Dear Waltons Fans,

Hope you are all well. It has been an extremely busy week here for me as it has been Children's Book Week. This is a week where Book of the Year Awards are announced and a time when we celebrate Australian children's books. Being a Teacher-Librarian, this meant a lot of organization on my part, so that the school could celebrate, read and examine the short listed books and generally become more aware of recent children's books. A very enjoyable, but hectic time. Consequently, I haven't been able to drop into the chat room lately, but I trust that it's going well. I will try to visit there later today, or it might have to wait until Wednesday.

Enjoy what's left of your summer over there. Spring is definitely approaching here. Our plum tree has blossomed and the camellia bush has also just started to flower. The spring bulbs are coming out, there's sunshine, although it's still cold, and it all looks really pretty. Still not much rain around though, but perhaps this will change during spring.

Goodnight everyone, Karen.

From Brenda in West Virginia:

Hi Everyone, I have been to the chat room several times over the past few days. I want to thank Dot and Lance for providing another way for fans of The Waltons to get together. I will not have much time to chat from now on because I am a teacher and school is starting this week, but I plan to check out the room whenever possible.

Someone asked questions about the customs of 'shivarees' and 'quilting'. My mother grew up on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, an area very similar to Walton's Mountain, and she is the same age as Earl Hamner, having been born in 1923. So I asked her if they had those customs when she was growing up. Here is what she told me:

Shivaree: When a couple got married, there was always a shivaree. Usually it was carried out by teenaged boys and young single men in the community. Children would often accompany them, however. On the wedding night, they would go to the house where the newlyweds were staying and make loud noises to disturb them until the groom would come out and give them candy, then they would go away. One time, a girl married a young man who was from California, and the shivaree took him completely by surprise. Finally, he went to a little store down the road and bought some candy so they would leave them alone. That sort of reminded me of The Waltons episode about the shivaree. My mother said that she doesn't think they ever kidnapped the groom, though, like they did on The Waltons.

Quilting: My mother said they didn't have quiltings for young girls just because they had reached a certain age, but they did often have them for young girls who were about to be married. It was the same idea as our wedding showers, I guess. She said that the community often gathered together to help someone in need, and sometimes that would involve a quilting. One time her father had cut his foot and was not able to do his farm work. Everyone in the community came one day to help out. The men worked out in the fields all morning while the women prepared food. After everyone ate, the men went back out to work, and the women had a quilting party. She said my grandmother kept that quilt all her life to remind her of the good neighbors they had.

Watching The Waltons gives me a sense of what it was like in the days before I was born when my parents were growing up. I think I have learned more 20th century American history from watching The Waltons than I ever learned in school.

Good-night, Everyone. Brenda

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for explaining this to us Brenda. I actually love the idea of a quilting, and I am traditionalist enough to wish that someone had given me one instead of a wedding shower. I am fascinated with the history of quilts and have seen some most spectacular ones. Remember too, that in The Easter Story, the church women made a friendship quilt for Olivia. Here in Australia quilting never seemed to be as popular as it did in the States. I have seen some early ones though. My mother in law made a type of quilt for both of our children when they were born. They have a cotton top and bottom, and the inside is made up of any type of old scraps. She calls it a "wagga" which I think is an Aboriginal word for blanket. She told me that when she was growing up in the country, every child had to have a "wagga". I believe that our "swaggies", men traveling around looking for and taking any work they could get, also had them. Just a bit of Aussie history for you all!!!!!

I can't find any similar custom to your "shivaree" though.

From Marc:

Since there seems to be much debate over the Richard Thomas versus Robert Wightman portrayal of John-Boy, let me put in my two sense. Richard Thomas' John-Boy was the center and heart of The Waltons in those first five years. Who could forget when John-Boy fell in love with Jenny or when he spoke to Elizabeth in the tree house at the end of the 2-hour episode featuring the fire? His portrayal was flawless and he was awarded the Emmy for Best Actor In A Dramatic Series in season number one. When Robert Wightman took over the role he was more of a supporting character and was not even listed in the opening credits. Although his performance at times seemed wooden, it must have been very difficult to take over the part from an actor so clearly associated with the role. While I remember thinking how the show would go downhill after Richard Thomas left, I think it became even richer when it focused on the other children.

I will always remember Thursday evenings growing up as I sat glued to the set watching The Waltons. I have a particular fondness for the early seasons and can't wait to see them again next month on The Family Channel. One episode that stands out in my mind is "The Circus," when the traveling circus comes to the mountain and Olivia and Grandma are originally apprehensive about these strangers. Who could forget when the family got together at the end of the episode to see their own private showing of the circus? Or "The Boy From The CC," when the young man speaks to Elizabeth in the pouring rain after her raccoon dies?

Does anyone know if there are any new reunion movies planned?

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well said Marc. :-) Now does anyone have any "official" news about the next reunion. I believe it is to go ahead in 1998, but hadn't heard or seen anything officially.

From Brian,

Since I am new to the group I will follow the example you set in Digest 1 by telling a little about myself, why I enjoy the Waltons and who my favorite character(s) are.

I work in the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department of a university in Michigan. I am the oldest of five children and am not married - yet. I enjoy reading, classical & Christian music, working on my family genealogy, backpacking and other outdoor types of activities.

