Book List in Order: 7 titles. The Homecoming . Earl was the oldest by 6 years and if you haven't realized it yet yes, he was the 'real' John-Boy. Did the Hamner family really own a mountain? 11. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. He got his start as a writer in television in the 1950s, penning episodes of "The Kate Smith Hour" and "The United States Steel Hour." Did the real Jim Bob Walton ever get married? Earl Hamner, one of America's best-loved storytellers, has never been the subject of a full-length study. Earl Hamner Jr. was a writer of novels, television shows, and movies, most notably the popular semiautobiographical television series The Waltons (19721981). Who ran the general store on The Waltons? I was scared and young and homesick, and as I wrote in my journal I began to remember a promise my father made to my mother on the day they were married. While working for NBC radio in New York, Hamner began to transition to television, writing for The Today Show, The United States Steel Hour, and The Kate Smith Show. Hamner lived a long life and was 92 years old when he passed away from bladder cancer in Los Angeles, California, on March 24, 2016. Earl Hamner Jr. was an American television writer, novelist, and producer best known for his work in the 1970s long-running television series 'The Waltons'. In fact the Hamner home was a company house built by the quarry for it's workers. The Homecoming: A Christmas Story written by Hamner for CBS in 1971 resulted in CBS commissioning the TV-show The Waltons. Virginia Humanities acknowledges the Monacan Nation, the original people of the land and waters of our home in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was pretty chill, though I think at least two different mules played the role of "Blue". The Baldwin sisters were loosely based on a mother-daughter duo that was well-known in Hamner's family because they had a love of alcohol. Hamner changed the relationship, gave them sweet personalities and made them a bit loftier and more elegant than their down-home, real-life counterparts. Paul Hamner (r) lives in Tom's River, New Jersey and is retired from the Baker Shoe Store chain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpmRcP8S7Bo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5LQ5k-bjbE. And I ran into a roadblock. Hamner wrote or co-wrote eight episodes for the series Gentle Ben, a show about a boy and his pet black bear. Drive through the meandering country roads south of Charlottesville, east of the Blue Ridge Parkway and youll come to the sleepy town of Schuyler, Virginia. It also spawned twenty years worth of holiday and reunion specials. It became a best-seller in 1961 and was made into a popular movie starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara two years later. Jane, their two children, Scott and Caroline, a brother, Paul, and two sisters, Audrey and Nancy, survive him. How was your working relationship with the producers, cast and crew? Was the Walton House a real house or a set? Paperback. Instead of moving the family from Schuyler, Hamner Sr. lived in a boarding house in Waynesboro during the week and travelled back to his family for the weekends. He was 92. Come, visit the real home of its creator, author Earl Hamner Jr., the real John-Boy Walton. TA: Do you have any anecdotes from the filming of the series? Thank you for the opportunity to thank him in print. The Spencers represented an idealized version of his own family, and Hamners heartwarming approach to home and family set the tone for his later work. It is a childrens picture book story with illustrations by Kevin Burke. TA: In 1949 both you and Rod Serling were winners in a Dr. Christian radio writing contest. TA: Certainly, which perfectly counterbalanced the work of the other Twilight Zone writers. I told him I didnt have one but I would write one for him, did he have any special requirements? It was there that I met Rod Serling and his wife, Carol, for the first time when we were presented with our prizes on the show by actor Jean Hersholt. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. was born July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Va., an unincorporated community 24 miles south of Charlottesville. Maureen asked about Blue, the Walton mule, who she commented seemed so well trained. Emily Baldwin always pined for her lost love, Ashley Longworth, waiting for him to return one day. He returned to Richmond in 2013 just a few days before his 90th birthday, to accept a resolution from the state Legislature declaring him a "Virginia treasure.". Hamner Sr., who had worked in Schuylers soapstone mining industry ever since the birth of Hamner Jr., lost his job when the Great Depression resulted in a complete stop of these mining operations. TA: And that was your first television credit. The character was played by David W. Harper. TA: Ah, a writers mind never sleeps! 