did earl hamner jr have twins did earl hamner jr have twins

After the show ended in 1981, the family lived on for another 16 years in several TV movies that periodically reunited most of the original cast. 27. I was surprised because teaching lessons had been the furthest thing from my mind. What does a man first notice about a woman? Several times I was able to use folk material in my Twilight Zone episodes and I thought it courageous of Rod to accept this off beat kind of story telling. White said in Charlottes Web, It is rare for a person to be a good writer and a good friend. George is both. They put them around all the frames of the doors. (Video) Walton's Christmas. It is now home to the Waltons Mountain Country Store and carries many fine gifts, crafts and items related to the show. He had decided to become a writer at age 6, however, after getting a poem published on the children's page of a Richmond, Va., newspaper. Best known for creating the TV shows 'Falcon Crest' and 'The Waltons', Earl wrote his entire life, creating many stories, scripts and novels. Bill's three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. TA: The plot of The Hunt is woven around the basic premise of a main character going about his business while completely oblivious to the fact that he is dead. The eldest of eight red-haired children in a poor, Baptist family, Earl Henry Hamner Jr. was born July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Va., a mining and milling village in the foothills of the Blue Ridge . Earl appears with the cast of The Waltons . TA: In The Bewitchin Pool, country living is depicted as tranquil and idyllic whereas city life is hectic, unrewarding and destructive to the family unit. Hamner died in Los Angeles on March 24, 2016. HAMNER: You know, the idea had not occurred to me until you mentioned it. Since my first writing credits were on The Twilight Zone I became known as a fantasy-type writer. Virginia Humanities acknowledges the Monacan Nation, the original people of the land and waters of our home in Charlottesville, Virginia. Did the Hamner family really own a mountain? HAMNER: I became the narrator in an odd way. HAMNER: I admit that this is true and must lay the blame on some awful provincial thinking on my part. After losing his job, Hamner Sr. could not find any work in Schuyler, but managed to be hired as a machinist at the DuPont factory in Waynesboro, roughly 30 miles (48 km) from Schuyler. How much did the actors on The Waltons get paid? Insatllment number 3 features Ike's Market & Deli store photo mom took I believe in 2006 on the site where the original S & H Grocery store stood which was . On 16 October 1954, he married Jane Martin and had two children with her: a son named Scott, born in 1956, and a daughter named Caroline, born in 1958. When we were producing The Homecoming, a special that was the forerunner of the series, we auditioned just about every professional narrator in town. Emily Baldwin always pined for her lost love, Ashley Longworth, waiting for him to return one day. White. After leaving the Army, he enrolled at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a degree in broadcasting while working at a local radio station. 2020 Virginia Humanities, All Rights Reserved , Charles Shields, Donna Lucey, and Earl Hamner, Jr. When he quit to work full-time on his first novel, Fifty Roads to Town, his friend Serling replaced him at the station. On CBS, however, the Spencers became the Waltons, and after a successful broadcast, Hamner was invited to develop a series. Though the names might be different Earl Hamner based the show on his memories of growing up in rural Virginia with his family during the depression. Could it affect another? He was 85 years old at the time of his death. Aside from Curt's death and a few minor points, Hawkes says, "the characters are very true." Mary Ellen ended up staying with her second husband. HAMNER: Falcon Crest may seem a startling change of pace from The Waltons, but in many ways the Giobertti family of Falcon Crest were The Waltons of today. There are constant deadlines to meet and frequent demands placed upon your time. The assembly proves to be an event that saved the entire town at the expense of the actresses own life. Spencer's Mountain not only made his reputation as a writer but gave him the blueprint for the proud, independent family he first put on television's Walton's Mountain in 1972. Did the Baldwin sisters know the recipe was alcohol? Hamner wrote or co-wrote eight episodes for the series Gentle Ben, a show about a boy and his pet black bear. The show starred Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Robert Foxworth, and Susan Sullivan. To be the writers wife is a thankless job, especially for the little woman who sits in the shadows while her prominent husband is stroked, caressed and endlessly rewarded for his work. HAMNER: Quite honestly I have never consciously set out to convey a message in a single piece of writing. Does plastic window insulation really work? Bills three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. James Hamner, 67, the youngest son in a family immortalized by "The Waltons" on television and the model for the character Jim-Bob Walton, died April 1 at his home in Charlottesville. HAMNER: As you state, some themes are universal in literature and have been used by any number of writers past and present. I thought it was at least courteous of him to acknowledge the stories and did not expect to hear anything more from them. Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful, Address: Suite 228 919 Deana Ford, Lake Meridithberg, NE 60017-4257, Hobby: Tai chi, Dowsing, Poi, Letterboxing, Watching movies, Video gaming, Singing. 13. He took it very seriously and did a really terrific ceremony, Walmsley said. 0:00. The show was set in the Napa Valley of California. The prime time television soap opera Falcon Crest, which aired on CBS in 1981-1990. I thought that Stopover in a Quiet Town had some interesting effects and a nice surprise ending when you learn that the couple has become pets on some alien planet. The Walton family also had electricity and indoor plumbing, including a modern bathroom a luxury my mother didn't have until she was much older. He also wrote eight episodes for the CBS series Gentle Ben (19671969) before writing Heidi which was broadcast in November 1968 and earned him a Writer's Guild Award. My first impression of Rod was of a young man in a hurry. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. was born July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Va., an unincorporated community 24 miles south of Charlottesville. The only time this has happened to me, other than on The Waltons, was when we were filming The Homecoming. To my astonishment and joy it was not unusual of Director Fielder Cook to call me over and have me look at the shot he was just about to take and ask me if that was how I envisioned it. But the show's popularity was so enduring that the cast reunited for six TV movies between 1982 and 1997. Recreations of the Walton's kitchen, living room and John-Boys bedroom plus much memorabilia, as well as a recreation of the front porch and the original Pony Cart as seen in 2 episodes of the show The Pony Cart and The Ordeal can be experienced. Did this occur during any of your other television work? Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean camera lens? Born July 10th, 1923 Earl Hamner Jr. was the first child of Earl Sr. and Doris Hamner. Eric Scott called 'The Waltons' fire 'a free for all' They brought in pipes that had flames that would come out, almost like a fireplace, Scott said. HAMNER: I dont really remember the entire final season well enough to make any kind of judgement about whether it lacked Rods creative stamp or not. Discover Earls enduring legacy through replicas from The Waltons Hollywood set and antiques from the Hamner and Giannini homes. When Hamner was a sophomore, he was drafted into the army because of World War II. As time has gone by I have thought of many, many stories I would have liked to have done, but there is no market for this type of story today. TA: Its no secret that writing is a consuming profession. HAMNER: I was not often on the set where the show was filmed but I have one production story that amused me. TA: Did you produce any scripts or story ideas for the original series that went unproduced? Earl Hamner Jr. started working in the army in 1943 in his sophomore year at the University of Richmond during World War II. TA: After The Waltons you created another highly successful series, Falcon Crest. In this classic novel that inspired the TV series The Waltons, a father struggles to support his large family in Depression-era rural Virginia. I understood the need for this when I later did The Waltons. He had emphysema and heart ailments. Hamner, whose own family included two children, is survived by his wife, Jane; son, Scott; and daughter, Caroline. Does plastic window insulation really work? The episodes aired in 1967-1969. Be sure to visit Olivia's Emporium Gift Shop located in John & Olivia's Bed and Breakfast behind the Walton Hamner House. He currently lives in California with his wife, Jane. He moved to Hollywood in 1961 and got his first big break by selling two scripts to Serlings The Twilight Zone. One of the iconic episodes of The Waltons sees the family's house burn down. The Twilight Zone episode The Hunt features a beloved family dog that leads his master from the brink of Hell to the gates of Heaven. Mrs. Hamner was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Henry Hamner; a son Willard Harold Hamner; and a brother, Donald E. Giannini. 