It is okay to be alone on Christmas . You are not alone. With cable internet and you tube you are not really alone. Others are spending the day alone at times. Happy New Year to you!
Despite knowing the fact that the house was just a facade on the backlot and interior scenes were actually shot elsewhere on a soundstage, it has made no difference to the enjoyment derived from watching the show as it was all seamlessly blended to make it look so real. Everything is so believable that I never notice the technical aspect of the show although I know a lot of effort was put into making the show. Thank you Judy for todays segment and best wishes and a Happy New Year to you and yours from your waltonian superfan in sunny England😉
We live in a quaint neighborhood and the neighbor's house across the street from us is often used in tv shows and Hallmark movies. The owners are put up in a hotel for that period of time and they are fine with it because they get paid a lot money for the use of their house.
Great segment Judy! We have a friend who is a facilities manager at Warner Bros.. Several years ago he gave us an extensive tour of the studio and explained to us that many of the city street façades at Warner Brothers were actual buildings that housed offices for the studios. When filming was taking place on one of the studio back lot streets, the windows of those offices would be dressed accordingly even while the offices were in use. Also the newer ‘residential’ street that replaced the western back lot set has ‘houses’ that are also used as offices. He explained that Harry Warner was not about to waste any space on the lot if possible and that tradition continues. BTW I asked our friend at Warner brothers how large soundstage 26 is and he said approx 21,000ft.².😄
Hard to believe another year has gone by so fast. It gives me a moment to reflect about the amount of time and effort you have invested in this channel where you rarely have taken extended breaks. If there was an industry award for the effort and content for this type of program, you would certainly be winning the equivalent of an Emmy Award.
You bring up a good point. Judy Norton really has developed a great RU-vid channel experience. One of her rewards is the feedback from the viewer's like you !
In a world where celebrities can have shockingly spoiled and outrageous behavior, Judy gives her fans real value on her channel and is a perfect example of good manners. Her revealing explanations of every episode has given fans a rich full new experience. When she brings guests in today to share about their involvement with the show it is as a new Walton’s product and is done with excitement and real quality. She balances both the past and present wonderfully and with such style and grace. 😇
I did notice the home for the woman who never wanted to leave the house, but Jason got her to do so, was the same house as the Baldwin Sisters but slightly redecorated
@@judynorton2598 I Watch the episodes (I’m on season 5, again lol) I watch them all now as if you were breaking them down to me. I saw an episode where Jason almost fell down the stairs coming into the kitchen.
More great insight into behind the scenes of the Walton’s. Thank you for all you do to bring this information to us. It shows how important what happened during the filming to us fans by how many comments and followers your channel has. Happy new year to you and your family 👏
I always LOVE watching old movies and noticing the backgrounds are murals, trees or houses or whatever. I like to point out those details to my girls. We just finished the Brady Bunch series, and the trees beyond the fence is painted, the grass is fake, and there's an echo in the garage. We were also watching Gilligan's Island when I noticed in some episodes that the scenes around the outside of the huts had an echo. I love that! We just finished White Christmas...so good! I love to look at old Hollywood's fancy dresses and chunky jewelry. But my absolute favorite is when it is raining in a scene, and yet we have all of the shadows being cast from the lights as if it were sunny. It looks like bright daylight, but it's raining hard! Love it!!!!
I hated to be "On Call". Not that I was an actor but a casino bartender in Vegas for awhile until I became a full time bartender on a regularly scheduled shift. It's hard to plan things or go out for the night to drink and come home in the wee hours of the morning knowing that you may be called in to report for work. Happy 2023 Judy!
I love the long-winded answers; the juicy details! I loved everything about the Walton’s set-inside and outside-the feeling they evoked. I’d argue that the sets were actually better at capturing the feeling than any real house would. To me the Walton tv show home, for example, is warmer and richer than the actual Hamner home from what I’ve seen online. I’ve always found stage sets inherently interesting because of the fantasy/reality that can be created. It falls in the same genre as creating fake snow and the excitement of amusement/theme park rides for me. This creating of environments is part of the reason I went into the architecture profession.
