Hi everyone,

Lots of mail this week which is great, and I sincerely thank you because I don't have to wrack my brains to think of boring things to say! I'm sure all on our mailing list thanks those contributors this week too, because they don't have to read pages of my ramblings. :-))

Actually there's nothing boring to say this time anyway. By now you should have all received your mailing about the latest for Waltons fans...a new chat line, set up by our very own Dot and her son Lance. I hope you're all busy downloading your software and working out how to join the Chat room. Let me know if you visit and find others there. I won't be able to get there now for a few days and I'm interested to know how it's going. It's great fun. Wouldn't it be fabulous if we could get some of the Hamners, or the Waltons actors online sometime?

Lot's to think about there then. Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

From Kim:

About two actresses playing Cindy: I think the episode you are talking about is 'Day of Infamy'-season 7. It's the episode where Mary Ellen finds out that Curt is dead. There was a part in that episode where a girl (named Cindy) in a red convertible comes to pick up Ben at the house. And Olivia said something about 'not approving of Ben going out with a girl like that'.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Imagine what Olivia must have thought when he finally brought Cindy home as his wife! No wonder they eloped.

From Laura:

Hi Karen and everyone. I've returned to my classroom for the first time all summer to retrieve some books, and have spent over an hour at my terminal getting caught up on my "Waltons Digests." Very pleasurable reading! I don't think I can help with much this time except maybe a question regarding Leslie Winston: She appeared in the James Michener mini-series "Centennial" as Laura Lou Booker, best friend to Ellie, who was one of the show's heroines. Winston's part was small, but it was fun to see her and she did a good job. The mini-series aired in the early '80's, I think, but it can be found quite often in repeats. I always thought Winston's portrayal of Cindy added a lot to "The Waltons" and helped keep Ben on an even keel. I was so disappointed in the reunion shows when they had Virginia die and forgot all about baby Charlie.

I was surprised to hear that Mary M. is possibly living in Sydney, as just a few months ago there was quite an extensive article about her in "People" magazine regarding her breast surgery and disease, and the article didn't mention anything other than she is reviving her acting career.

Karen, I'm glad you've discovered the joys of "Snowy River." I have helped a friend make a web page for the show, and it is really coming along. Check it out at: http://members.aol.com/Astral79/txt2.htm

As far as I know, it is the only page for the show on the Net. It has some great stuff, and there are even some scripts I wrote. I have also written some scripts for "The Waltons" just for fun. Does anyone know if there is a fanfiction archive for "Waltons" material?

KAREN'S COMMENT: Glad you're all caught up with the latest news now Laura. When does school start again? I actually caught a Mary Mc film just a week ago. It was called "Heaven Sent" and was made in about 1995 or 96. She played the mother of a juvenile delinquent son, who was visited by an angel after he was hit by a car. He had been shop lifting and ran out of the shop after being spotted. I quite enjoyed it although it was just a very "light" type of film. Mary was very good in it. I still don't know whether she has been out here in Sydney or not. I don't suppose she mentioned "Sydnee" her daughter and the reporter took it that she was LIVING in Sydney? Just a thought. :-)

Yes, I have caught up with Astral's Snowy River page and I have included her letter to me so that all of our members can check out the page. I have also just added a link to it from mine as well. For those members who haven't caught up with "Snowy River" yet, Earl Hamner was involved with co-producing this Australian made drama.

From Astral, the owner of the Snowy River site:

Dear Karen: Wow! It's great to hear from you! I'm so glad you like the Snowy site--I must confess that until about May it consisted of little more than a couple pathetic links and some snide commentary from yours truly. ;) Then Laura H. contacted me and gave me the inspiration to start building it up--and now it seems like I'm hearing from new fans every week! :)

I'll be happy to list your e-mail addy on the page, as well as link up to your site. Be sure and give Astralland--Snowy River a plug on your mailing list--we aren't quite that sophisticated yet, but like I said, we're growing rapidly. ;) Nope, I'm not in Australia, although you're not the first person to think that--is it the accent? ;) I'm actually based in Illinois, although this summer I've been traveling Down South so much I'm starting to wonder. ;)

Please feel free to talk to the other members (that's what the addies are there for, after all), and if you have anything you want to share with the *entire* group (including the shy, "silent" members), just send it on to me! Nice to meet you, Karen. :)

I like mail! Visit me at http://www.prairienet.org/~astral16/homepage.htm

Snowy River: The McGregor Saga at http://members.aol.com/Astral79/txt2.htm

KAREN'S COMMENT: There you have it everyone. I promised Astral I'd give her page a plug. Hope you enjoy the site.

From Shirley

Hi Karen and Walton Fans,

With regards to the custom of a shivaree, my Mother has told me a few wild stories on what it was like for newlyweds. And she grew up in Nova Scotia. One of them was putting a rooster in the room, one was singing under the newlyweds window and just before daybreak, they would start banging on pots and pans. (that was back in the 30's and 40's). I recall that when my sister was married and we had to go back to her place to drop off the gifts and clean up. We pulled a few tricks. One of them was take all the labs off the can foods, chancing ever thing around in the cupboards, short chancing the sheets on the bed and to top it off we moved the living room furniture into the bedroom and the bedroom furniture into the living room.

From Bridget:

Greetings to everyone! Well here I sit getting a Walton "fix" reading these digests... I want to ask if anyone knows of ANY episode where we actually see John-Boy's meadow? I really don't know myself. Is it grassy or woody? We all know that it is the most beautiful place on the mountain but where is it?? Good night to all...

