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Post by clyde on Nov 24, 2013 18:55:08 GMT -5
I always admired the character of Maude Gormley (Merle Earle), the really old lady (Wikipedia says she was born in 1889, so she was in her 80's) who was a Walton's neighbor. I was trying to think if she ever appeared in an episode after Grandpa died and Grandma had a stroke, but I couldn't come up with one. I know the actress didn't die in real life until after the original run of the series ended, but maybe she just got too old to remember her lines. She was amazing though.
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Post by JeriJet on Nov 24, 2013 20:24:29 GMT -5
imdb shows that Merie Earle's last appearance on the Waltons was S7 E18 The Attack, about Ike's heart attack... and grandpa's death was announced on E1 of S7, so she appeared at least once after Geer died... it also shows that she continued to act for another four years on other tv shows -- at least twenty times, the last being in 1983, just a year before her death at 95. What a lady!
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Post by clyde on Nov 24, 2013 20:49:02 GMT -5
JeriJet Now that you have jump started my memory, I remember that episode. I think she was giving Ike what for because he didn't have sugar due to rationing during the war. She said she was going to take her business elsewhere. She was a wonderful cranky old lady! Too bad they didn't continue her character. Maybe 3 eccentric elderly ladies (meaning the Baldwin sisters) was considered one too many.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2013 21:33:33 GMT -5
I remember her as Mrs. Loomis on the original Bob Newhart Show. She played a kooky patient of Bob's.
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Post by twinkle on Nov 25, 2013 11:12:59 GMT -5
I will state this and then run for cover....... I actually found the character of Maude Gormley very irritating
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Post by Ponycart on Dec 28, 2013 17:25:12 GMT -5
Does any one have knowledge of what Merie Earle was like in real life? I know she went on the Tonight Show when Johnny Carson was still there and it seemed like he just thought the world of her.
Wonder if any of the cast members have ever spoken on what she was like? Did she have family, etc.?
I just loved her character of Maude in the Waltons. I think the character on Bob Newhart show had a similar personality as Maude, if you know what I mean.
The Maude, Martha Corinne, Mamie, Emily.............they were all so genteel in their own way.
~Robin in Alabama
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Post by JeriJet on Dec 29, 2013 11:16:46 GMT -5
Does any one have knowledge of what Merie Earle was like in real life? I know she went on the Tonight Show when Johnny Carson was still there and it seemed like he just thought the world of her. Wonder if any of the cast members have ever spoken on what she was like? Did she have family, etc.? I just loved her character of Maude in the Waltons. I think the character on Bob Newhart show had a similar personality as Maude, if you know what I mean. The Maude, Martha Corinne, Mamie, Emily.............they were all so genteel in their own way. ~Robin in Alabama Considering that Earle was in her late 70's when she made her entry into "show biz", I doubt if we'll be able to learn much about her early life, other than the facts laid out online -- like, Ohio-born, moved to NYC when married a railroad man, retired to CA to be near daughter, eventually "discovered" when she appeared in a church play!! ... a few commercials at first, then she was off and running.... Doesn't surprise me that it appears little has been said about working with her.... bet she had become a somewhat crotchety old dame at that age!!! And, she probably was annoyed with Johnny Carson, et al., treating her like she was someone whose only value lay in her success at that age.... She obviously knew how to be "cute" and sell herself, and I bet/hope she was laughing all the way to the bank.... a coup!! When you younger forum members eventually reach your "golden" years, you'll find it equally sickening that you've become defined primarily by your age!!! EXTREMELY DISMAYING and definitely leads to crotchetyness!!!! [ I must look up how the word crotchety came into being.... man, just recognized its base.... !! ]
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Post by daniela on Dec 29, 2013 11:32:58 GMT -5
I thought Maude was the cutest little old lady. She was so sweet, and if she was my neighbour, I would have checked in on her and kept her company. I think Jeri is her keeper? She needs a banner
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Post by clyde on Dec 29, 2013 16:04:53 GMT -5
Seems to me that the Maude Gormley character, and possibly Ms. Earle herself, was the antithesis of a person valued only because of her age. Maude proved to be a veritable Grandma Moses with her primitive paintings. Ms. Earle decided she could become an actress at age 77. Better to be known as a crotchety old person who has accomplished something despite age,rather than just as a crotchety old person sitting around bemoaning old age. In the words of Robert Browning "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be ...."