35. The original house that served as the backdrop to Hamner's childhood was built in the early 20th century in the village of Schuyler in Nelson County, where it still stands today. Sometimes you can even find some hard to find authentic memorabilia for sale as well. TA: Did you produce any scripts or story ideas for the original series that went unproduced? Also like John-Boy, he was the eldest of eight children and named after his father. Welcome to the boyhood home of Earl Hamner, Jr., creator of the popular 1970's television series The Waltons and the house that served as a model for the show. Earl Hamner Jr. moves to Hollywood and sells two scripts to, Earl Hamner Jr. wins an Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series for his work on. He went on to create another successful and long-lived television series in Falcon Crest, which ran on CBS for eight seasons. I did eight of those original episodes." (Now published under the title "Twilight Zone Scripts of Earl Hamner.") In this dreadful town writers, directors, and actors are all pigeonholed, stereotyped and categorized. Earl Hamner Jr. graduates from the University of Cincinnati. I guess it was an expression of my anger and a way for me, in fantasy, to bring the guilty party to justice. Hamner died at 92 on Thursday, March 24, 2016. He wouldn't finish the book for another 15 years. HAMNER: I do not recall any story ideas I presented that were not produced. Castro said Hamner remained busy in recent years, and had recently sold a play. Although the fictional Waltons lived on Walton's Mountain, there is no corresponding Hamner peak, just a series of rising hills. The possessed car shows greater compassion and a more refined sense of ethics than does its owner, a man who has run down a local boy and framed a co-worker for the deed. TA: In recent years both Richard Matheson and George Clayton Johnson have published compilations of their respective Twilight Zone scripts. Your latest book, The Avocado Drive Zoo, lovingly details the adventures of your familys adoption of a large and varied menagerie of animals. The Waltons Hamner House is open seven days a week and guided tours begin every half hour from 10am until 4pm. What I found disturbing were the revelations the producers of the program chose to make about Rod the husband. He was also the Creator and Executive Producer for the show "FALCON CREST'' 1981 thru 1988. Who did John Boy Walton marry in real life? Everyone in the family survives, and it was a responsible stunt sequence on the Warner Brothers lot. CALL 980-925-8667. Buck Houghton and I remained friends until his death last year. His son Scott announced on Facebook that Hamner had been suffering from cancer, and died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Thursday. Earl Hamner Jr. leaves the University of Richmond to join the Army. As a novelist, he was best known for Spencer's Mountain, which was inspired by his own . How many bedrooms are in the Waltons house? After completing his military service during World War II, Hamner returned to Virginia, landing a job with WMBG, a country music radio station in Richmond. 5 Who are the members of the Hamner family? He was 92. Where was the Waltons outdoor scenes filmed? His wife, Brenda, lives in the Richmond, Virginia area. Be sure to visit Olivia's Emporium Gift Shop located in John & Olivia's Bed and Breakfast behind the Walton Hamner House. [Boris Yaro | Los Angeles Times via TNS], The Florida Orchestras CEO is leaving in May, St. Pete womans dream home turns into a nightmare after she finds code violation, Why Florida Gators Anthony Richardson is the most intriguing player in the NFL draft, Daytona Beach woman accused of killing ill husband released from jail, Cuban ambassadors dinner in Tampa sparks protest, scorn, 48 Cuban migrants arrive at Florida Keys in 2 boats, Rise of IndyCar, motorsports on display at Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Democrats hit Casper, he hits Carlson, in Tampa City Council race. What season and episode did the Waltons house burn down? Other examples of teleplays by Hamner are Highway (1954), Heidi (1968), Appalachian Autumn(1969), Aesops Fables(1971), Where the Lilies Bloom(1974), and The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story(1983). I had been working as a radio writer at Radio Station WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. HAMNER: Writing for TV during the Golden Age was a challenge. HAMNER: I have always had a vivid imagination and I suspect that helped me in telling these kind of stories. He returned home dejected. Hamner, whose own family included two children, is survived by his wife, Jane; son, Scott; and daughter, Caroline. America has truly lost a great icon.". The brother that was closest to him in age was Clifton Anderson, followed by Paul Louis, Willard Harold and James