Huge thank you Judy for all you do for the fans like answer our questions 👏🏻You keep the show alive for us fans . We love this channel and so appreciate all the guest you bring on. Thanks and Happy New Year🎉
There were some good questions I wouldn't have thought of! It seems the directors had more artistic choices with the sound stage set-up vs filming in a house! The clip of JB typing illustrated that for us people who just happily go along with the artistic direction without questioning it too much! ☺️ In the film Singing in the Rain, Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly perform a romantic song/dance on a sound stage where the directors want the viewer to see it's a sound stage. I don't recall the song. She's wearing a blue dress and climbs a stage ladder at one point. There's a huge fan to produce wind. The soundstage is enormous!! So, I can imagine how they fit nearly all of Walton's Mountain on a soundstage! Is Lorimar still in business? It's so nice you share insights into Mr. Hamner's world ~ afterall, he was JB and his talent, diligence, and success is quite remarkable; you all helped make it happen! You cut your hair! It looks lovely always! Best regards to you and Walton's everywhere for a good New Year! Lots of love from your Pennsylvania fan! ✨🧡💐✨
It's so interesting to hear your perspectives in the here and now. Then see you back in the day doing the shows so young with a future ahead. The future is here and now, so glad to be a part of it with your productions. Happy New Year.
Hello Judy, I have questions on a couple of subjects. First can you tell us a little about Studio Contracts. I know Richard Thomas had a five year contract that he opted out of renewing. Did all the cast have five year contracts or did it vary from cast member to cast member? How does a contract work? What if a cast member is fired or laid off for some reason before their contract is up? What if the cast member decides to leave the show before their contract is up? Next question: How were the cast members paid? Were you paid per episode and if so, were you still paid for an episode if you didn’t appear on that episode? What if you appeared on an episode but didn’t have any dialog?
Not sure about everyone’s contracts. I believe we all initially signed 5 year contracts. I imagine the producer can fire a cast member if they choose. Not sure if they have to pay any compensation - but I believe the cards are in the producer’s hands. I believe all cast were paid “per episode” - usually cast are guaranteed a certain number of episodes. In the case of the regular cast we were guaranteed all episodes. Supporting cast - I’m not sure. They might have had a small number of episodes guaranteed - or it might have been no guarantee and they called the actors agent when an episode included their client/actor. It would be a “availability check”.
Judy, Merry post-Christmas and a blessed 2023. Enjoyed your recent podcasts with guests David, Willy, and Debbie. A couple ideas for future podcasts-- a visit with Michael Learned, and overviews of the show with the Gypsy family, or an interview with the actress who played Daisy. Blessings!
Blessings Judy to you and your family in the coming year. I so look forward to all of your segments, the interesting questions you answer and the behind the scenes that I never much thought about.
I've been wondering if you saw some of Ralph's later roles. The two that come to mind is him portraying a minister on a spap opera. Also his portrayal of a grandfather on Letter To God. He did some wonderful work later in his career!!
@@judynorton2598 I just had to ask that. My mom was a diehard Days Of Our Lives fan. Just as she was starting to get dementia she was watching one day and said, "That Father Matt looks so danged familiar." I had to tell her who was portraying him. 😢
Now I remember ~ I keep forgetting to ask about Walton's Mountain Museum in Schuyler, VA where Mr Hamner lived! Could you perhaps interview someone from the Museum to give us a history, etc.? I had the very good fortune to visit there with my family quite some time ago! It was very wonderful to see the Blue Ridge Mountains! Also, can you share any updates on Fan Clubs, The Blue Ridge Chronicle ~ I don't know who published it, but I had subscribed for a year and it was full of photos and some interesting stories. Also, there was a fanclub in the UK and now I think partly that might be due to Jon Walmsley being from overseas and also the era of the show! Ok, thanks! ☺️✨🧡💐✨ PS ~ I wondered if you might share a Day in the Life of Judy Norton? Thinking of New Year's Resolutions and you're certainly doing something right to be lovely, productive, creative, and healthy ~ I'm sure I could learn a thing or two! You're inspiring! ✨
I'm happy you had a very nice and quiet Christmas. We did too. We had a great meal but it was just Family, but it was lovely at the same time. I looking forward to the New Year, I think we all have been through enough already. Time to take back our lives and routines. Happy new Year to you Judy, and may you have a Blessed new Year. I watched The Original Christmas Walton's episode, with all of you but a different Mom and Dad. I loved this one a lot too...
Judy I just ordered a book by earl hamner called the avocado drive zoo. I think it's all about his family and their various pets. I can't wait to read it. Hope you enjoy your new years holiday
Happy New Year Judy - Thank you for another Year of the Walton's Behind the scenes and stories of the show, and all your guest star's I really enjoyed seeing everyone now grown up. I looking forward to hearing more stories and behind the scenes and hear from the actor's that couldn't make it this year... May Jesus bless you and your family in the new year!
Happy New Year and may God bless you and your loved ones, Judy. I am Canadian and also grew up in a large family of 8 kids I watched the Waltons and love hearing your recollections from your unique perspective. Thanks Judy.
