Hi everyone,

First week of December is here, and as I'm writing this some of you will be on your way to the Smithsonian Institute for the dedication of The Waltons, whilst others of you will be preparing for the most wonderful cruise imaginable. Others though, especially those of us who live out of the USA, will simply be thinking of you enviously. Wherever you are this weekend I hope it's an enjoyable one for you and hopefully those who are lucky enough to attend these events will write and share their wonderful experiences.

I have finally been able to see one of the Waltons games which I have heard so much about. Really nice cards with episode shots, but I have one question for you all. Does anyone know how to play the game? It says on the box that the first person to get rid of all their cards wins the game, but just how does one get rid of the cards? Anybody with the real instructions please let us know! If you don't know the real rules but have a version that works for you, why don't you let us know about that too. We might be able to publish a list of variations on how you can play the Waltons game. :-))

It's been really hot over here this week and we're gearing up for another hot week next week. Summer has certainly bounced in with a vengeance down here.

Just a little note from my Little House on the Prairie digest for this month. "The CBS special "Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder" is scheduled to air Sunday, December 26, at 8:00 pm (Eastern and Pacific time zones)." This is the one with Richard Thomas as Pa Ingalls.

I'll try and put up a reminder closer to the date.

Have a great week everyone. Goodnight all.

Karen.

Thanks for the newsletters. I do appreciate it greatly!! I too was pleased to hear of the Waltons marathon Thurs. Gives me time to buy a few video tapes....I just ordered the tapes from Columbia House. Do you have the set? Is The Homecoming included.....

Kathy

KAREN'S COMMENT: Unfortunately Columbia House does not ship their tapes outside the USA...I've written and pleaded but had no success. I think most of the ones they have available are from the earlier series but I'm not sure about that. The Homecoming? Again not sure, but if they don't, check out the Waltons Mountain Museum or <www.cdworld.com>.

Hi! My name is Farrah and I'm interested in being part of the Walton List. I just recently started watching the Waltons, maybe since May or June this year. I got hooked almost instantly. Fortunately, from your list of episodes I found out that I started watching with "The Heritage" and have missed only two or three episodes since then. The show is on 5 days a week where I live and they have been showing them in order. In fact, as I type this I'm watching a marathon that the TV is playing today. Anyway, on Monday is "The Unthinkable" so I'm almost caught up to everyone else. Sorry for sending such a long e-mail, especially since you don't know me but this is one of my first e-mails and I've gone a bit overboard. Basically, I just want to be part of your mailing list.

Thank You.

KAREN'S COMMENT: I thought I'd add your letter to the digest Farrah, just as an introduction to the group. We have nearly 400 members, with numbers continually going up and down. Don't worry about the length of the email. I sometimes edit but not a lot. :-)

Good Morning and Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends in the group!! Here's some trivia I would like answered. What happened to Ben and Cindy's daughter Virginia? In one episode Mary Ellen has 2 kids and I remember that her and Jonesy could only have John Curtis. One of yesterdays episodes (I did not watch them all) but John was getting very frustrated and went for a walk and started to talk with Grandpa. I thought that was very touching!!!!Well take care and any more news on a new reunion?? Keith

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes, I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving Day and the marathon. It is explained in A Waltons Thanksgiving that Virginia had died. The movie deals partly with Ben and Cindy still trying to come to terms with it.

A request to Digest members -

I have had an e-mail from someone in USA who wishes to buy a complete set of Waltons episodes on video. I have replied that as far as I know only selected episodes have been made available. Could someone kindly post a list of what is available and from where, or, if Karen would prefer, e-mail me directly?

Arthur

KAREN'S COMMENT: I agree with Arthur that it would be nice to have a complete list of the videos that Columbia House in particular have available. I think probably all of the ones which seem to be readily available are probably also available from them.

I'm also thinking about starting a video swap thing, which I really haven't thought out yet. Basically it would be a means of getting certain episodes which you may be missing. There would be no charge made, but rather would be a swap arrangement. Like I said, I haven't thought it out properly yet, but I have a lot of people asking me for a way to get just one or two episodes which don't seem to be available. It might be a way for those of us using the PAL video system to get episodes too. Further news on this down the track anyway.

Dear Fellow Walton Fans,

Can you answer a few questions for me? In which television special does Aimee come home with her husband and baby boy? She was played by the same actress that originated the role of Aimee, wasn't she? Why was Cora Beth upset with Aimee?

I am enjoying the WWII episodes very much. I enjoy seeing the shows that portray the American Homefront during WWII.