Edmund. While the interiors were filmed on Stage 26 of the former Burbank studios, the house exterior was filmed on the jungle set. Earl H. Hamner. During Hamner Jr.s childhood, the family (except for his father) attended Schuyler Baptist Church. Earl Hamner Jr had five uncles on his paternal side: Lawrence Clifton (1892-1959) Lewis Tyler (1895-1972) William Benjamin (1897-1965) Charles Edward (1902-1962) Clay Randolph (1906-1957) None died in either WW1 or WW2. Born in Schuyler, Virginia, as the oldest son of a soapstone mill worker, he had a tough childhood. John-Boy loses his completed novel in order to save Erin. Admission is $15 per person over 6 years of age. Who did John Boy Walton marry in real life? Youll hear of Rod Serling, certainly, and the names Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont are sure to pop up simultaneously. He left in 1943 to join the army. Who is Earl Hamner Jr.: Earl Hamner Jr. is a famous TV Producer. Drew goes away to college. It's for those reasons that his home and family has left a legacy of inspiration for many who wish they grew uplike the Waltons. The novelist and television writer Earl Hamner Jr. (1923-2016) wrote the novel Spencers Mountain, which was published in 1961 and formed the basis for the 1963 film of the same name. He was first trained to diffuse landmines before being transferred to Quartermaster Corps in Paris because of his typing abilities. Earl Hamner Jr., the Virginia-born writer who created not only TV's folksy, Depression-era family drama "The Waltons" but the California wine country prime-time soap opera "Falcon Crest . WE ARE OPEN YEAR ROUND FOR TOURS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO VISIT. He was initially trained to defuse landmines, but was then transferred to the Quartermaster Corps since he knew how to type. In 1970, Earl wrote a television special based on his novel, The Homecoming. This became well known as the garden shed and home to John-Boys office for the Blue Ridge Chronicle on the TV show. The real life John-Boy, Earl Hamner Jr., who created 'The Waltons,' dies at age 92. He died in Los Angeles in 2016. The show starred Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Robert Foxworth, and Susan Sullivan. 4 Why did they replace John Boy on The Waltons? Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful, Address: Suite 228 919 Deana Ford, Lake Meridithberg, NE 60017-4257, Hobby: Tai chi, Dowsing, Poi, Letterboxing, Watching movies, Video gaming, Singing. It was shot earlier this year in Georgia, mostly at The Gaither Plantation in Covington and nearby environs. Neighbors who became the fictional Baldwin sisters concocted moonshine that became "the recipe.". What was the mules name on the Waltons? He said, You seem to go for that down home stuff. Hamner is survived by Jane, by their two children, Scott and Caroline, by a brother, Paul, and by two sisters, Audrey and Nancy. In 1971, The Homecoming was broadcast by CBS as a Christmas special. In the late 1940s there was a show, which billed itself as the only show on radio where the audience writes the scripts. That was literally the truth because the Dr. Christian show invited script submissions from listeners and awarded prizes for those scripts they accepted. LOS ANGELES Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era upbringing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to create one of television's . There are constant deadlines to meet and frequent demands placed upon your time. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. He was the voice of the older, wiser John-Boy at the beginning and end of each episode of The Waltons, the series he created and wrote, based on his own family and life. 9. Earl Hamner Jr. / Siblings. He continued to live in the Hamner homeplace in Schuyler, Virginia until . Later, Hamner Jr.s experiences during his childhood in the Blue Ridge Mountains would serve as the foundation for his novel Spencers Mountain and the tv-series The Waltons. They had one that was docile and well trained. Co-written with Don Sipes. The Hamners bought the home in 1929 when Earl Sr. worked as a machinist for The Alberene Stone Company. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. (July 10, 1923 - March 24, 2016) was an American television writer and producer (sometimes credited as Earl Hamner), best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s as the creator of two long-running series, The Waltons and Falcon Crest.As a novelist, he is best known for Spencer's Mountain, which was inspired by his own childhood and formed the basis for both the film . Jane Martin was born between 1954 and 2016, and when did Earl Hamner's wife pass away? Why did they replace John Boy on The Waltons? Were any major changes or revisions made to your scripts? Also, did Earl Hamner Jr. have twins? HAMNER: I admit that this is true and must lay the blame on some awful provincial thinking on my part. The real place upon which the stories are based is the community of Schuyler in Nelson County, Virginia. Built in 1915, as a company house, by the local soapstone company. I do feel that one or two of them stand out for one reason or another. Bill's three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. Paul Hamner (r) lives in Tom's River, New Jersey and is retired from the Baker Shoe Store chain. Was The Twilight Zone a proving ground for characters that you later developed for The Waltons? I did eight of those original episodes." (Now published under the title "Twilight Zone Scripts of Earl Hamner.") Soon, life pulled into the fast lane. George Clayton Johnson will come to mind without too much hesitation. His siblings, next in line were, Cliff (Jason), Marian (Mary-Ellen), Audrey (Erin), Paul (Ben), Bill (Ben), James (Jim-Bob) and Nancy (Elizabeth). The Waltons Hamner House is open seven days a week and guided tours begin every half hour from 10am until 4pm. $645$16.95. Good night, Earl Hamner Jr. All of the Waltons were based on real people Hamner's family, his grandfather and . 2020 America's Richest Families Net Worth The Waltons are the richest family in America thanks to their stake in Walmart, the world's largest retailer by sales. He was 85 years old at the time of his death. Where did Earl Hamner Jr go to high school? The Hamner home, headed by Earl Hamner, Sr. and Doris Giannini Hamner, sheltered eight thoroughbred siblings who were instilled with determination, tempered with gentility and a love of family. There are many more things to see, do and discover in the region, wine tours are quite popular, visit one of the many caverns, a drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway is a must and be sure to visit The Natural Bridge. The Waltons aired for more than 200 episodes, with Hamner providing brief voiceover narration in each one, telling his audience about his family's years in the Blue Ridge Mountains and how it had shaped him. He was born on July 10, 1923 and his birthplace is Virginia. How many episodes of The Waltons did Earl Hamner write? The only time this has happened to me, other than on The Waltons, was when we were filming The Homecoming. To my astonishment and joy it was not unusual of Director Fielder Cook to call me over and have me look at the shot he was just about to take and ask me if that was how I envisioned it. His parents, Doris Giannini Hamner and Earl Henry Hamner, had seven more children after him, all redheads: Clifton, Marion, Audrey, Paul, Willard, James, and Nancy. 'The Waltons' Cast Members Got Burned Filming the House Fire Episode. Years later when he introduced me to friends in Hollywood he would say, I want you to meet the man who gave me my first job.. He promised that one day he would build her a house of her own on the top of a mountain.". His replacement at WLW was Rod Serling, who would go on to create televisions The Twilight Zone. Hamner was the real "John Boy" in the show, which was based on his book, Spencer's Mountain. The model for Ben Walton came from two brothers. She was the daughter of the late Colonel Anderson Giannini and Ora Mann Giannini. Hamners hardscrabble experiences growing up in a large family in depression-era Schuyler informed his 1961 novel Spencers Mountain, and its film adaptation starring Henry Fonda and Maureen OHara. TA: The plot of The Hunt is woven around the basic premise of a main character going about his business while completely oblivious to the fact that he is dead. We educate the public about Rod Serlings genius, his legacy, and his passion for justice. Do you actively strive to create characters that defy stereotypes as well as expectations? Emily Baldwin always pined for her lost love, Ashley Longworth, waiting for him to return one day. HAMNER: As you state, some themes are universal in literature and have been used by any number of writers past and present. However I was a great admirer of the work of Ray Bradbury who must be considered along with Edgar Allen Poe as one of the greatest American fantasy writers of all time. Later, his alma mater would serve as inspiration for the fictional Boatwright University that John-Boy the oldest son in the Walton family would attend. Eventually, September 30, 1955 premiered in 1977, but between his motorcycle accident and that premiere date, Thomas bore the pain and continued appearing on The Waltons. Tall, lean, fine-boned, red-headed youngsters growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia during the Depression. White said in Charlottes Web, It is rare for a person to be a good writer and a good friend. George is both. Do you have any theories on this? Thanks to the success of "The Waltons," Schuyler, Virginia, has become a must-visit place for many of the show . He had decided to become a writer at age 6, however, after