Judy, I hope you and your family have a wonderful New Year!! I am so grateful to you and how you have taken the time care and patience with the fans that love you so. You have made my year wonderful and I thank you!! May God continue to Bless you and your whole family! See you next year Judy you are the BEST!! Kathy 🥰
Was it cool that you could feel like you came from a country/ mountain, old times feeling on the set and then go home and have all the action of California? I was stationed all over California, and back home in Tennessee… a world of difference! It was something!
Question for the future: Can you share about the awards process when you were on The Waltons? The show and cast members received Emmy and Golden Globe Awards, among others. How were episodes and cast members selected/nominated? How was news of being nominated shared? Any details about the process would be appreciated! Jim
You always explain things very well and I understand the whole reason for the façade of the house and the use of sound stages. But....in my mind and heart, that house will always be real and complete.
I used to work on a television soap in Wales (Pobol Y Cwm) where we would film and broadcast on the same day! The producers wanted the actors on set to have the actual newspapers that the audience would have on their kitchen table. On some occasions we would over run and one time the show started broadcasting at 7pm and we had to slot the final scene in 'live', it certainly keep everyone on their toes. They did it this way for around 20 years but now they film a week in advance.
I love Judy her voice is so comforting and she narrates her experiences so well. I would love to see her interview maybe in the future Dennis Kort he was the genius in one episode or the great Charlotte Stewart who appeared in the first episode as well as Little House on the Prairie 😮
Hope you have a great new year Judy. Obviously everyone loved the actors on the show. I fell in love with the front of the house too, as well as the "Waltons" truck and John boys coupe.
We did as well, nice and quiet and very Merry. Glad yours was also. Was also shows like Little House on The Prairie set the same way? Great insight to how the filming went. I actually find it amazing, did the Baldwin sisters based on real people? How did they film the church and Godsey's store? Keep up the great work and sending you a Very Happy Joyful New Year's 2023 with warmest hugs🤗🤗🤗🤗 and much love❤❤❤❤❤ to you your whole family and the cast.
I'm reading Earl Hamner's book The Homecoming now and he calls them Miss Emma and Miss Etta Staples in the book. I've seen interviews with Mr. Hamner where he stated that many of the people and situations were based on real life people. Names and some of the plots were changed somewhat. Judy: you are welcome to correct me if I am incorrect: you know more than I do. You've met Mr. Hamner.
Earl once said the Baldwin sisters were based on a mother and daughter. Not sure how Little House shot as I was never on their sets. The Church was two different locations. One was also the school house building. The other was a small building with a small interior but we didn’t shoot the interiors there that I recall. Godsey’s store exterior was just a facade.
@@judynorton2598 oh ok thanks What other characters were altered, like Jim Bob I believe were based on two brothers, and the grandparents were made up from both sets of grandparents right?
@@judynorton2598 interesting how they did this. I had the opportunity to visit Skyler in 2013 heading back from dropping my daughter off in for a college for a weekend and I was so exited to see the location, but I was kind of saddened, because we could get a tour, we ended up there after hours, but the road to get there and looking through the woods as we drove through the Blueridge mountains was something.
Hi Judy, greetings from Connecticut! Thank you for sharing your videos and information on the Waltons. It has enriched the experience of my memories of watching the Waltons when I was growing up. Looking forward to more of your videos in the new year. Merry Christmas and have a Happy 2023 New Year!🎄
Judy you have the grace and style of the Walton's character Olivia, you're polite, gentle, strong and determined. Happy New Year to you and to all of your fans viewing your podcast.
I just finished watching season 6 episode 20 (the return 1 and 2) with the mine collapse. That ending with the dinner prayer that faded into John Boy writing and thinking, and the “good nights”. And Earl Hamner’s voice. Just a perfect ending. This show never gets old
We had a wonderful Christmas! Two of our children & grandchildren were able to make the drive to come home & these two families hadn't been together for 8 years so it was great to see them all getting to know each other & enjoying each others company! Only one family wasn't able to make the drive as the heavy snows & having horses & cattle that depend on you to feed them 3 times a day in the wintertime [helps them to stay warm as well as nourish them] makes it impossible to make long trips. Summertime is easier to get away as they only need feeding twice a day.
My husband and i just spent the couple of months watching the whole series...so enjoyable! I absolutely loved the show as a teen and get to enjoy it again as an older adult.
