| WALTONS DIGEST 34-99:
Hi everyone, Just a short note from me this week. I have been having a look at the survey. The winner way out in front is The Best Christmas. The final results were:
I have changed the choices today and you can vote for your favorite from those listed over the next two weeks. To vote just go to my site and check the box with your choice. I'll note that The Best Christmas won and it will go into the final choices, so to speak. By the way thank you to the 44 of you who voted. So, to vote for the next finalist, go to: THE WALTONS: THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE: http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/2792/walton1.htm Talk to you all again next week, Karen.
Hi, Could any Brits out there tell me if I am just missing the Waltons on the Channel four schedules or if they have removed it altogether? Thanks Mary KAREN'S COMMENT: Hi Mary. The last I heard, The Waltons was making way for cricket or tennis or something. Always a problem during summer, but maybe someone can let us know what's happening.
Hi everyone! Karen, my favorite episode (though I'm not sure what it's title is) is the one where, at the very end of the episode John Boy, Grandpa, and Olivia and John are all sitting out on the porch after supper and it's dark out. John Boy talks about all the great things he saw while he was in New York City and everyone tears up because they know he's grown up and is going to leave home. Olivia goes inside to "darn socks", and grandpa leaves also. Then it's just John and his son. He gives him a hug, and John Boy, overwhelmed with emotion, walks away to a near by tree. Then he hears everyone saying goodnight, and when Elizabeth says "Goodnight John Boy" there is a sad quiet in the air, and outside John Boy replys, almost in a whisper, "Goodnight Everyone." Nicole KAREN'S COMMENT: That's not one that's come in for much comment Nicole, but it was the last appearance of Richard Thomas as John Boy. It's called The Achievement. I'll add it to the list. It's particularly a great ending.
Hi Karen and all, I have noticed a few things on the Waltons regarding the treatment of African Americans that I thought probably did not reflect real life in Virginia in the '30s. In the Homecoming, John Boy visits the black church during the blizzard. In the book, The Homecoming, he talks about how he really doesn't know many blacks. Obviously, the two ethnic groups kept to themselves. I believe that this is actually what would have happened during the 1930s. In some episodes of the Waltons, Verdie goes to the same Baptist church as the Waltons. I doubt this happened in real life. Even today in many parts of Virginia, African Americans attend primarily black churches. I'm no authority on any of this, and these are just my observations. Nancy in Virginia
KAREN'S COMMENT: It's an interesting observation Nancy. Actually the whole Walton family attends the service at Verdie's church when the preacher in The Fighter preaches so that's another instance of the two cultures crossing over. Verdie also goes to the Baptist Church when John F. Kennedy is assassinated in A Walton Thanksgiving. It's during that scene that she meets Elizabeth there.
Hi Karen and all, I've been to Schuyler, VA (the real Waltons Mt.) and the Baptist church is just down the hill from the Hamner house. The school is across the street, and Ike Godsey's store (or where it was before it burned) is just up the hill. All within easy walking distance. Rockfish is about 6 miles from Schuyler, but there is nothing there!! Just a railroad crossing. I asked at the Museum, and they told me that Schuyler was the real town, and is only referred to as Rockfish in the TV show. In the show, and in real life, Charlottesville is about 28 miles north of Waltons Mt. Nancy in VA KAREN'S COMMENT: I wonder how long it would have taken that old car of John Boy's to travel 28 miles to Charlottesville.
Hi. I watch the Waltons on TNN and today's episode was the one where Curt gets called into the army and GW is killed in training camp. Every time I see this episode I am so sad. I feel bad for GW, but I feel even worse that Curt has to leave Mary Ellen and the new baby. They hardly had any time together. Curt was always my favorite character (outside of the family) and I thought he was a perfect level-headed match for Mary Ellen's stubbornness. I also really like Jonesy but I always thought he'd have been a better match for Erin. I always found the whole "Curt is still alive but he doesn't want to be with his wife and son because he can't be a man" storyline so hard to believe. I know that war changes people, but it just doesn't fit Curt's character. I just can't see him abandoning his son for any reason. They should have left him dead - or at least made up a better story why he didn't contact anyone to let them know he was alive. Anyway, I was wondering why Curt's character was written off the show. Did the real Mary Ellen (her Hamner counterpart - I forget her name) lose her husband in the war? Did Tom Bower just want to leave? Or was he just considered to be such a minor character that they sacrificed him for the 'widow' storyline? I mean, if he wanted to leave the show, he could have been shipped off to France or someplace and not seen again until the end of the war years later. Then they could have found a new actor, although I don't know any actors who could pull off his attitude without being too arrogant. (His replacement in The Whirlwind was terrible - it wasn't anything like him, at least they found a somewhat similar John Boy). Anyway, since I first saw this show and the subsequent ones where Curt is killed I always wondered why he left. I know they needed some local casualties to make the show real, like with GW's death, but there were lots of other things they could have done. Any insights into what happened? Dana. KAREN'S COMMENT: I don't know why Tom Bower left the show Dana, but I would assume it was to pursue other roles. I guess GW was a good!!! choice for being killed if anyone had to be, because he was known to viewers, and the Walton family had known him for a long time. They couldn't have killed off one of the Walton children, and it really wouldn't have had the impact, I don't think, if they had only introduced a character for that episode just to kill him off. What do you think?
Hi Karen and others, I just watch an episode of the Waltons that had me bawling at the end of it - it was called "First Casualty". This is the episode that Erin friend, G.W., get killed while at Camp Lee on basic training. It was extremely touching! I really do enjoy this show, and hate to miss it - has there been any talk of a reunion show? Barbara
KAREN'S COMMENT: I still haven't heard anything definite. Have you written your letter yet? Can you list for me some of the best John-Boy television episodes. I love the character he portrays. Thanks ! KAREN'S COMMENT: I thought that I'd leave this query to others to reply. Which John Boy episode do you like best?
Hi Karen and Fellow Walton Fans, I thought and thought in order to decide which episode of the Waltons is my favorite... I guess this is cheating a little, but I have two... Grandma Comes Home and the Quilting. Both are so endearing and demonstrate the love that the Walton family members share. One especially touching scene in Grandma Comes Home to me is when Grandma and Olivia are shelling peas and Grandma's bowl slips off her lap. At that point Grandma's true feelings about her stroke, and the limitations it's put on her, come through. It's also when Olivia realizes what Grandma has been trying to convey to the family. It makes my eyes water to think of this scene. At the end of the Quilting, when Olivia sings, it reminded my little girl of when we sing around the house. Thank you Karen... I look forward to reading the Digest every week. Goodnight everyone, Silvia from California KAREN'S COMMENT: Well The Quilting was up against some stiff competition and didn't win, and Grandma Comes Home will probably be listed next time I do the changes, but pop in and see this fortnight's list and choose your favorite from them anyway.
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