Hi everyone,

Once again we have some new members so welcome to all of you. We now have 82 people on the list, which I think is great considering the list hasn't been running for all that long.

I have just begun to put past digests onto the Internet. For the newer members, the reason that I have put them on is because I am asked by new members so often if they can get the past digests. This way you can just check them out without me having to send them to you. :-)

Talk to you all again soon, Karen.

From Beth :-)

My name is Beth Pigg (yep, Pigg), I am 32 years old and I live in southern Virginia. I am married and have three children: Lauren Elizabeth 9, Matthew Stephen 7, and Alyssa Katheryn who just turned 2 on July 5. I like Elizabeth (we're both the same age and I kind of grew up with her while watching the show), Grandma and Grandpa. I hope I haven't already sent this information, but I have just caught up with my mail after being off-line for over a month. I like the earlier episodes best, when the whole family was there and the children were younger, but there are some of the later episodes I like as well. I love this list and learning all sorts of new things from all of the list members. Thanks and keep up the great work!

Also, some of you know this, but I grew up in Nelson County where Earl Hamner was raised and where the Waltons Mountain Museum is (I taught in that building when it was a school) and if you have any questions about the area or anything let me know and I'll try to answer. I still go up there every month or so since my parents still live there. Oh, and if it's still cool at your house Karen, it was 98-101 here last week and the week before, but has cooled off some this week (thank goodness!).

From Beth:

About Cindy's apparitions of Ben: They possibly figured these were just images in Cindy's mind, not actual apparitions. I am confused though, because if Cindy were seeing Ben, even if it were in her mind, it would seem that in itself would be a sort of psychic experience and therefore not something the Family Channel would air. Interesting question and I will be interested in hearing what the rest of you think.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for your comments Beth. I wonder if the scene mentioned was supposed to be a physic dream?

From Lael:

I haven't gotten a chance to write within the last two weeks, so this might be a rather long post. My beloved Dad had a mild heart attack last week and he is going to be quite fine, but unfortunately his daughter (me!) is not doing so well. I'm an only child, so I've always been close to my parents - especially since I have become an adult. This is the first time in my life that I have had to really face the fact that Mom and Dad are not going to live forever and I am having a lot of trouble dealing with it. I even went so far as to buy a cellular phone so that I can be gotten hold of at any time, because I am so afraid something else is going to happen and I won't get there until it is too late.

Well, now onto happier things :). I didn't get a chance to say thank you Karen, for clearing up my confusion about Cindy's mother-s. I only got to watch the Waltons sporadically until the last year or so and I haven't seen all of the episodes yet, and a lot of them have been out of sequence. Last week, I saw the episode where Mary Ellen discovers that Kurt is alive and then the one where he is supposedly killed - all within a few days of each other. So I am slowly figuring out the dynamics. I even have problems remembering what I saw in a regular episode and what I saw in one of the specials, but I am a faithful viewer now and am sure I will understand everything soon.

Now, here is an odd question - maybe it is a little retentive, but I will mention it anyway. Last night was the episode where Toni and Jason get engaged. My fiancé was using the computer while it was on and our computer is next to the TV, so he was watching the TV as well. When Jason mentioned casually at the dinner table that Toni was Jewish, everyone got really weird about it. Fiancé asked me why they acted this way - were the Waltons really anti-Semite? I was rather stuck for an answer. I said I thought maybe it was because the war had just ended and people were still remembering all of Hitler's stuff, yet I would think that would make people more apt to be kind and not less. I hadn't seen this particular episode before myself, and I was even surprised at their reaction, even though in later episodes they seem to like her very much. I would have thought that John and Olivia would surely have known Jews in their past and they seemed to teach their children not to be judgmental. Was being Jewish a super big deal back then maybe? Nowadays it doesn't seem to matter anymore than hair color (except to some misguided groups). I can't believe the family would ever be like this, but he got me to wondering. I did miss about ten minutes of the show - perhaps I missed their explanation of their actions.

Here's one more question: in the episode where Corabeth was discovered to be an alcoholic, we find out that John was also one in the military. Does anyone know if Olivia ever knew about this?

KAREN'S COMMENT: Lael, hope everything's all right with your Dad again, and you of course. :-) Actually someone else brought up this point, about how the family reacted when they found out Toni was Jewish, saying that they felt it was a bit strange. Any comments? Lael you've taught me something here. I didn't know that John was an alcoholic. Was it ever referred to in any other episodes?

