Hi everyone,

Just a short note from me for this week. It's certainly been another busy week. Once school gets back things just seem to pile up again. James has given me a lot of dates for things that he has on, so it seems like another busy term ahead with one thing or another. He also has a lot of friends who are having 18th birthday parties so it seems like there's a lot of driving him around everywhere too. Thankfully, his friends have parties which end at a reasonable hour, unlike the ones Tim went to. :-) I think I'll be pleased when he finally gets his license, which won't be until after his exams are over at the earliest.

The photos of the Waltons home on the website sent in by one of our readers seemed to hit a chord with many of you. If you haven't seen them yet go to:

http://www.1164.com/ranch/photos/waltons/index.html

Another link was given for another Waltons house too. Many of you think, as I did, that it's the Baldwin home. To see this one you need to visit:

http://www.1164.com/ranch/photos/sheilas/index.html

You can read what many of our "in the know" members have to say about each of these houses. Enjoy this digest. Have a great weekend, and another terrific week.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Hi Ms. Karen,

It is always such a joy to read your "Waltons Digest." It is now midnight here in North Carolina and after reading your "Digest" and seeing all those beautiful photos Ben took of the Walton set has made me WIDE awake and wishing I was back in California. So-oooo many beautiful memories stirred my heart as I looked at the photos.

I shall never forget the first time The Walton's Int'l Fan Club members made their way down the dusty road to the WALTON HOME. As the fans gathered on the front lawn they stood in awe as they gazed upon this memorable homeplace. There was a silence that you wouldn't believe. It almost seemed that we were standing on sacred ground. There are not words to describe the feelings that we all shared that morning as Earl Hamner shared his feelings with all of us. Also the presence of Eric Scott and our dear Ms. Lynn Hamilton added to the beauty of that morning. Also adding to the excitement of that morning was when Earl Hamner climbed the back ladder up to John-Boy's room and stuck his head out the window. Boy, did the cameras click!!

We also visited the Baldwin house that morning. To answer the question John W. from Ct. asked about "The Sheila House"- It is the Baldwin home. When we visited there in June we noticed that a lot of the Baldwin yard had been made into a parking lot.

Thank you, Ben, for sharing your beautiful photos with us. I have many albums of these pics taken over the years that we have visited the Walton set and I have looked at them many times, but tonight your photos just seemed to be extra special.

Also thank you Ms.Karen for all the many hours you give of yourself to bring us the "Walton Digest." It is greatly appreciated! :~)

Carolyn

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm glad you enjoyed the photos Carolyn. I'd love to actually see them, but being so far away, the next best thing is to have the wonderful photos which Ben put on his site for us all to enjoy. I can just imagine Earl poking his head out of the upstairs window. What a wonderful sight that would have been.

Hi Karen and all Walton fans

Just a short note. Just wanted to tell John that Sheila's house is indeed the Baldwin's house. I have been there twice and walked in the front door. What a thrill that was.

If you start at the first of that site http://www.1164.com/ you can read the history of Sheila's house. Also there is so much more to see on that site. Make sure you all take a long trip around Adam and Ben's website. There are so many fantastic things to see. They have done a marvellous job with it.

The road that they show where it says does not look like Waltons Mountain, the reason for that is when the house was moved to Warner Bros Ranch it was put where the old house of Fantasy Island was filmed and you can see the palm tree in there and they don't fit in for Waltons Mountain.

Hope this is helpful. Enjoy.

Sincerely Dot P

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the info Dot. You're quite right there is a lot to see. Yes, the road up does look more like Fantasy Island than Waltons Mountain. I don't think I ever saw a palm tree on Waltons Mountain!

Karen,

I loved the most recent newsletter especially all the comments about other TV shows crossing over to" The Waltons."

It has been confirmed that the Walton home was also used on" Mayberry RFD" (which takes place in my home state).

There are things I have noticed about "The Waltons" as well. The Waltons was filmed at a complex known as the Burbank Studios in California.

