en An Easter Story

"**An Easter Story**"
"An Easter Story"
The Waltons episode
Episode no.	Season 1; Episode 24
Directed by	Philip Leacock
Story by	Earl Hamner Jr.
Teleplay by	John McGreevey
Narrated by	Earl Hamner Jr.
Featured music	Arthur Morton
Cinematography by	Russell Metty
Editing by	Marjorie Fowler; Michael McCroskey; Gene Fowler;
Original air date	April 19, 1973
	List of episodes

"An Easter Story" was the final episode of the first season of The Waltons. It was also the first two-hour show of the series.^[1]

Plot

Olivia begins to experience pain and fatigue, and eventually collapses after church. Numbness in her legs turns to paralysis, and she is diagnosed with polio. However, she refuses to believe that she will never walk again.

Jason is inspired by Grandma as she does her housework. He composes a song he calls "The Ironing Board Blues" which he performs in an amateur talent contest. He wins the contest and a new guitar. The family watches him perform. Back at home, they reenact the contest for Olivia and Erin.

When John-Boy checks in to apply at the University of Virginia, he finds out there is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of polio. John-Boy seeks the doctor out and he tells John-Boy of a new experimental treatment. John-Boy and Grandma encourage Olivia to try the exercises against the advice of the doctor, who suggests that the experimental treatment could leave her worse off. At first, she has hope of recovery by Easter, but then she becomes discouraged and resigns herself to life in a wheelchair. However, shortly before Easter, she dreams that Elizabeth calls out for help, and she gets up out of bed without effort.

Olivia attends the Easter sunrise service on the mountain with her family, celebrating the apparent miracle.

Cast

Richard Thomas as John-Boy Walton
Ralph Waite as John Walton, Sr.
Michael Learned as Olivia Walton
Ellen Corby as Esther Walton
Will Geer as Zebulon "Zeb" Walton
Judy Norton as Mary Ellen Walton
Jon Walmsley as Jason Walton
Mary Beth McDonough as Erin Walton
Eric Scott as Ben Walton
David W. Harper as Jim-Bob Walton
Kami Cotler as Elizabeth Walton
Mary Jackson as Emily Baldwin
Helen Kleeb as Mamie Baldwin
John Ritter as the Reverend Fordwick
Joe Conley as Ike Godsey
John Crawford as Sheriff Bridges
Don Collier as Dr. Miller
Victor Izay as Dr. Vance
David Doremus as George William "GW" Haines
Joseph Bernard as Snyder
Ann Carol Pearson as Admissions Clerk
Joe Frank Carollo as Tom
Earl Hamner Jr. as The Narrator

Production

Writing

The episode was produced by Robert L. Jacks. The teleplay was written by John McGreevey, based on a story by Earl Hamner, Jr.^[2]^: 78

Music

The song Ironing Board Blues used in the episode was written and performed by Jon Walmsley.

Reception

In 2009, TV Guide ranked this episode #77 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.^[3]

Awards

Award	Year^[a]	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref(s)
Emmy Award	1973	Outstanding Drama Series		Won	^[4]
Emmy Award	1973	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series	Richard Thomas	Won	^[5]
Emmy Award	1973	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Michael Learned	Won	^[6]
Emmy Award	1973	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Ellen Corby	Won	^[7]
Emmy Award	1973	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Will Geer	Nominated	^[8]

Notes

^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

^ Hamner, Earl Jr. (2002). Goodnight John-Boy: a celebration of an American family and the values that have sustained us through good times and bad. Ralph Giffin. Nashville, TN: Cumberland House. p. 85. ISBN 1-58182-298-7. OCLC 50339848.
^ Person, James E. (2005). Earl Hamner, From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow. Cumberland House. ISBN 978-1-58182-455-1.
^ "TV's Top 100 Episodes of All Time: #80-61". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
^ "Outstanding Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
^ "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
^ "Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
^ "Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
^ "Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.

External links

[4] Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

[1] Hamner, Earl Jr. (2002). Goodnight John-Boy: a celebration of an American family and the values that have sustained us through good times and bad. Ralph Giffin. Nashville, TN: Cumberland House. p. 85. ISBN 1-58182-298-7. OCLC 50339848.

[2] Person, James E. (2005). Earl Hamner, From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow. Cumberland House. ISBN 978-1-58182-455-1.

[3] "TV's Top 100 Episodes of All Time: #80-61". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2021.

[5] "Outstanding Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.

[6] "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.

[7] "Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.

[8] "Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.

[9] "Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 1973". Television Academy. Retrieved February 7, 2023.

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An Easter Story