| WALTONS DIGEST 40-99:
Hi everyone, A big thank you to all who participated in the voting to find out the "All Time Favorite Waltons Episode". The results were very close for 1st and 2nd. These are the final results:
I was a bit surprised by the winner in one way, because it is not one of the episodes I would have put up there with the finalists, although it is a really good episode. Personally I would have chosen Grandma Comes Home as the best episode of the three. However, The Best Christmas is certainly one episode that people do seem to talk about a lot, and remember. I guess the main reason I like Grandma Comes Home better is because Grandma did return in this episode and it's quite a tear jerker. I like the way older people are represented in this episode, and I also like the courage both Grandma, and Ellen Corby, show when during this episode. I also like Grandpa's role in it, and love that memorable scene at the end when he pushes a broom into her hand, she slaps him with it and he picks her up and swings her around. Perhaps in a way, this episode stays with me, because there are more moments like this one, which stick in my mind. If I had to remember a scene from The Best Christmas I don't know that I could. I have actually rewatched several episodes again this week, and The Sermon is one which I keep coming back to as well. I love John Boy's sermon at the end, where he goes through what he has learnt from family and friends during that week. Given that this poll was so successful, I wondered whether we might talk about memorable episodes which deal with specific characters. For example, one week we might choose the Baldwin sisters, and reminisce on their particular episodes. Which ones stay with you, for example? So many of the supporting characters were given memorable episodes from time to time. What do you think? Something else I discovered during the week. We often talk about actors who have appeared in one episode and then reappeared as a different character later. Tom Bower (The Wingwalker and Curt Willard) is a good example. Anyway no one has ever mentioned that the little girl who played Holly in The Foundling, Erica Hunton, also pops up again in an episode during season 8. She plays Lucille in The Unthinkable. This is an episode I haven't seen since the early 80's so can anyone who has fill me in on her role in this one? Well that's it from me this week. It's been a busy week here, with end of school celebrations for Tim. He has study time this week and then it's head down on Friday morning for the start of those final exams, which will be the decider as to which University and which course he gets into. I just want to survive the next few weeks! It's been a hectic year for him. Goodnight everyone, Karen.
I just received my Waltons digest and I wanted to make a comment about the pronunciation of Ginny/Jenny. Aren't they pronounced exactly the same? They are here in West Virginia, where I live, so I expect they are in Virginia also. I am looking forward to attending the reunion next weekend in Schuyler and I hope to meet a lot of you there. Brenda KAREN'S COMMENT: I guess it's probably an accent thing because over here they are definitely different, with the "e" in Jenny being like "egg" and the "i" in Ginny being like "bit".
Donald needs to re-read my comments. I wrote that the former supervisor of Language Arts was from northern Virginia and even after 30 some years in Knoxville, she never lost her Tidewater accent. In Knoxville, we are a mish-mash of accents, but mostly southern Appalachian. Some of the purest Elizabethan English is spoken in the mountains and valleys of Appalachia. Unfortunately, our accent is becoming more and more diluted. Best wishes, Debbie KAREN'S COMMENT: I still find all of the accent variations over in the USA very interesting, but I think we might call a close to this one now. :-)
Hi everyone! I have a question about the new Waltons CD. I read that it was a re-make of the old one. Well, I must confess I didn't even know there was an old one! What was on the previous CD? Does anyone know what will be on the new one? Is it Christmas songs sung by cast members or something like that? Hope someone can answer this, I'm anxious to find out more about it! Goodnight, Nicole KAREN'S COMMENT: The re-released CD is a re-make of the original Waltons Christmas Album which was originally released in 1974. You can see an original copy in the Memorabilia section of my site. Straining to read the record cover it says: "Earl Hamner narrates a collection of seasonal favorites performed by the Holiday Singers. Special guest appearance by Will Geer." The recording includes the following: The Waltons Theme; The First Noel; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Silent Night; Joy to the World; Grandpa's Christmas Wish; O Come All Ye Faithful; Oh Little Town of Bethlehem and Spirit of Christmas. I'm not sure if the new one is going to include any new material, but I had a feeling that there may have been something new.
