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Post by flossieskid on Jun 10, 2021 7:21:59 GMT -5
As I have been reviewing a lot of the posts from years past, there are many references to the “Reunions”. I would love to hear from the fans on the Forum about: - when are they held? - where - and are they always held at the same place? - I saw when the John and Olivia’s B&B opened, there were autograph sessions. But, I would assume most of the devoted fans who have attended the reunions must have most every cast members’ autograph by now - - so what other things are done at the reunions?
I would really enjoy hearing about any special memories from Forum participants at the reunions.
I sure look forward to your responses! Thank you!
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Post by Easton on Jun 10, 2021 7:36:21 GMT -5
(never) Been there. (never) Done that.
I would have loved to have met the cast but it just wasn't in the cards. I have to meet them vicariously through those who actually have.
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Post by noplacelikehome on Jun 10, 2021 8:55:31 GMT -5
I guess you call it a Reunion Cruise that took place in December 1999.
I just happened to see it advertised on the internet, and jumped at the chance to see the cast from my favorite TV series. I actually traveled on this cruise alone, but met some wonderful people who are still my friends today.
It was wonderful dining with the cast, and they held several musical shows while onboard the ship. We sailed to the Bahamas. The cast was promoting their new Christmas CD.
Patricia Neal, Will Windom, Joe Conley, Judy Norton, Mary McDonough, Jon Walmsley, Eric Scott (and his fiancé), Tony Becker.
It was so much fun.
Since then, I've seen the cast at the Marshfield Cherry Blossom festival in Missouri. I believe that was in 2019.
(I understand there was another attempt to get a Walton's Cruise together a few years ago, however it didn't happen for some reason).
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Post by noplacelikehome on Jun 10, 2021 12:46:29 GMT -5
Since Carolyn Grinnell is no longer President of the Walton's Fan Club, they haven't been scheduling a yearly Reunion event. I do know they host special events occasionally at John and Olivia's Bed and Breakfast in Schuyler, VA. Cast member Marcia Woolery (Reen) was there recently.
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Post by isumpin on Jun 11, 2021 7:06:03 GMT -5
I keep thinking with it being the 50th. There should be something soon. As bad as I want to see David Harper, I want to see all of the cast too. And Virginia would be perfect! So I guess it's fingers crossed.
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Post by Brenda on Jun 11, 2021 8:40:29 GMT -5
In 1992 (I think that is the correct year), the Waltons Mountain Museum opened in Schuyler, Virginia. Thousands of people gathered in that small town for the grand opening and to meet many of the cast members who were there. Some of the Waltons fans decided to organize a fan club with Carolyn Grinnell as its President. The fan club began sponsoring annual Waltons reunions. I didn’t become involved with the Waltons fan club until the late 1990s. The annual Waltons International Fan Club reunions were usually held in the fall in Virginia, sometimes in Lynchburg and sometimes in Charlottesville. A typical reunion weekend would begin on Friday evening as fans arrived at the hotel. There would be an informal meet and greet session with the cast members who were there. On Saturday, there would usually be an autograph session, and most reunion attendees would go to Schuyler to see the museum, the Hamner house, the Baptist church, the Rockfish post office, etc. On Saturday evening there would be a banquet at the hotel with a nice dinner and a program where special guests, cast members, would speak. Fans would be able to interact with cast members, and there would be many photo opportunities. On Sunday morning, most people would say their good-byes and return to their homes. Some people would make a vacation out of it and spend a few days in Virginia since there are so many interesting places to go and things to see in that part of Virginia. Sometimes the reunion would be held in California rather than Virginia. I’m not sure how many California events there have been, but I attended two of them, in 2007 and 2012. There have also been other events sponsored by people who were not affiliated with the fan club. I believe the cruise was one of those events. As noplacelikehome said, Carolyn Grinnell retired a few years ago, and we no longer have these annual reunions, but there are still opportunities to meet cast members at various times throughout the year at the B&B in Schuyler. These events are announced on Facebook, and someone usually posts the announcement here on the forum. I have attended many of the Waltons reunions and other Waltons events over the past 20 plus years. I have met most of the regular cast members, and I have many autographs and photos. While I treasure all the memories I have of meeting the cast members and others affiliated with my favorite tv show, the best part to me is the lifetime friendships I’ve formed with other fans. When I attend a Walton event these days, what I look forward to is getting together with my friends from all parts of the United States and even other countries. I agree with isumpin . We need to have a special event of some kind to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Homecoming (this year) and the 50th anniversary of the tv series (next year).
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Post by flossieskid on Jun 11, 2021 9:56:47 GMT -5
Thank you, Brenda, for sharing the wonderful descriptions of the reunions. I felt like I was actually there the terrific way you highlighted all the great activities. It sounded like a lot of fun!
It is rare that people get the chance to meet members of a TV show they loved, but even more special that you made lifelong friends along the way. What a true blessing for everyone involved.
Wouldn’t it be a delight if there actually were any celebrations, as you said, for the upcoming Walton movie and the 50th anniversary? Fingers crossed!!!
