By
Bill Duelly
(Photos copyright Jon Walmsley. All rights reserved.)
For many years I’ve been impressed by the enduring legacy of The Waltons, the hit CBS TV series from
the 1970s that lives on in reruns today. There have been reunion movies and a
remarkably enduring and enthusiastic fan base. Actress Michael Learned, the female lead of the series, was among other
cast members who recently reunited at a 40th anniversary celebration of the
show at the legendary Loew’s Theatre in Jersey City, New Jersey. Learned
describe the key to the show’s success as “love of family’. The surviving principal cast members, as well
as supporting players, really do consider themselves an actual family and keep
in close contact, often participating in each other’s personal lives and
activities. The Loew’s event was not only
a very sentimental reunion of the cast members but it also touched all those
fans in attendance, as well.
Ray Castro, who has known many of the cast members for over decades,
organized the event. He realized that the year 2011 marked the 40th
anniversary of the telecast of The
Homecoming, the classic TV movie that inspired The Waltons. Castro was determined to celebrate the date with a
special event and was delighted that cast members were in agreement. The Loew’s
proved to be the perfect venue for the event. The wonderful old movie palace
had been saved from the wrecking ball years ago and is staffed by a remarkable
and enthusiastic group of volunteers. This ‘diamond in the rough’ frequently shows old movies in original 35mm
format via carbon arc projectors on a 35 foot screen. The Waltons
event included a screening of The
Homecoming and a tribute to its star, the late Patricia Neal, a panel discussion and even a few songs; a
holiday entertainment treat for a reasonable $20.
As the event started to grow in popularity, Ray was
able to also add some additional supporting cast: Ellen Geer (Will Geer’s daughter); Rademas Pera (who was in the episode ‘The
Ceremony’, but best known as Grasshopper in the series ‘Kung Fu’); Lynn Hamilton (Verdie Foster, also known as
Donna on ‘Sanford and Son’) ; Hal Williams (who played Verdie’s husband as well
as appearing in the series, ‘227’ and ‘Sanford and Son’) and David Huddleston,
(who was the sheriff in the ‘Homecoming’ and the title character in the ‘Literary
Man’ episode. He is also known for his
roles in ‘Blazing Saddles’ and for playing the title character in ‘Santa Claus
the Movie’).
Most of the cast arrived on Thursday, the day before
the event. Before embarking on a private
tour of the 9/11 Memorial, I was able to chat with David Huddleston for
awhile. He was wonderful and charming,
remembering the time he spent at Pinewood filming ‘Santa Claus’. He noted that he would frequently socialize
with Roger Moore, who was shooting ‘A
View to a Kill’ at the same time (they had become friends, while filming
‘Sherlock Holmes in New York a few years earlier). Their lunches caused quite a
stir: Santa Claus dining with James Bond! More stories would have to wait
as it was time to cross the river into Manhattan. It was a suitably solemn, cold and windy evening
, but all who attended felt honored to be able to tour this sacred ground.
The following day was a hectic one beginning with the
cast members being interviewed on The
Today Show, which required them to be at the studio at 6:30 AM, which was
all the more challenging for those who were still on “California timeâ€. Not so for Kami Cotler though, who had come
out a few days earlier with her mother and daughter to catch some Broadway shows
before hand. They were staying in Gotham
city so Kami was able to ‘sleep late’ and walk the few blocks over to NBC.
A private luncheon was held for the cast with the
sponsors and workers for the show. It
was here that one was able to see first hand how comfortable the cast still is
with each other as well as many of their fans whom they both know each other as
friends for years. The highlight was the
presentation of the cake, made as a replica of the Walton house, shed and
truck. It looked too good to eat and as
such was brought to the theater to be
put on display. Jon produced his guitar
and the group enjoyed some songs. Then it was back to the hotel again to
freshen up and get ready for the evening, but the combination of New Jersey
roads, a Friday evening and rush hour conspired against them and delayed the
actor’s arrival at the theater. When they finally stepped into the lobby, they were
truly amazed at the splendor that that is the Loew’s Jersey City. There were the necessary sound checks,
pictures for press and sponsors and interviews with GMC (Gospel Music Channel)
which was the main sponsor of the event (they run The Waltons regularly on their channel).
As the 7:30 start approached, the cast entered the
theater and took their seats down in front to cheers from the audience. The cast members were so moved by the
response that some of them took pictures of the crowd with their cell phones.
Earl Hamner, the shows creater, couldn’t attend but sent
a note of thanks to all, read by his brother, Paul. The show then started with an unannounced treat: home movies that Kami Cottler’s father shot while on they were on location in
Wyoming. Since no film prints of “The
Homecoming†could be located (and if they could have, they most likely would
have been faded and worn) there was a digital presentation that was stunning in
its color and clarity. According to the
cast, they hadn’t ever been to a theatrical screening of the filmbefore. The movie has held up well and was enjoyed by
all in attendance.
After the screening, Michael Learned and Rademas Pera (who
worked with Patricia Neal in a ‘Little House on the Priarie’ episode) presented
a verbal tribute to Miss Neal, followed by a short video overview of her
career. Then the cast disappeared
backstage for the intermission, while accomplished organist Bernie Anderson
entertained the audience again with The
Waltons theme and Christmas carols. The break gave the cast members time to
reminisce privately. Hal & Lynn recalled ‘Sanford and Son’ anecdotes such
as how Redd Fox would frequently revert to his night club routines, which were
not at all ‘ready for prime time’; David
Huddleston and his wife discussed how they met on the ‘Santa Claus’ production
(she worked in the casting department); Michael Learned was fascinated by the theater
itself and couldn’t believe how great it was that was that so much vintage gear
was still in working order.
The Q&A started sans Richard Thomas, who was on his
way from New York where he was appearing in “Standing on Ceremonyâ€. The discussions started with the casting and
it wasn’t long before Richard, who is also on the board of the legendary
Player’s Club in New York, joined the group to thunderous applause. Among the highlights: Rademas Pera spoke of
working with the cast in an episode, and
found the presence of fellow kids on the set preferable to working on ‘Kung
Fu’, which he also appeared in at the same time, but which lacked anyone his
age on the set. Ellen Geer recalled the joy of working with her father in that
same episode. Richard Thomas related how grateful and joyous Will Geer was that
he had steady work after years of being blacklisted. Hal Williams remembered how Earl Hamner made even the supporting
characters REAL people with their own lives, joys and troubles. He said the
show was the best set he ever worked on. David Huddleston still wonders why he was cast in a dramatic role in the
‘Literary Man’ episode, when he was
primarily hired to play comical charactes. Michael Learned sadly related the
meeting she had with Patricia Neal, who told her she had never been asked to
join the series despite having starred in the TV movie that inspired it.
With time running late, Richard read ‘The Night Before
Christmas’ and then Jon Walmsley performed ‘Home for the Holidays’ followed by
the cast performing the ‘Good Night’ signature song of the show. The curtain closed to a standing ovation. The New York area might not ordinarily be
regarded as Waltons Country, but you’d never know if from the chatting among
attendees, who felt privileged to be part of yet another wonderful evening at
the Loew’s.
Click here to order The Homecoming DVD from Amazon