little bloopers

[daniela]

I think the writers assumed no one would remember or care about dates.....haha, little did they know there would be a forum 40 years later, with all of us noticing and remembering dates, conversations, and things out of place. I think if they knew, they would have paid much more attention to details.

[ForeverWaltons]

Talking about Michael Landon with his shirt off.......It always amazes me that he was on Bonanza all of those years as a little scrawny bantam fella and then all of a sudden Little House comes on the air and he's huge & muscular!!

Guess he had to stay little to be called "Little Joe."

[Forum Administrator]

Aug 3, 2012 10:00:58 GMT -5 JeriJet said:

I suspect (and hope) that the sitting in the back of the bus thing may not have always been true everywhere..... Certainly, that "rule" existed in many unenlightened places, but maybe not in the Waltons Mtn area..... Verdi seemed to be pretty well accepted for those times.

I have always enjoyed the Rosa Parks story (not sure enjoyed is the right word). Except that recently I learned that she was not just a "put-upon" little lady..... she was in fact quite an activist. That doesn't change the effect, thankfully, but somehow changes the "story."

I don't know, Jeri. Sitting in the back of the bus may not have been true everywhere, but I would be willing to bet that it was true in rural Virginia in the 1930s. Virginia was a southern state, after all. My dad grew up in rural eastern North Carolina during the Great Depression, and he used to watch The Waltons and tell us how unrealistic it was for that time and place. Where he lived, black and white people lived near each other, and often they were friends, but there were unwritten rules that were just followed, and people didn't seem to question it. I remember one funny thing he told me. He said when he was a little boy, there was a little black boy just his age who lived down the road. They were allowed to play together every day except Sunday. For some reason, it was considered sinful for a white child and black child to play together on Sunday.

I grew up in West Virginia during the 1950s-60s. If you know anything about West Virginia, then you know that it became a state by separating from Virginia because the citizens of western Virginia wanted to remain in the union. So, technically, West Virginia is a northern state. However, I can remember segregation in the 1950s. We had restaurants that served only white people, and "white" and "colored" restrooms and water fountains in public places. I attended segregated schools. To my dad's credit, he always taught us how wrong that was, and that everyone should be treated equally. He said that when he was a child, he always had a feeling about the way black people were treated and felt that it was wrong, but since he was a child, he just accepted what the adults around him said.

When I would teach my little first grade students about Martin Luther King, Jr., they were always shocked when I would tell them how black people were treated in those days. They couldn't believe that anyone would treat another person that way, and that we actually needed laws to stop it. Little children accept everyone and don't care what they look like or where they come from. It makes me wonder at what age the prejudices set in.

This is way too long, I know, but to get back on the topic I will say, yes, I believe that Verdi sitting in the front of the bus in rural Virginia in the 1930s was indeed a blooper.

[goodnight]

I suppose as children grow they take their cues from how their parents act and what they say. In my opinion the way people act about skin color is not sensible because the differences are skin deep. Pun intended. We all bleed red.
I had noticed that episode where Verdie sat in the front of the bus before and I thought that it was probably not realistic for that time period.

[JeriJet]

It was frightening growing up in the 40's-50's..... there were still lynchings in the 60's. Hard to believe. And important not to forget.

It also shocked my family that, when my younger sister and family moved to Tampa in 1977, her children wee told that black kids had to sit in the back of the school bus..... So, she told her kids to sit in the back, too......

[daniela]

Aug 3, 2012 13:21:39 GMT -5 Forum Administrator said:

Aug 3, 2012 10:00:58 GMT -5 JeriJet said:

I suspect (and hope) that the sitting in the back of the bus thing may not have always been true everywhere..... Certainly, that "rule" existed in many unenlightened places, but maybe not in the Waltons Mtn area..... Verdi seemed to be pretty well accepted for those times.

I have always enjoyed the Rosa Parks story (not sure enjoyed is the right word). Except that recently I learned that she was not just a "put-upon" little lady..... she was in fact quite an activist. That doesn't change the effect, thankfully, but somehow changes the "story."

