The Waltons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Waltons |
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| Genre | Historical drama |
| Created by | Earl Hamner Jr. |
| Starring |
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| Narrated by | Earl Hamner Jr. |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 9 |
| No. of episodes | 221 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
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| Running time | 45–48 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Lorimar Productions |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Picture format | NTSC |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | September 14, 1972 – June 4, 1981 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) |
| Followed by | A Wedding on Walton's Mountain (1982) |
The Waltons is a popular American historical drama TV show. It tells the story of a family living in rural Virginia during tough times. These times were the Great Depression (a period of economic hardship in the 1930s) and World War II (a major global war from 1939 to 1945).
The show was created by Earl Hamner Jr.. It was based on his 1961 book Spencer's Mountain and a movie from 1963 with the same name. Before the series, a TV movie called The Homecoming: A Christmas Story aired in 1971. It was so successful that the CBS network decided to make a full TV series.
The Waltons first aired in September 1972 and ran for nine seasons. Even after it ended in 1981, more TV movies about the family were made in the 1980s and 1990s. The show was known for its heartwarming ending scene where the family said "Goodnight" to each other. "Goodnight, John-Boy" became a famous saying in the 1970s!
Contents
About The Waltons
Where and When It Happens
The story of The Waltons takes place in a made-up town called Walton's Mountain. This town is located at the foot of a mountain in a fictional area called Jefferson County, Virginia. The real place that inspired these stories is Schuyler, Virginia.
The show covers the years from 1933 to 1946. This was a time when the United States was dealing with the Great Depression and then World War II. The story begins in the spring of 1933. The final episode of the series happens in June 1946. So, the show covers 13 years of the family's life over nine seasons.
Later TV movies about The Waltons continued the story. One movie in 1993 was set in 1963. Another in 1995 was set in 1964. The last reunion movie, filmed in 1997, was set in 1969.
The Story of the Family
The show is about the large Walton family. The main character is John Walton Jr., who everyone calls John-Boy. He is the oldest of seven children. The family also includes his parents, John and Olivia, and his grandparents, Zebulon "Zeb" and Esther Walton.
John-Boy is 17 years old at the start of the series. He dreams of becoming a journalist and writer. An older John-Boy (voiced by the show's creator, Earl Hamner Jr.) narrates each episode. He tells the story at the beginning and end.
John Sr. works hard to support his family. He runs a lumber mill with help from his sons. The family also grows some food and hunts to get by. As the children grow up, they face the challenges of adulthood during difficult times. They learn about responsibility and hard work.
The Waltons are very welcoming. They often share their home with relatives and even strangers. Their small community has many interesting people. These include the Baldwin sisters, who make a special homemade drink. There's also Ike Godsey, who runs the general store and post office. Other neighbors include Verdie and Harley Foster, and Maude, an artist. Flossie Brimmer runs a boarding house, and Yancy Tucker is a kind handyman. The local sheriff, Ep Bridges, is a friend of John Sr. The family, except for John Sr., attends a Baptist church.
A special part of almost every episode is the ending scene. The lights in the Walton house go out one by one. Then, two or more characters say goodnight to each other in voice-overs.
What Happens to the Family
After high school, John-Boy goes to Boatwright University. Later, he moves to New York City to work as a journalist.
During the show, Grandma Esther Walton has a stroke. She returns home shortly before her husband, Grandpa Zeb Walton, passes away. These events in the show reflected real-life health issues and losses for the actors who played them.
As the series continues, Mary Ellen and Ben start their own families. Other children like Erin, Jason, and John-Boy get married in later TV movies. The younger children, Erin, Jim-Bob, and Elizabeth, also look for love.
World War II has a big impact on the family. All four Walton sons join the military. Mary Ellen's husband, Curt, is a doctor. He is reported to have died in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Years later, Mary Ellen finds him alive but changed by his war injuries. She divorces him and later remarries.
John-Boy's military plane is shot down. Olivia becomes a volunteer at a hospital for veterans. She is seen less often and eventually moves to Arizona for her health. Olivia's cousin, Rose Burton, moves in to help with the family. Later, John Sr. moves to Arizona to be with Olivia.
Six TV movies were made after the series ended. These movies continued the family's story from 1947 to 1969.
Characters
Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in The Waltons:
- John "John-Boy" Walton Jr. (Richard Thomas, then Robert Wightman): The oldest of the seven children.
- John Walton Sr. (Ralph Waite): The father of the family.
- Olivia Walton (Michael Learned): The mother of the family.
- Zebulon "Grandpa" Walton (Will Geer): John Sr.'s father.
- Esther "Grandma" Walton (Ellen Corby): John Sr.'s mother.
- Jason Walton (Jon Walmsley): The second-oldest brother, who loves music.
- Mary Ellen Walton (Judy Norton Taylor): The oldest daughter, who becomes a nurse.
- Erin Walton (Mary Elizabeth McDonough): The second daughter, who works as a telephone operator.
- Benjamin "Ben" Walton (Eric Scott): The third son, who is good at business.
- James Robert "Jim-Bob" Walton (David W. Harper): The youngest son, who is good with machines.
- Elizabeth Walton (Kami Cotler): The youngest of all seven children.
- Cindy Walton (Leslie Winston): Ben's wife.
- Rose Burton (Peggy Rea): Olivia's cousin, who helps take care of the family when Olivia is away.
Behind the Scenes
Inspiration for the Show
The creator, Earl Hamner Jr., grew up in a small community called Schuyler, Virginia. His childhood experiences there provided many ideas for The Waltons. His family and the people in his community inspired the characters, the values, and many of the stories in his books and the TV series. Earl Hamner Jr. also provided the voice of the older John-Boy in the show.
John-Boy Walton's college, Boatwright University, was inspired by a real college. It was based on Richmond College, which is now part of the University of Richmond in Virginia.
Where It Was Filmed
The town of Walton's Mountain was built on the backlot of the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. The mountain you see in the show was a real mountain range near the studios. The front of the Waltons' house was also built on the Warner Brothers lot.
After the series finished, the original house set was taken down. But for the reunion movies, a new front of the Waltons' house was built. This replica house is still used today as scenery at Warner Brothers. For example, it was used as the Dragonfly Inn in the TV show The Gilmore Girls.
Images for kids
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The cast at the 40th Anniversary of the show in 2012
See also
In Spanish: The Waltons para niños