Many of my questions are answered in your videos. Just complimenting you on how much I enjoy your explanations on what you do. I can watch you do anything! Please continue with this platform for as long as possible. Love it & You Tremendously! Thank you & Happy New Year! 🙂
Hello, Ms. Norton. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer viewer questions! I am 59, and viewed the show from 1972 to 1974 in Colorado Springs, and later from rural South Dakota. I know actors chafe under being forever tied to primarily one role. But sometimes I think actors who become wise to the greater meaning of life become aware that they were a part of something much bigger, something whose reach goes far beyond "Thursday nights at seven," or what-have-you.
Well done Judy. I hope you have a very happy New Year and I look forward to more amazing behind the scenes and any special guests that you may have for us on your channel. 👍🏻
Thank you, Judy, for more insight on behind the scenes. I want to wish you and yours a happiest of The New Year with health and happiness throughout the year.
The questions and answer were really great. For me I've always really wondered about the shed. It always seemed to get bigger. When John Boy used it seemed very small but then when Ben and Cindy used it almost looked like it double in size. Magic of television. Thank you, Judy for a 2022 season Behind the scenes with the Waltons. I think we all will look forward with what 2023 will bring. Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!🥰
Judy, HI from the deep south in Louisiana! We loved the show in the 70s, and we still love it today. We have many DVDs, plus watch the Videos online. They never get old. Again, Thanks to you and your friends for making many people happy. I hate to say this, but Martha Corin was one of my favorites along with you and the others. Thanks Again, LiPo
Great inside scoop about the making of the show. Always find it so interesting because to me the house looked so real and believable as the place where everyone went inside and did the interior scenes! Had no clue. Wanted to mention also I love your Christmas album, got it on Amazon and have really enjoyed it over these last few weeks 💚💚
Happy New Year, Judy. One could build a real house with The Walton House in mind. We vision three bedroom windows (dormers) on the roof. I would created three more in the rear for a fourth bedroom and two baths, for the boys and one for the girls. A third bath in the "grandparents" room. I would make the kitchen a workable kitchen, move the stove to where the refrigerator was. Maybe a "dishwasher." The table would stay with chairs not benches. It could confusing especially today with cellphones and computers. Imagining when John-Boy didn't know how to use the crank phone.
Someone actually built John & Olivia’s B&B in Schuyler VA - it is a replica of the Walton House. The outside looks amazingly like the house on the show and the inside living room/kitchen is very close. The bedrooms are not as close as they need to work as real rooms - each has it’s own bathroom as well.
More great stuff from Waltons mountain. 200 years ago you could read a book or go to the theater. Then came film. A pictures worth a thousand words, then came movies. A new way to tell a story. Once the talkies made their debut. The magic of Hollywood was coming of age. It really is a new way of story telling considering it hasn't been around that long. Still evolving. It truly is a magical experience. Your RU-vid channel will certainly be a part of its history ! Looking forward to another year of whatever you have planed.
Hi Judy! Thank you for another amazing video with so many new things I’ve learned :) I didn’t know the Walton house wasn’t a real house, that’s all so cool. I hope you have a wonderful happy New Year! 2022 was the best year ever because it’s the year that I am noticed by you and other Walton’s cast members for the very first time! It’s the year that my dream came true of getting so many replies from you all when at first I never thought it could happen and then it did ❤ and 2023 is about to be another amazing year! And I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day :) Love, Jamie ~ huge Walton’s fan ✨
It certainly is a wonderful feeling have a connection with these wonderful people who are part of our lives through the magic of Hollywood, and now the miracle of high tech social media.
