Good Father

[bmcgill]

As I watch The Waltons I can't help but admire what a good father John is. I read somewhere, I can't remember where, that the real father in the family was a little more, I guess you might say rugged and couldn't say a sentance without a cuss word. Oh well, that don't make him a real bad person if he was. Anyway, even if John did'nt go to church and really live by all the rules of the Bible, I still admire his love for his wife and children. He was hard working and him and Olivia were a match mad in heaven. I liked the way he loved his children and did'nt seem to have any favorites. Well maybe Elizabeth a little because she was the baby. He was always open for a serious talk if they had a problem but knew when to be the one that made the rules when they needed it and straighten them out when needed. Never hesitated to give them a hug or a kiss. I was going to quit there but I can't help but mention Grandpa. What a good guy and grandfather. Maybe bent the rules of the church a little, like to sip a little bit of the recipie every once in a while and maybe a little mischeivious but had a heart of gold.

[Marilyn]

I completely agree! I watch a Walton's episode or two every night, bar none and I am always impressed with the way the John Walton Sr character interacts with his children. I bet dollars to donuts that this character made an impression on some fathers and helped them mend their ways and do a better job. I know I've learned from the Waltons. I don't know if you're aware, but Ralph Waite said he had quite a drinking problem when he first started filming this show and was distant from his daughters. Seems that as he melded into the part of John Walton Sr, he also improved his father role at home. I love John Walton Sr. To have a dad like that is a dream! I did notice that he seemed to be impatient with Ben in the later episodes where John Boy is gone, Curt Willard is gone and Ben is working in the mill with John Sr. Last night I watched the episode where Ben, Ike and Cora Beth want to start an auto court and get rich!

[dagmargermany]

Hi David,

I agree with you totaly.
I love to watch John with his family. He doesn´t speak much but everytime there is a problem he knows the answer. First thinking and then speaking. I like to see how he loves his family and how he cares for them. He reminds me a little bit of my father. My father always had an answer for all my questions. I knew I could come to him and I always would get his help.

There is one episode I like very much " The Prophecy" (when I am right). John meets his old classmates and everybody is playing a role ( how sucsessful they have been ) and what about John? He is just a hard working man with a wonderful wife and great kids. And everybody else would be happy to have a life like he has. That´s what I remember.
Sorry, I cannot find better words to describe John but for me his role is a wonderful one.

Dagmar

[Marilyn]

The Prophecy is one of my favorite episodes too and is also a lesson. Seems alot of the episodes had lessons in them, kind of suttle, but still there. In The Prophecy, John had no idea the impact he had on his classmates. Like a pebble tossed in a still pond and the ripples that go out... we all touch others lives in good ways and bad and most often than not, we aren't aware of the good ways.

[mary1224]

The Prophecy is also one of my favorite episodes. I watched it recently on YouTube. The ending always makes me fill up with tears. I love the way Olivia looked at him and the way Grandma and Grandpa looked at each other. The Waltons have so much love and pride for each other. John Walton is one of my favorite characters. Did Ralph Waite ever win an emmy? He certainly deserved one in my opinion.

[bmcgill]

I think Ralph Waite deserved an emmy too but I don't think he ever won one. I think he was nominated for one but did'nt win. I don't think the child actors back in the day got the credit they deserved either. Like the episode where GW was killed and the scene where Ralph Waite and Mary McDonough were in that John was reading the letter that GW left for Erin and said he was leaving his ground to her. It takes a lot to bring tears to my eyes by watching something on TV but that scene did. Excellent Acting.

[Deleted]

I agree.John was a loving husband and father.He and Olivia had a strong and loving relationship.