The Waltons

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Biography

The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr. , based on his book ''Spencer's Mountain'', and a 1963 Spencer's Mountain|film of the same name . The show is centered on a family in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II . The series pilot aired as a television movie entitled The Homecoming: A Christmas Story and was broadcast on December 19, 1971. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067209/1971 Beginning in September 1972, the series originally aired on CBS for a total of nine seasons. After the series was cancelled in 1981, three television movie sequels followed in 1982, with three more in the 1990s. The Waltons was produced by Lorimar Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Television|Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution in syndication.

Plot

Setting

The main story takes place in Walton's Mountain, a fictional town at the foot of a mountain in fictitious Jefferson County, Virginia .There is a Jefferson County, West Virginia , but not in Virginia. The time is during the Great Depression and World War II , during the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt . During the first season, John Walton Jr. — known to nearly everyone as John-Boy — is seventeen years old, The Foundling , Season one, episode 1 and his parents have been married for eighteen years. The Sinner , Season one, episode 7

The series' timeframe takes the viewer from 1933 to 1946. The year 1933 is suggested by a brief shot of an automobile registration, and it is divulged in episode 18 that the date is in the spring of 1933. The Courtship , Season one, episode 18 The series finale, "The Revel", evolves around a party and the invitation date is given as June 4, 1946. A span of 13 years is therefore covered in nine seasons. There are some chronological errors, which ostensibly do not hinder the storyline.

The last episode of season one, An Easter Story , is set in February through April, 1934. The year 1934 takes two seasons to cover, while some successive years are covered over the course of a few months.A significant anachronism occurs in the first season. In the first episode, the Waltons listen to Edgar Bergen|Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy's radio program (in tribute to Bergen, who played Grandpa in the pilot film). However, Bergen's radio show did not begin airing until 1937.

After the series run, six feature-length sequels were made, set from 1947 through 1969, airing between 1982 and 1997.

"A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion" takes place in 1963, 30 years after "The Homecoming", even though the actors are only 22 years older. The Walton family characters would have been in their 30s–40s by then, as well as John and Olivia being in their 60s. John Walton makes a reference to Grandpa having been dead "15 years," although by the original series timeline it would have been closer to 25 years. Esther Walton and the Baldwin sisters would have been in their late 90s–100 by the last three reunion movies.

The last sequel, 1997's A Walton Easter was set in 1969, and contains a serious anachronism that contradicts the setting of the series. John and Olivia celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary, which would have advanced their marriage to 1929, and John-Boy's birth to 1930. Yet in the series, younger Erin graduated high school in 1937 and was born in 1919 ("The Career Girl", 1977). This would make Erin eleven years older than John Boy. Earl Hamner Sr., the basis for the John Walton character, died in 1969 (a fact referenced by Hamner in a voiceover at the conclusion of The Homecoming pilot), the year "A Walton's Easter" takes place.
Since they celebrated their 20th anniversary in 1935, this would have made them married 54 years by 1969.

Story

John and Olivia Walton, along with John's parents Zebulon "Zeb" and Esther Walton, raise their seven children during the Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression and World War II . The family's story is narrated at the opening and closing of each episode by the middle-aged John-Boy (Richard Thomas), the oldest son who becomes a journalist and novelist. John manages to eke out a living by operating a lumber mill with the help of his father, and his sons as they grow older. The family income is augmented by some small-scale farming, and John occasionally hunts to put meat on the table. Relatives and strangers occasionally pass by, to whom the family shares its hospitality as they are able. The small community named after their property is also home to folk of various income levels, ranging from the well-to-do Baldwin sisters, two elderly spinster s who distill moonshine that they call "Papa's recipe"; Ike Godsey, postmaster and owner of the general store with his somewhat snobbish wife Corabeth (a Walton cousin); a African-American|black couple, Verdie and Harley Foster; Maude, a sassy octogenarian artist who paints on wood; Flossie Brimmer, a friendly though somewhat gossipy widow who runs a nearby boarding house; and Yancy Tucker, a good-hearted handyman with big plans but little motivation. Jefferson County sheriff Ep Bridges keeps law and order in Walton's Mountain. The entire family (except for John) attend a Baptist church, of which Olivia and Grandma Esther are the most regular attenders.

Nearly episode opens, following the opening credits, with Hamner's voice-over (ostensibly speaking as the present day John Boy), briefly reminiscing about the events about to be depicted and setting up the story.

