Hi everyone,

Here we are into October already, and would you believe that during this past week, Christmas decorations and trees have started to be put out in the shops. I wonder how many people really go and buy their things now, rather than waiting until late November or even December. Some people I know though buy Christmas presents as they see things on sale, but I either never have any room to put them, or else would forget that I had already bought them. :-))

Not too many people have voted this week for their favorite episodes, and there are some terrific ones which have been nominated including Grandma Comes Home, The Easter Story and The Achievement. Hard to choose a favorite from these three alone, but you can also choose from The Sermon, The Scholar and The Gift, which are also popular episodes.

A few people have said that they can't find where to vote. You need to go to my site:

THE WALTONS: THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE:

http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/2792/walton1.htm

then press the reload button if the above choices are not listed on your page. Sometimes computers load from the cache on your hard drive so you might not get all the up to date things on a site. Anyway when this page loads, and its the main page, go down a bit to the Waltons Poll and there's a box with the episodes listed. All you need to do is check one of the choices and your vote will be registered. If you want to check out the results, just click on the "view results" button and a separate little box with a graph will appear, showing you the results.

The current choices will stay up for the next week, until the next digest, then I'll change them and list the finalists for you to vote again. Hopefully everyone on the list will vote in the "grand final". Stay tuned for next week.

Well onto all your Waltons news. Many of you will be preparing for your annual trek to Schuyler later in the month, although I know of some who are heading down there earlier. We hope you let us know of your plans.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Greetings Karen and fellow Walton lovers!

I saw Mary McDonough on the "Rosie O'Donnell" show about 2 months ago and she was on promoting a Lupus Foundation benefit. On the show she mentioned that 'the Waltons' had indeed gotten together and recorded a CD of Xmas songs. Rosie asked her to return with other cast members so that they could sing some songs from the CD and maybe have a 'Walton Reunion Show'... so, who knows? Hopefully we will be seeing more of the cast soon!

Friends With You,

Eve in Oregon

KAREN'S COMMENT: I believe that the CD will be released during October, so keep your eyes on Rosie.

The moonshiners were behind the Whiskey Rebellion in the area around Washington, Pennsylvania in 1794,as it was a dispute over the excise tax on liquor.

Actually the forum now says the CD will be out October 1. Will be leaving Dallas at noon October 2 and going first to New York with a trip to Cooperstown on Tuesday the 5th.Then I will go to Washington on the 7th and then to Schuyler on the 8th ,returning to Dallas on the evening of the 9th

Donald

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well the CD may be out today then. Worth a look in the shops over the next week, if you're interested in buying a copy.

<<Now a word of criticism-in the later movie specials it seems like that the time line is really whacked out. Has anyone noticed this too? The above just an example. Also John-Curtis really never got older then what, maybe 10 in 20 or so years?>>

Well, if you're talking about the little boy in the reunion movies in the early to mid-90's, that wasn't John Curtis. That was another son of Mary Ellen's named Clay! John Curtis was never mentioned in the reunion movies, to the frustration of a lot of dedicated fans. Mary Ellen was shown as having a little boy about 10 years old named Clay, and a little girl whose name I can't recall (and for "Knots Landing" fans, the two children were played by the same two child actors who played Bobby and Betsy, Valene's twins!) But no mention was made of John Curtis ever having existed.

Geri Ann

KAREN'S COMMENT: You're quite right Geri Ann. John Curtis and Charlie, Ben's son were never mentioned again, however Mary Ellen's brood did increase to include Clay and the little girl. Not sure of her name offhand. One of them was Susan, but I have a feeling that was Erin's daughter. At least we know what happened to Virginia.

To JF from Boonsville, VA!

My husband is looking for some of that recipe you are talking about! We are heading down to Schuyler for the October reunion? HMMMM wonder if we will find any? LOL

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Interesting thought Cindy. Look deep in the hills, well off the road and just maybe.....! Perhaps someone has a recipe for "the recipe"!!

Thanks for the latest Digest.

I heard from Irene Porter and am now part of her fan club and one of the American ones.

I enjoyed "Founders Day" episode yesterday, I particularly like the part where Jason is playing and we hear John Boy talking about the family.

The other night I watched "A Waltons Wedding", then last night I watched "A Waltons Easter".

A couple of questions

1. On your mailing list is there anyone in England, who will copy episodes, I have misplaced my copy of "Inferno" and would love to receive another copy.

2. This may seem a silly questions, but do you know if Richard Thomas smoked throughout the making of the Waltons. I have seen him smoking once on a Waltons episode from the back view and his pipe in "Burn Out", also in the films "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1978) and "A Thousand Heroes" (1994)

I hope you receive this email and that I'll hear from you soon.

Take Care, JULIE

KAREN'S COMMENT: If you wish to help Julie out with the video, please reply directly to her. As for the smoking, I don't know. Any ideas?

Dear Karen:

I read with interest the comment from Jeff from Tennessee regarding Earl Hamner's "odd accent," i.e., the way he pronounces "house" and other words with "ou" in them. Having studied linguistics on the college level, I can enlighten Jeff by saying that he is indeed correct in his observation. This peculiarity is found in Virginia, the Carolinas, and eastern Canada when the "ou" sound is following by a voiceless consonant, such as "s" or "t" (e.g., "about").

Rob

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's good to have some input from someone who has studied this Rob. This was brought up in the digests last year I think from memory, although it might also have been mentioned this year too. I noticed it as well and it is, indeed, like some of the Canadian's speak. The two areas are a fair way apart though aren't they? Is there a reason for only those areas being involved?

Just finished watching the episode called "The ordeal". One of the side stories involved Erin babysitting for two kids who recently lost their mother, seems like the objections to working there were never resolved in the story line. Do you have any further input?

By the way, one of my favorite episodes is "When Grandma comes home". When I go to the poll site there is nothing for me to hit in order to vote.

Bob

KAREN'S COMMENT: I suspect that this is one of the later episodes which I haven't seen for ages Bob, but maybe some of our readers will comment for you. I'm very annoyed to find that we are not getting the later episodes here because I'm missing most of the episodes from seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9. I keep hoping they will appear on our screens! Anyway enough of my whining. :-))

Hopefully the instructions at the top of this digest will allow you to vote Bob.

If memory serves me correct, there was an all female band or orchestra in the Waltons series. If so could you tell me the name of this group.

Thanx, Ron

KAREN'S COMMENT: Does anyone have any recollection of this because I don't. I can only think of the Haystack Gang which Jason played with.