From Jeff:

I am late in responding to the query about our favorite guest stars, but I do want to say that I absolutely adored the performance of Linda Watkins. I do not remember the title of the episode, but she was an ailing widow, without long to live, who wanted so badly to get back to the sea and re-live a few memories of when she was a young bride newly arrived in America. John-Boy drives her there and they spend a magical afternoon together.

Miss Watkins was brilliant, and whenever I see that particular episode, I am moved to tears by her performance. I first saw it years ago, and immediately wanted to know who this woman was. As it turns out, Linda Watkins was a Broadway star in the late 20s who was brought to Hollywood in 1931 by FOX and given a contract. She was starred in several films in 1931 and 1932, and despite being young, blonde and beautiful, none of them were successful and she went back to the stage. In the mid 50s, she was given another chance at film stardom and was seen in a low-budget horror film. But it also did poorly (probably because it was totally unbelievable and actually laughable -- about murderous tree stumps that pull up their roots and go in search of victims!) and she appears to have made no further pictures. She continued to appear on the stage, though her roles became fewer and fewer. I think "The Waltons" was her last professional appearance and she died a year or so later. But what a great way to end a career!

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think the episode you refer to Jeff, would be The Journey, and you're right, she is wonderful in it. She didn't seem extra old in it, I wonder how old she was when she died. Thanks for sharing a bit of her background with us.

From Jane:

Remember how much a part of the Waltons animals were? I mentioned Chance was in the Homecoming. They had episodes of her giving birth twice, John-Boy hugging her when he first realized he was in love with Jenny. And they had a episode where Chance died. Also, Reckless. Reckless was hurt by a bear, he was shot by John's friend and they had a episode where he died. Reckless was referred both as a boy/girl.

Now what about, Blue? John-Boy got Blue from that elderly lady in the episode where he delivered (Sissy Spacek's baby) Sarah's baby. It showed Blue in a race. It showed where they sold Blue to Elizabeth's friend and the buying back of Blue. What was the last episode you remember with Blue in it? I don't remember Blue ever dying.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'll have to think on that one Jane. Any suggestions? He was around during season 5 or 6 I think because I recall seeing Jim Bob riding him with Patsy Brimmer behind him.

From Dot P CANADA:

Our Trip to Schuyler Virginia: Well I finally got around to sitting down and writing about our trip to Waltons Mountain. I can hardly believe its already three weeks since we were there. It was 868 miles. Farther then I thought it would be. It took us 3 days, taking our time. I noticed a road on the map which I thought it was an express way. It turned out to be The Shenandoah National Park road. It was all ups and downs and curves. It was l35 miles long and we could only go at speeds of 35 miles per hour and less. We decided to get off after 30 miles of that. We then took all of the small roads south from there and it was a beautiful ride. We finally reached IS 64 east to Charolettesville. I will never live that one down.

We stayed at a KOA camp ground which was 24 miles north of Schuyler. We took our 11 year old grandson Spencer with us. I think he really wanted to go because it was a holiday for him, although he has watched a lot of Waltons tapes with us. It wasn't his main interest for going, but one trip to Waltons Mountain changed all that. He now has more questions then I do. He can hardly wait to go back.

The Museum was really great. As soon as I walked in the door the ladies were all excited. I had bought a Ike Godsey hat back in l987 in the Sneads Store (which is the Ike Godsey Store,) which burnt down in l989. They all wanted to know where I had got it. I also had taken some pictures when we were there and of course I had taken them along with me. Well they kept calling all the ladies over to see my hat and my pictures. We introduced ourselves. They made such of fuss of my grandson because of his name He thought it was great. They took him around and introduced him to everyone.

Then we went next door to eat. Dennis Rooney had emailed me about going to this restaurant called Schuyler Family Restaurant. Its a must. Well it was the same story there. They all wanted to know where I got the hat. Charlie & Jeannie, the owners, said that Joe Connelly would probably want my hat. They liked the pictures too. I had offered to send everyone who wanted them , copies but I am still looking for the negatives. Charlie & Jeannie were just great to my grandson. Spencer thinks they are real neat people.

The second day we were there this lady came over to talk to us. I said to her I know you. You are Doris' sister, Earl's Aunt Francis. She said how did you know that. I said you sure look alike. I recognized her from the tape, A Decade of The Waltons. She certainly was a lovely lady. There were not many people there that day so we had a real long conversation. She loves to talk about Earl and all the Hamners. My husband could not believe how long we talked. He said but you don't even know her! What did you have to talk about for so long? I started to laugh, because he still doesn't understand us Walton Fans!!! We can talk forever when we are talking about The Waltons.

