Hi everyone,

It's Saturday morning here as I begin to compile this week's digest. It's been a sweltering week for us here in Melbourne and next week looks like its more of the same. Thank goodness that today's cooler. Thank goodness too, that the new school I'm in has air conditioning in the library and all of the classrooms. I don't think I would have survived this week without it.

Foxtel, the Australian network airing The Waltons, has confused us today. You might remember that I said they are repeating episodes on the weekends, but continuing on during the week with the others. The weekday ones are nearing the end of season 3, while the weekend ones had just begun season 2. However, this morning we continued on with season 3 and had "The Choice". I hope none of the Australian viewers missed taping it. Maybe they'll repeat it again on Monday. By the way, I've written to Foxtel asking if they are planning on showing the 3 episodes we've missed so far: "The Easter Story", "The Bequest" and "The Conflict" (which should have been shown this past week). I'll let you know what they say when I hear back.

I noticed a Waltons playhouse going on Ebay this week too. Last time I looked it was up around $120, which seems fairly reasonable, as I'd seen them going for much more just before Christmas. If anyone is successfully buying Waltons memorabilia from Ebay, why not share your good news with us?

Talk to you all again next week.

Goodnight all, Karen.

Hi Karen:

I'm a new member to your group. My name is Debbie, and I'm a writer who lives in Missoula, MT (you might have seen this area of America portrayed in Robert Redford's movies A River Runs Through It and The Horse Whisperer). Obviously I'm a big fan of The Waltons and I'm so happy to discover that many of other people are also. How many people are members of your mailing list these days?

I recently read a very good book that might be of interest to others. It's Earl Hamner's The Hollywood Zoo. The book is made up of vignettes about Earl's life as he met his wife, got married, had children, moved to Hollywood, wrote his books, and made The Waltons TV show. The emphasis of the book is the family's close relationship with their pets and other animals, but the real joy of the book is Earl's wonderful writing and sense of humor. I chuckled away page after page and truly enjoyed this peek into the Hamner's personal life. I hope others will enjoy it too! Amazon.com lists the book as "out of print" but I found it at http:www/barnesandnoble.com/ and it shipped within 24 hours.

KAREN'S COMMENT: At the moment Debbie, we have about 285 members. Glad you've enjoyed Earl's other books. Thanks for suggesting this link.

Hello everyone!!

It's been a while since I've written, but I think it's time that I once again put my two cents worth in.....I think that the question about the cradle was as someone said made by John-Boy as a gift when she was pregnant later on....then John reworked it for John Curtis after the fire......I may be wrong, but I don't think so....

Anyway, my wife, Dianne, who I must say has become quite a Walton's fan since marrying me about a year ago, has a question for all you Waltons' fans.....We were watching one of the reunion movies on tape not long ago and Mary Ellen had two children.....neither of them was John Curtis.....he isn't even mentioned...Any idea as to what happened to him? I'm sure this has probably been asked before, but as she is new to Walton's Mountain she doesn't know....and was wondering....I knew I didn't know so I said I'd ask y'all...Seems he may have taken the path that Virginia did in later reunion movies....not sure.........

Well, I guess I've said enough...but I sent a letter to Arthur in England and it brought up some fond memories for me...I thought I'd share them with you now....I was telling him how important and great the show was and that I distinctly remember watching the Waltons each Thursday night at 7 p.m. on CBS....I remember so well, because back in the 70s we didn't have cable....didn't even know what it was really.....we had an old aerial antenna without a rotor...so we had to turn it by hand.....anyway, it was always my job on Thursday nights to go outside and turn the antenna so that we could pick up the nearest CBS affiliate which wasn't really too close....to get the picture clear, I'd turn and I remember vividly hearing my daddy yell through the window..."IT's GOOD!!!" This is a memory that truly brings a smile to my face and to my heart.....anyway, I've gone on enough, Dianne says.....LOL....so I'll say my goodnights for now...If you' wanna check out my homepage it's located at:

http://www.oocities.org/nashville/opry/8776

On it you'll find a link to my Walton's page...I'm hoping to be doing a lot of upgrading on it

soon.....

Good Night Everybody!!!!!

Larry Young

KAREN'S COMMENT: I hope everyone will visit your page Larry...I was there quickly yesterday, but never seem to find a lot of time to spend on the internet at the moment. It's looking good. As for John Curtis, his non appearance is not explained at all unfortunately, and we "old faithful" watchers are just as much in the dark as the newer ones. :-)

We all here saw Erin get the letter from Ashley that said he was married on The Valediction last Friday.

The reason TNN did that, even though there was speculation over it, was that the episodes were put in out of order. They are now back to regular order now except for the fact that the Last Straw will be shown on February 3 after the two episode Outrage on February 1 and 2.

Some have suggested that Ellen Corby (Grandma Walton) made her last appearance in a regular Walton episode on the Inspiration. However she appeared in the Valediction which was shown last Friday in the states and attended Jim Bob's graduation.

Yes Erin does marry Paul but in the Thanksgiving Reunion in 1993 it comes up that Erin and Paul have divorced and Rose is working at Paul's parents house.

