Hi everyone,

We are still enjoying The Waltons over here, and should finish season one this coming week. It's been great. Hope you all enjoyed the marathon. Happy Thanksgiving and keep enjoying your break.

Goodnight all,

Karen.

P.S. By the way, I've just checked out Alex and Marca's errors site and there are some really fun ones there. Do pop by and check them all out.

"I'm trying to confirm that the final episode of "The Walton" ended on D-Day, June 6, 1944... have found one source that list that... but cannot confirm"

I'm not sure, but I think the series ran into 1947 before it officially ended.

Someone mentioned Virginia's death in one of the reunion movies of a couple years ago. I'm new to this list, having only been a part of this group for a couple months, so I'm sure the reunion movies (the later ones, not the ones from the early 80's) have been discussed before, but I've found them all to be very disappointing. Virginia supposedly died as a baby (they show Ben and Cindy looking at her high chair, which hints she was a baby when she died) even though she was about five years old in the reunion movies of the early 80's. No mention is made of Ben and Cindy's baby Charlie.

Mary Ellen's son John Curtis is never mentioned, and although it had been established she wasn't able to have any more children after she had a horseback riding accident, there she is with a little boy and girl. Elizabeth, who wanted to be a schoolteacher and loved the mountain so much and was such a homebody, is off traipsing the world, and Erin, who had studied to be a secretary, is suddenly, inexplicably, a teacher. I don't know; I'm just very disappointed in the writing for the reunion movies that have been done so far in the 90's. I guess the old saying, that you can't go home again, is true.

I apologize if I'm bringing up topics that have already been discussed; I just had to comment on the recent reunion movies being so disappointing.

One of my favorite episodes of the original series is the one about Grandpa bringing home a statue of a beautiful woman; he calls it Annabelle Lee. I think it's supposed to look just like an old girlfriend of his, and Grandma gets quite jealous! They keep the statue out in the yard, and Grandpa sits and admires it constantly, and Grandma bickers and fusses at him. At the end, he decides not to upset Grandma anymore, and he and the boys dump the statue in the pond and watch it sink. I love that episode; it's so sweet and has some really cute moments in it!

Geri Ann

KAREN'S COMMENT: I agree Geri Ann, I thought that it was after the war too. You might want to have a look through our archives again to see other responses about the later specials as they have been discussed before. However with such a lot of newer people on board, I certainly don't mind raising the issue again. I hadn't looked before, but did they use the same writers for the later movies, as the ones used in the series? Anyway the archives can be found at:

THE WALTONS MAILING LIST and PAST DIGESTS

http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/Set/4536/index.html

Hi Karen,

This is for Shirley in Canada.......can you send the listing for the Walton's Christmas marathon? Also which 7 p.m. time zone is that? Thanks for advising us of this. Hope they play all their Christmas specials. I keep hearing about "The Best Christmas Ever". I can't seem to recall that one, though I may remember once I see it. I don't always remember the shows by their names.

By the way, Karen, the Walton's Loop has been quite fun. I'm really enjoying being a part of it. Thanks Cindy for starting it up.

Goodnight Everyone,

Cathy in Arizona

KAREN'S COMMENT: I'm sorry Cathy that I didn't get this letter out earlier for you. I hope you didn't miss the marathon because of it. I have been really busy this week. Unfortunately it didn't arrive in time for the last one and I didn't get on the Net all week! Does anyone have a listing for the Christmas marathon yet?

From Donald and Erin (the cat)

Many people in the south where Cotton is King have given their children a nickname Cotton. It is rarely a given name. There was a football player in the 1950s who went to Baylor, a University in Waco, Texas, and his nickname was Cotton Davidson. I believe he later played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tonight Daisy Garner and Melissa visit Waltons Mountain on their way to New York. Daisy's mother has just died. Also Boone Walton is in trouble and Jason sets the bail for him. But Melissa is victimized by Corabeth's statement that she is a love child. Elizabeth asks her mother what that word means. Then Corabeth tells Aimee not to play with Melissa.

