The Walton's

You all have read my article on 'The Homecoming' the Christmas story that started the television series 'The Walton's. This is an article review on the series of this program that first aired in 1972 and ended in 1982 . To start with here is a list of characters for the show:

John Boy Walton- Richard Thomas

John Walton- Ralph Waite

Oliva Walton- Michael Learned

Zeb Walton- Will Geer

Esther Walton- Ellen Corby

Jason Walton- Jon Walmsley

Mary Ellen Walton- Judy Norton Taylor

Erin Walton- Mary McDonough

Ben Walton- Eric Scott

Jim Bob or James Robert Walton- David W. Harper

Elizabeth Walton- Kami Cotler

Ike and Cora Beth Godsey- Joe Conley and Ronnie Claire Edwards

The Baldwin Sisters- Helen Kleeb and Mary Jackson

There were a lot of supporting characters that all lived and worked on Walton's Mountain from the school teacher to the county sheriff, as well as many other community leaders. This show kind picked up where 'The Homecoming' ended. The series started in 1933 in John Boy's last year at Miss Hunter's school and his adventures in learning the very basics, and in learning to be a writer before moving on to college. John Boy learns many lessons about growing up and being the oldest of seven children. All John Walton wanted was to take care of his family any way that he could during this time in history known as 'The Great Depression' and hopes that one of his children would take over the family business. There were times that some of the very great decisions John made were ones that he did not ask Olivia about, but she seemed to have understood using her faith as a Baptist.

During the series it seemed that a lot of living took place at the church learning lessons that will help them survive and love family and self. In another place of the series was Miss Hunter's school. Miss Hunter was the schoolteacher that still taught in an one room schoolhouse teaching all grades from first through high school. She taught all the children through their graduation except for the last three. John Boy was her first to graduate and send off to college followed by Jason, Mary Ellen, and Erin.

All the children had their special talents that will see them well through life. John Boy had his writing that led him to a profitable career in journalism; Jason had his music; Mary Ellen had nursing; Erin studied at the business school and even taught clerical skills at the local business school; Ben went into the lumber business like his daddy; Jim-Bob was the mechanic and Elizabeth traveled the world as would be seen in a much later Walton's movie.

Another place where it seemed a lot of learning took place was 'Ike Godsey's General Merchandise Store'. This was owned by Ike Godsey and his wife Cora Beth. I remember that there was a little country store when I grew up that was even smaller than Ike's store, and this was in the 1970's. This was where all the local news was heard and spread till John Boy started his own newspaper 'The Blue Ridge Chronicle' and other major issues of the world started.

Still, another place where learning took place was at the Baldwin Sisters house. These were the sisters that made moonshine or more commonly known as 'The Recipe', but for some reason they did not think it was alcohol, but a tonic for all ills that could plague a body. These two sisters lived according to some future movies till the 1960's. The whole family learned that there are many connections and even if not blood related can still learn from them.

The basic premise behind the series was that family was a big thing. Family from the grandparents of Zeb and Esther Walton to the parents of John and Olivia these were the real teachers in learning life even with the mistakes that were made. The did have ministers and teachers and even community leaders show them other ideas and ways to solve problems, but it always came down to family and self to find the answers.

I keep thinking if it were possible if with all the remakes on television today if someone could not visualize a remake of this classic show or even pick up the series where the original left off during the late forties and into the fifties. There were some recent movies made that showed the family in the early sixties and how Walton's Mountain grew, but did stay the same as it was during the Depression era.

If this idea did seem to happen I know the kids are still all living, I believe, and so is Olivia, the mom. I read that even the actor who played Ike Godsey is gone, but maybe Cora Beth kept the store going. 'The Walton's is a classic show that even today would teach lessons to viewers. It sure would beat all the reality shows on television today. Just an idea that I was thinking about.