Henry Fonda helps Maureen O'Hara in the kitchen in a scene from the film 'Spencer's Mountain', 1963. “We showed the pilot to Henry Fonda,” Rich said in an interview, “and afterward he turned around to me and said: ‘What do you want me for? The family is the star. Fonda, in fact, was considered for the role of John Walton on The Waltons.Īccording to an interview with Lee Rich, the showrunner behind The Waltons, Fonda was not interested. It was Hamner's warm, distinctive drawl that was heard narrating the stories of would-be writer John-Boy in each episode.īefore The Homecoming: A Christmas Story and The Waltons, Hamner had published the life-inspired novel Spencer's Mountain, which was adapted into a movie in 1963 with Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara as the parents. The third oldest son Ben, played by Eric Scott, was a combination of two of Hamner’s brothers. was the oldest of eight children (and not seven as portrayed on The Waltons). Bettmann Archiveĭrawing on the memories of his childhood during the Great Depression and World War II in Schulyer, Virginia, Earl Hamner Jr. So, in celebration of its 50th birthday today, I feel particularly knowledgeable (and quite honored) to take a look at this landmark television series and how it changed the course of family-friendly storytelling in the dramatic form on the small screen.Īctress Michael Learned embraces actor Ralph Waite in scene from the TV series The Waltons. And I still view it regularly either via MeTV, Hallmark Drama or my DVD collection. Credit: CBS Photo Archive.įull disclosure.I watched all 221 episodes of the CBS family drama The Waltons when it originally aired (from 1972 to 1981), plus the six follow up television movies. (CBS Photo Archive via AP) Copyright 1974 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Ben Walton Michael Learned, as Olivia Walton Kami Cotler, as Elizabeth Walton Richard Thomas, as John Boy Walton Mary McDonough, as Erin Walton Judy Norton, as Mary Ellen Walton Ralph Waite, as John Walton Ellen Corby, as Ester “Grandma” Walton Will Geer, as Zeb “Grandpa” Walton Jon Walmsley, as Jason Walton, in the television show The Waltons. This 1974 photo provided by CBS shows, from left, David Harper, as Jim-Bob Walton Eric Scott, as.
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