For nine seasons on CBS, The Waltons was a part of a weekly tradition for television viewers. It was a staple of Thursday nights for so long that many were a little lost when it finally went off the air in 1981.
Based on the Spencer’s Mountain book by Earl Hamner Jr. and a 1963 Henry Fonda movie of the same name, The Waltons revolves around a large family living in rural Virginia during the Depression and World War II. The family, living on Walton’s Mountain, is comprised of John and Olivia Walton (Ralph Waite and Michael Learned), their seven children, and John’s parents, Zebulon “Zeb” and Esther Walton (Will Geer and Ellen Corby). The story is seen primarily through the eyes of John “John Boy” Walton (Richard Thomas), an aspiring writer and the eldest son. The other children are played by Jon Walmsley, Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott, Judy Norton-Taylor, David W. Harper, and Kami Cotler.
The mountain setting is also home to several other townspeople like the moonshine-producing spinsters, the Baldwin sisters (Mary Jackson and Helen Kleeb); general store owners Ike and Cora Beth Godsey (Joe Conley and Ronnie Claire Edwards); hard-working African American Verdie Foster (Lynn Hamilton); and undermotivated chicken thief Yancy Tucker (Robert Donner).
As the series wore on, the family grew through weddings and births. There were also a few notable cast changes. Thomas left The Waltons as John Boy went off to college and then joined the war effort. Thomas guested twice before being replaced by Robert Wightman in latter seasons. Corby suffered a stroke midway through season five and was absent for much of the 1976-77 season. The stroke was written into the storyline and she returned for the 1978 season but eventually left again in 1979. Geer passed away in 1978 and his character’s death was written into the series. Learned left the series in 1979 and made occasional appearances afterward. It was explained that her character had developed tuberculosis and entered a sanitarium.
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The last season, taking place in 1945, finds several men of the Walton family fighting the war. Ben is captured by the Japanese army, Jason may have killed another man, and John Boy falls in love with a French woman. At home, Mary Ellen becomes determined to become a doctor despite opposition, and much more. The war finally comes to an end and the children return home.
The final episode, titled “The Revel,” aired on June 4, 1981. In the episode, John-Boy goes to New York to pursue his writing career but arrives to find that his manuscript has been rejected. His publisher’s secretary gives him enough money to return home and advises him to start a new book. He returned home dejected. Meanwhile, the Baldwin sisters plan a lavish ball and send out invitations to their many old friends. Most are returned because the people have all died or moved away. The Waltons end up saving the day when they gather everyone they can find to attend the celebration. In the closing epilogue, John Boy recounts that the Baldwins’ zest for life would inspire him to write another book and return to New York.
The cast reunited for a total of six made-for-TV movies. The last one, centered around Easter, aired in 1997. There’s been no recent talk of any more reunions.
The Waltons: The Complete Ninth Season contains all 22 episodes of the final season on three DVDs, released for the first time. The Waltons: The Complete Seasons 1-9 has also just been released, for those who want to collect all 221 episodes of this long running family-friendly series.
It’s still being shown today . Everyday on channel True Entertsinment and True movies …. can’t beat it … no swearing or filthy talk. Good clean entertainment
The Waltons were like a lot of families those yeas. W kin grew up in the sme sot being there was 7 in our family and brought up with the same values. Ias and still is one of the clean wholesome mily show. Thank Waltons for the memories
A wonderful series,. I was fortunate enough to have seen the Walton’s from the beginning. I have read comments about a new series on the Walton’s next generation. At first i believed it couldn’t be done, but on rethinking, it could work, providing there are a lot of flash backs, bringing in all the original cast. It would have to be set at the original set, with one of the original cast members living there, with a family. The dream house in the mountains, could be occupied by another original cast member. Surviving cast members cameo, and perhaps the new… Read more »
I agree and would watch that series as well. We need holsom tv again.
I love watching The Walton’s. It takes me back to a place and time when things were simple and family loved one other.
I watch the reruns every night. Love the show, always will.
Reruns should be on prime time TV so families can see what fAMILY life should be.
Maybe it would help children today to be better adults.
In order for children to be better adults they would need better adults to teach them. Children today have parents that are more interested in making money to buy “things” for themselves and the kids instead of teaching them that “things” aren’t what makes a good person. Sadly we don’t have times like there used to be but there could be if people would stop thinking they have to have everything they want instead of what makes a good family. I watch the show everyday, I lived in that same time period and it’s sad to see what people think… Read more »
I totally agree!! Families aren’t like what The Waltons showed. However, we need it back on the aire to show love, support, encouragement, and family stick TOGETHER!!
I LOVE THE WALTONS!!!
Would like to see a up todate Walton where one of the grandchildrn has a would be getting a service dog its time to add things like this to the show make it more real. I still love the show.
Ben and Cindy had 2 kids, virginia and a boy. But in the special there were none.And John Curtis was not mentioned. But there was 2 more kids. She was not supposed to be able to have more kids.I’ve always wondered about that.
Exactly!!
Sonya, “The Burn out” in in series 4, disk 4 and is two parts.
I loved this show and would like to se them all again . I saw a snippit of one episode that I do not remember could someone tell me what year or episode it could be? The house went up in flames that is all I saw.
I want to know during one of the movies ben and cindy saif the kid died were did I miss that at
The next Walton’s movie should be Elizabeth getting married.
My family want another Walton’s Show with Elizabeth Wedding’s Day! We enjoyed all of the Walton’s Show!
Me too why did’t they have her and Drew get marrie.
I would love to see another reunion show. The last one was when John boy had the twins.I would love to see the series come back as Waltons the next grneration.
Why can’t I post my comment it wasn’t bad the reminds me of my family see I grew up in a big one and I really love the show and the cast really do a great job Ann jonesme to
Why wasn’t Cindy Walton & The Godseys on A Walton’s Easter?
I was wondering the same thing
WHY DID MICHAEL LEARNED LEAVE THE SHOW AND WHY DIDN’T THEY COMENT ON HER DISAPEARING
mICHAEL pARADIS » The actress wanted to do other things. It was explained that her character developed tuberculosis and left to enter a sanitarium.
They did, she got tuberculosis and had to to a sanatorium.