Donald F Nelson

KAREN'S COMMENT: I have always thought it was a shame that Paul and Erin divorced. Was there ever a mention of why? I have in the back of my mind that Paul was having an affair, but I don't know if I'm imagining that.

Hello everyone!

I want to thank Leigh Ann for correcting me regarding "The Violated" and "The Waiting." I had an episode list and was checking the episodes off as I saw each one. Three times I went through that particular season without checking those two episodes off. I didn't even think of the Thanksgiving connection! None of the times I saw those seasons played were during Thanksgiving time. So, I thank you for correcting me.

I wanted to just amend my previous post regarding the out-of-order showing this week on TNN. TNN had advertised on their web site the order of The Last Straw/The Traveling Man/The Furlough/The Medal/The Valediction. I e-mailed them on Tuesday after they showed The Traveling Man Monday and The Pledge (from the next season) on Tuesday. As it turns out, the rest of the week was fine according to what they advertised. So, their only transgression at this time is having skipped The Last Straw and shown The Pledge too early. I hope they do show The Last Straw sometime. I didn't receive a response from them. They have The Pledge listed on their website as coming up this Wednesday. It will be interesting to see if they repeat The Pledge or show The Last Straw instead.

I do want to say that I appreciate how lucky I am, compared to some of the letters I read from around the world who either don't have the show, or have the shows in wacky orders, or have blithering TV hosts talking over the credits. I feel really badly that my Walton family has to put up with that.

To Penny from Houston: Good luck finishing up your Little House collection. I'm doing it with The Waltons right now, and I've taken some pains to make sure that I get every episode since they began on TNN in April. (Except for some specials and shows like "The Easter Story," of course, which I have to wait for...) That's why I'm being a bit of a freak about TNN not showing "The Last Straw"...I hate to miss any! I'm fortunate to have the episode guide on the Waltons web site to help me keep track. Do you have a similar episode guide to help you with Little House? And, TNN has about 25 shows left on The Waltons until the end, so you may want to get ready for taping in about 5 weeks. Hopefully we'll be lucky and they'll start back from the beginning again.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Claire from Massachusetts

KAREN'S COMMENT: I guess many of you would have nearly completed the Waltons collection by now. We might be putting the Columbia House videos out of business!

Hello again, everyone!

I forgot something in my last message...

In The Furlough, when John-Boy comes home after recovering from his war wounds, he is riding a bus at the beginning of the episode. He is asleep, and he keeps calling out the name Katie Ann. I'm almost positive that the soldier sitting next to him, whom he speaks with briefly upon awakening, is played by the same fellow who played the Army "expediter" that Olivia wanted to fix Erin up with in The Children's Carol. (Remember, Erin thought he was a civilian because he hadn't worn his uniform when first meeting with John at the mill. Then, she withdrew from him when she found out he really was in the Army, because she was still feeling pained from losing G.W.) I like picking out when the same actor shows up in two different places on the show.

Claire in Massachusetts

KAREN'S COMMENT: Let's have some more of this Claire please, cos I love it too. Can you think of any more who played more than one role? I'm trying to start a database to get that information but just haven't found the time yet.

Karen,

I have been a fan of the Walton's ever since they first appeared on TV. What I would like to know is, I heard that the Walton's are planning a TV special this fall but they haven't begun filming, yet. Do you know if it is going to be about Elizabeth and Drew getting married? Are they able to start filming? What is going on with it?

Also, I really enjoyed the episode when Erin got married but have never seen it since the first airing, do you know if they have ever released it along with Mary Ellen's wedding? They are my one of my favorite episodes.

Do you or someone else knows what goes on when the Hamner's and some of the cast members get together in Oct? I am interested in going one Oct.

Thanks, Sheila

KAREN'S COMMENT: Sheila I keep hearing that its coming, but nothing definite yet. Maybe someone knows.

Dear Karen and Walton Friends,

I did some homework on the Cradle questions and wish to share my findings.

From "The Grandchild":

John A little more work and you wouldn't know it was blistered in the fire.

Olivia Looks just like it did the day John Boy made it for me.

John Mary Ellen suspects it ?

Olivia It was about time there was a baby in that cradle.

From "The Fastidious Wife":

Mary Ellen Would you believe, that John Curtis spent his first six months in this cradle, along with the rest of the newborn Waltons before that.

Cindy A family relic, Huh?

Notes: I also took a look back at the episode called "The Cradle" and have noticed that the cradles in all three episodes are different. Mind you, the one that John Boy made and the one John touched up, did look alike, but they had one thing different and it is, that the one John touched up had holes at the front and bottom to put your hand to carry the cradle. The one that John Boy made didn't have the handles. Now the one that Mary Ellen brought in to Cindy was so much different in ever which way. That cradle head and foot had almost a heart shape top and the wood looked to be thinner and lighter in colour. So that sums it up for my findings.

Shirley B.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thank you for going to the trouble of finding that out Shirley. I love bits of trivia like this. I bet when they made the show, they didn't think it would still be going more than 25 years later, and that we'd be discussing all of the nitty gritty details like which cradle they used and was it the same one they referred to!!