Hi everyone,

Well this is my second letter for this digest...I lost the first one. I'm not sure how but I guess these things happen from time to time.

It's been beautiful spring weather over here just lately. Our Spring Racing Carnival has been on in Melbourne, over the past few weeks, and they've been really lucky with the weather. It's been gorgeous. The Melbourne Cup was part of this carnival and it was held on Tuesday. Can you believe that Cup Day is actually a public holiday? No school or work for those in Melbourne. It's a really big day here, but seeing that I'm not a racing fan I don't pay too much attention to it.

Year 12 exams have also been going on for the past week here, and Tim's subject is on Monday. His year 11 exams also start Monday so he has been really busy finishing things and studying. His last official school day for the year was yesterday, and he now only has to go back for exams, and year 12 orientation. That's where they give them school books and an overview of their subjects for their final year next year.

James in year 9 has also been working very hard over the past two weeks. He finishes in another month, and suddenly all the teachers seem to have remembered assignments that they have to do, and consequently he is flat out.

As I mentioned last week, The Waltons has begun airing again here this week. They are jumping all over the place though, which is a bit annoying for those of us who are "in the know" and have the episode guides. Perhaps we should send them one? Perhaps not though...they might take it off the air altogether. :-(

Here's what we've had this week:

Sunday.................The Hunt

Monday................The Hunt (maybe I was the only one who watched Sunday's!)

Tuesday...............The Reunion

Wednesday...........The Foundling

Thursday..............The Love Story

Friday..................The Carnival

Saturday...............The Reunion (again!)

I can't work it out at all. Not to worry...I've really been enjoying them anyway. I haven't seen The Reunion or The Carnival for such a long time and its really been a joy to watch the episodes again. Is it just me or do the Waltons sound very much "country" in this first season. Listening to the way they speak they really do seem to have a more "backwoods" way of speaking that they seem to lose by about season 4, maybe earlier. I'm not sure if its just the accent or the actual words that are said.

Well I'm off to watch another episode...bliss. :-)

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

P.S. I've just had a Walton spotting. Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie) was in an episode of The Partridge Family, playing the mother of the groom. The episode is about a bikie called Snake, who gets married.

Hello from Geri Ann in Phoenix, Arizona!

I have a quick question. First of all, thanks to those who at least let me know they are as confused as I am about Reckless going from a him to a her! Thought I was going crazy all these years!

My question - since I'm new here, I'm not familiar with Ralph, the one who has the web page that everyone refers to. Who is he? It's not Ralph Waite, is it? Everyone talks about "Ralph" but nobody says who he is!

My favorite Walton - I have three! Daddy, because he reminds me so very much of my own father in personality - Elizabeth, because of all the children, she reminds me the most of me in personality - and Ben, because he's my favorite of the brothers. A mischievous guy with a heart of gold. He was the first to tease his brothers and sisters and play jokes on them, but he was right there when they needed him. Remember when he found Elizabeth scared to death on the ferris wheel, (I think she'd been sleepwalking, hadn't she?) and rescued her? And I loved the time when he put a baby pig in John Curtis' stroller, and when Mary Ellen found the pig instead of her baby, she began chasing Ben around the yard just like they were still kids and not grown-up!

Geri Ann

KAREN'S COMMENT: Now my apologies to anyone who was confused. Some of us who

have been with the digest for a very long time, probably forget that many of you are newer to both the internet and the mailing list, and aren't too familiar with all the names and who runs what etc. Ralph has been a long time member of the Waltons Digest, and is kept busy running his own web site...the official Waltons site. He is Ralph Giffin, and also is the editor of the newsletter from the Friends of the Waltons fan club, the one connected with the Waltons Museum. The web address for Ralph's site is: <www.the-waltons.com>. This is also the place to find the link to the Waltons Forum, which I know many list members visit regularly.

Now Geri Ann, don't worry about not knowing Ralph...it's like when people from the states put the initials of their state on their mail to me. Often I don't know them either, and have to ask. :-)

Dear Karen and all Waltons fans,

After last week's mutilated showing of The Waltons on UK tv (Channel 4), it was even worse this week.....

Last time in the Digest, Karen had an idea I hadn't thought of -

"KAREN'S COMMENT: I sometimes wonder if they do know how annoying it is. Does this channel have an email address? Perhaps we could all send mail. :-)"

What a wonderful idea! There are TWO e-mail addresses, please send to BOTH!!!!

