| Ep |
№ |
Title |
Original airdate |
| 1 |
1 |
"The Foundling" |
September 14, 1972 (1972-09-14) |
| The Waltons shelter a deaf girl left by her mother on their back porch, and convince her father that she can be educated rather than institutionalized. |
| 2 |
2 |
"The Carnival" |
September 21, 1972 (1972-09-21) |
| A traveling carnival comes to Walton's Mountain, but the children choose to sacrifice the money they had saved for it so that Grandma can replace her broken glasses. When the troupe becomes stranded by their dishonest ringmaster, John and Olivia allow them to stay temporarily in their barn, and the family is rewarded with a private show. |
| 3 |
3 |
"The Calf" |
September 28, 1972 (1972-09-28) |
| The Waltons' cow gives birth to a bull calf, which John decides must be sold for truck repair money, much to the disappointment of his children. He is able to buy it back after he learns the man he sold it to plans to butcher it. |
| 4 |
4 |
"The Hunt" |
October 5, 1972 (1972-10-05) |
| John-Boy is anxious to prove himself on a turkey hunt with his father and two friends, but finds he can't shoot a turkey, which he equates with premeditated murder. He has no trouble killing a bear who attacks his father. |
| 5 |
5 |
"The Typewriter" |
October 12, 1972 (1972-10-12) |
| John-Boy borrows an antique typewriter from the Baldwin sisters, so he can submit a proper manuscript to a magazine. Mary Ellen unknowingly sells the typewriter to a traveling junk dealer. Fortunately, Sheriff Bridges is able to help her track it down. |
| 6 |
6 |
"The Star" |
October 19, 1972 (1972-10-19) |
| A meteorite crashes through the roof of the Baldwin sisters' "Recipe" room, which they take as some kind of sign from their dead Papa. Grandpa Walton takes it as a sign of his own impending death; Jim-Bob takes it as a sign he will win the fourth grade spelling bee; and an unscrupulous relative of the sisters first plans to exploit the meteorite for financial gain, then tries to steal their "Recipe machine". |
| 7 |
7 |
"The Sinner" |
October 26, 1972 (1972-10-26) |
| A young preacher (played by John Ritter) comes to Walton's Mountain fresh from seminary, where he has learned the currently popular fire and brimstone style of preaching. He happens to be a relative of the Baldwin sisters, and after a visit succumbs to the effects of their "Recipe". His tee-totaler church superior fires him, but after he humbly apologizes to John-Boy for his hypocrisy, Grandpa and John convince the congregation to look at the forgiving side of the gospel and accept him. |
| 8 |
8 |
"The Boy From the C.C.C." |
November 2, 1972 (1972-11-02) |
| A troubled teenager from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan whose father was murdered by a gangster, runs away from the Civilian Conservation Corps to Walton's Mountain. The Waltons take him in and teach him that he can trust some people, and he doesn't have to fight (literally) for everything he gets. |
| 9 |
9 |
"The Ceremony" |
November 9, 1972 (1972-11-09) |
| A Jewish Nazi-refugee family moves to Walton's Mountain. Expecting to find similar antisemitism in America, the bitter, distrustful father chooses to protect his family by hiding their faith, and cancels plans for his son's impending bar mitzvah. The Waltons find a rabbi and open their home for the ceremony. Grandpa convinces the man not to deny his faith, and honor his son by attending. |
| 10 |
10 |
"The Legend" |
November 16, 1972 (1972-11-16) |
| John's buddy from World War I comes to visit. But after the man accidentally sets a grass fire for which Jason is blamed, and wounds the family dog on a hunting trip, John discovers his friend has not put away the horrors of the war and gotten on with his life. |
| 11 |
11 |
"The Literary Man" |
November 30, 1972 (1972-11-30) |
| A.J. Covington (David Huddleston), a wandering, well-read man claiming to be a writer, comes to Walton's Mountain, befriends John-Boy and helps him with his writing. But A.J. must come to terms with the fact that, after an initial success, he has spent most of his life in search of "the big story", but has avoided actual writing for fear of failure. |
| 12 |
12 |
"The Dust Bowl Cousins" |