We were there for two days but it certainly was not enough time to see and read all the stuff that was there. I kept forgetting to take pictures with talking to all the great people. Also you need lots of time to shop. I never did see everything they had. I wanted the tape of the Dedication in March, but they said they had lost the master tape and there would not be anymore. I spoke to Ralph and he said he would remedied that by late fall.

We are hoping to leave this coming Wednesday to be down there again by July 19th. It should be interesting with all the Hamners visiting.

The thing I found strange was when I tried to explain the Internet stuff. They didn't seem to know about the Discussion Forum, Karen's Digest and all the other things that are on the Internet about The Waltons. They ask how you found out about the Museum and when you try to explain, they really did not understand. I put a little piece on the Discussion Forum about our trip and I could not believe how many people emailed me hungry for information. I have enjoyed answering everyone.

Good Night Karen

Good Night Everybody (as John would say)

KAREN'S COMMENT: It sounds as if you had a wonderful time on your trip Dot. I hope you will get this before you head off again. I visit the discussion forum quite often Dot, and you're right, some of them don't seem to have found the mailing list yet. I guess they will find it if they check out all the links because Ralph has put in a link to my page. I have noticed that some of you have mentioned that you belong to the list, and have put in a plug for me...thanks for that. I'm having lots of visitors to the site so I suppose people must be finding it!

From Marc:

When the series opened in season five, Richard Thomas had an accident on either a motorcycle or a scooter, which he why he walked around with a cane in a couple of those early season episodes.

What confuses me no end is the fact that Mary Ellen has a son, John-Curtis, in season six then has an accident in one of the NBC movies in the early 1980s and is told she can have no other children. Then when the first of three movies recently aired on CBS in the 1990s she suddenly has two children, Clay and a daughter (I don't recall her name). Interesting trivia fact: her two children where played by the same children who played Betsy and Bobby, Val and Gary's children, on Knots Landing.

Also, Ben and Cindy had a daughter, Virginia, and Cindy was pregnant again in one of those NBC movies. Yet, in the recent CBS features Virginia has apparently died and there is no mention of that second pregnancy. What a terrible story line.

In the final season of The Waltons I liked the character of Stanley, Rose's husband to-be, but was surprised when they were written out of the series late that final season. Peggy Rea, the actress playing Rose, was also appearing on The Dukes Of Hazzard at that time.

I found the second John-Boy a little stiff, but not bad. Richard Thomas was irreplaceable. While I missed his character after he left at the end of season five, it was nice to see the other characters getting more story lines. In the early seasons I thought Judy Norton as Mary Ellen was a natural. In later seasons, however, I thought her acting was a little stiff as well.

Speaking of Mary Ellen, I think the two part episode right after Ralph Waite left the series in the final season when Curt was suddenly alive was my least favorite of any episodes. Totally unrealistic.

I loved the early episodes, particularly The Carnival and The Boy From The CCC. I used to look forward to Ellen Corby's return appearances after her stroke. Of the mid-season episodes, the one when John is faced with selling the mountain was one of my favorites. That scene with Ellen Corby and Will Geer sitting on top of the mountain was so emotional.

Thursday night was never the same without The Waltons.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I really love the episode where Grandma returns home again after her stroke and finds everyone running around after her. I just love the way she and Grandpa used to call each other "old woman" and "old man".

From Marie:

Hello! Just finished watching The Parting. This is another of my favorite episodes even though it's so sad. When Aunt Kate comes to the house, it's the first time she's been there. She walks over to the piano and picks up a small vase:

Livie: "I guess you remember that was Mama's."

Aunt Kate: "I can still see where it was mended."

Livie: "It's been cracked ever since I remember."

Aunt Kate: "All one summer, your Mama took violin lessons from the lady down the street. She didn't know it but the lady's son would hide behind the draperies to watch and listen. One day, overcome by love, he fell out against the piano and the vase was broken."

Livie: "How did my mama get it?"

Aunt Kate: "She married the son."

Livie: "My father? I didn't know that!"

Another cousin is mentioned - Corabeth brings over Cousin Sue Ellen's Savory Stew.

Hope everyone is reading Ralph's Waltons Discussion Forum! I really enjoy Kim and Marca and Dorothy Phillips and Lee. What interesting letters from so many people including Marion Hamner.

Trivia Time! In the credits for The Best Christmas, Rachel Longaker is listed as Aimee Louise. Scott Hamner (Earl's son, correct?) wrote The Hot Rod and The Threshold. Did he write any others? In The Revelation, Corabeth mentions that Aimee is at her sister's "Eula Jarvis something" to learn china painting. I can't quite catch the something, can anyone help? In The Outrage, Ben and Cindy's song is "I'll Be Seeing You." Jason's middle initial is "W."