1. <viewer_enqs@channel4.co.uk>

2. <t4@channel4.com>

Let's give them a taste of viewer reaction!

Here's what I've sent (but if you do send an e-mail, please don't just copy mine, that would drastically reduce the effectiveness and credibility, use your own words!)-----

"Dear Channel 4,

Following on from last week's mutilated showing of The Waltons, and my subsequent e-mail, I see that the intrusive "T4" at the top left of the screen was, this week, there the WHOLE time.

Don't you realise how annoying this is? How irritating? How intrusive?

I consider The Waltons to be the finest family series ever shown on TV worldwide. You obviously despise it. Your current treatment of it is absolutely appalling. Much as I like The Waltons, I can not watch any more, so long as you continue this highly deplorable and abominable practice.

I notice that the interfering "T4" was not on the adverts. If the commercials are too good to be degraded by it, how much more so are the actual PROGRAMMES! Why don't you be sensible, restricting the "T4" to the presenters slots etc, without degrading the programs with this annoying, intrusive gimmick.

The final insult is your treatment of the end credits with substitute rolling credits while your presenter blabs away loudly on the left - while the film is still running! Are there no depths you will stoop to?

Be professional...... or STOP showing The Waltons at this time.

Yours,"

Baz asked if the two Specials A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion ( 11/21/93) and A Walton Wedding (2/12/95) had been shown on British TV. The answer is yes, all the Specials have been shown - on Sky's satellite channels. I, too, don't subscribe to Sky's very expensive channels, but I do have recordings of the Specials. It is time they were shown on "free to air" terrestrial channels (but not, hopefully with Channel 4's current mis-treatment....). Do please send e-mails to Channel 4!

'bye for now,

Arthur.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I've been thinking about that during the week, and even though we aren't over in the UK, perhaps we could write and say how many members are commenting about this via the Mailing List and on the Forum. I am also adding Arthur's letter from last week, to refresh your memory about the problems this channel is creating. I find it extremely annoying and disrespectful to the cast, crew and viewers of shows, when they muck up the endings with these types of things. I believe that we have a right to watch the complete credits, without the stations advertising. With regard to the "4T", our Foxtel network has this on all of their channels, but in the bottom right hand corner. Maybe we could suggest that they move it where it won't interfere so much with the show.

I'll be writing and I hope that many of you will consider doing so too.

Dear Karen and everybody,

Further to the UK's Channel 4 and The Waltons, which, on Sundays, is currently treating The Waltons in a most unsatisfactory way, yet the station showed on Wednesday afternoon, a 1951 film (from 20th Century Fox) called "I'd Climb The Highest Mountain". Starring Susan Hayward, it's about a Methodist preacher and his wife who face the problems of life in a remote part of North Georgia. In Technicolor, it's a warm-hearted story very much in The Waltons style. If you haven't seen it, do watch out for it - I'm sure you'll like it.

Best wishes to you all.

Arthur D

www.surflink.co.uk/users/arthurdungate/index.htm

KAREN'S COMMENT: Do you think we should praise them for doing something right, before we complain about The Waltons? :-) I'll have to look out for this movie.

FYI Walton's fans... I have started a Walton's loop where we can be pen pals on a daily basis (or when you wish). All you have to do to join is send me your email address and I will send you the loop members' addresses along with directions on how to send mail, etc. So far things are going well.

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: I had no idea what a "loop" was so I asked Cindy and here is her reply.

Well, my sis-in-law is in a mommy's loop where everyone is under an address "group". The talk balk and forth, give advice, and even meet now and then! She has a lot of fun with it!

I have everyone's email address in the Walton's Loop. I emailed only the loop members the addresses. Each member puts the address under their address group name "Walton's Loop. When they wish to send a note to everyone they click on their address book. Then Walton's loop, and send to. We write daily, weekly, whatever! It is fun to talk with Donald and Erin the cat. He let's me know what Walton's episodes were on the previous night. I don't have cable or a satellite dish!

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: If you're interested, you can email Cindy on <Cinlouh@aol.com> for further information. Sounds like fun Cindy. You should let us know from time to time how it's going.

Hi Karen, I'm new here and love your digest. It's already provided me with great news, the airing of "The Changling" episode and the Thanksgiving marathon line-up. My favorite parts of the house are Grandma and Grandpa's bedroom and the attic. I would love to have a bedroom window just like that one. I live on the side of a mountain and the view out that window would be of my own mountain here in western NY. The attic is a favorite because it was one of those places that only the family entered. I can't explain it, but it gave a feeling of being allowed into their private family space.

