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Post by clyde on Feb 16, 2019 13:18:41 GMT -5
I wonder how the Waltons heated the upstairs of their house? I know they had a big fireplace downstairs, but those Virginia winters are pretty cold when getting up to milk the cow in the morning. Also, Grandma and Grandpa were probably chilly in their little alcove. Maybe they had a furnace - they never seem too bundled up.
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Post by JeriJet on Feb 16, 2019 14:02:07 GMT -5
Relatives of mine -- who had older houses with just some sort of "oil burner" in the basement and no radiators throughout the house -- had rather decorative (darn, my vocabulary isn't working!) um... slatted "openings" in the floors and ceilings which allowed heat to work its way up through the house -- these could be closed easily.... I'll try to find an image...
Although we seldom felt cold, you wouldn't want to walk barefoot -- the floors never seemed to heat up....
In our Vermont cabin, we had what were called heatilator vents in the front of the fireplace -- usually four of them, with two placed up near the mantle and two down near the floor.... so, the main room was nice and warm, but there was no heat in the bedrooms.....
Similar:
Oh, forget it -- while I was searching (and found some good ones), zadok jumped in while my post was still open and "stole my thunder" !!!
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Post by Johnny on Feb 16, 2019 14:26:20 GMT -5
This is a good question. Perhaps those who have visited Earl's home in Schuyler, VA. could shed some light on this question. I know many older homes of the 19th century had a central chimney such that there were fireplaces on each floor surrounding the chimney. Beds could be warmed with rocks warmed in the fire. I didn't notice fireplaces in the other rooms of the Walton home.
On Waltons mountain, wood was plentiful and John was often providing firewood to members of the community. If all they had in the Waltons home was a first floor fireplace, it would be quite chilly upstairs as well as Grampa & Gramma's room. I suspect the kitchen stove also radiated much heat while it was stoked with wood. They did supplement the heat with small electric heaters like Grampa used in the bathroom when preparing for his bath. I used one just like that while doing my homework in a cold basement in high school. It was my own little office in an unheated portion of our basement. The design of those heaters remind me of a satellite dish. In addition to those family made quilts, if they also made feathered quilts (featherbed), that would certainly help keep them warm on cold winter nights.
electric heater
As Jeri has mentioned, heat could also be distributed using floor registers. As heat rises by convection, it would flow upstairs through these registers. I've seen these in many older homes built in the era of the Waltons.
heat registers
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Post by JeriJet on Feb 16, 2019 15:40:59 GMT -5
Here's what heatilator vents look like:
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Post by carol on Feb 16, 2019 23:28:10 GMT -5
My grandparents had a farm. They bought it in 1958 and sold it in 1978 and there was no heat on the second floor. Dad who was a teenager when they moved there said they didn't think much of it. They just had extra blankets on the beds.The first floor was heated by a furnace and there was also a pellet stove in the kitchen that they used for heat. When my grandparents bought the farm there was no bath tub or shower in the house either. There was a small bathroom off of the kitchen. It had just a toilet and sink. Dad said they showered with a hose in a shed in the summer and just washed off a the sink in cold weather. Dad and my grandfather put in a full bath on the second floor about a year after they moved in. There was also an outhouse off to the side of the house. They never used it.
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Post by Johnny on Feb 17, 2019 1:23:40 GMT -5
My grandparents had a farm. They bought it in 1958 and sold it in 1978 and there was no heat on the second floor. Dad who was a teenager when they moved there said they didn't think much of it. They just had extra blankets on the beds.The first floor was heated by a furnace and there was also a pellet stove in the kitchen that they used for heat. To get a feel for the kind of winter temperatures they experienced, I wonder what part of the country was his farm house located?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2019 4:34:58 GMT -5
These are two things which bother me. There are two farms near to where I live, the electricity is carried to each farm by cable which is supported by poles, the same with the telephone line. Yet these are nowhere to be seen anywhere near to any dwelling in the vicinity of the Walton homestead. I've never seen any telegraph poles around Miss Fanny's telephone exchange or electricity pylons in the area. A couple of points concerning the Walton's house, I've noticed there is no guttering at the bottom of the house and porch rooves, was this a common thing? The second point is the house is quite close to trees, what if one of these is struck by lightening or blown over in a storm. There is also the possibility of the house being burned down by a woodland fire.
