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The Waltons
S5.E1
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The First Edition

  • Episode aired Sep 23, 1976
  • TV-G
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
163
YOUR RATING
The First Edition (1976)
DramaFamilyRomance

John-Boy prepares to publish his first newspaper. It includes a story about Ben's troubles, which infuriates Olivia. She demands that he delete it, but John-Boy has to publish the story to f... Read allJohn-Boy prepares to publish his first newspaper. It includes a story about Ben's troubles, which infuriates Olivia. She demands that he delete it, but John-Boy has to publish the story to follow his convictions.John-Boy prepares to publish his first newspaper. It includes a story about Ben's troubles, which infuriates Olivia. She demands that he delete it, but John-Boy has to publish the story to follow his convictions.

  • Director
    • Lawrence Dobkin
  • Writers
    • Earl Hamner Jr.
    • John McGreevey
  • Stars
    • Richard Thomas
    • Ralph Waite
    • Michael Learned
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    163
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lawrence Dobkin
    • Writers
      • Earl Hamner Jr.
      • John McGreevey
    • Stars
      • Richard Thomas
      • Ralph Waite
      • Michael Learned
    • 2User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Richard Thomas
    Richard Thomas
    • John-Boy Walton
    Ralph Waite
    Ralph Waite
    • John Walton, Sr.
    Michael Learned
    Michael Learned
    • Olivia Walton
    • (as Miss Michael Learned)
    Ellen Corby
    Ellen Corby
    • Esther Walton
    Will Geer
    Will Geer
    • The Grandfather
    Judy Norton
    Judy Norton
    • Mary Ellen Walton
    • (as Judy Norton-Taylor)
    Jon Walmsley
    Jon Walmsley
    • Jason Walton
    Mary Beth McDonough
    Mary Beth McDonough
    • Erin Walton
    • (as Mary Elizabeth McDonough)
    Eric Scott
    Eric Scott
    • Ben Walton
    David W. Harper
    David W. Harper
    • Jim-Bob Walton
    Kami Cotler
    Kami Cotler
    • Elizabeth Walton
    Joe Conley
    Joe Conley
    • Ike Godsey
    Ronnie Claire Edwards
    Ronnie Claire Edwards
    • Corabeth Godsey
    Earl Hamner Jr.
    Earl Hamner Jr.
    • The Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (as Earl Hamner)
    John Crawford
    John Crawford
    • Sheriff Ep Bridges
    Laird Cody Fenwick
    • Tinker
    • (as Laird Fenwick)
    Conrad Janis
    Conrad Janis
    • Judge Graham Thornbury
    Meegan King
    Meegan King
    • Louie
    • Director
      • Lawrence Dobkin
    • Writers
      • Earl Hamner Jr.
      • John McGreevey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    7.9163
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    10

    Featured reviews

    6nlathy-839-300677

    Drama Heavy

    There's plenty of anguish to go around in this Weeper. It's good to look at a time when people were encouraged to have children. Tough for Richard Thomas to act with a real foot injury sustained while filming. Also looks at the power the media has. Seems like this movie could be more fun. Always hard for younger Waltons to learn their way. And you can't keep mistakes hidden. It's a wonder John and Olivia can keep going with all the adversity on their plate. Saddest part of this season is its Richard Thomas' final season. There only needed to be a reunion movie after Thomas left. Still the Waltons find a heart warming unity as usual.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Richard Thomas' foot injury was real. He fractured his ankle filming a motorcycle scene for September 30, 1955 (1977).
    • Goofs
      Several hints point to the events taking place in late May or early June, 1937. As reported in the first edition of the Blue Ridge Chronicle they are: the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge (May 27) and strikes in Chicago (peaked around Memorial Day 1937). However, the Japanese attack of a U.S. boat occurred on December 12, 1937. The Hindenburg explosion (May 6, 1937), reported by John Boy 19 episodes later (in The Inferno), predated all of these incidents, so it would have also predated the first edition of the Blue Ridge Chronicle.
    • Quotes

      Olivia Walton: [In response to Ben's plans of going to Rockfish with friends] Seems to me you've been spending an awful lot of time in Rockfish lately. It's a bad influence for a boy your age.

      Ben Walton: Well, what's wicked in Rockfish?

      The Grandfather: I've been trying to find the answer to that question for over 60 years.

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    FAQ1

    • John Boy enters Season 5 using a cane and saying he was hurt on a motor cycle ... where did I miss this event?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 23, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Hallmark Channel
      • INSP Television Network
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 20, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Lorimar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

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