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Season 1 – The Waltons

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Waltons Sep 1972 Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
The life of a Depression-era family in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains is the subject of this wholesome series. The show is seen from the point of view of eldest son John Boy, who eventually goes to college, serves in World War II and becomes a novelist.
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The Waltons — Season 1

The Waltons — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

While The Waltons might be too sentimental to suit everyone's tastes -- or authentically recreate the Depression era -- handsome production values and genial warmth make it ideal family entertainment.

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Critics Reviews

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Nancy Banks-Smith Guardian Sep 15, 2021
The Waltons evidently have tap roots right down into the soft centered soul of some American dream about happy families and hospitality, which one cannot hope to share. Go to Full Review John J. O'Connor New York Times Sep 15, 2021
The Waltons deserve an audience. Competing with Mod Squad and The Flip Wilson Show at the same hour, it won't get one easily. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see if the public has any appetite for good family entertainment. Go to Full Review Harry Harris Philadelphia Inquirer Sep 15, 2021
There was warmth -- a rare TV commodity -- aplenty, many affecting touches via Depression-time nostalgia and dialog, and appealing performances by both adults and red-headed kids. Go to Full Review Erica Meyer Tampa Bay Times Sep 15, 2021
The Waltons is the kind of story that Walt Disney used to do so well. It has the feel of "Old Yeller," minus the dog. Go to Full Review Dwight Newton San Francisco Examiner Sep 15, 2021
Here, for the first time since, The Monroes, we have a gentle and much, much better family situation drama. Go to Full Review Win Fanning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sep 15, 2021
The Waltons will have a hard time bucking Flip Wilson and Mod Squad, but for your own children's sake, at least give it a try. You may be as pleasantly surprised as was I. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Iron Boy W @RT48217042 Sep 23, 2025 Deserves 98 100 rotten tomatoes 🍅 one the best greatest tv series ever made view See more PDC T @RT13398083 Nov 9, 2024 Genuinely talented actors, based on real life characters, Earl Hamner jr was the real John-Boy and narrater of the show, he wrote the story as "Spencer's Mountain", 50 years after seeing the show, I'm the same age as Richard Thomas, I recently binge watched all the shows and fell in love with it again as the subject matter was and still deals with today's important subjects and controversies. It stayed in the top 20 programs for 6 of it's 9 season's. The Waltons would win 20 Major awards including 13 Emmy Awards & 56 Nominations. There were 6 reunion features, 3 in 1982 and 3 in 1993, with all the living cast including (John-Boy) Richard Thomas, a real treat 😀!! Spoiler Alert: I mostly liked the first 6 seasons, Richard Thomas left the show after season five, though he came back for three episodes later on, then Ellen (Grandma) Colby suffered a stroke and could only do short appearances, Will (Grandpa) Geer passed away after season 6, then Michael Learned (Olivia Walton), left the show, and I just lost interest...but if you want to watch one Landmark 70's series, I recommend watching the first 6 seasons, I still loved those years and bought the entire collection on sale and am happy to watch it again, you can go on YouTube and look for Judy Norton's podcasts (she played Mary-Ellen) as she interviews all of the cast she could find. A very special show with heartwarming themes. See more Mike P @RT09890132 May 7, 2024 Classic series about a large depression era family growing up and dealing with hard times in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Schuyler, Virginia...Adapted from the biographical novel of show writer narrator Earl Hammer...This is a sweet but edgy family drama which isn't afraid to pull at the heart strings; and also isn't afraid to also go into darker material...It's exceedingly well acted and well-written...And it introduced a new catchphrase to the Nation that we've never forgotten: "Goodnight Johnboy!" See more Jeffrey M @hestitateandlose Dec 17, 2022 Season 1 & 2 is where the writers hadn't jumped the shark yet, and all of the actors were healthy and happy to be there. Some cameo roles for John Ritter, Ned Beatty and Sissy Spacek make the stories fun to follow. See more Read all reviews
The Waltons — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Earl Hamner Jr.