I started 9th grade when the Waltons first aired on TV. Our family loved the show and watched it all the time. However, when I went to college I was only able to see the show when I was home on breaks or in the summer.

After the show went off the air I did not see it again until WGN in Chicago ran episodes around 1988. The show disappeared for a while and then the Family Channel started broadcasting it. I was extremely happy when that happened.

I don't think there is just one single reason I enjoy the show but many. The struggles of growing up, honesty, respect for your parents and other adults, integrity and many other themes such as these are dealt with in such wonderful stories. The program shows how a family who love one another can pull together and make it despite any hardship they may encounter. That should be and encouragement for everyone today despite any hardships we may encounter. I think that is partly why I like the show so much.

I would pick Erin as my favorite (even though I do love all of the other characters too). I think it is because she reminds me of a dear friend from college. Jason would most likely be my next choice.

I will save my favorite episode for another time. Now on to the "Sinful Cindy" information I was going to write about. I am sorry to say that Melody Thomas Scott never played Cindy Brunson (later to be Walton). In the episode "Day of Infamy" (the 10th episode of the seventh season 1978-79) Cindy was played by Robin Eisenman. This is the first episode that Cindy was to appear in on the Waltons. The next episode that Cindy appears in is "The Outsider" (the 20th episode of the seventh season 1978-79) when her and Ben marry. This is when Leslie Winston takes over the role of Cindy.

The reference to "Sinful Cindy" comes up as the boys are getting ready for church in the morning (during the "Day of Infamy" episode). Jim-Bob says to Ben that she has only lived here a month so how did she get the name "Sinful Cindy". Ben says "how do you think." Ben lets Jim-Bob know that Cindy is taking him out for a ride and that is why he need Jim-Bob to take his place at Ike's Civil Defense drill in the afternoon. Jim-Bob then asks if he is going to call her "Sinful Cindy" to her face. A little more discussion follows with Ben asking if it is worth 50 cents to Jim-Bob to do the job. Jim-Bob accepts and asks if it is worth it. Ben says "red convertible, long blond hair - you bet!" Jim-Bob follows up with "gee that's funny I never heard of a convertible with long blond hair."

I do not have any information showing that Melody Thomas Scott appeared in any episodes of the Waltons. However my information is not complete yet. Sorry that I can not be of any more help concerning her.

Take care, Brian

KAREN'S COMMENT: Nice to hear from you Brian. Poor Cindy certainly had a reputation didn't she?

Hi Everyone, I'm Kaz from Newcastle, Australia. This is my first post here, I have been on the mailing list for about a month, and really enjoy the digests. Thanks Karen for initiating the concept...its wonderful!

A brief intro on myself, I am 33 years old, enjoy reading, interior decorating, gardening, emailing and writing letters. I watched the Waltons in the 70s and like everyone here, fell in love with the show. It has not been repeated here since 1990/1. Last week I couldn't believe my luck when they showed the Thanksgiving Reunion Special and this week they are scheduled to telecast the 'Walton Wedding' special.

My favorite characters are John, Jason, Erin, Grandpa and Elizabeth. I think all the characters, both permanent and casual bought something unique and special to the show.

Favorite episodes, hmmm that's a tough one, perhaps Whittley House, John and Olivia's 25th Anniversary, and Erin's Graduation rate among my favorites.

Someone mentioned a few inconsistencies a digest or two back. Just from seeing the Thanksgiving special.....I recall an episode where Ben? mentioned to John that he could sell some land, John said. No, that land was for him to build on in the future. I am going by memory here so if someone can set me straight on this matter that would be nice. I would have thought Ben and Cindy would have built on the land (I am assuming all the Walton children were given a piece of land) by the time the Thanksgiving events of 1963.

In an early series, Jim Bob had to have glasses. He came home and told John that this would mean he would not be able to fly. He may have been referring to the Air Corp. requirements only, as in the Thanksgiving show he is flying and owns a aviation repair shop. I thought he bought his own mechanic shop with Jodie Foster at the end of the war.

And my last question finally does anyone know why John Curtis was not mentioned in the Thanksgiving special?

Arthur mentioned about the 'gems' a while back that crop up in the show. I like this one. I think its classic Jim Bob.....

It is John's School Reunion episode:

John Boy is sitting on the steps of the house, has written 10 000 in the dirt at his feet. Jim Bob comes along and says "10 000 what?"

John Boy......."10 000 unemployed writers in this country today."

Jim Bob........" That's dumb."

John Boy......."Why?"

Jim Bob........" The way you tell it a writer is someone who thinks things up and puts them on paper."

John Boy......." What's that got to do with anything?"

Jim Bob........" Somebody like that has to be working for himself isn't he?"

John Boy......." Of course he's working for himself, he has to be working for himself."

Jim Bob........." Well if he is working for himself, how can he be out of a job?"

John Boy looks perplexed!!!!!!

I hope this post wasn't too long. "Goodnight everyone"

KAREN'S COMMENT: Welcome to you too Kaz. Only Jim Bob could come up with this logic...although perhaps Elizabeth could too. She also had a way of twisting things. Actually, the glasses thing got me a bit puzzled too. Perhaps aviation rules had changed by 1963.

On another note, several of you worry about the length of your mail. As long as it's on the topic of The Waltons, or related to it in some way, it doesn't worry me at all. I'm pleased to say that everything that is sent for the digest is just that and I've never had to edit anything.