In the signature scene that closes almost every episode, the family house is enveloped in darkness, save for one, two or three lights in the upstairs bedroom windows. Through voice-over s, two or more characters make some brief comments related to that episode's events, and then bid each other goodnight.

After completing high school, John-Boy attends fictional Boatwright University in the fictional nearby town of Westham. He later goes to New York City to work as a journalist.

During the latter half of the 1976–77 season, Grandma Esther Walton suffers a stroke and returns home shortly before the death of her husband, Grandpa Zeb Walton (reflecting the real life stroke suffered by Ellen Corby and the death of Will Geer, the actors who portrayed the characters).

During the last five years of the series, Mary Ellen and Ben marry and begin having families of their own. Erin, Jason and John Boy are married in later television movie sequels.

World War II deeply affects the family. All four of the Walton boys enlist in the military. Mary Ellen's physician husband, Curtis "Curt" Willard, is sent to Pearl Harbor and is reported to have perished in the attack on Pearl Harbor|Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. Years later, Mary Ellen hears of sightings of her "late" husband, investigates and finds him alive (played by another actor), but brooding over his war wounds and living under an assumed name. She later remarries.

John-Boy's military plane is shot down, while Olivia becomes a volunteer at the Veteran's Administration|VA hospital and is seen less and less and eventually develops tuberculosis and enters an Arizona sanitarium. Olivia's cousin, Rose Burton, moves into the Walton house to watch over the brood. Two years later, John, Sr., moves to Arizona to be near Olivia. Grandma appears in only a handful of episodes during the final season (she was usually said to be visiting relatives in nearby Buckingham County).

Characters

The following is a brief summary of the central recurring characters. See the main article for a more complete list.

John "John-Boy" Walton, Jr. ( Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas , pilot, series seasons 1–5, guest season 6, three movie sequels; Robert Wightman , seasons 8-9 and one movie sequel), the oldest of seven children, aged 17 in season one.

John Walton, Sr. (pilot, Andrew Duggan ; Ralph Waite series and movie sequels), the family patriarch

Olivia Walton (pilot, Patricia Neal ; Michael Learned series seasons 1-7, guest season 8, and movie sequels), John's wife.

Zebulon Tyler "Zeb/Grandpa" Walton, (pilot, Edgar Bergen ; Will Geer seasons 1-6, not replaced after Geer's death), John's father

Esther "Grandma" Walton ( Ellen Corby , appears regularly season 1 until Corby's stroke midway through season 5; returns last episode of season 6 and remains through the end of season 7; then appears only occasionally in seasons 8 and 9 (and subsequently five of the six sequels), John's mother

Jason Walton ( Jon Walmsley ), John-Boy's younger brother, aged 15 in season 1; musically talented

Mary Ellen Walton ( Judy Norton Taylor ), the oldest Walton daughter, about two years younger than Jason. She becomes a nurse, and is the first Walton child to marry and have children.

Erin Esther Walton ( Mary Elizabeth McDonough ), second Walton daughter. In the first few seasons it is unclear whether she or Ben is older, but she is established as the fourth to graduate from high school in season 5. Works as a telephone operator, and attends business (secretarial) school.

Benjamin "Ben" Walton ( Eric Scott (actor)|Eric Scott ), third Walton son; has an entrepreneurial spirit.

James Robert "Jim-Bob" Walton ( David W. Harper ), youngest Walton son; mechanically inclined, his ambition is to become a pilot.

Elizabeth Walton ( Kami Cotler ), youngest of the seven children

Rose Burton ( Peggy Rea ), seasons 8-9; Olivia's matronly cousin who fills in as matriarch during Olivia's absence. (Rose's portrayer, Peggy Rea, had previously guest starred as a landlady in season 7's "The Empty Nest" episode.)

Production

Inspiration

Earl Hamner's rural childhood growing up in the unincorporated community of Schuyler, Virginia , provided the basis for the setting and many of the storylines of The Waltons . His family and the community provided many life experiences which aided in the characters, values, area, and human-interest stories of his books, movies, and television series. Hamner provided the voice-over of the older John-Boy, usually heard at the beginning and end of each episode.

John-Boy Walton's fictional alma mater , Boatwright University, is patterned after Richmond College, which became part of the University of Richmond on Boatwright Drive, near Westham Station in The West End (Richmond, Virginia)|The West End of Richmond, Virginia , about 70 miles east of Schuyler. (As late as the 1990s, it was still possible to see signs with then name Boatwright on the University of Richmond campus and Boatwright Library still exists there.)