No-if it had ended on D Day we would have never had the Outrage, the Triumph, The Last 10 Days or The Pursuit where Jennifer Jason Leigh chases Jim Bob with a lie that she is pregnant, and then Curt is found alive in Florida. And the Dew Drop Inn is reopened on October 4, 1945. Then Erin goes up to New York looking for John Boy and finds out that he has moved out of his apartment and the apartment looks horrible. Then John Boy comes home and finds that the Baldwin are having a reunion that very day and every body went there- the date of the episode is June 4,1946. This last regular episode is shown June 4,1981.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Kami's child was definitely announced as being called Cotton so I guess they liked the name, or perhaps it is a family name.

I believe that the revel is set AFTER the war was over and the boys had come home.

The date of the happenings ( as I remember it ) was given when John Boy looks at the invitations for the Baldwin sisters' party and remarks that it is "tonight".

I believe that the date on the invitations was June 4, 1946. I also believe that the episode was broadcast on June 4, 1981.

Please check this,

Agnes

KAREN'S COMMENT: I believe that both you and Donald (and others) are right. I think Jim may be confusing the final airing date.

Hi,

When the Waltons were produced, TV wasn't yet making any effort to get hair right. Not on any show. That didn't happen until later. I always used to wonder about the men's hair, though. They all had $50 hair cuts, especially John Walton, and there was never ever any mention of a barber that I can remember! Any real family where the mother cut everyone's hair, well, lots of times those fellows didn't look so good!

Not right on the subject, but does anyone else remember when those first home clipper sets came out? Probably in the late 50s or early 60s. They were electric and were advertised that wives and mothers could cut the whole family's hair with them. You could pick those families out in a crowd with no problem! It wasn't long after that that hardly anyone got haircuts at all! Wonder if there was any connection? Were those things popular with mothers in Liverpool, too? Maybe that's how all that long hair got started!

I believe Mary Ellen's quilting rebellion was produced because young girls were just plain driven in the early 70s to prove that they were not going to be held back by the restrictions that had been on women before that. I remember reading recently that Michael Learned was dissatisfied with her role toward the end because she wanted to play a more liberated type woman. This is just the way it was in the early 70s. Everyone was affected! So I don't think the producers really thought they were demonstrating what the 30s were like. They might've just buckled to the pressure of the times they themselves were living in.

The idea of hot Christmas nights is hard to grasp for a Michigander like me! 20 degrees F is a pretty typical Christmas around here. How I envy you Aussies!

Corabeth

KAREN'S COMMENT: Actually there is one episode in season one where Grandma is cutting Zeb's hair and he is getting cross about her cutting too much off. I think he calls her Delilah. I'll have to check what she was using for the cutting.

Hi,

Regarding the question about the hair styles etc, I too have often felt that some of the hair styles are very seventies. Particularly in the original film of the Waltons - If you watch that the clothes too are very 70s.

Mary

KAREN'S COMMENT: I have wondered at times about the clothing, but other list members have said that they would have been appropriate for the time.

Dear Norma, I was interested in your comment. I agree that Mary Ellen's views about certain things such as careers do seem to belong to another time. I was watching an episode recently when Erin struggles with the idea of motherhood and seems to reject it in very 70's terms.

I have a degree in Cinema and Television studies and one of the things that often crops up is that historical issues tend always to be dealt with from the contemporary perspective. Costumes and hairstyles in films often have a contemporary feel. I guess it works because it adds interest and depth to the characters. It makes The Walton family more interesting because they are slightly oppositional and of course it offers lots of narrative scope. We all bring our own readings of the program to bear.

I love Olivia so much and in my imagination she is a kind of second 'mom' to me but in the episode where she gets a job as a seamstress and with it follows the opportunity to travel to Paris and have a career herself ; I find myself shouting at the screen 'for goodness sake Olivia do something for yourself' as she refuses to go. So that's me interpreting the show from my historical position. It's an interesting subject though and I would like to hear others views.