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Post by JeriJet on Feb 17, 2019 12:28:52 GMT -5
We must all remember that "The Waltons" tv program is fiction !!! There is no need for either telegraph lines or exposed telephone lines.... Nor do they have to worry about how the home is heated! The structure is on a studio backlot.... Could be electric heat, for all we know. And, it was probably also air-conditioned ! Oh, just remembered -- it wasn't a real structure, just a 3-sided "shell" with a rear scaffolding for John-Boy to climb up to his bedroom window....
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Post by carol on Feb 17, 2019 15:11:04 GMT -5
My grandparents had a farm. They bought it in 1958 and sold it in 1978 and there was no heat on the second floor. Dad who was a teenager when they moved there said they didn't think much of it. They just had extra blankets on the beds.The first floor was heated by a furnace and there was also a pellet stove in the kitchen that they used for heat. To get a feel for the kind of winter temperatures they experienced, I wonder what part of the country was his farm house located? It is in Maryland. We don't get as cold as some parts of the country. We don't often get sub zero temperatures. This will give you an idea of temperatures then and now. www.weather.gov/media/lwx/climate/bwitemps.pdf
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Post by carol on Feb 17, 2019 15:17:22 GMT -5
These are two things which bother me. There are two farms near to where I live, the electricity is carried to each farm by cable which is supported by poles, the same with the telephone line. Yet these are nowhere to be seen anywhere near to any dwelling in the vicinity of the Walton homestead. I've never seen any telegraph poles around Miss Fanny's telephone exchange or electricity pylons in the area. A couple of points concerning the Walton's house, I've noticed there is no guttering at the bottom of the house and porch rooves, was this a common thing? The second point is the house is quite close to trees, what if one of these is struck by lightening or blown over in a storm. There is also the possibility of the house being burned down by a woodland fire. I believe the house did sustain some damage in a California wildfire some years ago.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2019 20:30:21 GMT -5
We must all remember that "The Waltons" tv program is fiction !!! There is no need for either telegraph lines or exposed telephone lines.... Nor do they have to worry about how the home is heated! The structure is on a studio backlot.... Could be electric heat, for all we know. And, it was probably also air-conditioned ! Oh, just remembered -- it wasn't a real structure, just a 3-sided "shell" with a rear scaffolding for John-Boy to climb up to his bedroom window.... I know The Waltons is fiction and the buildings aren't real structures. My trouble and I'm not ashamed to admit this is, I'm a bit of a pedant and everything's got to be just right. When I see any exterior film set like those in The Waltons it just doesn't look authentic enough.
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Post by JeriJet on Feb 18, 2019 1:04:37 GMT -5
We must all remember that "The Waltons" tv program is fiction !!! There is no need for either telegraph lines or exposed telephone lines.... Nor do they have to worry about how the home is heated! The structure is on a studio backlot.... Could be electric heat, for all we know. And, it was probably also air-conditioned ! Oh, just remembered -- it wasn't a real structure, just a 3-sided "shell" with a rear scaffolding for John-Boy to climb up to his bedroom window.... I know The Waltons is fiction and the buildings aren't real structures. My trouble and I'm not ashamed to admit this is, I'm a bit of a pedant and everything's got to be just right. When I see any exterior film set like those in The Waltons it just doesn't look authentic enough. Oh, Joe-Zeb, I'm afraid you'd be quite miserable if you ever had to work on a set, whether stage or tv !! -- So much of it is under time strict constraints and there are so many details... they strive for a general effect, knowing perfection is seldom possible.. I remember once when working on a stock show of My Fair Lady -- we didn't have enough gentlemen's cummerbunds (sp?) for the Ascot Races scene... I ended up making one out of paper towels from the ladies room, scotch tape, and staples !! Similar problems can come up even in exterior scenes... It's been mentioned here before the fact that we seldom see seasonal changes -- little snow, etc. <iframe width="18.340000000000032" height="7.680000000000007" style="position: absolute; width: 18.34px; height: 7.68px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 15px; top: -6px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_96777157" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="18.340000000000032" height="7.680000000000007" style="position: absolute; width: 18.34px; height: 7.68px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 863px; top: -6px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_74254486" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="18.340000000000032" height="7.680000000000007" style="position: absolute; width: 18.34px; height: 7.68px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 15px; top: 321px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_56917045" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="18.340000000000032" height="7.680000000000007" style="position: absolute; width: 18.34px; height: 7.68px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 863px; top: 321px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_29263644" scrolling="no"></iframe>