And we hear another of Rose's Wisdoms (my name for them) - If a task is once begun,/ never leave it till it's done/. In The Traveling Man, Jeffrey has a dog which doesn't like Mr. Perkins. What is its name?

KAREN'S COMMENT: I wonder what Jason's "W" could be? I didn't know that Scott Hamner also wrote for the show. It's amazing what you learn through the list. I think in the episode where Aimee arrives, Corabeth mentions her name as being Aimee Louise too.

From Marca:

Hello everyone, I really enjoyed reading Waltons digest 25 about the discussions of John-Boy's accident and the question who is older: Erin or Ben. I also thought that Ben was older then Erin. When you start to enjoy a series like The Waltons I guess you get used to (and maybe a bit attached?) the actors; after all it's them you're looking at all the time. And then I suppose it is very strange to see suddenly a complete other person. (For about 9 years I watch the Australian series Neighbours on Belgian (!) television and there some characters have also been played by several actors.) But because we are only in season five I have never seen the second John-Boy.

I was very pleased to hear that no other actor played the part of Grandpa after Will Geer died. I think Will Geer was irreplaceable and on Ralph's Forum I read a nice anecdote from a member who once met Mr. Geer on the set. He was studying his lines when this fan passed by and said: "Hi Grandpa!" to him. Grandpa looked at him and said: "Howdeee!". Did you also read this message on the Forum?

I was wondering what you all think of the school in the series. Children from 6 - 17 were all in the same classroom with only one teacher. But how can you teach properly, with so many different grades in one classroom? Were there no more children on Waltons Mountain? Or was it because of a low budget of the series? I can remember that both John-Boy and Mary-Ellen had some problems at the beginning of their studies, which perhaps was a result of their previous (mixed) education in Waltons Mountain. Or am I going to far on this one? Anyway I think it's funny to see all my favorite characters in one classroom.

I really liked the article which Arthur transcribed in digest 23, especially the part about where Earl Sr. scared off fellow hunters on the hill he discovered by telling them he'd stumbled on a huge snake that had apparently escaped from a visiting circus. As a result Earl had the hill all to himself.

That reminded me of the episode called "The Intruders" where John and Grandpa enter a competition with another lumber mill for a big contract. Grandpa devised a clever scheme to get their lumber to market first. He made the other lumber mill believe that the Waltons would transport their lumber by a raft via the water to its destination. The other lumber mill believed it and did what Grandpa said. But Grandpa of course knew better. He knew that there were sand banks in the river. And when the men of the other firm got stuck in the river, he and John drove by in their truck to deliver the lumber on time, so they won. I really enjoyed that episode.

My final question for today: I have never seen "The Homecoming". I believe it was never broadcast in the Netherlands. I am a bit curious about the story. Can someone tell me what is was about? Was it a film or just an episode? And why was it called The Homecoming?

KAREN'S COMMENT: Hi Marca. I found your comments about all the children in the one school interesting. Over here the smaller country schools often have only one or two teachers at the school and so children of all ages are in the one classroom. It's mainly because of the distance between schools. In fact there has been a move lately towards what we call multiage classrooms, where several class levels are in the one room. It's supposed to allow for children of all ages to learn at their own pace. Are smaller country schools with just one or two teachers just as common over in the US?

Finally, more from Beth, who's been very busy catching up on email :-))

Mary Ellen finding out Curt is still alive: You must remember that Mary Ellen thought Curt was dead for a long time and her feelings may have changed somewhat. Wars have changed people drastically and not usually for the better so Curt's indifference to Mary Ellen and John Curtis may be because of his change in character from horrors endured during the war. I'm not saying this is as it should be, but it is a possible explanation for why that episode was written the way it was. Just a thought.........

KAREN'S COMMENT: They really didn't spend very long together before the war took Curt away either!

Did the actors really eat at mealtimes: On one of the specials I watched about the Walton's they mentioned the scenes around the table. They laughed and said there were LOTS of food fights and that they got so tired of eating the same food for those scenes. I think I remember comments about it getting cold too.

Order of the Walton children: I had always assumed the order of the children was: John-Boy, Mary Ellen, Jason, Erin, Ben, Jim-Bob and Elizabeth. I'm not sure why I thought it though. There is an episode that mentions which one is older, Ben or Erin, I thought, but I don't know which one it is! I always thought it was assumed that Ben took over the family sawmill business, but I don't know what Erin's ambitions were.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm pretty sure that Jason is next in line to John Boy, then Mary Ellen, as he is off at Klineberg before she starts at nursing school. Does anyone know which episode Beth could be referring to?