December 7, 1972 (1972-12-07) |
| John's cousin and her family seek refuge in Walton's Mountain after losing their Kansas farm to the Dust Bowl, but her husband has developed a bad attitude toward misfortune and taught their son that the world owes them something. |
| 13 |
13 |
"The Reunion" |
December 14, 1972 (1972-12-14) |
| The Baldwin sisters' cousin Homer (Denver Pyle) comes to visit, and they plan to hold a family reunion. But Homer steals their batch of the "Recipe" and runs off, planning to illegally sell it; then they sadly discover all their invitations returned, because the addressees are either dead or unlocatable. The Waltons make up for the failed reunion with a family visit. |
| 14 |
14 |
"The Minstrel" |
December 21, 1972 (1972-12-21) |
| A young wandering musician visits the Mountain. Mary Ellen plans to run away with him, thinking that she is in love with him, and that he will help her fulfill her dreams of travel and adventure. She learns a hard lesson when he tells her he won't be "tied down" by anybody and leaves without her. |
| 15 |
15 |
"The Actress" |
January 4, 1973 (1973-01-04) |
| A famous stage and screen actress's car breaks down in Walton's Mountain, forcing her to stay at the Walton home. Contrary to the front she puts up, she is out of work and money, due to her agent getting tired of dealing with her prima donna attitude. After she learns a humbling lesson, the Waltons help her regain her confidence, and organize a town performance to help her raise money to repair her car. |
| 16 |
16 |
"The Fire" |
January 11, 1973 (1973-01-11) |
| After learning Miss Hunter is teaching evolution to his daughter, a religious fanatic breaks into the Baldwins' house and steals some Recipe, then gets drunk and beats his daughter. He then uses the remaining Recipe to burn down the school, killing himself in the process. Ike Godsey lets Miss Hunter use some extra space in his store for temporary classrooms, until the county can build a new school. Olivia contacts the girl's mother, who ran away from her abusive husband, and the woman comes back to take care of her daughter. |
| 17 |
17 |
"The Love Story" |
January 18, 1973 (1973-01-18) |
| Jenny Pendleton (Sian Barbara Allen), whose mother died years ago, runs away from her father and new stepmother, back to her deserted house in Walton's Mountain. Jenny and John-Boy meet and fall deeply in love, but she is soon traumatized by her father's sudden accidental death, and ultimately moves away with the stepmother. |
| 18 |
18 |
"The Courtship" |
January 25, 1973 (1973-01-25) |
| The Waltons are visited by Olivia's uncle, Cody Nelson, a bank accountant near retirement, but put out of work by the bank closings. They attempt to cheer him up by introducing him to a local widow, whom he courts. Afraid to commit to her upon learning of her four marriages (including a divorce), he finally resolves to ask her to marry him. The Reverend Fordwick performs the ceremony in the Walton house, and the couple remain happily married for life. |
| 19 |
19 |
"The Gypsies" |
February 1, 1973 (1973-02-01) |
| A gypsy family, stranded in Walton's Mountain during a thunderstorm with a broken wagon, break into the Baldwin sisters' house for shelter. Since they have a sick baby, the Waltons allow them to temporarily camp on their property. Grandma is able to heal the baby. |
| 20 |
20 |
"The Deed" |
February 8, 1973 (1973-02-08) |
| The Waltons discover that their ancestors never filed for legal title to their land when a lumber company tries to claim the Mountain. They must raise two hundred dollars to obtain the deed, forcing the entire family to chip in. Against his father's wishes, John-Boy decides to take time off of school to work in a nearby city. |
| 21 |
21 |
"The Scholar" |
February 22, 1973 (1973-02-22) |
| Verdie Grant asks John-Boy to teach her how to read and write, on the condition that he keep it a strict secret. She is motivated by the desire to travel to Richmond to see her youngest daughter Clarie graduate from college. A misunderstanding causes Verdie to assume John-Boy betrayed her confidence, and she angrily stops the lessons, despite his attempt to explain. She relents after she has to ask him to read Claire's letter to her, which implores her to come to the graduation. She completes the lessons and makes the trip to Richmond, becoming a good Walton family friend. |
