thought I had is that I wish we had heard more about young Olivia before she got married and afterward. It would have been nice for the family to have mentioned her and maybe she could have visited.

Yes, Cora-Beth was excellent in her role and very believable. I just loved the way she got along with Ike. What a match!!

There was nothing that ever could compare to OUR grandpa and grandma. Their union was made in heaven. Bless them, they are missed!!

That's it from Hershey.

Vicki

KAREN'S COMMENT: You're right...there were a few new Waltons items planned for sale in September and they sound great. I think I spotted a calendar, and there were a few other things that I thought would be good. I thought Patricia Neal was listed along with her photo, Vicki. I think she must have been a fairly late confirmation though because she hasn't been listed since the beginning. She will be a wonderful addition to the cruise, I'm sure.

Actually, while things are a little slow with the letters to the digest, why don't we write about some of our favorite Godsey moments. Write and let everyone know which Godsey episodes or scenes are your favorites. They were such terrific characters and I can think of several.

Dream Date article was funny! Perhaps someone should make a copy of it and mail it to Carolyn...I am sure she could forward it to Richard. Wouldn't he get a kick out of it! I am anxiously awaiting the October reunion...only 4 months to go! Also, I noticed Richard Donner will be in Utica, New York in August in a play. I am trying to get more details and will let you know them!

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm glad you enjoyed the Dream Date with Richard. I wonder how many young girls took these articles seriously. :-)) Look out for the next article at the bottom of this digest.

Hi Karen and friends,

I have been watching a few of the episodes here when I can and I noticed the dramatic change in Corabeth over the years. She was very quiet and unassuming when she first came, plain and simple. In one early episode with her she was unaware of a poet. However in later years, she seems very educated sophisticated and very pushy. Can anyone pinpoint her transference?

Also I was wondering if anyone had an idea, based on the series history if they know if the episode of "the Quilting" will be shown soon as I desperately want to tape it?

Thanks, Kathy in CT, USA

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm not sure where you're up to in episodes over there Kathy, but I think you're mid way through season 4. The Quilting comes up towards the end of season 4 so keep watching.

Not only is this true about the Waltons Radio but it will be transported to the Waltons Mountain Museum in Schuyler if they can locate 14 sponsors to donate.

Also the episode The Prophecy was shown recently which indicates that John graduated from High School in 1911, but this conflicts with the Diploma which says he was scheduled to graduate in 1917, but was shipped off to France to fight in World War I before the diploma could be issued.

About 1990 to 1992 Michael Learned was on a sinus commercial for I believe Sinustab.

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: I find it strange to think of these actors making commercials, I guess because I don't get to see them and can't imagine them. Thanks too, to Debbie who wrote and told me that "Caltrate is a calcium supplement".

Hi Karen

I am really enjoying the digest. I love reading about everyone's experience with the Waltons. Two days from now I leave from Ohio to go to the Museum in Schuyler. We are all very excited. I am still wondering if anyone knows what happened to Reverend Hank Buchanan? He took Erin out on a date and Corabeth was attracted to him when he first showed up. At a get together at the Walton's Erin told Mary Ellen that she was going to marry him, but I don't remember seeing him again.

Julie

KAREN'S COMMENT: Since I haven't seen the later episodes for ages, can someone please tell us what did happen to Hank Buchanan. Was he the character who performed the weddings of Erin and Mary Ellen? Please write and let us know about your experiences at Schuyler Julie.

Hi Karen:

Enjoyed your recent newsletter. I have a question about a "Godsey" website run by Beth. It was mentioned in the last newsletter and I would like to see it but was unable to find it on the 'net. Do you or any of your readers have the actual web address? I would appreciate any help you can give me. I found Corabeth and Ike to be such a great addition to the show.

Keep up the good work!

Janet

KAREN'S COMMENT: Here's the URL for the Godsey's page Janet.

<http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/Lot/5280/>

Ike and Corabeth have certainly featured in our digest this week haven't they?

Well I thought you might all enjoy this article from TV Guide of June 25, 1977. It's the first installment anyway. I found it very interesting to read and look back on.

Growing Pains on Waltons Mountain

By Bill O'Hallaren

One recent day Earl Hamner Jr., the creator and executive producer of The Waltons, took a moment to-glance at the, Hollywood trade papers. A Variety headline proclaimed: "Richard Thomas Ankles Waltons."

That was news, and then some, to Hamner, who said later, "You can imagine how I felt,. Richard is not "only my star and my friend, but he is playing me." The rest of the world may think of The Waltons on CBS as fiction, but for Hamner it is the recreation of the lives of his own family during Depression days in the Virginia mountains; and John-Boy, the young writer, is Earl Hamner, the young writer.

"1 went down to the set right away. Richard told me, "I've decided it's time for John-Boy to move on'." Thomas explained. that he had other commitments: movies, a play and, at 26, he felt that the time had come to take on bigger challenges. Once he made his decision he announced it publicly, before anyone could change his mind.

Actually, Thomas's defection couldn't be totally unexpected, because in the final episode this season John-Boy's novel was accepted for publication, and next year's plans call for him to go to New York---where, presumably, no one will ever call him John-Boy again. [Karen: Little did they know!!!]

Still, it was another in a series of jolts that has suddenly shaken the five-year-old series so rudely that some wonder about its long-term survival. These include some unexpectedly low ratings, grumblings from two of the stars, Ellen Corby's illness and perhaps most serious of all, the realization that all those cute little redheaded children devised by Hamner are growing up--and the actors playing are shooting up even faster.

In mid-November, Corby, the peppery Grandma, suffered a stroke and was out for the rest of the season. She is currently undergoing intensive speech therapy at the Motion Picture County Home. Hamner, a constant visitor, reports she is "improving dramatically. She's such a strong, determined lady. She'll be back the minute she's able, even in a wheelchair." The producers are hopeful she'll be able to appear on the. show next season---and, if so, she will be portrayed as exactly what she is: a stroke victim fighting hard to recover her speech.

Michael Learned and Ralph Waite, who play the Walton parents Olivia and John, were quoted as saying that it looks as though the show has come to the end of the line and that now would be a good time to drop it so everyone leaves a winner. Later they said that wasn't what they meant and that they would like to see it continue as long as the quality remains high.

Learned admits she's not completely happy with her character, "but then television refuses to portray real women." But she believes The Waltons "fills a need for a lot of people, people who am yearning for a solid family structure." And she thinks that everyone on the show must face up to the fact that the children aren't children any more.

(Continued next week)

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's interesting to look back on some of the comments I think. The show still went on to win a few more Emmy's after this I think, certainly they were nominated for some. And what about Michael Learned's comment about her not being entirely happy with her character. I would have thought Olivia was written as a very forward thinking woman for her time. Perhaps some of you have thoughts about that. Let me know.