Kami’s comments about the Christmas episodes of The Waltons

[Brenda]

The Missionary Lady scene in The Homecoming:

by Kami…

“The missionary scene in The Homecoming was filmed in Jackson Hole, WY on a cold night. Between shots we'd go into the store and I think at some point there was hot chocolate. My Mom taught me to sing Away in the Manger for the scene and we sang it without a playback machine. There wasn't even a pitch pipe. I was only 6, and I started the song, but not always in the same key, so the song noticeably shifts from key to key when they edit between various shots. You can see Earl Hamner's kids, Scott and Carrie, in the crowd, both tall and fair, like their beautiful Mother, Jane.

“I didn't understand my Bible verse, and I'd no idea what "swine" meant, so I said "wine" instead. I think my Mom went to correct me and the director stopped her. I was perplexed by the broken doll, not scared by it, and I wasn't sure why Elizabeth thought it was dead. I was a far more rational little girl than Elizabeth. I do remember that they wanted me to unwrap the present quickly, and that I thought it'd be dramatic to unwrap from the toes up, so you can see many helping hands, speeding the unwrap and keeping the scene moving. I'm pretty sure the crying you hear as we leave was dubbed in by Mary or Judy...”

[jaydub87]

I’m loving these insights from Kami! Thanks again, Brenda.

[Brenda]

Dec 23, 2023 16:31:39 GMT -5 jaydub87 said:

I’m loving these insights from Kami! Thanks again, Brenda.

I’m enjoying them too, and I’m happy to share.

[Brenda]

from Kami…

There must have been a CBS photographer on the Homecoming set to grab this black and white during rehearsal. This scene has some of my favorite moments. I love how Mary takes a huge inhale before Erin runs off to tattle to Olivia about how "Mary-Ellen ruined the whole Christmas tree with her smelly old bird's egg and now she's calling us names!"

[Easton]

^ I've often wondered if anyone ever apologised for Jim-Bob's hair?

[Brenda]

In the Season 1 episode “The Easter Story” Olivia told Jim Bob if he didn’t get a haircut someone might mistake him for a sheepdog.

[Eileen Grace]

Thank You for sharing these memories from Kami Cotler. The Children's Carol is one of the favorite episodes. I love hearing that Kami and Sally are still sharing a friendship even today.