"The Waltons" (1972) TV series 1972-1981

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Creator:

Earl Hamner Jr.
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | unknown

Release Date:

14 September 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Romance

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Great Depression | Virginia | Mother Daughter Relationship | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 16 wins & 42 nominations

Cast

Jon Walmsley	...	Jason Walton (210 episodes, 1972-1981)
Mary Beth McDonough	...	Erin Walton (210 episodes, 1972-1981)
Eric Scott	...	Ben Walton (210 episodes, 1972-1981)
Earl Hamner Jr.	...	Narrator (210 episodes, 1972-1981)
Judy Norton-Taylor	...	Mary Ellen Walton Willard / ... (209 episodes, 1972-1981)
David W. Harper	...	James Robert 'Jim Bob' Walton (209 episodes, 1972-1981)
Kami Cotler	...	Elizabeth Walton (209 episodes, 1972-1981)
Ralph Waite	...	John Walton, Sr. / ... (194 episodes, 1972-1981)
Joe Conley	...	Ike Godsey (171 episodes, 1972-1981)
Michael Learned	...	Olivia Walton (166 episodes, 1972-1979)
Will Geer	...	'Grandpa' Zebulon Walton (141 episodes, 1972-1978)
Ellen Corby	...	'Grandma' Esther Walton / ... (140 episodes, 1972-1980)
Richard Thomas	...	John 'John Boy' Walton Jr. / ... (122 episodes, 1972-1978)
Ronnie Claire Edwards	...	Corabeth Walton Godsey / ... (107 episodes, 1974-1981)

(more)

Series Directed by
Harry Harris		(40 episodes, 1972-1981)
Philip Leacock		(25 episodes, 1972-1981)
Ralph Waite		(16 episodes, 1973-1980)
Lawrence Dobkin		(16 episodes, 1976-1981)
Gwen Arner		(13 episodes, 1977-1980)
Ralph Senensky		(11 episodes, 1973-1978)
Harvey S. Laidman		(11 episodes, 1975-1981)
Alf Kjellin		(9 episodes, 1972-1975)
Walter Alzmann		(9 episodes, 1976-1980)
Jack Shea		(8 episodes, 1972-1975)
Lee Philips		(7 episodes, 1972-1975)
Ivan Dixon		(7 episodes, 1974-1975)
Herbert Hirschman		(7 episodes, 1979-1981)
Richard Thomas		(5 episodes, 1975-1977)
Vincent Sherman		(4 episodes, 1972-1973)
Robert Butler		(3 episodes, 1972-1973)
Anthony Brand		(2 episodes, 1977)
Nell Cox		(2 episodes, 1978-1981)
Stan Lathan		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bernard McEveety		(2 episodes, 1980-1981)
James Sheldon		(2 episodes, 1981)
Fielder Cook		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Earl Hamner Jr.		(210 episodes, 1972-1981)
Kathleen Hite		(25 episodes, 1974-1981)
Claire Whitaker		(22 episodes, 1975-1981)
John McGreevey		(20 episodes, 1972-1978)
Rod Peterson		(20 episodes, 1975-1980)
Ernie Wallengren		(9 episodes, 1979-1981)
Nigel McKeand		(8 episodes, 1972-1974)
Andy White		(8 episodes, 1975-1977)
Juliet Law Packer		(8 episodes, 1978-1981)
Robert Pirosh		(8 episodes, 1978-1981)
Paul West		(6 episodes, 1975-1978)
Joanna Lee		(5 episodes, 1973-1974)
Hindi Brooks		(5 episodes, 1974-1977)
Marion Hargrove		(5 episodes, 1975-1981)
Jeb Rosebrook		(4 episodes, 1973-1978)
Richard Carr		(4 episodes, 1973-1975)
Seth Freeman		(4 episodes, 1975-1977)
Michael McGreevey		(4 episodes, 1978-1981)
Paul Savage		(3 episodes, 1972-1978)
Dale Eunson		(3 episodes, 1973-1977)
Tony Kayden		(3 episodes, 1974-1975)
Michael Russnow		(3 episodes, 1974-1975)
D.C. Fontana		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Richard Fontana		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Scott Hamner		(3 episodes, 1981)
John Furia		(2 episodes, 1972)
Ellen Corby		(2 episodes, 1973-1976)
Lionel E. Siegel		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Richard Fielder		(2 episodes, 1973)
Joseph Bonaduce		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Nancy Greenwald		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Carol Evan McKeand		(2 episodes, 1974)
Joan Scott		(2 episodes, 1975-1977)
Max Hodge		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
William Parker		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Gordon Cornell Layne		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Lee Rich	....	executive producer / co-executive producer (187 episodes, 1972-1980)
Earl Hamner Jr.	....	executive producer / co-executive producer (122 episodes, 1975-1981)
Robert L. Jacks	....	producer (91 episodes, 1972-1976)
Claylene Jones	....	associate producer / producer (89 episodes, 1977-1981)
Neil T. Maffeo	....	associate producer (84 episodes, 1972-1975)
Rod Peterson	....	producer / executive producer / ... (69 episodes, 1978-1981)
Andy White	....	producer (49 episodes, 1975-1978)
Roger La Page	....	line producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Alexander Courage		(154 episodes, 1972-1981)
Arthur Morton		(28 episodes, 1972-1974)
Jerry Goldsmith		(7 episodes, 1973)

