Hi again to all you Waltons fans,

Hope you are all well. School has gone back this week and life has returned to being busy once more. Someone has just written and told me that your school summer break is less than 30 days away! Wow, and you get such a nice long break then too. During our couple of weeks break I was able to catch up on some extra Waltons videos which I hadn't seen for some time. Firstly I finally saw the pilot episode, and it was really interesting to see the characters of the series being played so differently to the ones we have grown to love. How many of you have seen it and what did you think?

I also saw A Children's Carol once more. I had forgotten a lot of the plot and I found the story really moving. I'm still thinking about Brenda's question of favorite episodes though. I'll let you all know next digest.

Over to you now, Karen.

From James:

I recently watched The Homecoming (the pilot episode) and it was amazing to see different people in some of the roles. For instance can you imagine The Waltons without Will Geer as the Grandfather? It's quite strange to think about what it would have been like. Also Olivia was portrayed as a stern, Southern type of woman, who loved her family, yet didn't really express it much. As we all know, Michael Learned made Livvy a sweet caring character. John had an extremely limited role due to the fact that he arrived home at the last minute, so he was rightfully billed as a guest star. The only cast members which stayed the same were the children and Grandma. Even the Baldwin ladies were different I think.

On a different subject, I have decided that I don't really have a favorite episode. I'm sure a lot of you will agree that since the Waltons was such a quality show, that practically every episode was as good as the one before it.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes it certainly is strange to see other actors playing those roles. Will Geer was so brilliant as Grandpa that it was very off putting to see someone else in the role. Patricia Neal played Olivia and she is a terrific actress, but once again it was very peculiar to see her in the role, not Michael Learned. Ike was also different. Didn't the children seem young? Does anyone know how long it was from the time The Homecoming was made to the time the series went to air? John Boy in The Homecoming was meant to be about 15 I think, and he looked very young in the face! He never seems to change much though does he?

From Shirley:

> Here is a little more trivia from Maggie: In one episode Cora Beth who came from Doe Hill, >the Baldwin sisters and Grandpa were arguing who settled Walton's Mountain first. Each >thinking their side was the first to settle there. Grandpa is supposed to have won the argument. >Does anyone know what episode this was in?

I Know! I Know the answer....That was in the show called "Founders Day". Sorry to say, but Grandpa wasn't around when that show was aired. The answer was found in a journal that Grandma came out with.

On another note, I believe John Walton Sr. had a sister named Amy who died young of scarlet

fever, from the show called "The Typewriter".

KAREN'S COMMENT: Well done Shirley...this answer can now be passed onto Maggie. I didn't know that John Sr had a sister. There were 3 children then to Zebulon and Esther, were there: Ben, John and Amy? Any more I don't know about?

From Julie:

The question of favorite episodes came up. One of my faves I do not know the name of, but it was on FAM again the other night. It's the one where Cora Beth was revealed to be an alcoholic, and I know it was directed by Ralph Waite.

I'd always found Cora Beth to be a humorous and enjoyable character, and it was interesting to see what was beneath the surface. I thought it was entirely credible, as she'd always been the sort of "frustrated debutante", wondering what she was doing there in that "cultural vacuum!" It was a revelation to see just how deep that unhappiness went. I thought Ronnie Edwards did a wonderful job of acting, too. Anyone else like this episode, and does anyone know the name of it??

KAREN'S COMMENT: I also like Cora Beth. You wonder sometimes, why she ever decided to marry Ike and become a shopkeepers wife, but it is clear that Ike simply adores her, and accepts her as she is. She is really interesting in the episode "The Long Night" where Aimee runs away from home. She lets down her guard and you see the person underneath further. I like the way the series was written like that. It's kind of like peeling off layers so that we can get to know the real person.

From Beth:

I am still thinking about which episode is my favorite. I would like to ask the list a question. I have been pondering this for a long time so maybe one of you will know. Why is it that places around Earl Hamner's home such as Charlottesville, Rockfish, Scottsville, Lynchburg, Lovingston, Buckingham Co. etc. are mentioned in the show, but the actual county where he grew up has been renamed as Jefferson County. Actually it was Nelson County. Does anyone know why this was done?

From Lori:

My favorite episode is the one where Jim Bob finds out he was a twin and the other twin, named Joseph Zebulon, died at birth. I used to cry my eyes out before I had my baby, and now I am just a complete basket case when I watch it! I love it though.

My very favorite character is Mary Ellen because she is so spirited and strong-willed. I am dying to see the episode where she and Curt get married, but either I keep missing it or the Family Channel hasn't played it yet.

KAREN'S COMMENT: Yes Lori, I love the episode about Jim Bob finding out he was a twin too. Doing family history I have often found babies, sometimes one or both twins dying and it does seem very sad. I once knew a boy who was one of twins, the other one died at birth too, and he said that he often felt that there was a part of him missing. It must be a strange feeling.

I hope you get to see Curt and Mary Ellen's wedding soon. We have recently had it air twice in a few weeks over here! They had to fill in time when our day light savings time ended! It's a lovely episode.