Joanne

KAREN'S COMMENT: It's an interesting point about Mary Ellen, but I would have thought that there definitely would have been some girls who may have displayed the same rebellious attitudes as Mary Ellen, back in the 1930's. It's not inconsistent with her character either because she displays these qualities even in the first season and says she's just not cut out to be a wife and mother.

Hello Karen and fellow digest members,

I am new to the digest and wanted to introduce myself. I have had three digests now and enjoy them very much. I have always felt part of The Walton family and now it feels like I really am. I am 34 years old and live in Leicester in England. I am a part-time student and work part-time in an osteopaths. I trained and worked as a registered nurse in the past but it wasn't for me so I followed my dream and went to university. I am now working on a PhD but to be honest I find it kind of lonely just me and my books.

I love The Waltons as you would expect. My favourite episode is 'The Woman' from series 3. It was one I didn't have on video so I was delighted and thankful when Arthur Dungate supplied me with a copy. I love it . Jon Boy has a brief and passionate relationship with Madeline Bennett and it is so tastefully done. I sigh and go 'ooh' all the way through because one can truly feel the spiritual and sensual connection between the two.

The other narrative theme is between Jon and Olivia as they prepare to re-take their wedding vows. I guess what I love about the show is that there is a strong sense of morality but it is made realistic by the way that the family often struggle to do the right thing or just do things that are naughty. That's what makes it so believable. Like John and Olivia eloping or John's skeptical relationship with the church. I especially love Grandpa and the 'recipe'.

One of my favorite moments is when Jason gets a job playing piano at the Burlesque hall and Grandpa takes Ben and Jim Bob along. There is a stripper who dances with balloons and Grandpa is up popping them with a pin!

I have to say I love the house and the kitchen table. I often imagine myself as an 'extra' Walton. I find it a warm comforting environment and if I am feeling sad or having trouble sleeping I close myself and imagine myself there. They are the family I never had. Although I love the house The Mountain and the beautiful scenery is for me the real star of the show because somehow it makes everything possible. I feel its kind of on the edge between old and new worlds and I love that.

I have two questions:

1. I often have trouble getting into some of the Walton's web sites. What should I do about this? It's very frustrating. Also I saw on one of the web sites once a British 'Friends of The Waltons' club run from an address somewhere in Somerset or Dorset I think. Now I can't find it can anyone help?

2. I see people writhing about Walton's memorabilia such as lunch boxes and tea sets but could anyone give me the e-mail address of the company that sells these things.

I look forward to further digests and making new friends my very best wishes to you all.

Joanne xxxx

KAREN'S COMMENT: The address for the fan club you mention is:

Irene Porter, Waltons Friendship Society

Riding Gate House, Riding Gate

Wincanton, Somerset

BA9 8NG

England

One of the places that memorabilia is being sold is through Ebay auctions. The URL is:

http://pages.ebay.com/aw/index.html

About Columbia House adding videos: Yeeha!!! I can't wait...after all I am almost done with the collection. Columbia house told me they wouldn't have more after 40 videos though. Keep emailing and writing them. Tell them we want more!

Cindy

KAREN'S COMMENT: They are great episodes they're adding.

Dear Karen,

Thank you for putting your time and effort into the Waltons List. I have enjoyed reading each entry and learning new things about the Waltons. I watch the show every Thursday night until I went to college in 1978 and never really got back to see the remaining shows. I did make sure that I watched the specials whenever they came on. I was really excited when I found that TNN was doing the whole series and I am able to tape each show and watch it when I come home from work.

I have one question that I hope someone can answer. I noticed whenever someone leaves on the bus from Rockfish? that on the side of the bus are the names of the towns that the bus stops in. I have drawn a blank now that I want to remember what they are and what the order of the names are on the side of the bus. I reuse the tape when I finish watching a week of episodes, so I don't have that resource to look back at. I was looking at a map and wanted to figure out the route that the bus traveled. I would appreciate your input.

Keep up the good work.

Gary

KAREN'S COMMENT: Does anyone know about this?