Series Cinematography by
Russell Metty		(57 episodes, 1972-1975)
John M. Nickolaus Jr.		(44 episodes, 1976-1978)
Serge Haignere		(32 episodes, 1978-1980)
Emil Oster		(29 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert Caramico		(19 episodes, 1980-1981)
Gene A. Talvin		(16 episodes, 1978-1980)
Al Francis		(6 episodes, 1973-1974)
Hugh K. Gagnier		(3 episodes, 1981)
Fred Jackman Jr.		(2 episodes, 1974)

Series Film Editing by
Gene Fowler Jr.		(71 episodes, 1972-1975)
Bill Mosher		(55 episodes, 1974-1981)
Marjorie Fowler		(38 episodes, 1972-1977)
Michael McCroskey		(28 episodes, 1973-1976)
Marsh Hendry		(23 episodes, 1978-1981)
Marshall Neilan Jr.		(18 episodes, 1979-1981)
Anthony Wollner		(16 episodes, 1972-1976)
Richard Lane		(10 episodes, 1972-1973)
David Blangsted		(9 episodes, 1973-1974)
Peter Harrison		(8 episodes, 1976-1977)
Samuel E. Beetley		(5 episodes, 1974-1975)
Marvin Adelson		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Alan Jaggs		(4 episodes, 1973-1974)
John C. Howard		(4 episodes, 1973)
Bernard Balmuth		(4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Fred W. Berger		(4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bill Lewis		(3 episodes, 1973)
Ken Zemke		(3 episodes, 1978)
Dick Wormell		(2 episodes, 1976)
John Farrell		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Casting by
Pam Polifroni		(187 episodes, 1972-1980)
Doris Sabbagh		(61 episodes, 1975-1978)

Series Art Direction by
Ed Graves		(171 episodes, 1972-1980)
John P. Bruce		(22 episodes, 1980-1981)
Carl Braunger		(12 episodes, 1977-1978)
Peter R. Romero		(11 episodes, 1975-1976)
Howard E. Johnson		(4 episodes, 1978)

Series Set Decoration by
James Cane		(141 episodes, 1972-1978)
Toby Considine		(19 episodes, 1980-1981)
Ron Jeschke		(16 episodes, 1978-1979)
Michele Harding Walker		(13 episodes, 1979)
Raymond Paul		(11 episodes, 1979-1980)
Barbara Down		(6 episodes, 1979)
Robert C. Furginson		(3 episodes, 1980)
Joanne MacDougall		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Makeup Department
William Reynolds	....	makeup artist (137 episodes, 1975-1981)
Edith Lindon	....	hair stylist (119 episodes, 1974-1979)
Robert Sidell	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (72 episodes, 1972-1975)
Carol Meikle	....	hair stylist (50 episodes, 1972-1974)
Dorothy Andre	....	hair stylist (30 episodes, 1980-1981)
Shirley Crawford	....	hair stylist (6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Vivienne Walker	....	hair stylist (5 episodes, 1973)