getting a poem published on the children's page of a Richmond, Va., newspaper. His brothers were Clifton Anderson, Paul Louis, Willard Harold, and James Edmund, and his sisters were Marion Lee, Audrey Jane, and Nancy Alice. I suppose most writers look at even the most ordinary situations and imagine what if?. A Piano in the House reveals secret ambitions and desires that display the flip side of the personalities involved. In Jess-Belle I had written in a cougar. The story formula of a Twilight Zone is unique in that characters are often ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont, of course, lead the list.But several other noteworthy writers helped define that elusive fifth dimension including Earl Hamner, Jr. It is with great sorrow that we share the news of Earl Hamner's passing at age 92. HAMNER: I dont really remember the entire final season well enough to make any kind of judgement about whether it lacked Rods creative stamp or not. Where was the Waltons outdoor scenes filmed? Earl Hamner, creator of TV's "The Waltons" and "Falcon Crest," in a June 1999 file image. James Hamner, 67, the youngest son in a family immortalized by "The Waltons" on television and the model for the character Jim-Bob Walton, died April 1 at his home in Charlottesville. Floridas $4 billion bet on the Everglades: Is it enough? Earl Hamner, Jr. wrote eight episodes of the seminal series. Hamner died in Los Angeles on March 24, 2016. It received decent reviews and made a profit for the studio, but did not become a major success at the box office. SUMMARY. I thought it was a fine idea. Apples Way, a CBS drama tv-series about a city family that moves to the country. His dreams of writing the great American novel took him to New York and Hollywood where he worked in radio, film and television. His name, however, is rarely associated with The Twilight Zone. Did this style of writing come naturally to you or did you have to adapt to it? Schuyler was a company town based on soapstone mining for the New Alberene Stone company, and when the Great Depression came the economy of Schuyler was hit very hard. Can spouse of Blue Card holder work in Germany? Can spouse of Blue Card holder work in Germany? Don't worry about leaving your pets in the car. Did the Hamner family really own a mountain? Since my first writing credits were on The Twilight Zone I became known as a fantasy-type writer. Dad died peacefully in his sleep at Cedar Sinai Hospital. Later, the novel would serve as inspiration for the TV movie The Homecoming: A Christmas Story which was broadcast on CBS in December 1971. George has been a loyal supporter of my work and he even went so far as to call me with an idea for a television series using my knowledge of and enthusiasm for folk material. Earl Hamner, Jr. wrote eight episodes of the seminal series. Our hours are 10:00 am - 3:30 pm daily. There was a perception that television drama could simply be a televised stage play but dramatists quickly discovered that the medium was far more up-close and intimate. The Giannini family had migrated to the United States from Lucca, Italy, in the 1700s. Until the 1900s, the Hamners were tobacco farmers near James River, Virginia, when they moved to Schuyler, located on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Weekends only March April and November. He almost levitated in his drive to get going and while he was not a tall man he willed himself to height and to an intense presence. He always had a keen interest in writing and at the age of six, he published his first poem in a local newspaper. He took it very seriously and did a really terrific ceremony, Walmsley said. They tied the knot in real life in nuptials officiated by Walton dad Ralph Waite, a minister in real life. The eldest of eight red-haired children in a poor, Baptist family, Earl Henry Hamner Jr. was born July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Va., a mining and milling village in the foothills of the Blue Ridge . Earl Hamner Jr. was one of the wealthiest Hollywood producers, with an approximate net worth of $1 million. Born July 10th, 1923 Earl Hamner Jr. was the first child of Earl Sr. and Doris Hamner. Good night, John-Boy. The Twilight Zone episodes Hamner did finish included several of the best the classic TV series aired. July 10, 1923 - Earl Hamner Jr. is born in Nelson County. He died surrounded by family playing his favourite John Denver music, according to the Facebook . How long did the TV show The Waltons run? In 1961, he got his first big break when he successfully sold two scripts to the science fiction series The Twilight Zone. Joe Conley, who played general store proprietor Ike Godsey on the beloved CBS family drama The Waltons, has died, his co-star Mary Beth McDonough reported Monday on her Facebook page. He also wrote film versions of Charlottes Web (1973) and Lassie (1978). Photo Source