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Post by Ponycart on Dec 29, 2013 18:12:32 GMT -5
Seems to me that the Maude Gormley character, and possibly Ms. Earle herself, was the antithesis of a person valued only because of her age. Maude proved to be a veritable Grandma Moses with her primitive paintings. Ms. Earle decided she could become an actress at age 77. Better to be known as a crotchety old person who has accomplished something despite age,rather than just as a crotchety old person sitting around bemoaning old age. In the words of Robert Browning "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be ...." Oh what a lovely post Clyde. I, personally, do not want to presume what she was like in person while on Carson and on the Waltons and Newhart. That is why I asked the question in the posts about whether or it has ever surfaced in a conversation with some of the actors. I have not been to any of the reunions, but have followed a lot with the photos that are posted. This is an amazing resource, the internet, to share things, isn't it? Perhaps some of you who have communicated with the actors at the reunion might know. I first heard of Carolyn and and the club when there was a reunion of the TV show in the 80s. We didn't have all this technology so commonplace then, and I subscribed to the newsletter. It was so wonderful to find out there are other people who appreciate this show. Since I am not up to date on all the posts, I'll ask another question........do some of the actors post on here from time to time? I recall that I may have seen it. So I'd love to keep the question and subject out there just in case someone else has more info. Cordially, ~Robin in Alabama
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Post by JeriJet on Dec 30, 2013 8:42:57 GMT -5
I thought Maude was the cutest little old lady. She was so sweet, and if she was my neighbour, I would have checked in on her and kept her company. Same here! She'd be a riot to be with. I love to spend time with seniors. They have so much wisdom and great stories to tell. Lots to learn from them, even if I am in my 50s now, so much to learn. Hooray for doxsee and daniela Unfortunately, the United States has long ranked quite low in the world's eyes regarding respect and appreciation of older folks.... so, it takes two Canadians....
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Post by Ponycart on Dec 30, 2013 15:19:02 GMT -5
Hooray for doxsee and daniela Unfortunately, the United States has long ranked quite low in the world's eyes regarding respect and appreciation of older folks.... so, it takes two Canadians.... Ahhhh, I'm sure Americans appreciate their older folks just as much as we do. We aren't that different (although I have noticed differences between Canadians and Americans in other areas. ) Oh, I agree Dowsee, that Americans do, too. In a way, things are very different with lifestyles of older Americans. The Maudes, Grandmas and Grandpas were more around the family at home back in the day. Now many older adults travel, start second careers and volunteer and have hobbies. Time goes on. Not saying one way is better than another, just different. ~Robin
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Post by JeriJet on Dec 30, 2013 21:50:07 GMT -5
FYI, in regard to treatment of senior citizens in America, I wasn't giving a personal opinion.... it has to do with research I have done over the years, since very early on -- because I marveled at my father's care of all of our elderly relatives and friends.... It is a subject very close to my heart. From published info, I have found that the U.S. has actually improved quite a bit during just the last decade: According to a Global AgeWatch Index report released by the UN Population Fund and advocacy group HelpAge International in Sept. 2013, countries’ ranking in treatment of the elderly is as follows: 1. Sweden 2. Norway 3. Germany 4. The Netherlands 5. Canada 6. Switzerland 7. New Zealand 8. USA 9. Iceland 10. Japan 11. Austria 12. Ireland 13. U.K. 14. Australia 15. Finland One "foremost aging expert" I have followed is UCLA professor Jared Diamond -- a quote from January 2013: The fact is, Diamond said, that many societies treat their elderly better than Americans do. In some cultures, he said, children are so devoted that when their aging parents lose their teeth the children will pre-chew their food. A closer look at how traditional societies value (or don’t value) their old people might teach us what to emulate and what to avoid. The elderly’s usefulness in a society plays a big part in determining their fate, Diamond said. “The repositories of knowledge are the memories of old people,” Diamond said. “If you don’t have old people to remember what happened 50 years ago, you’ve lost a lot of experience for that society,” from communal history to advice on how to survive a cyclone or other natural disaster. Still, steps can be taken to improve the lives of our elderly, Diamond said. Understand their changing strengths and weaknesses as they age, he advised, and appreciate their deeper understanding of human relationships and their ability to think across wide-ranging disciplines, to strategize, and share what they’ve learned. “So if you want to get advice on complicated problems, ask someone who’s 70; don’t ask someone who’s 25,” Diamond concluded. “Old people can have new value … although we often don’t recognize that this is possible.” *** And, here's another article of interest: theweek.com/article/index/246810/how-the-elderly-are-treated-around-the-world
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Post by mtdawg on Dec 31, 2013 1:41:47 GMT -5
You know.. I am just plain simple. I NEVER thought about Merle being the same person on Newart as our Myrtle on the Walton's. I made the same mistake in Lynn Hamiton playing on Sanford and Son while doing Verde. While I was around 10 years old when all the shows taking place I laugh at myself. I wonder which ones they preferred.
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Post by ForeverWaltons on Dec 31, 2013 1:43:12 GMT -5
You know.. I am just plain simple. I NEVER thought about Merle being the same person on Newart as our Myrtle on the Walton's. I made the same mistake in Lynn Hamiton playing on Sanford and Son while doing Verde. While I was around 10 years old when all the shows taking place I laugh at myself. I wonder which ones they preferred. Lynn Hamilton definitely preferred The Waltons over Sanford & Son. Brenda can back this up!
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