The Waltons (1971–1981)

The life and trials of a 1930's mountain family.

Creator:

Earl Hamner Jr.

Stars:

Jon Walmsley, Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 17 wins & 57 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jon Walmsley	...	Jason Walton (213 episodes, 1971-1981)
Mary Beth McDonough	...	Erin Walton (213 episodes, 1971-1981)
Eric Scott	...	Ben Walton (213 episodes, 1971-1981)
Judy Norton	...	Mary Ellen Walton (212 episodes, 1971-1981)
David W. Harper	...	Jim-Bob Walton (212 episodes, 1971-1981)
Kami Cotler	...	Elizabeth Walton (212 episodes, 1971-1981)
Earl Hamner Jr.	...	Narrator (211 episodes, 1972-1981)
Ralph Waite	...	John Walton, Sr. (196 episodes, 1972-1981)
Joe Conley	...	Ike Godsey (172 episodes, 1972-1981)
Michael Learned	...	Olivia Walton (168 episodes, 1972-1979)
Will Geer	...	The Grandfather (143 episodes, 1972-1978)
Ellen Corby	...	Esther Walton (142 episodes, 1971-1980)
Richard Thomas	...	John-Boy Walton (124 episodes, 1971-1978)
Ronnie Claire Edwards	...	Corabeth Walton (107 episodes, 1975-1981)

Storyline

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, during the Great Depression, the Walton family makes its small income from its saw mill on Walton's Mountain. The story is told through the eyes of John Boy, who wants to be a novelist, goes to college, and eventually fulfills his dream. The saga follows the family through depression and war, and through growing up, school, courtship, marriage, employment, birth, aging, illness and death.

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Plot Keywords:

depression | 1930s | virginia | great depression | multiple actors for one character | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Hallmark Channel Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 September 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Spencer's Mountain

Filming Locations:

Port Hueneme, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (221 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

The series takes place from the spring of 1933 to June 1946.

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Goofs

The family got a phone during the later episodes but subsequent to that, they still seemed to be getting their phone messages through Ike Godsey.

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Quotes

John Walton: I hate this draft job, Liv. I can't stand playing God to my neighbors' sons!

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Connections

Referenced in Smallville: Forever (2005)

User Reviews

For the television "snobs" who just don't get it

I can't help but be amazed at the few individuals who feel compelled to give negative reviews to this totally entertaining television show. It's one thing to accurately note that the quality of some specific episodes weren't up to the normally high standard that had been set by the vast majority, but it's a different matter completely when someone who obviously either hasn't watched any episodes, or who is basing their opinion of the entire series on one or two specific episodes, takes the time to run the series down. In virtually every case of someone taking the time to run down "The Waltons", it is obvious from their comments that either they have never seen it, they haven't seen enough of it, or they just "don't get it". "The Waltons" is fictional entertainment based loosely on the Hamner family's experiences during the thirties and forties (framed mostly against the Great Depression and WWII). It was almost never overly sentimental or "soppy" and most who have viewed the series agree that it was generally extremely well acted, written, and produced. There were very few exceptions. My wife and I raised three kids in the seventies and eighties, and "The Waltons" was, and is, universally loved and (still) viewed by all of us. The characters are almost like members of our family... and the love, devotion, and family values displayed on that series, became an integral part of the life lessons we chose to make a high priority in the raising of our own children.

The standards generally set for kids today is worlds away from those of just a generation ago, and it's not hard to see why those who were, and are, being raised without benefit of a strong family ethic might see "The Waltons" as somewhat "simple" and overly sentimental. Thankfully, these people are still in the minority. Most people still "get it" and we are forever grateful to the people who were involved in any way with the production of this wonderful television show for giving all of us a standard to which we might aspire even as society in general continues to degrade and cheapen the concept of a nuclear family at every opportunity.

To those who haven't tried it... I suggest that you do so while it is still available. I'm sure that somewhere some group of "new thinkers" is trying to outlaw shows like "The Waltons" for the very reasons that it became so monumentally popular in the first place. As a country, our standards, morals, and sense of family values is being eroded every day... we parents are very much aware of how hard it is today to instill a sense of right and wrong in our children. "The Waltons" made the "medicine" go down in the easiest and most effective way... as an integral part of an extremely entertaining TV show that everyone in the family could/can view without a worry that the wrong values might be represented in a positive light. I've seen the entire series multiple times (except the "reunion specials) and I've never seen an exception to that statement. Again,I invite the "snobs" out there to take a look... or even a second look... the vast majority knows what I know... that a very pleasant surprise awaits you if you'll just give "The Waltons" a chance.

John Christie

("Thumbs-down TVLand" and "Thumbs-up Hallmark Channel"