16. Want to Read. I was grateful to Rod and to Producer Buck Houghton for accepting such an unlikely story for The Twilight Zone. Paul Hamner (r) lives in Tom's River, New Jersey and is retired from the Baker Shoe Store chain. TA: He certainly must have been impressed. Tropicana Field took over a Black St. Pete community. More Buying Choices. His parents, Doris Giannini Hamner and Earl Henry Hamner, had seven more children after him, all redheads: Clifton, Marion, Audrey, Paul, Willard, James, and Nancy. Earl Hamner Jr., who created the popular television series The Waltons, has died at . He was surrounded by family, and we . Born in Nelson County, Hamner served in the Army during World War II (19391945) before attending Northwestern University and the University of Cincinnati. 9. Where was the Waltons outdoor scenes filmed? How long did the TV show The Waltons run? Running for nine seasons, the show became an icon of 1970s television and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1973. The Hamners bought the home in 1929 when Earl Sr. worked as a machinist for The Alberene Stone Company. Why did Michael Learned leave The Waltons the second time? "He was a great Southern gentleman, a great friend, a great father," Castro said. Co-written with Don Sipes. HAMNER: No, none. The Ring-A-Ding Girl seems selfish, yet she gives her life to save many of her friends and neighbors. After that initial assignment, when I would deliver a script to Rod, he would ask, What would you like to do next? And I would suggest a story line or two, he would encourage me to write one or the other, and I would go home and write it. Earl Hamner's narration of Walton's Mountain and Walton's Christmas. I was scared and young and homesick, and as I wrote in my journal I began to remember a promise my father made to my mother on the day they were married. Earl Hamner Jr. graduates from high school and receives a scholarship to the University of Richmond. Examples include Jess-Belle, a timeless tale of love and witchcraft, You Drive, a possessed automobile story that easily predates Steven Kings Christine, and the pre-X-Files alien abduction classic Stopover in a Quiet Town.. HAMNER: That came about when Herb Hirshman called to ask if I had any hour-long unsold scripts that could be quickly adapted, that he needed such a script in a week. In 1970, he wrote or co-wrote four episodes for the sitcom Nanny and the Professor. The possessed car shows greater compassion and a more refined sense of ethics than does its owner, a man who has run down a local boy and framed a co-worker for the deed. Most of the exterior scenes were shot in Burbank on the backlot known as the Warner Bros. Ranch. 17. 11. TA: In recent years both Richard Matheson and George Clayton Johnson have published compilations of their respective Twilight Zone scripts. A few doors down, the model for Ike Godsey ran a real-life country store. Soon, he quit his job and moved to New York where he was hired by the NBC network as a radio writer. I remember they had to take our nightshirts and get fire retardant.. 1940 - Earl Hamner Jr. graduates from high school and receives a scholarship to the University of Richmond. Come, visit the real home of its creator, author Earl Hamner Jr., the real John-Boy Walton. A Piano in the House reveals secret ambitions and desires that display the flip side of the personalities involved. It also has to do with life and death options and those are always interesting to play with, and it also offers the ultimate twist ending to a story when the character learns that he is dead! Earl Hamner Jr. graduates from the University of Cincinnati. -- the real-life John-Boy -- grew up in an unassuming, tin-roofed house crowded with siblings. TA: Prior to your Twilight Zone work, did your resume contain any science fiction or fantasy writing credits? The sisters, from oldest to youngest, were Marion Lee, Audrey Jane and Nancy Alice. Hawkes was the sister of Earl Hamner Jr., the creator of "The Waltons" who based the show's characters on his family and experiences growing up in rural Virginia during the Depression. His fathers family came to Virginia from Wales. He also created the popular, long-running TV drama Falcon Crest and wrote for such other TV shows as Wagon Train, Gentle Ben and The Wild Thornberrys. HAMNER: It was terribly obvious that they had no concept of what constituted a Twilight Zone story. I had been working as a radio writer at Radio Station WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. Earl Hamner Jr., the Virginia-born writer who created not only TV's folksy, Depression-era family drama "The Waltons" but the California wine country prime-time soap opera "Falcon Crest . What would I think of a black leopard? The Spencers represented an idealized version of his own family, and Hamners heartwarming approach to home and family set the tone for his later work. Earl Hamner Jr. leaves the University of Richmond to join the Army. He later graduated from University of Cincinnati in 1948 with a degree in broadcast communications. I also became that dreaded thing a soft writer! Most of those writers frequently mentioned as having contributed to The Twilight Zone remained in the field of fantasy fiction and kept their identity as Twilight Zone writers while I shed that category for another kind of writing. I told him I didnt have one but I would write one for him, did he have any special requirements? Hamner died at 92 on Thursday, March 24, 2016. They did film one new script by a Twilight Zone veteran, Richard Mathesons Button, Button. Matheson felt the production was botched and far from his original intent, so much so that he had his name removed from the credits! How many bedrooms are in the Waltons house? Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you. What happened to Michael Landon's horse on Bonanza? Did the Baldwin sisters know the recipe was alcohol? He was pretty chill, though I think at least two different mules played the role of "Blue". Here's "Ike Godsey's General Merchandise" (known in real life as the S&H Grocery Store). Like John-Boy (played by Richard Thomas), the show's character he modeled on himself, Hamner was born in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, on July 10, 1923. Did you ever find yourself publicly recognized for your voice-over work on The Waltons? His family was involved in tobacco farming near James River, Virginia, until the 1900s before relocating to Schuyler, where his father worked in New Alberene Stone Companys soapstone mine which closed during the Great Depression Era, forcing him to work as a machinist at the DuPont factory in Waynesboro which was 30 miles away from his home. He almost levitated in his drive to get going and while he was not a tall man he willed himself to height and to an intense presence. Narrated by Hamner himself, the series featured the Waltons of fictional Waltons Mountain, Virginia, and was told through the eyes of John-Boy, an aspiring writer. He also adapted the childrens book Charlottes Web into a screenplay for the animated movie of the same name. The Oakland Raiders won the game and Hamner won a Writers Guild award for his script. 5 Who are the members of the Hamner family? Six years older than the next sibling, Earl was certainly looked up to by the younger children. The Homecoming (1970), another novel about the Spencer family based loosely on Hamners childhood memories of Christmas in Waynesboro, was adapted by CBS into a special that aired in 1971. Hebner (along with his identical twin brother, Dave) played a prominent role in the inaugural The Main Event card in 1988, in which Andr . TA: Im familiar with the show you are referring to. 6 Where did Earl Hamners mother and father come from? Later, his alma mater would serve as inspiration for the fictional Boatwright University that John-Boy the oldest son in the Walton family would attend. Mary Badham & Georgia Simmons in The Bewitchin Pool. As Rod himself once said, My God, how we honor each other!. Was The Twilight Zone a proving ground for characters that you later developed for The Waltons? Jess-Belle is a witch, but she is also possessed by love. 24. Saturday, February 11, 2023 When credibility matters. 9. For generations, the Spencers lived on the mountain that still bears their name in the Blue Hills o. As a novelist, he was best known for Spencer's Mountain, which was inspired by his own . Medium Package -3 Days/2 Nights / Excursion to the Salar de Uyuni and Colored Lagoons / Sunset / Night of the Stars / with transfer to San Pedro Chile / or Uyuni. From the left: Brothers Bill (Ben), Paul (Ben), cousin Janet, sisters Nancy (Elizabeth), Marian (Mary Ellen), brother James (Jim Bob), sister Audrey (Erin). I do feel that one or two of them stand out for one reason or another. The crew even filmed interviews with Rods friends and family, only to twist the responses in editing to achieve the maximum negative slant. LOS ANGELES Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era upbringing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to create one of television's most beloved family shows, The Waltons, has died. Scott Hamner is a writer and his sister, Caroline, is a family therapist. TA: Many Twilight Zone episodes can be described as morality plays entertainment with a message in the tradition of classic story telling. The Hamner home, headed by Earl Hamner, Sr. and Doris Giannini Hamner, sheltered eight thoroughbred siblings who were instilled with determination, tempered with gentility and a love of family. What happened to Michael Landon's horse on Bonanza? Very interesting. Hamner Jr. was the oldest of eight siblings and had four brothers and three sisters. He was 92. What I found disturbing were the revelations the producers of the program chose to make about Rod the husband. Earl Hamner: The Forgotten Twilight Zone Writer originally appeared in: FILMFAX magazine, December 2000 January 2001. He was 92. I thought it was a fine idea. He recalls the controversy surrounding the television movie Heidi . In fact, it was likely due to their relationship that, months later, The Waltons cast Allen to play John-Boy's romantic interest in "The Love Story," an episode that aired late in the first season. Goodnight, John Boy: A Celebration of an American Family and the Values That Have Sustained Us Through Good Times and Bad. His son Scott announced on Facebook that Hamner had been suffering from cancer, and