Also, in the Thanksgiving movie that was on last Thursday, John-Boy's girlfriend, Jane Schuler, came to the Walton home for Thanksgiving dinner. But, when John-Boy marries he marries a girl named Janice. Is this a mistake or is Janice a variation of Jane? I really liked the actress who portrayed Jane Schuler. I thought Earl Hamner's wife was named Jane.

I just have to put in another plug for Robert Wightman. I really enjoy his portrayal of John-Boy as an adult! He took on a difficult challenge following Richard Thomas, but I think he did a great job.

Good-night everyone,

Silvia

KAREN'S COMMENT: It was in "A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion" that Aimee arrived home unexpectedly to see Ike and Corabeth. Yes, I was confused too, thinking that Jane Schuler was the one JB was going to marry, but in A Walton Wedding her name is definitely Janet Gilchrist, so I don't think that it was meant to be the same person. I think it must be one of the most difficult things for an actor to step into a role that has been played by someone else, especially by someone so good and highly regarded as Richard Thomas.

Hi Karen and the rest of the Waltons devotees,

Recently someone wrote:

"I recently purchased the Waltons Christmas CD. On it they mention a "Cousin Jerry". I think I've seen every Walton episode and special and don't remember this individual at all?"

I haven't received my cd in the mail yet from amazon.com so I'm not sure what the exact quote is from the liner notes. But, as I was listening to the intro theme to tonight's Watons episode I wondered if it isn't Jerry Goldsmith they are honouring as "Cousin Jerry." Goldsmith wrote, if I'm not mistaken, the Waltons theme song. In my mind the theme is integral to the show.

What do you think, everybody?!

Goodnight-

Mary

KAREN'S COMMENT: Mary someone else made the same suggestion about Cousin Jerry being Jerry Goldsmith. It's possible I guess. I don't recall hearing of a Cousin Jerry either.

Dear Karen

As an absolute avid Waltons watcher, I would love to know more about the series, the characters and the 'inside info.' regarding my favourite programme. Although British, I find the story-lines refreshing and optimistic and would like to join the mailing list.

Many thanks

Sarah

P.S. If anyone has any idea where I can buy the series on video in the UK, I would love to know....Thanks again...

Bye for now

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well maybe someone in UK can let us know what's going on with the series at the moment. You might need to resort to buying over the Internet.

Hello! I was wondering if you know Jason, or Erin's kids names. Also, didn't Ben and Cindy have a little boy? Thanks for your help!

~*Jessica*~

KAREN'S COMMENT: I hope I have these right Jessica.

• Erin's children: Susan, Amanda, and a boy (?).
• Jason's children: Burl, Roy, another boy (?), Loretta Lynn and Patsy Kline.
• Mary Ellen: John Curtis (we think he's still around and in the family!!!), Katie and Clay.

Please make any corrections.

Hello Karen. I didn't know if this was mentioned previously but I was watching my tape of "The Woman" the other night (it's the episode when John and Olivia are going to renew their wedding vows). Olivia was upset because she didn't have anything to wear for the ceremony. So John sneaked into town to a dress shop to buy her one. I kept thinking that the shop clerk looked familiar so I checked the credits and found out it was Gloria Stuart who played the elder "Rose" on the movie Titanic. Sorry if I am repeating "old news" but I was so excited that I noticed her that I had to write.

Loved the Thanksgiving marathon on TNN !!! Wouldn't let anyone change the channel in the living room as I was running back and forth between the stove and the TV The guys ended up watching football on the TV in the bedroom!! (Hey, like I told them, "If you wanna eat, don't touch that dial!!" Of course nobody dared!!). I only had to tape one episode because it was the one I wanted to see the most and do not have it on tape (The Quilting).

I received the Waltons cigar bands in the mail that I had won on ebay. Can you believe this: sent the money order to a guy in the Netherlands on Wednesday, received an e-mail on Saturday saying he received the money order and was shipping immediately, received the package on Tuesday!! Whole transaction took less than one week and he's halfway around the world!!

Amazing!! Anyway, the set is in mint condition and I am walking on air that I got it for so little money !!

Note to Donald: thanks for the info on the Cre-Mark, Inc. town location. I have received the mouse pad in the mail but my husband hid it on me to put in my stocking on XMAS!! (Says he's tired of never knowing what to put in my stocking since I'm not into jewellery, perfume, etc., this way he knows there will at least be something in there that I want!! NO FAIR!!)

Goodnight Everyone,

Sharon

KAREN'S COMMENT: How right you are Sharon...it definitely was Gloria Stuart in that episode. Fantastic that you managed to get The Quilting finally. Oh well, you'll have something to look forward to on Christmas Day now.