Hi everyone,

It took me a while, but I've finally worked out what Foxtel is doing with The Waltons out here. We're getting season one episodes during the week, which are literally from all over the place, then they are beginning to repeat these during the weekends. It's rather nice to know that if you do happen to miss an episode from the weekday, that you can catch up with it some time later.

As I said though, we are definitely NOT going in order. This week we have had: The Typewriter, The Dust Bowl Cousins, The Fire, The Star and The Calf. It's been a long time since I have seen many of these earlier episodes and it's been really great to revisit them.

I had a bit of a chuckle when I was watching The Carnival again the other day and I noticed when the children were discussing whether they should give their carnival money to Grandma to pay for her glasses. They were all in the bathroom and Elizabeth was sitting on the toilet. It just reminded of all the discussion that went on about the Brady children never going to the toilet, yet here we were just a couple of years later showing that the Walton children were definitely normal people. I was surprised though, because I hadn't noticed a toilet in any other scene before. Interesting just how realistic The Waltons was made to be. I guess the same thing could be said about John and Olivia, and even Grandma and Grandpa sharing a bed. Just a year or so before it would have been taboo to show this on TV. I'm glad they were able to make the series so realistic.

I also switched the TV on during the week and caught the opening credits of Step By Step too, and who should be listed on there but Peggy Rae, who we all know as Rose. I hadn't known she was on that show.

By the way, has anyone looked at Ebay recently? I've been watching the Waltons items and have noticed the lunchboxes fetching really quite high prices of around $160. I consider that high anyway. So those of you lucky enough to have a lunchbox in good condition, you've obviously made a good investment. :-))

Well that's about it for this week. Until next time,

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

Karen,

Are we still on Season #4 for favorite episodes? Probably two of my favorite ( if not my very favorite) Waltons episodes are from season #4 and they aired one after the other in broadcast order. They are: The Quilting and The House.

Both were wonderful images of changing times.

In The Quilting, Mary Ellen wants to forgo the mountain's coming of age tradition for young women, and Grandma wants her to embrace the tradition.

In The House, an old, dilapidated house in town is scheduled for demolition, and the Waltons get the demo contract. Grandma wants the house restored instead, if only for the special memories that it holds for her and Grandpa.

In both episodes, it was 19th vs. 20th century. It was a family trying in different ways to enter the modern world and trying to keep the old traditions that have made them what they were. The Traditional vs. Modern struggle is faced by every family. I hope that we can all balance the benefits of both as well as did The Waltons.

Take Care,

Agnes

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think both these episodes are wonderful too. I particularly like the way you've got the views of the older folk clashing with those of the younger ones in The Quilting.

FROM KAREN:

Now I posed the query last week about the ironing cord coming from the ceiling. I discovered during the week that one of the episodes showed it very clearly coming from the light socket, as many of you kindly let me know. If you're looking for the episode it was probably The Calf, or The Typewriter, but definitely one from this week.(I think it was The Calf). I wonder if it was so clear because it was Olivia doing the ironing and she is taller than Grandma, who I initially noticed it with. Anyway here are your responses to the query and thanks to you all. Do you know I've never seen or heard of it. I wonder if it only happened in the USA.

Hello there....Concerning ironing cords from above, so to speak. I've noticed that in a lot of the houses of that era, the electrical outlets were included in the light sockets. Perhaps this was done to save on added wiring, I really don't know.....

Donna

Hi Again, That ironing cord does come down from the ceiling. They use to have outlets in the light bulb fixtures in older homes, in fact there was one in our basement light when we bought our home. Our house was built in the mid forties. Hope this helps answer your question.

Yvonne

Hi Karen

In answer to you question about the ironing cord from the ceiling, it is actually coming from the light fixture. In earlier times here in the USA they had put electrical outlets on all light fixtures to be used. In my grandmothers mountain house now there are several outlets for use like that still.

It was just something done when a house first got electricity.

Take care

Scott

Hi Karen,

A long time ago when I was a little girl, we had relatives who lived out in the country and they only had electrical outlets that were part of the light bulb attachment in the ceiling.....hope that made sense ! That could be the answer to your question. These relatives also had an outdoor toilet ! Complete with Sears Roebuck catalog!

