A Time to Remember the Elders on Walton's Mountain (1050)

"The Waltons" which ran on CBS from 1972 to 1981 actually began as a two hour television movie in 1971 called "The Homecoming: A Christmas Story."

In the film, Patricia Neal (1926-2010) and Andrew Duggan (1923-1988) played John and Olivia Walton respectively.  Miss Michael Learned (1939- ) and Ralph Waite (1928- ) took over the roles on the weekly series.  They also appeared in the two-hour television reunion films of the 1980's and 1990's. 

Edgar Bergen (1903-1978) played Grandpa Zebulon Walton in the film and Will Geer (1902-1978) played him for the show's first six seasons (1972-1978).  Geer passed away in between the conclusion of the 1977-1978 season and the beginning of the 1978-1979 season.

Ellen Corby (1911-1999) played Grandma Esther Walton in the 1971 tele-film and the television series.  Corby suffered a massive stroke in late 1976 and was absent during the final weeks of season five and all of season six except for the last episode of the season entitled "Grandma Comes Home."  Corby's stroke was written into the script and her return episode featured Grandma returning from the hospital after her recovery.  The actress was severely limited due to her illness and could not speak clearly.  She appeared on a recurring basis until her final appearance in 1980.  She was present for 5 out of the 6 two-hour reunion movies in the 1980's and 1990's - her appearance in 1997's "A Walton's Easter" amounted to a very brief cameo and would be Corby's final acting appearance before her passing.

In an odd twist of fate Corby's return episode "Grandma Comes Home" was Will Geer's last.  Grandpa's death was addressed in the 1978 season opener. 

Dorothy Stickney (1896-1998) and Josephine Hutchinson (1903-1998) played Miss Emily Baldwin and Miss Mamie Baldwin in the pilot film.  Mary Jackson (1910-2005) and Helen Kleeb (1907-2003) became Emily and Mamie for the television show.  Jackson appeared in 67 episodes, Kleeb in 66 episodes and both appeared in 5 out of the 6 reunion movies.

Woodrow Parfrey (1922-1984) played store owner Ike Godsey in the pilot and Joe Conley (1928-2013) played Ike Godsey during the entire television run as well as all 6 of the reunion movies. 

Sheriff Ep Bridges was played by David Huddleston (1930- ) in the pilot and by John Crawford (1920-2010) in 40 episodes of the television series.

Peggy Rea (1921-2011) appeared as Olivia's cousin, Rose Burton in 37 episodes between 1979 and 1981 and in the 1993 reunion movie which centered around Thanksgiving 1963 and the family's reaction to the death of President John F. Kennedy.   

At the time of this writing all of the actors who portrayed the Walton children are still with us as are Ronnie Claire Edwards (1933- ) who played Cousin Corabeth Walton Godsey (1974-1981) and Lynn Hamilton (1930- ) who was neighbor Verdie Foster.   

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