Other TV classics have been filmed on the same lot including" The Donna Reed Show", "Bewitched", "I Dream of Jeannie", and "The Partridge Family".

In fact,the next time anyone sees the Walton episode "The Milestone" about Olivia dealing with menopause,you might notice that Aunt Kate's home in Albarene was also Major Nelson's house on "I Dream of Jeannie". It should be noted that Larry Hagman, who played "Major Nelson" also played the evil "J.R. Ewing" on "Dallas", Lorimar's first big hit after "The Waltons".

Wouldn't it have been a sight to see Jeannie (played by the beautiful Barbara Eden) and Major Nelson (note that it's Nelson, the real life Virginia county of the Hamners) pop in on Olivia and her aunt?!

Patrick

KAREN'S COMMENT: I must have another look at the episode you mention. It never occured to me that it was Major Nelson's house! Wow. I am imagining all the looks from the Walton family if Jeannie should be sitting up with them at the dinner table. Mama and Grandma would probably be quite disapproving, Grandpa would be wanting to know how he could get a Jeannie too, and the rest would be quite amused by it all I would imagine. Great suggestion.

Hi,

I went to the website with the pictures of the Waltons House at the Warner Bros. Ranch. Those are really fun to see! I also enjoyed the pics of the Bewitched house as I used to watch that too. The house labeled "Sheila's" house was used for the Baldwins House. I recognized it right off. When looking at the pictures of the Waltons front porch, I had this strong urge to put furniture on that porch!! It just didn't look right without their swing, and chairs, etc. I assume the inside of these sets are empty?? Has anybody been inside?

Thanks, Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENTS: I love the Baldwin home. It always looks so stately. Just right for those two old ladies.

Hi Karen

I did write to Ronnie (Corabeth) and told her how much I had loved The Waltons and even though John Boy was my favourite I thought her part was the best. She got to do so many things and act how she wanted and she was great at her part. I also mentioned that I loved hearing Earl's voice through the shows.

Donna.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for letting us know Donna. I'm sure that Ronnie would have appreciated your time. I loved her character too, and she really grew over the course of the series, which I liked. She was a real forward thinking woman in a lot of ways. Probably a bit of a contradiction really.

Hello Karen and all!

Over in Ottawa we're having some cool weather, much more like fall than mid-July for Canada. I'm surprised that you haven't had any rain for so long, Nicole. We've certainly had our fill over at this end of the country! As to Judy Norton, I heard that she was running an acting school. Thank you very much John, for those wonderful pictures. I did think that 'Sheila's house' was the Baldwin house from the outside, but at the inside I was shocked! I did think that it was terrible that Paul and Erin got a divorce. He seemed to be one to make a marriage work. Erin referred to something that Paul had been seeing another woman, while married to her. I originally thought that the actor had simply left the program, and that they decided to eliminate him in the smoothest way possible. Still, they had no trouble replacing Richard Thomas. I saw a good episode last week. The Journal was a wonderful expression of how hard it was for families whose loved ones were missing in action. I may be able to send in one more submission after this, but I'm off to camp and then Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia for a few weeks with my family! Well, that's it for this week! Hope everything's going well at everyone's ends of the world!

Goodnight Everyone,

Robin

KAREN'S COMMENT: Have a lovely time at Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island! That's another part of the world I'd love to visit. You're right about The Journal. It must have been absolute agony not knowing if your loved one was alive or not.

The Hunt was originally scheduled to be the initial episode but the producers and schedulers felt that the Foundling would be more of an attention gainer because it would have more appeal to a greater variety of viewers. I believe they turned out to be right.

I am so glad Jim Barber straightened this out about Erin and Paul. In real life they stayed together just as Earl had said at the conclusion of the Wedding on Waltons Mountain.

I am going to include something for Ronnie Claire to write in the Waltons book and I believe you know what it is going to be!

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes, perhaps The Foundling was a better choice. It definitely wasn't their best episode of that season, but a nice family one all the same.

