| WALTONS DIGEST 42:
Dear Waltons Fans, Finally I have been able to sit down and get this digest done. I have absolutely no idea where this week has gone, but go it did! Thank you all for being so patient. The good thing about it is that this digest is now a nice long one...read and enjoy. :-) I hope you've all been enjoying the Family Channel reruns of The Waltons. No doubt you'll see new things as the seasons progress...maybe actors who were unknowns but are now really well known. Lots of discussion is welcome. Talk to you all again soon, Karen.
From Marie: Hi, Karen and Walton friends. As I went online to send this, I received Walton Digest 41! What a treat! The phenomenal growth of Walton sites started with you, Karen, bringing all of us together in a very friendly way. You are so right about how far we've come in a year and it takes a lot of dedication on your part. We thank you very much and if you listen closely, you will hear our applause and grateful appreciation! At Wal-Mart's last week, I purchased three Walton videos for about $7 each - The Hunt, The Love Story, and The Scholar. They are part of a Family TV Classics series by Warner Home Video which has other TV shows like I Love Lucy, Beverly Hillbillies, and so on. I heartily recommend them! The colors seem more vibrant and no commercials! Not even for other videos. The Hunt is billed as the Premiere episode which is incorrect. It's even repeated on the back - "For many viewers, their friendship with this remarkable Depression Era family began with The Hunt, the first episode from the first season." The original air date given is correct but there were three episodes before this one. On the back, one photo is of John Boy and Holly but the summary describes The Hunt. I wonder why this happened. They could have asked us! The picture on the front has everyone in it except Elizabeth! Even Reckless is down in the corner. A serious deletion since she is one of my favorites. Okay, so I have eleven favorites, who's counting? Larissa: Family Channel is starting the episodes with The Foundling Monday evening (October 6th) with the next four in order - The Carnival, The Calf, The Hunt, and The Typewriter! The episodes for the morning are: The Family Tree, The Ordeal Part 1 and 2, The Return part 1 and 2. I think I heard that there will be short interviews with Michael Learned, Ralph Waite, and Richard Thomas, at least on the Monday evening shows. Vince, I love your attention to details! Keep it up! I looked for that stained glass window, too, Karen. I wonder if Dot could help us out here. What was the house like? I know I would be on sensory overload walking around in it. And I, for one, certainly want to hear more about your trip. Karen: About the cellar. I remember a scene in which Olivia and one of the girls are down there talking. Livie is taking care of a plant and weaves it into her comments. It's a plant that needs to put be in the dark for a while in order for it to bloom. Somehow it illustrates the bad times making the good times in life all that much better. I'm a little fuzzy on the details. If someone knows the episode, please let me know. Bridget: I watched The Wing Walker for Tom Bower who later plays Curt Willard. That's him all right! Rex Barker was his name in this episode. I truly enjoy this exchange, Karen. The Family Channel hosted an online chat with Earl Hamner. You can read it at their web site: www.familychannel.com Good night, everyone! Marie KAREN'S COMMENT: I must say that there's nothing like watching shows without the ads is there? These videos sound like great value. We have a K-Mart over here which I think is probably similar, but of course they don't sell these videos. :-( Fancy leaving Elizabeth out! I love all this sharing of information too, Marie. I have learnt absolutely heaps from you all. Sorry I missed the chat with Earl, but I've hardly had any time to even get on the computer at all. I'll head to the site shortly and catch up with his chat. Thanks for letting us all know.
From Shirley I just got off the Chat line from chatting with the Walton fans tonight when I remembered to pass on October's birthdays.
KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for these dates Shirley. I always forget them.
From Jim: The wedding of Harley and Verdie was not ever shown. Harley and Jodie first appeared in an episode entitled "The Roots." They were basically drifters. Verdie took a shine to them, and Jodie really wanted to stay on Walton's Mountain. It took some persuading, but Harley eventually decided it would be a good move. In the final narration of the story, Earl Hamner mentioned that Harley and Verdie eventually married. KAREN'S COMMENT: I have a copy of "The Roots" and recall this episode well, but had forgotten the final part. Thanks for reminding me Jim. Don't the children look young in this episode?
From Shirley: Hi you wonderful people. I just wanted to make a comment about the doors on the ground floor of the Walton house. I believe the reason why those doors are there, is so the camera can easily be ready to record a scene. I have always been puzzled about the door in the kitchen and just thought it was the door to the basement. Irecall an episode where Olivia went down to the basement to get mason jars (I believe) and that was where she found Mary Ellen smoking. In fact it was John Boy that found Mary Ellen first. I'm trying to recall any other scenes in the basement, but I can't. I sure would like to thank Dot for passing on details of her trip and sharing it. It felt like a family reunion to me. Good night Walton friends. Shirley KAREN'S COMMENT: What are "mason jars"? I can only think that they are jars used in preserving. Yes I agree whole-heartedly with you about Dot's trip. It was the next best thing to being there because Dot wrote so vividly. I hope you will find some time to share some more with us Dot. :-)))
From Arthur: Hello Karen and all Digest members! For my next "Spot the Waltons character actor", the episode of Quincy called "The Face of Fear" had a youngish looking Jonathan Frakes ("Ashley Longworth Junior") taking part as a murderer. This must have been made in 1980 or 1981. Has anyone noticed that series such as Quincy (about a medical examiner), and Lou Grant (about a newspaper) were often "campaigning" subjects? The Quincy episode I just mentioned was about agoraphobia, and I often wonder how effective such programs have been in bringing deserving subjects like that to public attention. As to The Waltons, Channel Four has just got to the start of Season 4 in its complete re-running of the regular episodes. Arthur (from the UK) KAREN'S COMMENT: You're doing very well with all the actors you're spotting. I think I probably see them but don't recognize them. Yes I've also noticed, particularly in Quincy, how the show was used to raise community awareness about different issues. It's the "preaching part" my husband says and usually starts off with: "Do you know how many people all over the country are affected by...." There are other shows that do it but I can't think of them off hand.
From Michael: Hello! I received the digest from you and I wanted to thank you for all the great information you've provided. Anyway, I know that people will often E-mail you information on "The Waltons" and related stuff, so I thought I would. Back in 1991, a forest fire swept through the Warner Brothers set. It destroyed the original Walton house, Godsey's store, and a few other buildings used on the original series. So, when plans for a new reunion became a reality, a new house, store, etc. had to be built. I read that it was a sad event for everyone because they all had formed a sort of "bond" with everything and it was kind of hard to deal with the fact that it all had been destroyed. Also, Will Geer had marked on one of the walls and had planted his own rose garden on the set, so that enhanced the loss. KAREN'S COMMENT: Great to hear from you Michael. I hadn't heard this before (I don't think) but seeing as Dot has just visited there, perhaps she would be able to confirm this and maybe add some more information. She mentioned that the site had moved and that the details you mention were left at the old set, but nothing about a fire. Was the old house ever used for other filming does anyone know? Other than The Waltons I mean.
From Julie: Hi Karen! Just a quickie....I was at my parents' this weekend, and watched a re-rum of "Password Plus" (old game show) from 1980, and who was one of the celebrity guests but Judy Norton Taylor! I'm a bit embarrassed to even admit I was watching an old game show of all things, but I know we all like to hear when one of the cast pops up somewhere, and I thought this was a rather unique sighting! I really don't remember seeing any of the cast on a game show...anyone else? KAREN'S COMMENT: They pop up anywhere Julie! I have never heard of Password Plus so it must be a game show which was never adapted to Australian TV. How did she go?
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