Families tuned in every Thursday night to get a TV view of the life happenings of the Walton family. The Depression years (and later) story, narrated by its creator, Earl Hamner, Jr., was seen through the eyes of the oldest of 7 children, John Boy, portrayed by Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas.

Walton’s Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Jefferson County was the locale of all that happened to the Walton family. That family included other Emmy Award winners, Michael Learned as Olivia Walton (the brood’s mother) and Ellen Corby as Grandma Walton. Veteran performers Ralph Waite as John Walton and Will Geer as Grandpa Walton, along with the bright, young, rising stars -- Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor), Jim-Bob (David W. Harper), Elizabeth (Kami Cotler), Jason (Jon Walmsley), Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough), and Ben (Eric Scott), made the TV series a popular favorite. Executive producer Lee Rich and producer Robert L. Jacks picked up the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series-Continuing in the very first year of The Waltons.

Nine years later, the children were grown up, going to college and getting married. Walton’s Mountain had changed and we all said “Good night, John Boy” for the last time (unless you’re still watching the show in syndication).