Hi all, I saw Will Geer on the old show Mayberry RFD a couple of weeks ago. He played Aunt Bea's boyfriend, very young and very good looking only knew him because of his voice. Also I watch Doc every Sunday night, it has fast become one of my favorite shows. I would like to ask Patti who mention the show a nosy question. What part of Maine are you from? I am also from Maine. I been watching all of my tapes that have The Waltons on them I have really enjoy them. Well good night for now.

Nancy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Nancy I've included your email address too so that Patti can reply to you about Maine. Perhaps you're neighbors too.

Hi Karen,

I had a look at those web sites with studio lot houses on it. I've always wondered what the back of the Walton house looks like since I found that it was only a front. That was neat. I'll try not to keep that image foremost in my head now though, as I don't like the idea of my favorite imaginary place being just a dream. :) It's much nicer to think of it as real.

I also looked at the other house. I too thought it was the Baldwin house at first, but agree that the yard doesn't look like quite enough. I don't have a picture of the Baldwin house right at my fingertips either, or I'd go have a closer inspection. Could it be, perhaps, the house of those rich people from an early season - their name escapes me now - the ones who accused John of stealing when in fact they were going broke? Seems to me that the front door looked at lot like this one in the picture. Also maybe the Northridges house? I don't remember what that one looks like but they'd be the other wealthy people that come to mind.

Just some thoughts. Have a good week. Larissa

KAREN'S COMMENT: Several people have confirmed that it was the Baldwin's home, but you've brought up another question for me. Which house was used for Paul Northridge's house. It was really nice too, and perhaps one that we've seen before on other shows. Anyone know? Another fascinating thing...when we see a shot of the children, or other family members coming out of the door near the cellar, is there just a small space that they stand in then just race out when action is called? What about the cellar? How deep is the cellar?

HI Karen a fine memory I have of The Waltons is I am 7 years younger than my sister and 5 years younger than my brother. I lived in England as a child and The Waltons was on in the evening. As a treat I would be allowed to stay up late with my brother and sister and watch The Waltons. I remember how upset I would be if I did not and how big I thought I was when I could stay up with them. We as many other children I am sure we say good night just like The Waltons. It is a happy memory.Night Lisa

KAREN'S COMMENT: It sounds a happy memory Lisa. Obviously your parents were quite happy to let you watch it too so it must have been seen as a suitable program, which of course it was. I remember watching The Patty Duke Show with similar memories. :-)

Hello everyone!

It has been a long time since I wrote. My life has been very busy over family matters and with my two volunteer charity jobs I'm doing to keep me busy in retirement. I read the Digest every week, though, no matter what, and I watch the re-runs whenever I'm home.

Crossovers: I've been monitoring the Christy show email and web sites for a granddaughter and I've taped all the shows for her because they don't get those channels (Odyssey and PAX) where she lives. This show would be a good crossover, except for the fact that it takes place a generation before The Waltons. It takes place way out in the country in another southern state (Tennessee). It's doctor is like John in many ways. Christy is like the Walton girls. There are so many children on the show. Miss Alice has a lot of Olivia's wisdom and ways. Etc! I've never been able to understand why it didn't run for many years because it certainly was good whole family viewing, as was The Waltons and had the same wholesome values.

Does anyone have a list of all the sites about The Waltons? I've found and bookmarked many, but would hate to miss one.

Thanks! "CJ"

KAREN'S COMMENT: Your mention of volunteer work reminds me that this year, in Australia anyway, it is the International Year of the Volunteer. So to any of you who do volunteer work in the community, all credit to you. :-)) Your idea of crossing over to Christy is great. Maybe John goes off hunting and comes across the mission. After meeting Christy he might even become a church goer. Or maybe the people are still around the mountains there and Mary Ellen's nursing or doctoring rounds take her to Cutter's Gap. She and the Doc could exchange home remedies too!

With regard to all The Waltons sites, probably the most comprehensive would be www.galesburg.net/~atkins/waltons.html That's Bill's site. Check it out anyway.