Mary

I always got the impression the iron was plugged into the wall, but the electrical cord was looped around a hook in the ceiling. This would enable the cord to remain off of the item being ironed, and would not get in the way and get tangled around the end of the ironing board. It would also prevent children from walking into the cord (injuring themselves or pulling the iron off the table),as Elizabeth and Jim Bob were still quite young in the first season.

Lindy

Karen I believe the answer to your question about why you see the cord to Grandma's iron come down from the ceiling is because possibly there is a plug in up there. My Grandma's old house has one in their ceiling.

Sandy

Dear Karen,

I am sure that you have the answer to your ironing question by now, but if by some chance you don't....then here is my answer.

When I was growing up, some of the older houses up in the mountains used to have the plug for electrical outlets in the light bulb fixture. From what I can see in the episodes of them ironing, it looks to be the same thing. Most old houses did not have all the electrical outlets that we have today. Many homes only had one or two. The simple reason for this is that there were not that many appliances, so hence, no reason for the outlets. Just a little bit of trivia, I used to work in a home that was built in 1893 and it was the home a millionaire and they only had one outlet for electrical stuff and that one was shaped like the socket for a light bulb…at that time everything screwed in like a light bulb, no plugs like today.

Hope this helps,

Logan

Hi, I'm new on the list which I'm enjoying very much. This is my first post. In reply to Karen's question as to why Grandma's iron cord always looked like it was coming out of the ceiling. I live in Michigan and have a lot of country relatives, the Waltons kind of country. Add to this the fact that I'm not exactly young anymore. I remember as a child visiting my father's people. The farm houses were old and had been built and lived in before electricity was available. So when the houses were wired, first of all there was not a lot of use for electricity except lighting, and also it was a big expensive job. So if you were at the Walton income level, there just weren't going to be an abundance of electrical outlets in your home. The kitchen light bulb usually screwed into a ceramic fixture which had an electrical outlet built into it. The women would do their ironing under the light, for obvious reasons, so they would plug the iron into that outlet, which might be the only outlet in the kitchen! So, the cord hung from the ceiling. This was very common in the United States back in those days. Maybe it was in other English-speaking countries as well, and the rest of you are just too young to remember? Ha ha!

KAREN'S COMMENT: I think that must be it!

Hi Karen,

That was a great story about Jon Walmsley going to see Bob Dylan with Sian Barbara Allen. I am a huge Dylan fan, too, and once saw him through binoculars just like Jon. Fortunately, I've seen him many times, and mostly at the front-of-stage position! I can't believe Sian Barbara Allen was at the Newport Folk Festival in '63 - I am SO envious.

With regard to Reckless, by the episode 'The Grandchild - Part 1', Jim Bob isn't surprised that Reckless is pregnant by Yancy Tucker's dog (Tagger or Trigger).

I don't know about the electricity supply in Virginia in the 1930s, but I certainly know that my Irish Grandmother used to plug the iron into the light socket in Co. Kerry in the 1950s! Perhaps it was due to a shortage of wall sockets? In any case, I'm glad that my Grandmother & Grandma Walton had this in common!

Channel 4 is certainly losing it with regard to their presentation of 'The Waltons'. It seems to be part of the Sunday morning 'kiddie shows' package, complete with a screwball continuity guy and phone-in competitions (UK only) offering a discman to the first caller who can tell them what drink Cassie orders in Ike Godsey's store in 'The Grandchild - Part 1', shown on November 8th (grape pop).

Tricia

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes it was a really nice story about Jon and Sian going to the concert together. I'm still amazed about the light socket...I read a lot of things about older houses and have never come across this one out here.

Hi Karen,

I just read the article sent in by Kaz from Oz. Did you know that Jon Walmsley was once a member of Richard Marx's band. He was a pop idol in the early 1990's. Although he was a bit younger than me, I enjoyed his music and saw him in concert, which means I got to see Jon also.

I want to tell you Karen that this digest is a wonderful thing. I truly enjoy receiving it each week. When life is getting hectic, I can disappear into Walton's Land and all my worries go away....at least temporarily. I love to watch the Walton's each day and just transpose myself into the show pretending I am part of it. Funny, when I was a kid, I related to Erin (she and I are the same age). Now, as a mother of 5 children, I related to Olivia. I love the romance between John and Olivia. Such a loving family.