| 22 |
22 |
"The Bicycle" |
March 1, 1973 (1973-03-01) |
| Frustrated with the burden of her domestic obligations, Olivia buys a used bicycle, which awakens some of her dormant dreams as she starts singing in the church choir again. Meanwhile, John-Boy helps blacksmith Curtis Norton (Ned Beatty) woo a "mail-order bride" by ghost-writing letters for him. When the city-raised girl arrives with big dreams, she becomes disillusioned with Curtis' bucolic ways, becomes angry when she discovers John-Boy wrote the letters, and cancels the engagement. Olivia's experience reminds her that dreams don't always work out, and don't replace the benefits of family. She convinces the girl to accept Curtis and loans her the bicycle to go after him. |
| 23 |
23 |
"The Townie" |
March 8, 1973 (1973-03-08) |
| John-Boy's friend Sarah Jane Simmonds (Sissy Spacek) wants to marry him to escape her strict, overprotective mother, but he rejects the idea. She then secretly dates the "townie", a spoiled rich boy named Theodore "Ted" Albert Claypool Jr., who drives a LaSalle coupe, and exasperates John-Boy by expressing admiration for John Dillinger. He steals money and a gun from his father, and takes Sarah Jane off to Maryland to elope. John-Boy pursues them and finds them both injured outside the overturned LaSalle. Ted pulls the gun on John-Boy and tries to take the Walton truck, until John and Ted's father show up. |
| 24 |
24 |
"An Easter Story" |
April 19, 1973 (1973-04-19) |
| In a two-hour special, Olvia is stricken with polio after returning from church in February. When pain and fatigue turn into numbness and paralysis, she faces the prospect of permanent disability with courage, encouraging her children to fulfill their dreams. While John-Boy checks into applying to the University of Virginia, he takes the opportunity to seek out a doctor who specializes in the treatment of polio, having contracted it himself once. He tells John-Boy of an unorthodox, experimental treatment to fight the paralysis. Olivia tries the exercises, against the realistic / pessimistic advice of the local doctor. They at first give her hope of recovery by Easter, but then she becomes discouraged and resigns herself to life in a wheelchair when they ultimately don't work. But shortly before Easter, she dreams that Elizabeth calls out to her for help, and she gets up out of bed. She attends the Easter sunrise service with her family, celebrating the apparent miracle. |
| Ep |
№ |
Title |
Original airdate |
| 1 |
25 |
"The Journey" |
September 13, 1973 (1973-09-13) |
| Maggie McKenzie (Linda Watkins), an elderly neighbor in failing health, asks John-Boy to take her to a nearby beach (where she first arrived in America from Scotland) but he has other plans. |
| 2 |
26 |
"The Odyssey" |
September 20, 1973 (1973-09-20) |
| Needing some alone time, John-Boy hikes up the mountain to a deserted cabin, and there finds his friend Sarah Jane Simmons (Sissy Spacek) hiding, nine months pregnant. She has run away from a well-to-do family in which her mother had placed her, on the promise that they would educate her. But they were only interested in using her as their servant, so she ran away and married a young man who has gone looking for work with the Works Progress Administration. John-Boy and Sarah are stranded by a rainstorm, and he must deliver the baby. |
| 3 |
27 |
"The Separation" |
September 27, 1973 (1973-09-27) |
| The Waltons' electric power is shut off when they are unable to pay the bill. Sent to buy candles, Grandpa Zeb comes up with a better solution: he offers to do a house repair job for the Baldwin sisters, for cash and the use of their car to pay the bill in Charlottesville. They accept, provided he takes them with him. Worried sick, jealous and angry when he is gone all day, Esther refuses to listen to his explanation. Zeb leaves the house, sleeping on the pool table in Ike Godsey's store. Zeb's and Esther's pride escalates the spat to the point where he talks of leaving her for good, until Olivia suggests Grandma use Zeb's jealousy by going to the upcoming square dance, where the caller is Zeb's old rival for her affections. |
