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The Waltons
S1.E21
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The Scholar

  • Episode aired Feb 22, 1973
  • TV-G
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
219
YOUR RATING
Richard Thomas, Mariclare Costello, Kami Cotler, and Lynn Hamilton in The Waltons (1972)
DramaFamilyRomance

When Verdie Grant learns her daughter is graduating from college, she feels embarrassed by the fact that she never learned to read or write. She asks John-Boy to teach her, on the condition ... Read allWhen Verdie Grant learns her daughter is graduating from college, she feels embarrassed by the fact that she never learned to read or write. She asks John-Boy to teach her, on the condition that he keeps it a secret.When Verdie Grant learns her daughter is graduating from college, she feels embarrassed by the fact that she never learned to read or write. She asks John-Boy to teach her, on the condition that he keeps it a secret.

  • Director
    • Lee Philips
  • Writers
    • Earl Hamner Jr.
    • John McGreevey
  • Stars
    • Richard Thomas
    • Ralph Waite
    • Michael Learned
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    219
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lee Philips
    • Writers
      • Earl Hamner Jr.
      • John McGreevey
    • Stars
      • Richard Thomas
      • Ralph Waite
      • Michael Learned
    • 4User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos1

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    Top cast16

    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
    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
    • (as David Harper)
    Kami Cotler
    Kami Cotler
    • Elizabeth Walton
    Earl Hamner Jr.
    Earl Hamner Jr.
    • The Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (as Earl Hamner)
    Mariclare Costello
    Mariclare Costello
    • Miss Rosemary Hunter
    Lynn Hamilton
    Lynn Hamilton
    • Verdie Grant Foster
    Kerry MacLane
    Kerry MacLane
    • Henry Wagaman
    Royce Wallace
    • Alice Perry
    • Director
      • Lee Philips
    • Writers
      • Earl Hamner Jr.
      • John McGreevey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews4

    8.1219
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    10

    Featured reviews

    10JenExxifer

    Literacy is Magic!

    I give this episode 10 stars for emphasizing the awesomeness that is literacy!

    As John-Boy points out, arranging 26 letters in different combinations is magic, and I think it's just as magical to read the same 26 letters in various arrangements in order to communicate and learn.

    Literacy isn't just magic though; it's a luxury that is easy to overlook and take for granted, as if it's a given in life and everyone can read and write; this episode reminded me not to take such luxuries for granted, and I always appreciate those reminders.

    Literacy is also a powerful gift that can be passed from one person to another, as is demonstrated in this episode; when scholarly John-Boy helps his friend Mrs. Grant learn to read and write, he gives her the gift of literacy that opens a new world for her -- a magical world of words!

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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
      John McGreevey, whose contributed many scripts to this series, was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama for this episode.
    • Goofs
      When Verdie got on the bus to Richmond she sat down in the front seat. This was Virginia before the civil rights movement. Black people had to sit in the back of the bus. It was long before Rosa Parks made her historic refusal to give up her seat in the front of the bus.
    • Quotes

      Narrator: [narration as John 'John Boy' Walton, Jr. reading from his journal] When I was growing up on Waltons Mountain, the Great Depression touched our lives in many ways. Jobs were scarce, new clothes were rare, food was simple and mostly homegrown. What we had, we shared. My father taught us by his quiet practice that sharing was our first duty and happiest privilege and on one occasion I had the opportunity to share an unforgettable experience with a lady who was trying to hide a secret.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 25th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1973)

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    FAQ4

    • Who is Verdie Grant?
    • Whose wedding are Olivia and Esther going to?
    • From what book did John Boy quote?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 22, 1973 (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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