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes I think I remember seeing it on the episode where he sells his land to a mining company. Can't remember off hand just what the title was, but I seem to recall a church service being held there. About Season 4 or 5 I think.

From Marie:

What a wonderful digest (#32)! I enjoyed it immensely! We really have very good writers in our list. Tammy and Shirley Irene, have you written professionally? And Arthur's articles - keep them coming! I love the way you go into details.

I looked up the cast for The Captive but didn't find Cindy listed. I thought she first showed up in The Day of Infamy (Season 7, tenth episode) played by Robin Eisenman. In it, Cindy had a reputation, her nickname was Sinful Cindy and she had a red convertible! She and Ben elope in The Outsider (Season 7, twentieth episode) and Cindy is played by Leslie Winston. At least, the car stays the same!

Carolyn, in what episode did Melody Thomas Scott play Cindy? And thanks for explaining why they eloped - I had forgotten all that. That's one of the things I like about this mailing list. Just as a trivial aside, I have two other Scotts listed as actors besides Eric Scott: Pippa Scott who played Alvira Drummond in The Actress and Kathy Louis Scott who played a small part in The Threshold. My list is far from complete, by the way.

Lael, my grandmother told me about her sister's shivaree here in western Michigan. It was in the year 1900! "Their friends and neighbors waited until the newlyweds had turned off the lights then made lots of noise by hooting and hollering, banging on pots and pans, even shooting off guns!" I loved listening to my grandmother's stories about her family.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Fancy being labeled as "Sinful Cindy" but that really does seem to go with Ben doesn't it? Does your list also include a couple of McDonough's Marie. I know that Eileen Mc played Patsy Brimmer from time to time, and I think I have spotted a Michael McDonough as well. I've often wondered if they are related to Mary. Are there any others?

From Marie:

Summertime is not computer time. When the weather is beautiful, we are out there enjoying it. When it's storming, I don't turn on the computer because of the lightning. Doesn't leave much time for computerizing. Luckily (?), we've had some in-between weather and I checked out all my Walton sites on the Internet. I am pleased at the number of them!

Brenda's web site: http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Meadows/7604/waltons.html

She has photos of the Walton's house, the school in Schuyler (now the museum) and the Baptist church. From inside the museum, there are photos of the living room, kitchen, John Boy's room and the recipe machine. It's great!

Ralph's: http://www.the-waltons.com/

U. of Va.'s: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~VAM/Walton/walton.html

Linda's: http://www.mindspring.com/~jlyoung/waltons.htm

And our own Karen's web site! http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/2792/walton1.htm

Karen, your "Site Renovations: New Additions" sound so enticing! They are:

Comings and Goings: Read about your favourite regular characters who came and went throughout the series.

Memory Lane: Read a brief summary about the major events which happened to the Walton family during their television run. Reminisce with the family as they remember many precious family memories such as the Depression years, Mary Ellen's wedding, John Boy's first book publication, Grandpa's death, and Grandma's illness.

Where Are They Now?: Find out what the family of Waltons has been up to in more recent times.

Guest Stars From The Waltons: Read profiles on some of your favourite stars who have had guest roles on The Waltons.

The Waltons Trivia Quiz: So you think you're a true Walton fan? You've watched all the episodes of The Waltons? Try this quiz and see what you do know.

So much to look forward to! Karen, you are truly amazing!

Goodnight, everyone!

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's timely that you've written this letter Marie, because I have just updated my links to include all of those you have mentioned. As for the new additions for my site, they are very slow in coming I'm afraid, but I'll get there.

From Kim:

Hi Tammy, I loved reading your letter. Tammy wrote:

"Speaking of John-Boy, in my mind there wasn't a finer actor on the Waltons than Richard Thomas. His wide-eyed and warm portrayal of John-Boy really made an impression on me. But I also liked Robert Wightman's portrayal."

I agree with you that there wasn't a finer actor on The Waltons than Richard Thomas. I especially loved his performance in 'The Firestorm' (season 5) where he wants to print excerpts from Hitler's book 'Mein Kampf'. In my opinion, this was one of the best John-Boy episodes. I haven't seen the episodes with R.Wightman yet. I'm very curious about them but I can't imagine John-Boy being played by someone other than Richard Thomas.

"As for favorite characters, my tastes have changed over the years. When I was a child, I remember loving Mary Ellen (as she reminded me of myself--tomboyish) and John-Boy (who doesn't?) and Elizabeth (because she's not much older than me). And I've always loved Ben. He's by far my favorite character in the series. Will Geer was...what a delight it is to see episodes in which he appeared. He was a dear gem and I miss him in the later episodes."

Ben is also by far my favourite character. And Will Geer off course. Who doesn't love Will Geer! We're only in season five over here in Belgium so I'm glad that there are still lots of episodes with 'Grandpa' in them coming up.

You say that you have dreams of becoming a published writer. Have you ever written a book or short-story,...? Judging by your letter, you're a very good writer.

Well, I have to end this letter now because another Walton episode is about to start in 5 minutes. Take care everyone.

KAREN'S COMMENT: We are very lucky to have so many great contributors to the list and I appreciate each and every one of you greatly. It makes my job so easy. Goodnight everybody. Hope you enjoyed the episode Kim.