I don't know, Jeri. Sitting in the back of the bus may not have been true everywhere, but I would be willing to bet that it was true in rural Virginia in the 1930s. Virginia was a southern state, after all. My dad grew up in rural eastern North Carolina during the Great Depression, and he used to watch The Waltons and tell us how unrealistic it was for that time and place. Where he lived, black and white people lived near each other, and often they were friends, but there were unwritten rules that were just followed, and people didn't seem to question it. I remember one funny thing he told me. He said when he was a little boy, there was a little black boy just his age who lived down the road. They were allowed to play together every day except Sunday. For some reason, it was considered sinful for a white child and black child to play together on Sunday.

I grew up in West Virginia during the 1950s-60s. If you know anything about West Virginia, then you know that it became a state by separating from Virginia because the citizens of western Virginia wanted to remain in the union. So, technically, West Virginia is a northern state. However, I can remember segregation in the 1950s. We had restaurants that served only white people, and "white" and "colored" restrooms and water fountains in public places. I attended segregated schools. To my dad's credit, he always taught us how wrong that was, and that everyone should be treated equally. He said that when he was a child, he always had a feeling about the way black people were treated and felt that it was wrong, but since he was a child, he just accepted what the adults around him said.

When I would teach my little first grade students about Martin Luther King, Jr., they were always shocked when I would tell them how black people were treated in those days. They couldn't believe that anyone would treat another person that way, and that we actually needed laws to stop it. Little children accept everyone and don't care what they look like or where they come from. It makes me wonder at what age the prejudices set in.

This is way too long, I know, but to get back on the topic I will say, yes, I believe that Verdi sitting in the front of the bus in rural Virginia in the 1930s was indeed a blooper.

Brenda, that was so interesting to read. You said you attended segregated schools, and saw the seperated water fountains and restaurants, I was wondering if you just accepted these things or did you realize that these things were wrong? It's so great that your dad taught you the opposite of what society was showing you. It must have been confusing for children , to be taught to hate someone, when you are not sure why. The reaction from your grade 1 students says it all...they are confused and don't understand why people behaved this way, and you saw it first hand, and that's why I am wondering if you knew as a child /young adult, it was wrong. I hope I am not being to nosy, I am just really curious. I have often wondered if I grew up in a family where segregation was accepted, if I would have been strong enough or smart enough to realize how wrong it is.

[Brenda]

Aug 3, 2012 22:40:11 GMT -5 daniela said:

Brenda, that was so interesting to read. You said you attended segregated schools, and saw the seperated water fountains and restaurants, I was wondering if you just accepted these things or did you realize that these things were wrong? It's so great that your dad taught you the opposite of what society was showing you. It must have been confusing for children , to be taught to hate someone, when you are not sure why. The reaction from your grade 1 students says it all...they are confused and don't understand why people behaved this way, and you saw it first hand, and that's why I am wondering if you knew as a child /young adult, it was wrong. I hope I am not being to nosy, I am just really curious. I have often wondered if I grew up in a family where segregation was accepted, if I would have been strong enough or smart enough to realize how wrong it is.

Daniela, I don't think I realized that I was attending segregated schools until much later. We have county school systems here, and my county had 2 schools for black children, a grade school and a high school. Both were located in the neighborhood where most of the black population lived, so I didn't think about the reason why there were "black" schools. The black schools actually offered a quality education. The high school, Douglass High School, was considered a very good school, and many people in that neighborhood resented it when it was closed and their kids were sent to the "white" schools. Carter G Woodson, the father of black history, graduated from there and later became its principal. NBA basketball player Hal Greer also graduated from Douglass and in 1955, became the first black athlete to play major college sports in WV.

Even after integration, I never went to school with a black person until I got in college, only because no black people lived in my neighborhood. There was a black teacher at my jr high school, but no black students. I don't remember anyone treating that teacher any differently. She actually was a well-liked teacher.

I can remember there were 2 restaurants in town that refused to serve black people, and there were some demonstrations over it. That's when my dad told us how wrong it was and that he would never go into an establishment that didn't serve everyone.

We have a small amusement park here, and that's where I remember the "black only" and "white only" water fountains. The interesting thing is, those 2 water fountains are still there, side by side. I wonder how many people realize the reason for having 2 water fountains in the same spot.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be like little children and just accept everyone?