Series Production Management
Neil T. Maffeo	....	executive production manager / executive in charge of production / ... (142 episodes, 1972-1978)
Edward O. Denault	....	executive production supervisor / executive in charge of production (67 episodes, 1978-1981)
Walter Alzmann	....	unit production manager (65 episodes, 1975-1980)
Ralph Ferrin	....	unit production manager (51 episodes, 1974-1978)
Mitch Ackerman	....	production supervisor (46 episodes, 1979-1981)
Harvey S. Laidman	....	unit production manager (21 episodes, 1973-1975)
Walt Gilmore	....	unit production manager (20 episodes, 1980-1981)
Lynn Guthrie	....	unit production manager / production manager (11 episodes, 1973-1977)
Gene Fowler Jr.	....	post-production supervisor (4 episodes, 1973)
Joe Florence	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Paul Helmick	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1980)
Roger La Page	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ralph Ferrin	....	assistant director / first assistant director (67 episodes, 1974-1980)
Walt Gilmore	....	first assistant director (27 episodes, 1978-1980)
Paul Sirmons	....	second assistant director (24 episodes, 1979-1980)
Walter Alzmann	....	assistant director (23 episodes, 1975-1977)
James Fitzpatrick	....	second assistant director (22 episodes, 1980-1981)
Harvey S. Laidman	....	assistant director (21 episodes, 1973-1975)
Lynn Guthrie	....	assistant director (20 episodes, 1972-1974)
Ernie Santell	....	second assistant director (15 episodes, 1978-1979)
Xavier Reyes	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1980-1981)
Ted Swanson	....	assistant director (9 episodes, 1972-1973)
Roger La Page	....	first assistant director (9 episodes, 1980-1981)
Norman Stevens	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 1978)
Joe Florence	....	first assistant director / assistant director (7 episodes, 1977-1978)
John Barnwell	....	first assistant director (7 episodes, 1978-1979)
Claude Lawrence Jr.	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1977-1978)
Marty Hornstein	....	assistant director (4 episodes, 1973)

Series Art Department
Fred Westcott	....	property master (120 episodes, 1976-1981)
Al Rohm	....	construction coordinator (79 episodes, 1975-1979)
Leon Schotter	....	property master (71 episodes, 1972-1975)
Earl W. Huntoon Jr.	....	property master (12 episodes, 1975)
Gregg H. Bilson	....	property master (3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Marco A. Campos	....	propmaker (2 episodes, 1979)
Craig Binkley	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Serge Genitempo	....	painter (unknown episodes)
Kandy Stern	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Victor Guarnier	....	sound effects editor / sound effects supervisor (209 episodes, 1972-1981)
Bill Flannery	....	production sound mixer (140 episodes, 1972-1978)
Bill Wistrom	....	sound effects editor (48 episodes, 1973-1975)
Jack Wheeler	....	sound effects editor (36 episodes, 1973-1978)
Dick Kupper	....	sound effects editor / sound editor / ... (34 episodes, 1976-1979)
Norman Webster	....	production sound mixer (24 episodes, 1979-1980)
Harlan Riggs	....	production sound mixer (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Craig Felburg	....	production sound mixer (22 episodes, 1980-1981)
David R. Elliott	....	sound editor (21 episodes, 1980-1981)
David D. Caldwell	....	sound editor (12 episodes, 1979-1980)
Thomas Burke	....	sound effects editor / sound editor (6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Sam Caylor	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Anthony Ippolito	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1977)
John Jolliffe	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jack Lowry	....	sound editor (5 episodes, 1979-1980)
Joe Kavigan	....	sound editor (5 episodes, 1979)
Sid Lubow	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 1978)