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2019 9:47:46 GMT -5
My quote's not working properly. Jeri, would you believe I have worked on a few stage sets, my first was with the church drama group when I was 17 although it wasn't much of a set. We were a fledgling group and as the church hall didn't have a stage, we used the hall of a church in a neighboring parish. We didn't have stage flats, just drapes. The production was a stage version of a movie called A Lady Mislaid. Its a play about two ladies who move into a country cottage. As far as I can remember its about a lady who has gone missing. At one point the ladies have a visit from a detective sergeant. I'm not kidding when I say there's more corn in the jokes, than there is in a packet of flakes. DS: I'm the OIC. Lady: OIC. DS: Officer in charge. Lady: Oh, I see. I was one of the background boys who did the sound effects. The other two were Roger 17 and Keith 11 who ushered people to their seats. I've forgotten what Roger did, I haven't forgotten that he accidentally killed himself during rehearsals apparently he'd been experimenting while taking a bath. He'd put a plastic bag over his head no knowing of the consequences of suffocation and had gone under the water. At the inquest the coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. Regardless of his death the play went on. My next venture took me to the drama group at a local technical college, which had an auditorium. It had a reasonably sized stage under which were kept the stage flats and various properties. One of the productions I was involved with was The Rape of the Belt a play by Benn Levy. In which, Heracles and Theseus do battle with the Amazons in order to accomplish the ninth of the Labours of Heracles by stealing Hippolyte's belt. This was an arena production in that most of the action took place amongst the audience as well as on stage, this meant some of the seating had to be rearranged. The arrows indicate the direction in which the audience faced. As it happened the role of Heracles was performed by John Wolf (name changed) who took me for art at the school I went to. Seemed strange calling him by his first name rather than Mr Wolf or sir. Peter Johnson (name changed) was a lecturer at the college who taught drama. It was his drama group and boy was he strict. During rehearsals which took place in the student's common room some of us were talking so he told us to shut up. Now Peter knew how to project his voice at a terrific volume. One of the group members had slipped out to visit the toilet, which was some distance to where we were. When he got back he told us he heard Peter tell us to shut up while he was in the toilet.
You mentioned time constraints, we had that with the local amateur operatic society. Rehearsals took place in a school, but the production was performed in a local cinema, which was closed as a cinema during the week when it was occupied by the society. As soon as the last showing of a film on the Saturday evening was over, so we moved in and got the the stage ready through the night for the technical rehearsal on Sunday afternoon, with the dress rehearsal in the evening. I generally gave a hand at moving the props on stage. One of the productions we did was The King's Rhapsody. There was little for me to do during act two so I got to watch it from the circle of the cinema. It's ironic that you mentioned My Fair Lady as that was the production the following year.
I'll never forget the scene The King's Rhapsody where the boy king is crowned, he was played by the son of one of the members. He was only 14 at the time and during his coronation scene one of the lady cast members had to sing something. Normally she was a good singer, but on this occasion her emotions got the better of her. As I watched from the wings I could see she was trying desperately to hold back the tears that were welling up in her eyes and once or twice you'd hear a croak in her voice.
Moving to a village drama group was a bit of a culture shock, the theater was so tiny compared with the two above. Nevertheless, it gave me the opportunity to do a bit of acting. My first role was that of the bellhop in Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, in fact, I also had to double up as the waiter. I was so nervous, I recall during rehearsals where I had to get the check signed by Sam Nash, that I actually walked backwards on the stage. Gwen the producer stopped me and asked why I was walking that way, I replied I thought it was rude to turn your back on the audience.
