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Post by eclectic on Apr 15, 2014 17:47:02 GMT -5
What are some often-used plot devices on the Waltons that you find eye-rolling?
For me, it's the existence of old empty, abandoned homes just sitting there waiting and available when new people come to town needing a place to stay and they apparently move right on in and become squatters, without paying rent to whoever owns the place. And such homes, even if shabby, always meet minimum standards of livability, no matter how long they stood empty. A variation on this theme is how so many former residents of Waltons Mtn moved away without selling or renting their old homes when they left, which are likewise standing ready for them to move back in many years later.
Another eye-roller is how many drifters of various types found their way to Walton's Mtn, which was hardly on the main road to anywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 18:14:24 GMT -5
I think that in that era there were homes that were walked away from. With the Depression going on, many could not afford their homes anymore. Truthfully, not much of the rural US had electricity then, so as long as the chimney worked, they were liveable.
There is a valley in California, not even a spit from the Bay Area, that did not get electricity until the 1950's. So much for progress.
Yes, the foot traffic on Waltons Mountian was impressive to say the least.
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Post by eclectic on Apr 15, 2014 20:38:43 GMT -5
I think that in that era there were homes that were walked away from. With the Depression going on, many could not afford their homes anymore. Truthfully, not much of the rural US had electricity then, so as long as the chimney worked, they were liveable. There is a valley in California, not even a spit from the Bay Area, that did not get electricity until the 1950's. So much for progress. Yes, the foot traffic on Waltons Mountian was impressive to say the least. Well, I know some people were put out of their homes back then, but the banks wouldn't leave them empty a nd just let squatters move in. But on the Waltons there are just too many houses like that conveniently available at any given time to be realistic. And by "liveable", I did not mean electricity, I meant a roof that did not leak and no broken windows or animals having taken up residence inside. And the ones who left for many years, then returned to their old homes all had money: the Pendletons, the people from New York, Zeb's old friend with dementia. It seems as if these people, especially the ones from New York, would have sold or rented their homes when they left for other states. At the very least, the ones with some money would have had caretakers living in the homes to make sure they didn't deteriorate, in case they'd be able to sell the home once times got better..
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Post by Syddie Rose on Apr 15, 2014 22:20:58 GMT -5
In any TV show set in rural areas, there's ALWAYS one about a kid falling into a mine/deserted well. I thought The Waltons were the exception until I watched the last episode of season six...
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Post by carol on Apr 15, 2014 22:22:06 GMT -5
I think that in that era there were homes that were walked away from. With the Depression going on, many could not afford their homes anymore. Truthfully, not much of the rural US had electricity then, so as long as the chimney worked, they were liveable. There is a valley in California, not even a spit from the Bay Area, that did not get electricity until the 1950's. So much for progress. Yes, the foot traffic on Waltons Mountian was impressive to say the least. Well, I know some people were put out of their homes back then, but the banks wouldn't leave them empty a nd just let squatters move in. But on the Waltons there are just too many houses like that conveniently available at any given time to be realistic. And by "liveable", I did not mean electricity, I meant a roof that did not leak and no broken windows or animals having taken up residence inside. And the ones who left for many years, then returned to their old homes all had money: the Pendletons, the people from New York, Zeb's old friend with dementia. It seems as if these people, especially the ones from New York, would have sold or rented their homes when they left for other states. At the very least, the ones with some money would have had caretakers living in the homes to make sure they didn't deteriorate, in case they'd be able to sell the home once times got better.. Many rich people became paupers overnight during the depression and the stock market crash. They probably didn't sell or rent out the house because no one could afford to buy or pay rent during the depression. Many of the homes were probably foreclosed on or repossessed because the taxes couldn't be paid. Remember the episode where John Boy worked for the tax collector and people almost lost their homes because they couldn't afford to pay the taxes or make repairs to the houses.
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Post by twinkle on Apr 16, 2014 4:39:27 GMT -5
Interesting thread this because I have found myself rolling my eyes at certain times watching this show.
My eye-rolling moments happen whenever there is a major announcement expected over the radio - everyone on Waltons Mountain gathers at the Walton house to hear it, even though the Godsey's have a radio as well.
The bringing of bad news always seems to be the role of Jim-Bob. Jim-Bob told Mary-Ellen that the telegram about Curt was bad news. Jim-Bob made the announcement about President Kennedy dying and Jim-Bob arrived in his car at the church to announced that Jack Ruby had been shot.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2014 12:58:04 GMT -5
I agree, he seemed to always be the bearer of bad news. As far as the drifters go, I loved that part! There was always someone new to get to know. Always a new story to tell or maybe a new romance for one of the characters. My eye rolling moments came with each new idea Corabeth came up with for Ike's store/new business ventures. It's too bad she couldn't have found one that succeeded.
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