[Tonyray]

I can remember when I was little my Grandmother and Grandfather ran a cafe in Sacramento this would have to be in the late 50's and black men (also some white men) would come to the back door to give their order. I didn't know it at the time they weren't allowed inside. Sometimes they didn't have any money and my Grandmother would just give them lunch and tell then pay next time. I do remember her saying she would never refuse a man a meal. I also remember some would ask if their was any work they could do to pay for lunch.

[JeriJet]

I guess this is not really a blooper -- but I've always wondered why CoraBeth didn't do something with Aimee's hair ! CB was so fastidious about her own hair and wardrobe...... she insisted on Aimee's dressing well -- but, oh, that hair !!

An occasional hair ribbon didn't help much......

[Brenda]

It just looked like a little girl's hair to me. Her hair seemed to be very thin and fine, and sometimes there's not much you can do about it.

[JeriJet]

I suppose Aimee was lucky that Cora Beth didn't hook her up to that permanent wave machine !!

[elizabethfan]

blacks had colored only movie theaters, ect, the whites had thieir own stuff,too,that was not right! blacks and whites should be treated as equels!!

[JeriJet]

Aug 4, 2012 15:14:54 GMT -5 JeriJet said:

I suppose Aimee was lucky that Cora Beth didn't hook her up to that permanent wave machine !!

And, still think the cut could have been better. Really don't understand. Where's the Wardrobe/Makeup dept. when you need them !

[daniela]

Aug 4, 2012 10:04:53 GMT -5 Brenda said:

Aug 3, 2012 22:40:11 GMT -5 daniela said:

Brenda, that was so interesting to read. You said you attended segregated schools, and saw the seperated water fountains and restaurants, I was wondering if you just accepted these things or did you realize that these things were wrong? It's so great that your dad taught you the opposite of what society was showing you. It must have been confusing for children , to be taught to hate someone, when you are not sure why. The reaction from your grade 1 students says it all...they are confused and don't understand why people behaved this way, and you saw it first hand, and that's why I am wondering if you knew as a child /young adult, it was wrong. I hope I am not being to nosy, I am just really curious. I have often wondered if I grew up in a family where segregation was accepted, if I would have been strong enough or smart enough to realize how wrong it is.

Daniela, I don't think I realized that I was attending segregated schools until much later. We have county school systems here, and my county had 2 schools for black children, a grade school and a high school. Both were located in the neighborhood where most of the black population lived, so I didn't think about the reason why there were "black" schools. The black schools actually offered a quality education. The high school, Douglass High School, was considered a very good school, and many people in that neighborhood resented it when it was closed and their kids were sent to the "white" schools. Carter G Woodson, the father of black history, graduated from there and later became its principal. NBA basketball player Hal Greer also graduated from Douglass and in 1955, became the first black athlete to play major college sports in WV.

Even after integration, I never went to school with a black person until I got in college, only because no black people lived in my neighborhood. There was a black teacher at my jr high school, but no black students. I don't remember anyone treating that teacher any differently. She actually was a well-liked teacher.

I can remember there were 2 restaurants in town that refused to serve black people, and there were some demonstrations over it. That's when my dad told us how wrong it was and that he would never go into an establishment that didn't serve everyone.

We have a small amusement park here, and that's where I remember the "black only" and "white only" water fountains. The interesting thing is, those 2 water fountains are still there, side by side. I wonder how many people realize the reason for having 2 water fountains in the same spot.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be like little children and just accept everyone?

Thanks Brenda,
I asked my mom if there was segregation when she grew up, but she said that she didn't see any here in Ontario where she grew up. She said there were probably places in Canada that were, but not that she saw. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[horselightning]

My apologiez for bumping up an old topic. I do have a blooper to add. Or for should I save a save the scene moment. In the episode The Prize. When Jon(Jason) and Eric (Ben) are running after the greesed pig with the crowd running after them. When they stop and catvch the pig Jon stops on balls of his feet trying to keep from falling over on that pig. Watch the actor who is playing the sheriff grab his arn to help steady him why he is talking.