Creator

Richard Thomas

John Boy Walton

Ralph Waite

John Walton

Michael Learned

Olivia Walton

Will Geer

Zeb "Grandpa" Walton

Ellen Corby

Esther "Grandma" Walton

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 14, 1972 The Foundling The Waltons work together to teach sign language to a 6-year-old whose mother abandoned her. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 21, 1972 The Carnival The children befriend four performers stranded on the mountain after the carnival moves on; guest Billy Barty. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 28, 1972 The Calf The Walton children learn the family cow's calf, sold to a neighboring farmer, is due to be slaughtered. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 5, 1972 The Hunt John-Boy struggles with his beliefs about killing but proves his courage on a turkey hunt with his father. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 12, 1972 The Typewriter John-Boy's sisters unknowingly sell a museum-piece typewriter he borrowed from the Baldwins to a junkman. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 19, 1972 The Star Grandpa interprets a shooting star that crash-landed at the Baldwins as an omen of his death. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 26, 1972 The Sinner The Waltons welcome a visiting preacher (John Ritter) and his mentor (Collin Wilcox-Horne), a fiery missionary. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 2, 1972 The Boy From the C.C.C. An injured runaway betrays the Waltons' trust; Elizabeth accuses her father of not helping care for an ailing raccoon. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 9, 1972 The Ceremony A Jewish family which fled Nazi Germany tries to live isolated in a mountain cabin; guest Radames Pera. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 16, 1972 The Legend An old World War I buddy of John's tries to hide his failure in life by bragging about his daring wartime deeds. Details Episode 11 Aired Nov 30, 1972 The Literary Man A colorful, self-styled writer (David Huddleston) dazzles John-Boy who jeopardizes a timber contract. Details Episode 12 Aired Dec 7, 1972 The Dust Bowl Cousins The Denby cousins move in unexpectedly and take advantage of hospitality. Details Episode 13 Aired Dec 14, 1972 The Reunion The sheriff asks John-Boy's help when the Baldwin sisters' cousin (Denver Pyle) plans to bootleg their "recipe." Details Episode 14 Aired Dec 21, 1972 The Minstrel Mary Ellen falls for a minstrel and resists helping the family fulfill a vital contract. Details Episode 15 Aired Jan 4, 1973 The Actress The Waltons aid an actress (Pippa Scott) whose chauffeur robbed and abandoned her after her car broke down. Details Episode 16 Aired Jan 11, 1973 The Fire The drunken father of a young friend of the Waltons burns down the schoolhouse in the name of religion. Details Episode 17 Aired Jan 18, 1973 The Love Story John-Boy falls for a woman (Sian Barbara Allen) who left home to return to her father's house on Walton's Mountain. Details Episode 18 Aired Jan 25, 1973 The Courtship John-Boy and Grandpa play matchmaker for Olivia's visiting uncle, but the women disapprove of their choice. Details Episode 19 Aired Feb 1, 1973 The Gypsies John-Boy invites Gypsies to camp on the Waltons' land, despite dire predictions; guest Gregory Sierra. Details Episode 20 Aired Feb 8, 1973 The Deed John-Boy seeks city employment when a legal mix-up threatens the Waltons' lumber rights; guest Garry Walberg. Details Episode 21 Aired Feb 22, 1973 The Scholar An illiterate woman (Lynn Hamilton) whose daughter is graduating from college asks John-Boy to teach her. Details Episode 22 Aired Mar 1, 1973 The Bicycle John-Boy helps a blacksmith (Ned Beatty) write to a woman; Olivia neglects the family to sing in a choir. Details Episode 23 Aired Mar 8, 1973 The Townie John-Boy's casual date for the movies decides to unleash her considerable feminine charms on him. Details Episode 24 Aired Apr 19, 1973 The Crisis The faith of the Walton family is sorely tried when Olivia contracts polio, and the doctor says that she may never walk again. Details Episode 24 Aired Apr 19, 1973 The Crisis Olivia tries a radical polio treatment developed by Sister Kenny of Australia. Details Episode 24 Aired Apr 19, 1973 The Crisis The faith of the Walton family is sorely tried when Olivia contracts polio. Details

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The Waltons — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Philip Leacock, Harry Harris, Vincent Sherman, Alf Kjellin, Lee Philips, Robert Butler, Jack Shea
Creator
Earl Hamner Jr.
Executive Producer
Lee Rich, Earl Hamner Jr., Merv Adelson
Screenwriter
Nigel McKeand, James Menzies, Paul Savage, Earl Hamner Jr., Richard Fielder, Jeb Rosebrook, John McGreevey
Network
CBS
Rating
TV-G
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 14, 1972
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