Mom came up with a brilliant idea, she said why don't you record the lines where you appear only thing is, leave the bits where you have to speak and when you play the recording back you fill in the gaps, that way you'll learn your lines better. A week before the first performance I told one of the members about a bad dream I'd had, she told me it was normal as it meant good luck and I had nothing to worry about.
Anyway, something happened during the first night. Each of the three acts was opened by a number sung by Tony Bennett two of which were I Want To Be Around and I Left My Heart In San Fransisco. I was first on stage which was blacked out, I waited until the song was faded down and then I opened the door stage right. In my left hand I carried an item of luggage belonging to Karen Nash. With my right hand I placed it on a switch which was located on a flat as if to turn on the light of Room 719 of the Plaza Hotel. Of course the light was in fact the stage lights, which were brought up by Colin the stage manager who was sitting above the stage. The lights failed to come on. I repeated the process and still no lights. I did it a third time but before I did I gave a bit of a cough and then up they came.Thank goodness Colin had the brains to figure out what was happening.
Later I asked him what happened, he told me the location of the door was in his blind spot from where he sat. I then had an idea, I told him just before I open the door I'll kick it just loud enough for you to hear it. You and I then start to count (1) I open the door (2) I'm reaching for the switch (3) I turn the switch on, you bring up the lights. So we tried it before we left the theater, it worked perfectly.
The bellhop and Karen enter stage right, he is carrying an item of luggage, he switches on the light and then moves upstage and places the luggage on the bed. Karen sits on an armchair, removes her shoes and then stands up. Meanwhile having checked the bathroom the bellhop walks to the door, turns and looks at Karen.
Bellhop: Is everything alright ma'm?
Karen stands up.
Karen: Yes, err, no wait a moment, this is suite 719.
Bellhop: Yes ma'm 719.
Karen: This is where I spent my honeymoon, tonight is our wedding anniversary Sam my husband will be along soon.
Bellhop: Oh congratulations.
Karen moves toward a window stage left and looks out of it.
Karen: What's that over there?
Bellhop: Oh that, why that's the General Motors building.
Karen: Used to be an hotel, oh well, if it's there one day, you can guarantee it wont be there in the morning.
The bellhop opens the door.
Bellhop: Well have a good evening ma'm and once gain my congratulations.
Karen moves toward the bed and reaches for her purse, she opens it and takes hold of a dollar bill walks over to the bellhop and hands it to him.
Bellhop: Thank you ma'm.
He salutes and exits.
Last lines.
The bellhop enters stage right carrying a tray on it are two glasses and a bottle of champagne. He walks over to a table lower stage center and places the glasses and the bottle on it. As he does so, so Sam Nash comes out of the bathroom with a brief case in hand and walks toward the door and exists. The bellhop looks at Karen.
Bellhop: Is he coming back, I brought two glasses just in case.
Karen looks at him with a vacant expression on her face and shrugs her shoulders.
Stage blackout.
I did all that from memory.
So you see Jeri I was never miserable both behind the stage and before an audience. In fact I quite enjoyed it.
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Post by RebeccaLee on Feb 18, 2019 10:23:03 GMT -5
My mom and dad grew up in the Canadian prairies where temperatures get to -30f or colder. A warm day was -10f Dad had coal and wood heat. Mom, I believe just wood and she talked about sleeping upstairs with lots of blankets and getting dressed over the vent where heat came through from the wood cookstove in the kitchen. She and her 3 sisters shared a room but 2 to a bed. I see in the Waltons they all had there own beds which in reality was not common. Here in the mountains we heat with wood and although not as cold here heat rises up the stairs and we are very cozy.
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Post by JeriJet on Feb 18, 2019 11:19:10 GMT -5
Joe-Zeb: Wonderful stories !! (I obviously had no idea). So, I guess it surprises me even more that the overlooked details bother you so much... I love theatre-in-the-round... except that once I had a first-row aisle seat at an off-Bway "The Fantasticks" and got hit in the head!! BTW, Will Geer was in that production!
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