died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Thursday. He is best known for his time as senior referee for the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) from 1988 to 2005. He said, You seem to go for that down home stuff. They had one that was docile and well trained. Perhaps the reason is the powerful link between your name and The Waltons in popular culture. Born in Schuyler, Virginia, as the oldest son of a soapstone mill worker, he had a tough childhood. This so-called documentary used an inordinate amount of its footage to demean Carol Serling. It is risky to make such a promise and I suspect I pulled it off because I was very much at home in the milieu, knew the very special way the people talked and how they might behave in the situations they faced. There were actually 8 Hamner children but two sons were condensed into the character of Ben Walton leaving 7 children in the actual television show. I did the opening and closing narrations on that show and writers would make a stab at writing my narration, but most of the time I had to adapt it to my individual delivery and style. Admission is $15 per person over 6 years of age. His siblings, next in line were, Cliff (Jason), Marian (Mary-Ellen), Audrey (Erin), Paul (Ben), Bill (Ben), James (Jim-Bob) and Nancy (Elizabeth). Visitors can now enjoy private gardens, exhibits on native plants, local ecosystems, and the history of the soapstone industry in Schuyler. On March 24th, 2016 legendary film and TV writer and . Bill Hamner (l) died in 1989. Were any major changes or revisions made to your scripts? Is the original Walton house still standing? Though the names might be different Earl Hamner based the show on his memories of growing up in rural Virginia with his family during the depression. And the first one I wrote, The Hunt, has some elements that I am still proud of, most notably the summation, A man will walk into Hell with both eyes open, but even the Devil cant fool a dog. It struck a certain folkish note in the manner of early American humorists I have always admired. The two had met during a college script-writing competition. Earl Hamner, Jr. wrote eight episodes of the seminal series. Much loved creator of The Waltons, Earl Hamner Jr., has died aged 92. What do you call the quote in the beginning of a book? did earl hamner jr have twins. Did the Hamner family really own a mountain? Many years later I hired Herb Hirshman to direct some episodes of my series Falcon Crest. The Homecoming: A Christmas Story written by Hamner for CBS in 1971 resulted in CBS commissioning the TV-show The Waltons. I think this particular theme is used over and over because it gives writers an opportunity to play the ultimate what if game. His publisher's secretary gives him enough money to return home and advises him to start a new book. He was a best-selling novelist (Spencer's Mountain), the author of eight episodes of the classic 1960s TV show The Twilight Zone and, as a screenwriter, adapted the popular children's tale Charlotte's Web, into a hit 2006 film. With the Cast in 1975. TA: And that was your first television credit. Paperback. It's all about Family The Hamner home, headed by Earl Hamner, Sr. and Doris Giannini Hamner, sheltered eight 'thoroughbred' siblings who were instilled with determination, tempered with gentility and a love of family. And, that loss hit Earl Hamner Jr. pretty hard. After graduating from Schuyler High School at the top of his class, Hamner attended the University of Richmond on a scholarship until being drafted into the Army during World War II. He was 92. The Giannini family had migrated to the United States from Lucca, Italy, in the 1700s. TA: Several of your Twilight Zone scripts contain characters cut from the folksy and homespun mold which would become your trademark as a writer. TA: In 1949 both you and Rod Serling were winners in a Dr. Christian radio writing contest. He was 69. 15. Castro said Hamner remained busy in recent years, and had recently sold a play. I resigned from the job to devote full time to writing my novel Spencers Mountain. Rod by then had graduated from college and he took the job I had vacated. Did the Hamner family really own a mountain? He took it very seriously and did a really terrific ceremony, Walmsley said. He returned home dejected. I did eight of those original episodes." (Now published under the title "Twilight Zone Scripts of Earl Hamner.") For if you have no passion for the subject the piece will be flat and lifeless. Hamner died in Los Angeles on March 24, 2016. $645$16.95. Reminiscences of makingThe Waltonstv-series. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. Mini Bio (1) He was also the Creator and Executive Producer for the show "FALCON CREST'' 1981 thru 1988. Did this style of writing come naturally to you or did you have to adapt to it? He continued to live in the Hamner homeplace in Schuyler, Virginia until . Unfortunately, it burned down a few years later, though a new store has sprung up in its place. He was born on July 10, 1923 and his birthplace is Virginia. Clear rating. He then moved to television and wrote the episodes Highway and Hit and Run of the legal drama Justice in 1954. Was the Walton House a real house or a set? The Homecoming: A Novel About Spencers Mountain(1970). (Video) The Waltons Legacy, How the Series Was Different From Real Life, (Video) The Waltons Real Childhood Home ** Waltons Mountain, (Heritage Ways~Cozy Homemaking Old-Fashioned Values), (Video) Hamner Home, the real Waltons Home, (Video) Staying over night in the real Walton's farm house. How long did the TV show The Waltons run? Jane, their two children, Scott and Caroline, a brother, Paul, and two sisters, Audrey and Nancy, survive him. Once in a while Rod would modify the opening or closing I had written for him but he kept the sense of what I had written. Who is Earl Hamner Jr.: Earl Hamner Jr. is a famous TV Producer. TA: Your tenure on The Twilight Zone saw the departure of Producer Buck Houghton and the transition of several other producers. Castro said he learned about Hamner's death from the writer's daughter, Caroline. Earl William Hebner (born May 17, 1949) is an American retired professional wrestling referee who last officiated for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He trained initially at Fort Knox where he almost learned to drive a Sherman Tank. From Charlottesville take US29 south to Highway 6, turn leftFrom Lynchburg take US29 north to Highway 6, turn rightcontinue for 6 miles to State Road 800, Schuyler Road, turn right, continue to the stop sign then turn right onto Rockfish River Road. The Walton House - Interiors Being a domestic, family based drama much of the action was staged in and around the Walton family home. The Waltons aired for more than 200 episodes, with Hamner providing brief voiceover narration in each one, telling his audience about his family's years in the Blue Ridge Mountains and how it had shaped him. Later, Hamner Jr.s experiences during his childhood in the Blue Ridge Mountains would serve as the foundation for his novel Spencers Mountain and the tv-series The Waltons. Did that early meeting with Serling lead to your contributions to The Twilight Zone? Perhaps Mr. Hamner's earlier work is overshadowed by his success as writer, creator and narrator of "The Waltons . . Armed with those two film credits I no longer had to fight producers to convince them that I was a film writer. Earl Hamner Jr., was a writer and producer best known as the creator and narrator of the acclaimed television series The Waltons, which aired on CBS from 1971 to 1981. How many siblings did Earl Hamner have?Nancy Hamner JamersonAudrey Hamner HankinsPaul HamnerBill HamnerJames HamnerClifton Hamner. Earl worked in the summer painting dorms and was a dispatcher for The Brooks Transportation Company during the school year to help pay his expenses. HAMNER: Yes, for a while I was a Twilight Zone writer, but my career took a different turn and I started writing more homespun, family oriented entertainment. Earl Hamner Jr. was born on July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Virginia, to Doris Marion (ne Giannini) and Earl Henry Hamner Sr. His mothers ancestors were immigrants from Lucca, Italy, who had come to USA in the 1700s, and his fathers family came to Virginia from Wales. Until that trip, he said, he had never been more than 40 miles from home. Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful, Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765, Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles. Welcome to the boyhood home of Earl Hamner, Jr., creator of the popular 1970s television series The Waltons and the house that served as a model for the show. In front of the house is the original shed that Earl would use at times to write in to get some peace from other members of his family. He stayed at the boarding house and returned home every weekend by changing two buses and walking six miles. (Video) The Waltons Cast Deaths You Didnt Know About. Earl Hamner, creator of TV's "The Waltons" and "Falcon Crest," in a June 1999 file image. By the time "The Waltons" hit the airwaves, life for Earl Hamner must have seemed pretty good for a "depression kid" from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Earl Hamner, Jr. may have moved on to become King of the (Walton) Mountain, but his contributions to one of the most influential television series of all time are occasionally lost in the Twilight Zone. Bill's three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. There are livestock specialists around LA who train and rent large animals to TV shows. Good Night, John Boy(2002). Murder in Tinseltown(2000). George has been a loyal supporter of my work and he even went so far as to call me with an idea for a television series using my knowledge of and enthusiasm for folk material. Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era upbringing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to create one of television's most beloved family shows, 'The .