When you was married to curtis on the waltons, I really liked him, I like how he was so direct to people when he was a doctor, I wish he would of been in more episodes, thank you
Happy New Year, Judy and all our wonderful fans! Stage 26 was 10,600 square feet and the ceiling was 35 feet high. To the best of my recall our sets remained in place over the haitus, and this made perfect sense as there really wasn't time to strike all our sets, lights, etc and then have to totally reset for the next season in, and if another show were to come in during the break they would have their construction etc and then have to strike theirs before we could move in and start construction of ours...also to consider is if we struck we would have to deal with damage, repair etc, it just made sense to leave the sets standing. Btw we did have a set on Stage 26 of the front of the house...front porch, etc. As for company moves from the backlot I recall the fastest move we evr made was 20 minute (unheard of today) and I was very proud of that! We did move fast, we just had to!! One day while shooting on 26 we made a move to another area of 26 where there was an Auditorium set replete with a Stage where John-Boy was to give out diplomas to Waltons School Graduates, and seats for the audience which were occupied by Extras and Michael and Ralph (I believe it was "The Career Girl" episode....anyway, the point was that were were moving so fast that when moved to that set the crew were still finishing up. Hary Harris was directing and asked me to quickly get into wardrobe (luckily Richard and were the same size) to perform a piece of business as one of the 'Gradutes. I quickly took a seat next to the podium where Richard would give me a diploma. Well, I being aware of the need to get the scene shot quickly simply sat in the chair while lighting was being set. When we rolled film, and I got up to do my thing I had been sitting so long that the paint (which was still sticky) had attached to the bottom of my shoes and when I made the cross to the podium floor came off with each step...I broke out of character, got the giggles and we had to cut...Richard looked at me began laughing and said, "Was it something I said?" I pointed to the bare floor footprints and thte paint on my shoes and we just lost, and sometimes when actors get the giggles you just can't stop! Long story short (too late for that) we worked very fast!...One more thing...although the house on the backlot was only a facade, there wasn't a day when I didn't imagine it was the real thing....oh, and also I recall there being ladders behind each of the windows the cast would have to climb if they needed to deliver from a window...Judy, do you recall this?
Thank you John!! We’ll have to schedule another time to do a segment soon!! I do recall climbing the ladders and the raw wood boards up there that we walked across to get to those upper windows when needed for scenes. Happy New Year!
Can you recollect the major differences in working with Patricia Neal as Mama versus Michael Learned as Mama? Is it true that Ms. Neal would have liked to have been selected for the role as Mama but was not asked? Thank you!
Judy, I have always loved the Walton house even after the show ended. I always vowed if I could have a house built I would replicate the house from the Walton's. Don't know if I will ever see that dream to fruition or not, but I love dreaming about it.
01.01.2023 🥳🎉 Happy New Year 2023 to you, Judy🌷!!! You're always such a pleasure to watch & listen to. Thank you for taking the time to read & answer our questions. Very much appreciated!!! Have a wonderful week!!! 😍
Idea for a future video - talk to, if you could find them, one of the 'extra/supporting' cast. We always see them walking in and out of the store or visiting Zancy when he was in jail. Their typical day schedule, how their contract worked, etc.
This is a very sad new year for me I just lost my mother I’m 92 years old we used to sit and watch the Waltons together she loved the Waltons she really enjoyed the Waltons as I passed away back in August so it’s very difficult I’m not doing well don’t know if I’ll ever be happy again I don’t know if I ever recover lost my husband four years prior but my mom was my best friend I was her only daughter and I’m so glad I discovered this you and there’s so many questions so many things that I was unaware of when it came to filming the Waltons but it’s hard for me now to even watch any of the old episodes because I am not with my mother Mothers not sitting next to me but keep up the good work Judy and maybe one of these days when I’m able to turn the Waltons old again but I do check out your website thank you for doing it and you look fantastic
You mentioned there was room on the soundstage to build temporary sets such as Mary Ellen and Erin's apartment. How far in advance would the set be built and were they built at night as to not disturb filming during the day?
Usually built pretty soon before use. It would be built during the day, not a problem if we were shooting on the back lot. So I think schedule was looked at for building.
Wish you , Happy New Year 2023. Truly enjoy watching The Waltons. Had Watch Himecoming film movie was first made was my favorite tv show back then. 1973/1974. Was No cell phone back then. Only phone in home or pay phone both . Thank you Judy . That was store remind my late grandma small town store. Back then 1970s.
I added a comment a few moments ago about my mother how much she enjoyed the Waltons so much as much as I did it we still watch it I live next-door to my mother we used to watch The show religiously we would’ve never missed it even when it first and the Waltons first came on the air my mother lived 0:18 next-door to me for 17 years and we used to watch it one way back and then when she got very ill he started to decline we still watched it together she enjoyed it at East her I think it is a lot of her discomfort sitting in her chair and both of us watching it together but my mother I put it in I may need to know I am 70 my mother was 92 when she passed away I was with her when she passed and I must say that I wish I would’ve got on your website when my mother was here on this earth with me I could’ve shared with her so many wonderful things that she never would’ve known she probably thought it was filled it filmed in an old farmhouse when it really actually was on a set I could’ve told I like my mother was so many wonderful things so much information so many wonderful so many Exciting amazing details God bless you Judy happy new year to you and I’m going to keep getting on your site because what an insight things I’m finding out I had no idea if only they would come back with wonderful Wholesome heartwarming shows like the Waltons again and bring the old the good old shows on television family shows hi we really look forward to the night the Waltons came on and even years after many years after i right now I’m not I’m so heartbroken