Thanks and keep the news coming. Yvonne

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'd forgotten about the attic. I'd love one too. Do we see the attic in many episodes? I can think of a few. It's fun to look and see what's stored up there. I know that the "hope chest" was up there, in The Quilting I think.

Dear Karen

I would like to know if any of the digest friends know if TNN will be airing The Homecoming this holiday season? This a favorite of my family, and we always watched it when aired. However last year , it was not on any of the stations. I have written to TNN and never got a reply.

My choice for my home would be that grand old porch, and a big kitchen. I am slowly collecting little things to decorate the kitchen such as the sifter. It would be great to have all that room!!

Also if anyone knows about Earl and his foot please let us know. He must have really damaged it bad. I believe he did this over the summer. Thanks and have a nice week.

Vicki

Hershey, Pa

KAREN'S COMMENT: It will be interesting to see what episodes they air near Christmas. Someone mentioned that TNN hadn't shown The Best Christmas, so maybe that's one they will show then. I don't know about The Homecoming, but you can buy that one via the Internet if you're interested. I use one called CD World.

Hiya to all the members of the list,

It's cold & wet in Cambridge, UK, as I write this & I wish I could be sitting on the Waltons front porch on a balmy summer evening right now!

I want to agree with Arthur who wrote about the dreadful treatment of the episodes on Channel Four. The time of showing has been altered to put it in the middle of a trendy children's TV slot, there is a stupid 4t logo in the corner, & all the end credits are shown in a small corner of the screen whilst the presenter talks about the next program. I'm so glad that I taped all my favorite episodes of the John-Boy era before this happened!

It seems such a bad way of handling this wonderful series, which I think should be shown a lot later in the day & without being spoilt so that all the adults who don't catch it at such an early time (including those who go to church, who can only see it if they tape it, which I do).

I was interested in the comments bout the house. I must admit that I love the whole place, & it's location, but if I had to choose I would go for the porch with its view over the garden, & the living room/dining room, such a warm centre of family life.

I have a query. In the episode "The Warrior", where an aged Indian comes to the mountain seeking a sacred burial place, Olivia hardly appears at all & has only a very few lines of dialogue, & yet the plot line would have called for her to be heavily involved. Was there some reason for this?

Many thanks, & as someone else quoted,

"Goodnight everybody."

Kester

KAREN'S COMMENT: Any ideas or comments on this episode? Its been a long time since I have seen this one.

Hi everyone,

I found this in a pile of old magazine clippings given to me a few months ago. Its an article on Jon Walmsley I thought might be of interest to the mailing list members.

I do not have the beginning paragraph or two (Its by coincidence I have this article as the other side has an article on a band I liked from the 70s, the Bay City Rollers which I collect memorabilia on) and thus is why someone sent it to me.

The article is from a magazine called Teen Bag. A teenage magazine in USA in the mid 70s highlighting people such as Fonzie, Happy Days, Shaun Cassidy, Bay City Rollers, Kiss other pop bands etc ....you get the picture!

This article was designed to appeal to the younger teens as is evident early in the article. It's extremely light reading.......thought I would type it out for the digest for some fun. Please excuse any typing errors, I am the words worst typist and I don't have a spell check on my PC.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

Kaz from Oz

"mothers idea" Jon says. She wanted it to be like a vacation. If we really like it, we would stay- and that's the way it turned out," though they felt the pinch of poverty at first.

"Right after we came here, we didn't have anything! We were living in San Diego, and my father was selling garbage disposals door to door" at a time when there wasn't " a whole lot of business" in that line, particularly at "about $350 " per unit "things were tough for a while," he recalls, "in a new country and not knowing anyone."

There was one awful stretch when his parents "got down to their last $5" in fact- yet Jon was never left with a baby- sitter, while his mother went out to work, nor did he, personally, ever lack for anything. Even during their lowest period, their first American holiday season, "my parents went all out to make sure I had a good Christmas," he remembers.

They are a very close family, and Jon's considered a genius when it comes to music. Already, Joss heavily into multiple recording and planning eagerly for the course in Musical Engineering he hopes to take. "I record one channel say with drums. As I play it back, I record guitar on another channel, play them back and record bass. Then I listen to the bass and guitar and the drums, and I play piano. It comes out sounding four people! he enthuses. Soon he'll work with 16 track recorders, learn professional sound mixing. He writes his own songs, grins "I'm getting faster at it, which pleases me! Its one thing to be able to write a song- but it's something else to be able to come up with new songs consistently"

Music is the forte of his series role, too. "I want to remain an actor," plans the boy who plays Jason- and also be a musician." At season's end last year, Jon's series-brother, Richard Thomas, left and said, "I figure Jason will be doing the things next year that John-Boy is doing this year."