Well, I just wanted to pop in and say Hi to you all and to thank you for all your hard work.

Good night,

Cathy

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm glad you're enjoying the digest so much Cathy.

Dear Karen,

Thank you for the digest and the work you do. This August we went with our family to the U S A from England and visited the Virginia Blue Ridge and Schuyler. We stayed in a log cabin in the mountains for a few days about 12 miles from there, and saw a little of the country. We visited the museum and the nearby store. It was great!

Regards. Pete

KAREN'S COMMENT: Sounds like a wonderful trip Pete. I know the reunion had a lot of overseas visitors too.

Hi--my name is Kathy and I am new to the list. (I'm enjoying it very much so far. Thanks!) Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth concerning some of the subjects that have been discussed.

My favorite Walton by far would be Grandpa. I had a Grandpa much like him and watching the episodes that feature Grandpa are a sweet reminder of my childhood and of what a wise, gentle and loving Grandfather I had. The banter between Grandpa and Grandma in some of the episodes is priceless as well! Sometimes I just want to reach through the TV screen and give them both a big hug! (Don't worry, I'm not psychotic! I can separate a TV show from reality! It's just that the personality of the Grandpa character really touches me in such a personal way--unlike any other TV show.)

As for what piece of the house I would most like to have--it's a tie between the kitchen table and the radio. I love the idea of my family gathering around the table, talking and sharing a meal together! I also love all of the scenes where the family is sitting around the radio--listening to music, a radio show or tuning in to hear the news that would affect their lives in such a huge way. Sitting around the radio is so different from settling on a couch staring at the TV and not discussing anything--unless of course we're staring at an episode of "The Waltons"! That would be just fine!

Thanks for this great list and looking forward to hearing from you all!

--Kathy

KAREN'S COMMENT: The writers were terrific the way they built the rapport between both adult couples in the show I think. Absolutely wonderful writing.

Thanks for having something dedicated to one of the greatest shows ever! To be honest, I never really watched "The Waltons" until recently. I just never was interested (don't hate me!) while growing up. My Fiance on the other hand LOVES the Waltons and at first I didn't pay attention to the show when she watched it. But shortly after she started again, I GOT HOOKED! Now, I think it is one of the best shows ever made and can't believe I didn't watch it while I was growing up! Better late than never I guess! I love the feel of the show, does that make sense?

It is so well crafted, so well put together. The characters are all drawn out perfectly--and there are so many that it's hard to believe they were able to do it!

Does anyone know if they are going to make another reunion show soon? And how is Grandma (Ellen Corby?). Any news there?

I read the last issue e mailed to me and as far as what part of the house I would like to have, I too love the kitchen with the table. Growing up as an only child I missed out (and envied!) on having brothers and sister...and so many! I think my favorite part of their house isn't even in the house...it's Walton's Mountain. Not the Mountain as a whole were everything is...but where Grandpa's buried. I loved the episode where John and Olivia go to the Gazebo (is that the episode where John buys her the new dress...that scene was so perfect!

My fiance and I are planning our wedding and their expressions and actions were so true to life for us). And I loved when they danced in the Gazebo. My other favorite scene (well, one of many!) was with Grandma and Grandpa sitting on Walton's Mountain sitting on the ground on the hill. I don't remember exactly what they were talking about but if I remember correctly he put his hand on her thigh and she moved it away and then put it back! So awesome.

O.K., I've rambled enough...sorry! Thanks again for the great place to hear more about a classic!

KAREN'S COMMENT: I remember that scene you mention with Grandma and Grandpa, but I can't remember which episode it's from. It might be Mary Ellen's wedding, or when John Boy sells his meadow. You remember it perfectly!

Hi from Geri Ann in Phoenix, Arizona! Yes, I've noticed this too - they say things like "I reckon" and other country-sounding phrases a lot in the early seasons. (I noticed the same thing in the early years of "Little House on the Prairie," for anyone who watches that show.) Then there were some colloquialisms that remained through the course of the show, such as saying "Hey" instead of "Hi" or "Hello." (As in going into Ike's store and saying, "Hey, Ike!" and he'd reply, "Hey, kids!")

My favorite room in the house - the living room! I just really love it!

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm glad someone has noticed their colloquialisms and accents.