Hello Karen, Someone mentioned in the digest about having the recipe for the applesauce cake and was willing to share it. I would like to have the recipe, very much. Who knows, another family favorite may come of this! I continue to enjoy the Digest very much, thanks so much. Mary KAREN'S COMMENT: Hopefully someone will be able to reply so you can have Applesauce Cake for Christmas. :-)
Hello Karen, I was able to make a trip to Schuyler, Virginia and the Walton's Mountain Museum in late September/early October. I visited the Museum, along with the village of Rockfish (including the railroad trestle that really is located just outside the town), the Rockfish River, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Hamner home, Soapstone Company, the Schuyler Family Restaurant, among other places mentioned in the show like Waynesboro, Charlottesville, and Scottsville. I did miss the city of Lynchberg, maybe next time. If readers would like to see my pictorial journal of my trip, it is now on my web site at http://www.galesburg.net/~atkins/waltons.html I hope people will enjoy my photographs. It was a very special trip for me as I explored the community and countryside for almost two days. If people do get a chance to see the area, I highly recommend seeing the play The Conflict, or another Waltons play that may be performed in the future. It was really a fine performance, and very true to the episode also named The Conflict. Take care, Bill KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm really glad that you got to see The Conflict Bill. If I ever get there I would love to see a performance of it.
Hi Karen. I haven't written in quite a while but just had to find the time to let you all know what happened to me!!! My husband and I went to Virginia for our anniversary (like we do every year in October) which of course includes a trip to Schuyler to the museum (my sixth visit!). We had reserved tickets to see the play "The Conflict" that they have every year at a local winery. Well, when we got to the winery, we were told that the play had been moved to the museum (approx. 20 minutes away). So back into the van and back over the mountains (via along part of the Rockfish River, of course!) we go to get to the museum. We were actually a little early so of course I had time to do EVEN MORE shopping in the museum store (my husband bought me the new Waltons quilt for an anniversary gift!!). Anyway, I wanted to make sure that we got good seats so that I could see the play so we sat directly behind a row of front-row seats that were marked "reserved". It didn't even dawn on us as to who they were reserved for until Earl Hamner came walking in the door!!!! He was in town for his school reunion and attended the play with one of his brothers (I am drawing a blank on his name, he's the one that lives across the street), his sister Audrey, and some nieces and nephews. You'll never guess where Earl Hamner sat !!! Right in front of me!!! Being a true Waltons fan, I thought I would hyperventilate and pass out right behind him !!!! He narrated the beginning and ending of the play (just like on television) and when he was saying the ending narration, there were not very many dry eyes in the place !!! It was so incredible to see him do the narration word for word. During the halfway intermission, he turned around and shook my husband's hand and started to talk to us (of course I was tongue-tied and couldn't speak....my husband is still teasing me about it!!) He asked where we were from and was easily one of the nicest people I have met in a long time. This was like a total dream come true for me since I have followed the Waltons for so long. When people ask me who my favorite "Walton" is, I always reply Earl Hamner, of course!! Note to Donald: We were at the museum the same Friday that you were there, but must have been there before you arrived. I had seen from one of the newsletters a few weeks back that you were going to be there on the same day so we looked in the Guest Sign-In book but did not see your name. My husband said that I would not have the nerve to introduce myself, but I explained that through this newsletter, we are practically "family" and that I would love to meet you...and Erin the Cat!! Note to those going to the reunion later this month: If you are looking for a good place to eat while in that area, believe it or not, the Pig-N-Steak Too (formerly the Dew Drop Inn) in Scottsville is really worth the trip. We stop there every year for a slow-cooked pork sandwich (the best!) and have yet to be disappointed. (We have eaten in the restaurant next door to the museum.....ONCE) (hint, hint). We also went up the street from the museum to the general store that used to be Ike Godsey's. They make wonderful fried chicken dinners to go. We had a picnic next to the museum. If anyone is interested in very easy directions from the museum to the Pig-N-Steak Too, let me know and I will e-mail them to the newsletter. Well, I think I have rattled on long enough. I am so glad that I could share this with everyone through the newsletter since all of my friends think that I am nuts (I am always talking Waltons, watching Waltons, collecting Waltons, etc) Speaking of collecting, can you believe that I actually bought the issue of Playboy that Judy Norton Taylor posed for ?? I had to have it for my collection but I don't display it, just knowing it's in my collection is enough!! Also, my brother came over one night, popped a video in the VCR and guess who was on my TV screen naked as a jailbird (from the back view only)?? John Walton !!! (The movie was "Cool Hand Luke"). I couldn't believe it !! Well, enough for now. Hope everyone who is able to attend the reunion has a really good time !! Can't wait to read the digest the following week!!! Goodnight from Sharon (and Todd since I KNOW I've turned him into a Waltons fan) in PA. KAREN'S COMMENT: What an exciting anniversary you had Sharon!!! That's certainly one you won't forget. Lucky you.
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