Series Stunts
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunt double (1 episode, 1972)
Bobby Somers	....	stunts (1 episode, 1972)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Earl C. Williman	....	electrical gaffer / gaffer (67 episodes, 1972-1975)
Armando Contreras	....	key grip (54 episodes, 1974-1976)
Jim Buchanan	....	key grip / grip (38 episodes, 1976-1979)
Duane Smith	....	electrical gaffer (34 episodes, 1976-1977)
Alfred Cline	....	camera operator (32 episodes, 1972-1973)
Richard Borland	....	key grip (29 episodes, 1972-1973)
Robert A. Petzoldt	....	electrical gaffer (23 episodes, 1975-1976)
Merle Miller	....	electrical gaffer (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Larry J. Aube	....	key grip (19 episodes, 1973-1978)
Serge Haignere	....	camera operator (19 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bill Swearingen	....	camera operator (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Val O'Malley	....	camera operator (11 episodes, 1975-1976)
Fred Arney	....	key grip (11 episodes, 1977-1979)
Richard M. Rawlings Jr.	....	camera operator (10 episodes, 1976-1977)
Frank R. Hale	....	camera operator (9 episodes, 1975)
Robert Chaldu	....	electrical gaffer (8 episodes, 1978)
Ron McManus	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1978)
James R. Field	....	electrical gaffer (6 episodes, 1973-1974)
John Hennessy Sr.	....	key grip (6 episodes, 1973-1974)
Fred Russell	....	key grip (5 episodes, 1972)
Albert Bettcher	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1977)
Christopher Lynch	....	electrical gaffer (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Joel King	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1979)
Doug Mathias	....	gaffer (unknown episodes, 1979)
Serge Poupis	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Robert Schoenhut	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Barbara Miller	....	executive in charge of casting (22 episodes, 1980-1981)
Doris Sabbagh	....	casting (22 episodes, 1980-1981)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Norris	....	costumer (105 episodes, 1972-1977)
Shirley Brewton	....	costumer (69 episodes, 1978-1981)
Jeanne Malone	....	costume supervisor / costumer (24 episodes, 1976-1978)
Arden Cleeland	....	costume supervisor (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
John McDonald	....	costumer (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jerry Herrin	....	costumer (22 episodes, 1980-1981)
Linda Henrikson	....	costumer (17 episodes, 1975-1976)
Gene Ostler	....	costumer (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Mary Lou Reinbold	....	costumer (14 episodes, 1976-1977)
Hope Slepak	....	costumer (11 episodes, 1977-1978)
Robert M. Moore	....	costumer (8 episodes, 1973-1975)
James P. Cullen	....	costumer (8 episodes, 1980)
Paul St. John	....	costumer (6 episodes, 1977-1978)
Jim O'Daniel	....	costumer (3 episodes, 1977)

Series Editorial Department
Gene Fowler Jr.	....	editorial supervisor (53 episodes, 1975-1977)
Alfred J. Carranza	....	apprentice film editor (unknown episodes)
M. Scott Smith	....	apprentice editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Jerry Goldsmith	....	composer: theme music (209 episodes, 1972-1981)
Ken Runyon	....	music editor (161 episodes, 1974-1981)
Edna Bullock	....	music editor (24 episodes, 1973-1974)
Richard Luckey	....	music editor (10 episodes, 1972-1973)

Series Transportation Department
James R. White	....	transportation captain (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Chris Haynes	....	driver / production driver (17 episodes, 1972-1975)

Series Other crew
Sandy Dvore	....	main title designer / title designer / ... (188 episodes, 1973-1981)
Richard Chaffee	....	script supervisor (164 episodes, 1972-1980)
Doris Hamner	....	technical consultant (146 episodes, 1974-1981)
Earl Hamner Jr.	....	executive story consultant / executive story editor (140 episodes, 1972-1978)
Claire Whitaker	....	story editor / executive story editor (69 episodes, 1978-1981)
Paul West	....	story editor (58 episodes, 1975-1978)
Julie Waxman	....	production coordinator (55 episodes, 1973-1976)
Carol Evan McKeand	....	story editor (48 episodes, 1973-1975)
Carroll Newman	....	production coordinator (39 episodes, 1973-1975)
Claylene Jones	....	production coordinator (35 episodes, 1975-1977)
Ernie Wallengren	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1980-1981)
Donna Kemp	....	script supervisor (12 episodes, 1979)
Andy White	....	story editor (10 episodes, 1975)
Donna Turner	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1979-1980)
Elizabeth Bernard	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1978)
Robert Gary	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1979)
Mae Hershon	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1980)
Arrahwanna Thomsen	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes, 1976)
John Philip Dayton	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Lynn Guthrie	....	aircraft pilot (unknown episodes)
Carol Riggins	....	animal trainer (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Will Geer	....	dedicated to the memory of (1 episode, 1978)

Production Companies

• Lorimar Television

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Television (1972-1981) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972-1981) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Evangelische Omroep (EO) (1974-1997) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Hallmark Channel, The (2006-) (USA) (TV)
• Televisie Radio Omroep Stichting (TROS) (1974) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2004-) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004-) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 1)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 2)

Other Companies

• Metrocolor  color by
• Movie World  vintage cars
• Movielab  color by
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars

Also Known As:

"Spencer's Mountain" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (221 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | New Zealand:PG (season 1) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Lorimar Television

Trivia:

Ellen Corby was forced to leave the series after suffering a stroke. She later returned to the show.