Filming

The town of Walton's Mountain was built in the rear area of the Warner Bros. Studios, but the mountain itself was part of the range opposite Warner studios in Burbank, California. The Walton's house facade was built on the Here Come the Brides set on the Columbia Ranch studio, now one of the Warner Brothers studios. The Waltons' house is still used as scenery at Warner Brothers. For example, it served as the Dragonfly Inn on Gilmore Girls .

Broadcast and release

Ratings

1972& ndash;73: #20

1973& ndash;74: #2

1974& ndash;75: #8

1975& ndash;76: #14

1976& ndash;77: #15

1977& ndash;78: #21

1978& ndash;79: Not in the Top 30

1979& ndash;80: Not in the Top 30

1980& ndash;81: #30

DVD releases

Warner Home Video has released all nine seasons and six TV movies of The Waltons on DVD in Region 1. Seasons 1-4 have been released in Region 2. The pilot movie, The Homecoming - A Christmas Story , was released by Paramount Home Entertainment . Lorimar produced the series, CBS produced the pilot film, which is why Paramount, under CBS Home Entertainment , handles home video rights for The Homecoming .

DVD Name	Ep #
DVD Name	Ep #	Region 1	Region 2 (UK)
The Homecoming - A Christmas Story	1	September 23, 2003	N/ A
The Complete 1st Season	25	May 11, 2004	November 1, 2004
The Complete 2nd Season	25	April 26, 2005	July 3, 2006
The Complete 3rd Season	25	April 25, 2006	September 11, 2006
The Complete 4th Season	25	January 23, 2007	March 5, 2007
The Complete 5th Season	25	May 8, 2007	September 12, 2007
The Complete 6th Season	25	January 8, 2008	March 20, 2008
The Complete 7th Season	23	April 29, 2008	N/ A
The Complete 8th Season	23	January 6, 2009	N/ A
The Complete 9th Season	22	April 28, 2009	N/ A
TV Movie Collection (not including the original movie)	6	January 26, 2010	N/ A

Current status

The Waltons airs in the U.S. on The Inspiration Network|INSP - Inspiration each weekday at 1pm and 8pm Eastern time. The show can also be seen on the Hallmark Channel weekdays at 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm Eastern time. Gospel Music Channel (gmc) runs two episodes of The Waltons weekdays at 12 noon and 1pm Eastern and three episodes weeknights at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm Eastern. INSP also frequently on holiday weekends will air Waltons marathons or specials including cast reunions. In Canada, The Waltons airs on Crossroads Television System (CTS) weekdays at 4:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM ET. The show is on the True Entertainment Channel in the UK, Sky Digital channel 188 and Freesat channel 142, Monday to Friday at 12:00 pm and 5.00pm.

Reception and impact

Emmy Awards

The Waltons won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1973. Also in 1973 Richard Thomas won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Series|Emmy for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Michael Learned won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series|Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series three times (1973, 1974, and 1976). Ellen Corby was also a three-time winner in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Drama Series|Supporting Actress category, winning in 1973, 1975, and 1976. Will Geer was awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama Series|Supporting Actor Emmy in 1975. Veteran actress Beulah Bondi won an Emmy in 1977 for Lead Actress in a Single Performance for her guest appearance as Martha Corrine Walton in the episode The Pony Cart (Episode #111). She first appeared in The Waltons episode The Conflict (Episode #51) as the widow of Zeb Walton's brother.

The series also earned a Peabody Award for its first season. http://www.peabody.uga.edu/winners/details.php? id=738

Cultural references

During a speech in January 1992, then-president George H. W. Bush mentioned that he wanted to "make American families a lot more like the Waltons and a lot less like The Simpsons ". Later, in the cold opening to an episode, Bart Simpson responded to the comment, quipping, "We're just like The Waltons. We're praying for an end to the Depression, too".

A country store in Nelson County, VA, is called the ''Walton's Mountain Country Store .

In Gilmore Girls , season 1 episode 6, Lorelai tells Rory about her birth in detail and Rory says, "I wonder if the Waltons ever did this".

In Dawson's Creek , season 3, episode 8, Dawson's parents make life seem exactly like the past, leading to Dawson saying, "Why do I suddenly feel like I'm stuck in an episode of The Waltons? ".

Copyright Citations

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1. Dorothy Shay 2. 7th Heaven 3. Bela B. 4. Junkhouse 5. Simpsons 6. The Other 7. The Simpsons 8. Bob Newhart 9. Walton 10. Sissy Spacek

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