The Waltons' nearly 10-year run on network television grew out of the popular, 1971 made-for-TV movie The Homecoming, which was derived from a Depression-era, rustic setting ("Walton's Mountain"), and characters based on Earl Hamner Jr.'s autobiographical novel Spencer's Mountain--itself the source for a very nice 1963 feature film starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara. That's a lot of entertainment sprouting from Hamner's prose. But something about his seminal story of family values, rugged independence, and big dreams amidst a hardscrabble existence captured the hearts of American audiences, many of whom personally recalled severe economic adversity in the 1930s.

The Waltons initial episodes from the series built on the strengths of the Homecoming pilot, which introduced the extended Walton clan led by a strong-willed mill owner, John (Andrew Duggan), and his equally resolute wife, Olivia (Patricia Neal). The Waltons recast those key roles (as well as a few others) with Ralph Waite and Michael Learned (yup, a female), but Richard Thomas carried over as oldest child John-Boy Walton, an aspiring writer whose cusp-of-manhood view informs the series. Will Geer (Seconds) replaced Edgar Bergen as Grandpa Walton, Ellen Corby remained as Grandma, and John and Olivia's large brood (seven kids in all) were filled out by largely unknown, young actors. The episodes, still delightful and touching, strong on production values and unusually tight and polished for primetime drama, tended to focus on creator Hamner's pet themes of self-sacrifice and heroic effort when the going got tough.

Cast and Characters

• Ralph Waite as John Walton
• Michael Learned as Olivia Walton (1972-1980)
• Will Geer as Zeb (Grandpa) Walton (1972-1978)
• Ellen Corby as Esther (Grandma) Walton (1972-1979)
• Richard Thomas as John Boy Walton (1972-1977)
• Robert Wightman as John Boy Walton (1979-1981)
• Judy Norton-Taylor as Mary Ellen Walton Willard
• David W. Harper as Jim-Bob Walton
• Kami Cotler as Elizabeth Walton
• John Walmsley as Jason Walton
• Mary Elizabeth McDonough as Erin Walton
• Eric Scott as Ben Walton
• Joe Conley as Ike Godsey
• Ronnie Claire Edwards as Corabeth Godsey (1974-1981)
• John Crawford as Sheriff Ep Bridges
• Helen Kleeb as Mamie Baldwin
• Mary Jackson as Emily Baldwin
• Lynn Hamilton as Verdie Foster
• John Ritter as Reverend Matthew Fordwick (1972-1977)
• Mariclare Costello as Rosemary Hunter Fordwick (1972-1977)
• Robert Donner as Yancy Tucker (1972-1979)
• Nora Marlowe as Flossie Brimmer (1972-1977)
• Merie Earle as Maude Gormsley (1973-1979)
• Tom Bower as Dr. Curtis Willard (1976-1978)
• Peter Fox as Reverend Hank Buchanon (1977-1978)
• Lewis Arquette as J.D. Pickett (1978-1981)

Broadcast History, Episode Guide & TV Schedule

First Telecast: September 14, 1972
Last Telecast: June 4, 1981
Number of Seasons: 9
Number of Episodes: 221
Original Network: CBS
Original Primetime Television Schedule:

• September 1972- August 1981, CBS, Thursday 8:00-9:00pm

Theme Song and Intro

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