| WALTONS DIGEST 3-98:
Hi there everyone, So the week seems to have been just one thing after another, however he is on the mend now, and the library mess is finally starting to get cleared away. Even the smell (STENCH!) is starting to go. The carpet was treated last week and was smelling better this week, but is being treated again next week. So there you have it...that's been my week. I feel as if the end of the year is nearly here already! Holidays certainly seem a long time ago. Anyway I hope everything's fine at your homes, and that you're still enjoying The Waltons. Lots of mail this week too, so I'd better stop rambling and let you take over the list. Till next week, goodnight everyone,
Karen. Hi Karen: Just for everyone's information, the extended montage on the final episode of season seven was done in the event CBS chose not to renew the series. It was still up in the air at that point. At the end of the 8th season CBS ordered that special 2-hour "Decade of the Waltons" special, so it was pretty much assumed the series would be back for a 9th season. The actual final episode of season 8 was when the boys all went off to war. Interestingly enough, ratings for the 9th, and final season, were still decent and the show could have been back for a 10th season. It was not out of the question. With all the principal players gone, however, CBS felt there were not too many stories to be told. If anyone is familiar with the new network beginning this coming August, PAXNet, they are purchasing family oriented series including TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL and PROMISED LAND. I work in the television industry and had a meeting with them and suggested they revive THE WALTONS. While it would be impossible to have every cast member on each episode, there are plenty more stories to be told. I am sure Richard Thomas would come back on occasion. Does anyone know what the new potential movie is about? I assume it will feature the marriage of Elizabeth and Drew. Marc P.S. -- Karen, keep up the good work. These journals are terrific! KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the information on the later series endings Marc. It makes sense. Shame they didn't return for the 10th series, but the cast was getting a bit depleted wasn't it! I haven't heard anything more about the next movie Marc. Glad you're still enjoying the digest. Judging from the mail I get if I am a little late, or if you miss a digest for some reason, I know that most people really look forward to getting them! I certainly look forward to getting all of your letters each week.
I was thinking yesterday about how one of the readers thought she'd seen Mary Beth McDonough on a Christmas commercial for Montgomery Wards. As I was thinking about it, a Montgomery Wards commercial aired! I decided that if she was on a Christmas one maybe she was on a later one so I watched it very carefully. Sure enough I spotted her too! She's got rather lighter red hair, not strawberry blonde but not really red. And she looks great. She has the line about mixing and matching materials. So that was great timing which made my day! Also I was pleased that someone mentioned the dance marathon confusion. I too had realized that the episode where Elizabeth mentions dancing all night was shown before the dance marathon one. These two shows weren't shown very far apart though, perhaps a few nights or a week? I then realized that I've been watching the beginnings of each one where Earl Hamner says the name of the episode and the date it originally aired - and none recently (if ever?) have been out of order. So these two episodes really were aired in that order. Perhaps it was an off-handed comment by Elizabeth which developed into a real storyline later? Or referring to something from earlier which we never saw in a show. I haven't heard anything about the Waltons moving to another channel, can someone please explain what's going on? Will FAM keep the evening ones and the other channel pick up the morning ones? Thanks for any information. Larissa KAREN'S COMMENT: It would be interesting to know the real reason. It wouldn't be unusual for the shows to have been shot and aired in a different order though. As you mentioned to me when you sent your last email, Larissa, TNN have picked up the show. Wonderful people! The Waltons continues to live on.
P.S. I also had an "Ellen Corby Sighting". She played the very proper school teacher in a movie which featured Doris Day and Gordon McRae (I am sure it was a "vehicle" for the studio to show off its new contract players.) Nevertheless, Ellen was fine as usual. The young boy in that movie was Bill Chapman who later played the son (Bud) in Father Knows Best. KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm afraid that I don't have an email address for Ellen Corby, or any of the other Waltons actors. If you want to send mail, I suggest that you send it through the fan clubs or the museum. Sorry.