www.DelsJourney.com. She is survived by four sons, Earl H. Hamner Jr. of Studio City, The episodes aired in 1967-1969. TA: Earl, E.B. Did you ever find yourself publicly recognized for your voice-over work on The Waltons? When he quit to work full-time on his first novel, Fifty Roads to Town, his friend Serling replaced him at the station. In 1954, he wrote the episode Hit and Run for the legal drama Justice. -- the real-life John-Boy -- grew up in an unassuming, tin-roofed house crowded with siblings. "Looking back," he once said, "I realize that if I made any unique contribution to the series, it was to introduce the American folklore element into it.". Earl Henry Hamner Jr. (July 10, 1923- March 24, 2016) was born in Schuyler, Virginia to Doris Marion (ne Giannini) and Earl Henry Hamner Sr. Ever active during this period, Earl wrote and produced the television series Apples Way, Thorpe, Boone, The Young Pioneers, The Long Hot Summer and Morning Star-Evening Star. Earl Hamner Jr., was a writer and producer best known as the creator and narrator of the acclaimed television series The Waltons, which aired on CBS from 1971 to 1981. After graduating from Schuyler High School in 1940, he received a scholarship to the University of Richmond but didnt complete his studies before joining the Army in 1943. Hamner was six years old when he published his first poem on the Childrens Page of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean camera lens? The answer is yes. She deserved more respect. His fathers family came to Virginia from Wales. LOS ANGELES Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era upbringing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to create one of television's most beloved family shows, The Waltons, has died. He then worked in radio and television, writing scripts for The Twilight Zone and novels based on his Virginia upbringing. The family home had no telephone and only two books: a Bible and a beekeeping manual. There is the grandparents' room, the parents' room, the writer's room (meaning John Boy's), the boys' room and the girls' room. Bill Hamner (l) died in 1989. Murder in Tinseltown(2000). And centered on the power and intrigues of the families involved in the wine producing . Bills three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. Bill Hamner (l) died in 1989. The film, like the book, is about a an intelligent spider named Charlotte who saves her pig friend Wilbur from being slaughtered. HAMNER: I was not often on the set where the show was filmed but I have one production story that amused me. Spencer's Mountain. . [Boris Yaro | Los Angeles Times via TNS] LOS ANGELES Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era . My father, Earl Hamner, passed away today at 12:20 PM Pacific time. Have you got any ideas? I called him back the next day with the general idea for Jess-Belle. He gave me the go-ahead and I wrote an act a day, including the folk song that introduces each act. He followed through by recruiting some of the best ones around to contribute their most imaginative work. TA: It was made in the mid-eighties. He soon left, however, first to attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and then the University of Cincinnati, where he studied radio. 24. HAMNER: I believe the genesis of this story came from reading about a child who had been killed by a hit-and-run driver. People have been asking for more than four decades if "the family is real" and "is there a 'real' Walton's Mountain?" "The battle front was a few miles away and the sounds of gunfire were incessant. Come to think of it that would make a good episode! Hamner wrote the screenplay for Charlottes Web, a 1973 animated musical drama film based on the 1952 book of the same name by E.B. Costars Allen and Thomas developed their deep romance during filming. Yet you wrote the entire script in under a week, one act per day. After all, it was The Twilight Zone and the idea of a black leopard in the hills of Virginia was innovative, dramatic and shockingly right. He soon left his job to complete his studies. Over the ensuing years, Earl, you have not been instantaneously associated with The Twilight Zone, at least not to the degree of some of the shows other writers. It was John-Boy Walton - the oldest of the family's children - who was based on Earl himself. The show starred Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Robert Foxworth, and Susan Sullivan. What do you call the quote in the beginning of a book? 13. Bill's three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. For if you have no passion for the subject the piece will be flat and lifeless. From the left: Brothers Bill (Ben), Paul (Ben), cousin Janet, sisters Nancy (Elizabeth), Marian (Mary Ellen), brother James (Jim Bob), sister Audrey (Erin). The sisters, from oldest to youngest, were Marion Lee, Audrey Jane and Nancy Alice.