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Post by Brenda on Jun 11, 2021 13:31:06 GMT -5
I don’t know of any other tv show where the cast members have been so accessible to the fans. I do indeed feel fortunate to have met so many of them. When I was watching the series in the 1970s, I could not imagine that I would one day meet these people. I have also met two cast members of Little House on the Prairie. The Laura Ingalls Wilder homesites in various locations throughout the Midwest often have special events to celebrate Laura’s life, and sometimes the tv cast members attend these events. I met Alison Arngrim and Dean Butler in DeSmet, South Dakota, in 2017.
I do feel blessed to have formed close friendships with Waltons fans. Here is one example. In 2016, my husband passed away after a 3 year battle with cancer. Friends I met through The Waltons traveled from their home in Alabama to West Virginia to attend his funeral and to support me during that most difficult time in my life. Waltons friends are the best!
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Post by Easton on Jun 11, 2021 14:53:51 GMT -5
I don’t know of any other tv show where the cast members have been so accessible to the fans. I think that's because not only were they a family on television, they became a family in real life. That is virtually unique in the industry.
The only other show I can think of like that was The Andy Griffith Show, but even with their many fans, there weren't any reunions in Mayberry.
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Post by flossieskid on Jun 11, 2021 15:40:03 GMT -5
Gosh Brenda, so sorry to hear about your husband. One of my best friends, Nancy Dorff (mother of actor Stephen Dorff) waged a valiant battle against brain cancer and died nearly two years after her diagnosis. I was gutted and cannot possibly imagine how difficult it would be to see a spouse battle so hard with that horrible disease.
It is a testament to your spirit and friendship that people traveled to see you after his passing. I am sure that was an amazing comfort to you to know so many people cared.
I think you and Easton are right. The sense of family and love portrayed by the writers and actors on the Waltons will never be replicated. My Dad played the father of Opie’s best friend in The Andy Griffith Show and, while I think there was a lot of caring in that cast, nothing could or will surpass the Waltons. I think it resonated with the American people because deep down we all would like to hope that our own family might be able to show us the love and care each member of the Walton family did. Few shows ever touched the hearts of everyone that watched.
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Post by kazk on Jun 11, 2021 20:12:56 GMT -5
Thought I'd pop on with a reply to this one. I live in Australia and have been lucky enough to combine three reunions with holidays over in the US. Like Brenda we were at the 2007 and 2012 reunions in California and these stand out as highlights. So many cast, directors and writers attended these, probably for a mini reunion of their own, and it was fabulous to meet them all. Another highlight here was Earl Hamner arranging a visit to the studio to look at the Walton house. I've loved the studio visits he arranged for us and the stories that he told along the way.
We also travelled to one of the West coast reunion weekends which was great fun too. Visiting Schuyler was a dream come true and I've now able to say that I've been twice.
But for me meeting Waltons fans has been wonderful. I had been in contact with many from all over the world since 1996 and to be able to meet those people has been fantastic.
Such treasured memories!
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Reunions
Jun 14, 2021 6:20:04 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by patriciaanne on Jun 14, 2021 6:20:04 GMT -5
Gosh Brenda, so sorry to hear about your husband. One of my best friends, Nancy Dorff (mother of actor Stephen Dorff) waged a valiant battle against brain cancer and died nearly two years after her diagnosis. I was gutted and cannot possibly imagine how difficult it would be to see a spouse battle so hard with that horrible disease. It is a testament to your spirit and friendship that people traveled to see you after his passing. I am sure that was an amazing comfort to you to know so many people cared. I think you and Easton are right. The sense of family and love portrayed by the writers and actors on the Waltons will never be replicated. My Dad played the father of Opie’s best friend in The Andy Griffith Show and, while I think there was a lot of caring in that cast, nothing could or will surpass the Waltons. I think it resonated with the American people because deep down we all would like to hope that our own family might be able to show us the love and care each member of the Walton family did. Few shows ever touched the hearts of everyone that watched. Tracey, do you recall the name of Opie's friend or which episode it was? I love this show as well and would love to keep an eye out for him!
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Post by avaleewalton on Jun 21, 2021 16:51:21 GMT -5
It's a dream of mine to meet the cast, the closest I've ever come to it is interacting with Judy in a YouTube comment. ❤️
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Post by patriciaanne on Jul 14, 2021 11:02:01 GMT -5
You had asked for a reunion memory in your original post. At the second reunion I attended, which was in 2017, almost all the cast attended. The first night they had a concert in the auditorium of the Waltons Museum, which is in the old Schuyler grammar school. Jon Walmsley's band played and Judy Norton also sang, among other performers. (All of them were great!)
During an intermission, we lined up on the side of the auditorium to go into a little side room where some of the cast (Michael Learned, Kami, Mary McDonough, maybe others) were serving pieces of applesauce cake. As I was standing on line, Eric Scott walked by. Before I could control myself, I exclaimed, "Eric!" And he turned around, walked back to me and gave me a big hug like he had known me for years. 🥰 The cast is amazing. I'm still astounded at how available they make themselves at these events and other opportunities, including online. The cast works incredibly hard at these events, too.
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