| 4 |
28 |
"The Theft" |
October 4, 1973 (1973-10-04) |
| A wealthy widow accuses John Sr. of stealing some family silver after he has done a repair job for her. He suspiciously has come into some extra money, and refuses to say where he got it because he has sold his wedding ring to a pawn shop. It turns out the family's son has sold the silver, hiding from his mother the fact that their wealth is gone. |
| 5 |
29 |
"The Roots" |
October 11, 1973 (1973-10-11) |
| Harley Foster, an unemployed auto mechanic turned migrant worker, comes to the mountain with his young son Jody with whom he has been traveling the country. Verdie Grant takes an interest in him and the boy, and asks John-Boy to play matchmaker. He gets Ike Godsey to hire Harley as a mechanic. Jody longs to settle down, and Verdie wants him to go to school. But Harley will have none of it, and angrily decides to leave immediately. In desperation, the boy steals some money from Ike's till so that Harley will have to stay put. After Jody confesses, Harley changes his mind, apologizes to Verdie, and stays in Walton's Mountain. |
| 6 |
30 |
"The Chicken Thief" |
October 18, 1973 (1973-10-18) |
| John-Boy faces a dilemma when he sees Yancy Tucker steal two chickens; if he remains silent, the law considers him complicit. Yancy has been playing Robin Hood, giving the chickens to people worse off. He promises to return the chickens so that John-Boy is off the hook, and as he does so, the chickens' owner is shot in the leg. Now Yancy is in jail, until John Sr. figures out that the chicken farmer accidentally shot himself. |
| 7 |
31 |
"The Prize" |
October 25, 1973 (1973-10-25) |
| Olivia's childhood sweetheart Oscar Cockrell comes to visit. He is a politician running for the state legislature, and unhappily married. The Waltons go to the county fair, and Oscar is one of the judges. Olivia wins a five dollar first prize for her cake, and Ben loans his pig, given to him by Yancy Tucker, for the greased pig contest. The farmer who catches the pig (Dana Elcar) recognizes it as one of his own from its earmark, and demands either the pig back, or five dollars. Oscar wants to pay the money for Olivia, but she gives Ben her prize money. |
| 8 |
32 |
"The Braggart" |
November 1, 1973 (1973-11-01) |
| Hobbie Shank, a teenage orphan, stays with the Waltons for a while. John-Boy begins to dislike him. |
| 9 |
33 |
"The Fawn" |
November 8, 1973 (1973-11-08) |
| In the first of several episodes directed by Ralph Waite, Erin finds an orphaned baby deer in the woods and intends to keep it as a pet, which the law doesn't permit. As soon as they return the fawn to the woods, a pair of poachers are caught shooting it, so Erin gets to keep it a bit longer while it recovers. The game warden offers Erin a compromise: instead of releasing it into the wild, he can put it in a wildlife preserve where she can visit it. She finally understands releasing it is best. In a parallel story, John-Boy gets a job as rent collector for a local landlord, and learns the man is dishonorable and miserly. His rents are higher than many tenants can pay in full, and he refuses to make needed repairs. He refuses to pay John-Boy's five percent commission since the shortfall in collections exceeds this, and fires him. John-Boy recovers his commission by making the repairs with Jason, and gives the man his change. |
| 10 |
34 |
"The Thanksgiving Story" |
November 15, 1973 (1973-11-15) |
| In another two-hour special, Jenny Pendleton (Sian Barbara Allen) returns for a visit with her stepmother. John-Boy is hit on the head by a plank while working the saw mill. He conceals his dizziness and blurred vision because he wants to take an entrance exam for Boatwright University, but he cannot finish it. He has an operation to remove a blood clot from his brain. After the operation, Miss Hunter persuades the college to allow him to re-take the exam and he is accepted, winning a scholarship. |
| 11 |
35 |
"The Substitute" |
November 22, 1973 (1973-11-22) |