I have been told that "The Thanksgiving Story" which will be aired at l p.m. Thanksgiving Day is the old episode where John Boy is injured in the mill accident and then goes on to take his college exams. This is my favorite. I hope that this is the episode I've been looking forward to seeing.

Karen

KAREN'S COMMENT: Hope you enjoyed it Karen.

Hi Karen,

According to my TV listings for Dec 19th the Waltons Marathon will feature The Children's Carol in 2 parts starting at 7PM EST, Day Of Infamy at 9PM,The Spirit at 10PM,The Children's Carol in 2 parts at 11PM and The Spirit at 1AM.

Doraine

KAREN'S COMMENT: Thanks for this. I'm surprised though that The Best Christmas is not included.

Hello Karen,

I just watched The Changling. I think this is the first time I ever saw it. I enjoyed it. I don't think The Family Channel ever showed any Walton episodes that dealt with the supernatural. But TNN seems to be showing all of them. Have a good week.

Doraine

KAREN'S COMMENT: I hope Eric managed to tape it. This episode was the only one he didn't have. I have seen it and enjoyed it very much. Quite different for the show.

Happy Thanksgiving from Ohio! It's Robin, here.

I hope you've all had a good holiday. I know not everyone on the digest celebrates Thanksgiving, but for those who do, I hope you had a great day with family and friends.

My family and I spent most of this afternoon with my in-laws, and I didn't get home until half way through "The Burnout" (season 4). Something I've wondered about before, in episodes after "The Burnout", how did they manage to have family heirlooms in the attic if the entire second floor and the attic were burned? Remember in "The Anniversary" (season 6) when John builds the gazebo for Olivia and he goes to the attic to get Grandma's old phonograph? I know there have been other scenes in later seasons where they get things out of the attic. Can anyone remember them?

I'm going to get up early tomorrow to put our turkey in the oven, so I doubt I'll be able to stay up until 3:00 AM to finish the marathon. Besides, my family won't let me monopolize the TV that long! My employer gives us a fresh turkey for the holiday, and I just can't bring myself to put it in the freezer. Therefore, we're having another dinner tomorrow.

Good night to all you members, and Karen, keep up the good work! I really enjoy getting the digest each week.

Robin

KAREN'S COMMENT: I guess it's called poetic license Robin. It's fun to point out these things though.

We just got through watching part of the Waltons marathon on TNN here in the United States and I must say it was awesome! 14 hours of such a great show! I can't wait for the December 18 marathon! My only problem with the marathon was the TNN WALTONS logo in the bottom left corner! It was so big, red and annoying! It blocked names in the credits as well as made the whole picture look bad! And when the actors who play Jason and Erin talked between episodes they sometimes started their dialogue after it had already began so we missed a few words!

If anyone else was annoyed by this (especially the logo) I emailed The Nashville Network (first to thank them for showing the Waltons and next to go off on them for having that dumb, bright red logo in the corner the whole time!) at questions@country.com. If others write in they might not include such an intrusive logo in December! As for the marathon content itself...it was great! But then again, nothing less is expected from "THE WALTONS"!

Bye...Rich

KAREN'S COMMENT: Seems like another emailing exercise.

Hi Karen,

I don't know what anyone else thought about the marathon yesterday, bit I didn't like so many commercials. I taped one show and watched it later. There were so many commercial breaks I decided to watch the next show and cut out the commercials. The viewing was 118 minutes and the rest was commercials. It seemed I would watch for 5 minutes and they would break for commercials. It was ridiculous! I wanted to tape the episodes I don't have but I don't want 40 minutes of commercials on a 2 hour tape.

I hope the December marathon will be different but I'm afraid it won't. I guess I will just have to make do. I am just happy to get to see the Waltons on TV. It is just hard to get into the story when they say a few lines and then break. I expected Jason and Erin to say any minute "We have to go pay some bills."

Erin is a real pretty lady and Jason is nice looking also. I think it was nice that they could introduce the marathon.

Catch you folks later....

Doraine

KAREN'S COMMENTS: Commercials do get really frustrating and break the story line a lot. Were they really long?