Dear Walton Fans, Here it is the last day of January and I had forgotten to post the Walton and Hamner birthdays for January.
February Birthdays:
Oh Yes! there is also, my birthday on February 10th. Good night dear people Shirley in Canada KAREN'S COMMENT: Happy birthday to all the Waltons...especially Jon Walmsley who is celebrating today, my time!
Greetings from Indy, Ralph Waite played in a movie called COOL HAND LUKE and also he played in ROOTS! Eric,
KAREN'S COMMENT: I wonder if Ralph will continue to act if he wins Sonny Bono's seat. Dear Karen: This is my first letter to the digest. I enjoy reading all the interesting tidbits concerning the family. Just wanted to introduce myself. My family and I live on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Alabama-right on the border of Pensacola, FL. We love it here. My husband farms a 2,000 acre farm-growing corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, and hay. We also have lots of beef cattle. We have three children: Nathan 11, Adam 10, and Kristen 5. They all attend a private school in Pensacola. Every night at 6:00 p.m. we all gather around the TV set and watch the Waltons on the family channel. It's become a family "tradition" around here! I heard that the Waltons have been picked up on another channel, but I don't know which one. Does anybody know? Well, my husband is home for lunch so that's all that I'll write for now. Thanks for all the news. Michele and Greg KAREN'S COMMENT: You certainly have a very diverse farm there. It's nice to be able to sit around and watch a show that all the family can enjoy. I believe that The Waltons has been picked up by TNN.
The last few months we have been spotting Waltons cast members in other shows, I came across another one last night. Ralph Waite played a policeman in a 1973 movie starring Charles Bronson called The Stone Killer. Not used to seeing our "John" in an action packed film! Hope everyone had a lovely holiday Kaz from Oz
KAREN'S COMMENT: Quite a change of character for Ralph!
Hi Karen, Peggy Rea appeared in several episodes of I Love Lucy as one of Lucy's women's club members/friends!! Also, Michael Learned was in a series briefly called Mary, where she played a nurse. Is Scot Hamner Earl's son? Doris Hamner is listed as consultant on the series. Is that Earl's mother? This is my 2nd digest posting. I hope these questions weren't already asked? I am sure enjoying the digest and your site too. Thank you! Take care, Silvia
KAREN'S COMMENT: I remember seeing Michael Learned in the series you recall. I think it was called "Nurse". It was just after she left The Waltons. Yes, Doris Hamner is Earl's mother, and I think that someone else is answering the Scott Hamner query. Keep reading! :-)
Hi there, About Michael Learned's other roles: One film which I have seen Michael Learned in is of the coach in the film "Little Mo". A film about a famous 1950s tennis player, she won Wimbledon several times and eventually died from cancer. Her first name was Maureen (second name Donnelley ??) and she came from San Diego. Michael was a fairly abrasive character in this role and eventually she fell out with Little Mo, only re-uniting once her illness became known. I thought that Michael played the role very well. I saw on the film on TV in the middle 80s. Hope you are all well. Alison KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes I seem to remember this one too. I think it was made not long after The Waltons too. She was a busy actress that's for sure.
Thanks for the latest 'digest'. Since it seemed to have many references to Ellen Corby, here's one more. She had a small part in a movie called 'All Mine to Give' (aka 'The Day They gave Babies Away'), made in 1957/58. It is a great 'weepie' and should appeal to Walton fans. It is rarely on TV in Ireland, but when I was growing up in America it was often on TV around Christmas - maybe it still is. Tricia Slattery, Dublin, Ireland
KAREN'S COMMENT: Another very busy actress! It does sound like a weepie.
Just a quick note to say that Scot Hamner is Earl's son and oldest child. Waltons fans can find out more about his personality in Earl's new book, The Hollywood Zoo. Thanks. KAREN'S COMMENT: Did any other of Earl's children have anything to do with the series does anyone know?
Hello! KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for the news Michael. It will be interesting to see if these two episodes finally get aired once more.
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