Quotes:

John Walton, Sr.: Good night, John Boy.
John 'John Boy' Walton Jr.: Good night, everyone.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Feud: Dukes of Hazzard vs. The Waltons" (????)

Wonderful, nostalgic series of family warmth and closeness

This is a delightful series with wholesome values that my own family often watched together during my son's earlier growing up years. It chronicles the ongoing story of a Depression Era family living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia...often seen though the eyes of the oldest son John Boy, a budding author, who relates his family's experiences in a journal. The series follows the Walton family through both the Depression and World War II. It also portrays the career paths, courtships, & marriages of many of the children, the births of new grandchildren, and the illnesses, aging, & deaths of some of the characters.

The mother, Olivia, is a devout Baptist who must deal with an extended stay in hospital as she suffers from tuberculosis. The father, John, though perhaps a little lapsed in his own faith, runs a saw mill and is a hard working man of integrity. The couple have seven children. John Boy eventually goes off to Richmond for college, Boatwright University, and later embarks upon a journalistic career in New York. Mary Ellen, a feisty tomboy, grows up to become a nurse and marries a doctor, Curtis Willard, sent to Pearl Harbour just prior to the Japanese attack. Jason is the family's budding musician, sometimes providing lively entertainment at the local Dew Drop Inn. Ben marries at a young age the pretty Cindy, and the two are set up with charming little accommodations adjacent to the main Walton house. Erin, the pretty one with her various beaux, is employed at the local telephone switchboard and later by G.W. Haines. Jim Bob is a mechanical tinkerer, and Elizabeth the rather spoiled and generally irritating baby of the family.

Also living under the same roof are John's parents, the devilish but wise old Grandpa Zebulun and the strict & proper but feisty Grandma Esther. Years ago, it became a family chuckle that if Grandma Walton wouldn't have approved of the language, then it just wasn't acceptable! The banter between these grandparents is absolutely precious. I liked the multi generational aspects of the program with eventually four generations of Waltons. An ongoing storyline involved the stroke suffered by Grandma (and actress Ellen Corby), which restricted her movement and left her with a severe speech impediment. Also, actor Will Greer passed away, so the family was forced to grieve the loss of Grandpa.

The likable country store keeper, Ike Godsey, and his prim & snooty wife, Corabeth, appear regularly on the show. Other local characters are featured, including Yancy Tucker and a succession of various parsons (one was portrayed by actor John Ritter). Of course my favourites are the charming, elderly Baldwin sisters with their legendary Recipe inherited from their dearly departed father! Olivia and Grandma were strongly opposed to alcohol, but Grandpa would sometimes stop by at the Baldwins for a wee nip of the Recipe, actually moonshine whiskey. Some episodes also featured interactions with 'outsiders', including circus acrobats and gypsies.

Most of the individual episodes are quite engaging, and the family's interactions even during conflict show an underlying warmth. Their famous extended calls of Good Night are of course legendary! Many plot lines revolve around their various financial struggles to live a decent life during the Great Depression. The marital relationship between John & Olivia is well captured, as well as the siblings' interactions and their relationship with their parents & grandparents.

Sadly, I am not surprised that this heartwarming series is receiving a few disparaging reviews these days. Perhaps life wasn't all rosy and moral back in the 1930's with issues of poverty, racism and so forth. However, its values were generally preferable to the decaying ones of today, where materialism reigns supreme, parents & offspring alike feel entitled to their self absorbed attitude, rudeness is the norm in human interactions, the nuclear family and moral absolutes are becoming obsolete, and faith is mocked everywhere. This series represents the very antithesis of all such modern views, but thankfully, the vast majority of reviewers here still seem to appreciate it. Yes, better the Waltons than the Simpsons. My son is now a college sophomore, but admits to looking back fondly upon the series.

Indeed, these Walton characters are almost like family members in many homes, including my own. My compliments to actors Ralph Waite (John), Michael Learned (Olivia), Richard Thomas (John Boy), and all the others who brought them so vividly to life. Yes, the series can be sappy at times and may not always be realistic, but it is really not overly sentimental as some claim. Rather it is a depiction of the way we should ALL treat each other and the love, closeness, concern, warmth, and often unselfish giving that should be found in ALL our homes. Pity there aren't more TV programs nowadays that give us something worthy to aspire to.