And to be sure, Jon inherits the very important role of eldest-son-in-residence, story wise.

Neither of the boys guessed about a parallel that would include squiring Richard's ex-girlfriend Sian Barbara Allen (who played Jenny in the series occasionally) to a Bob Dylan concert! Half of Young America would have given their wisdom teeth for tickets- but to drive to the concert with pretty Sian beside him in a beautiful pale-blue Mercedes must have made young Jon Walmsley feel far more grown up than he ever will at thirty!

"Sian's a wonderful girl and both of us a really huge Dylan fans-Dylan FREAKS! She went to see him at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963 and she's followed him all these years, so it really was a thrill for her, too. I didn't get the best seats he confided, "those were all taken", so I got the next best- they were very high up and we had binoculars- and we had a kind of birds eye view. It was great!"

Not that Jon wants anyone to think there was anything SERIOUS about his date with Sian. After all he used to take Ellen Corby to the Emmy Awards, and other places, and THAT wasn't serious, either! The lady who played Grandma Walton is "a favorite of mine," says Jon, and there's no doubt at all the feeling is mutual, on or off the show.

There is, in fact, great rapport on the notoriously, frolicsome set of The Waltons. ("Its kind of quieting down a little, but it still gets crazy once in a while-mayhem relieves all that nervous, pent-up energy. We used to see Richard running across stage jumping over things, being chased by one of the crew with a water bucket. We all pull a lot of pranks-a lot of pies in the face, stuff like that and Jon gets into his share though he says he tries not to get into mischief at work anymore. "I just let the others get into trouble," he grins.)

The horseplay is all part of the great relationship of the cast. "we are family- and the family that plays together stays together!" Jon quotes with another one of those high powered grins.

He and his buddy Richard Thomas "see a lot of each other" and are good friends since they are nearer the same age than the others. Jon can talk to 'his older brother" about girls, as fellows do. They often went out together before Richard married.

"Richard's parents have been married for quite a while and they seem to be very happy, Jon told us, "and my parents have been married for 34 years. They have a good frame of reference when it comes to happy and long lasting marriages. Jon's all for marriage- but is in no hurry.

And just as Richard settled down happily Jon will doubtless do the likewise! They've both got a kind of modern day Walton wisdom- but its hard to tell which came first.

An only child Jon still identifies with much of the Walton kids upbringing. "Mother is quite a bit like Olivia Walton", he points out. "My father smoked for years- and he would drink occasionally but she was always against it. That's the way it is with John Walton too! He's not a teetotaler- he drinks, and Grandpa drinks but Olivia is against it".

Like Olivia, his Mom's a great cook, though Jon kidded first about "TV dinners"- and then wryly, admitted they were HIS specialty not hers. He loves the "English things" mom cooks, and happily confides "she does a lot more than cooking," now that its no longer necessary for her to accompany her previously under-age son to the studio.

Being 20 has loads of benefits- and you only have to talk with a guy like Jon Walmsley to realise it. He remembers testing his Mom just before he reached 18 "I'd say "Can I do such and such ?" and she'd say "No I don't want to," or "you shouldn't stay out late so often." "What about next month when I am eighteen?" Jon would demand. "Well that's different," Mom would answer imperturbably. "As soon as you're eighteen, you can do what you want."

Jon has proven his parents trust in him. He is a wise and warm young man and girls who met him just go crazy over him. And he likes the girls, no doubt about that. What does he want in a girl friend? "Somebody special....a sensitive sweet girl who enjoys music like I do."

All right girls...if you qualify, write to Jon c/o Lorimar Productions, The Burbank Studios, Burbank, California.....Tell him you read about him in Teen Bag.

You can take our word for it...he is special and he will read every letter you write...but don't expect him to write back...a series is too demanding and there isn't time. If you have questions you want him to answer, send them into the magazine on a postcard with your question...we'll try to get the answer for you and print it right here.

KAREN'S COMMENT: What a fabulous article Kaz. Thanks for sending it in. Hope you all enjoyed it too.

Now I have a question myself too. Why is it that when I see Grandma ironing during season 1, that the ironing cord seems to come down from the ceiling. Any ideas please?