| When Miss Hunter is called away by a family emergency, the school board (on which John sits) hires a substitute teacher to fill in. The Waltons house the young woman, who has excellent teaching credentials, but lacks interpersonal skills and eats her meals alone in her locked room. She counsels John-Boy not to write so emotionally. Her strict teaching style is so insensitive to individual children's needs, that half of them refuse to go to school. John is appointed to resolve the issue with her, but she resigns. Olivia convinces her not to distance herself from people, and she changes her methods. When she leaves, the children are sorry to see her go. |
| 12 |
36 |
"The Bequest" |
November 29, 1973 (1973-11-29) |
| Grandma receives a letter informing her that an old friend has died and bequeathed her $250, which she decides to share with the family and church. The family uses John-Boy's current college fund to replace the broken water heater, since Grandma has promised to replace the fund. But then another letter comes, with the news that the woman's medical debts exceed her assets, so the bequest cannot be honored. Grandma is ashamed and afraid to face John-Boy, until he tells her that he loves her no matter what. |
| 13 |
37 |
"The Air Mail Man" |
December 13, 1973 (1973-12-13) |
| The evening before Olivia's birthday, an air mail pilot (Michael Glaser) is forced to make an emergency landing in the Walton's pasture, and stays the night with them until he can fix his plane. He hides the fact that he has run away from his pregnant wife, until she comes looking for him. After discussing his fears of fatherhood with John, he decides not to leave her, and gives Olivia a ride in his plane. |
| 14 |
38 |
"The Triangle" |
December 20, 1973 (1973-12-20) |
| John-Boy begins to take quite an interest in Miss Hunter, at the same time so does Rev. Fordwick. |
| 15 |
39 |
"The Awakening" |
January 3, 1974 (1974-01-03) |
| Grandma begins wishing she were younger as her 68th birthday approaches, while Mary Ellen begins to wish she were older as she falls for a college student. |
| 16 |
40 |
"The Honeymoon" |
January 10, 1974 (1974-01-10) |
| John takes Olivia on a belated honeymoon. |
| 17 |
41 |
"The Heritage" |
January 17, 1974 (1974-01-17) |
| A mysterious stranger (Noah Beery) comes and samples the Waltons' hot spring water, then returns to offer John $5,000 to sell the mountain, claiming he wants to retire on it, but John is unwilling. Later, the man admits he represents developers who want to build a tourist resort on the mountain, and increases the offer to $25,000. Now John leans toward accepting it, thinking they can keep the house. Even though his ancestors are buried on the mountain, John knows the money will greatly benefit his family, especially for John-Boy's education. When the man returns to close the deal, he raises the offer to $30,000, informing them the developers want to remove the house, and offer John a job as a hunting/fishing guide. After much anguish, he finally decides his family's heritage mustn't be sold. |
| 18 |
42 |
"The Gift" |
January 24, 1974 (1974-01-24) |
| Jason's close friend Seth Turner (Ron Howard), who shares his love for music, carves a recorder from an apple tree branch Jason gives him, and offers to teach Jason how to play it. He learns that he has been stricken with leukemia and has only a year to live. Jason, and Seth's mother, take it extremely hard, but after the initial shock, Seth and his father resolve to make the most of the time he has remaining. Seth carves Jason's name in the recorder and gives it to him to remember him by. |
| 19 |
43 |
"The Cradle" |
January 31, 1974 (1974-01-31) |
| Olivia is pregnant for the eighth time, and fears bringing another child into the world during the Depression. Elizabeth at first is unhappy to learn she won't be the baby anymore, especially after being taunted about it by Jim-Bob; but then looks forward to a baby sister. But it is not to be when Olivia miscarries. |
| 20 |
44 |
"The Fulfillment" |
February 7, 1974 (1974-02-07) |
| The Waltons bring home Stevie, a troubled young orphan, to stay with them temporarily. Meanwhile, Ann, the wife of town blacksmith Curtis Norton (Victor French),[2] is told she will not be able to bear children. She stays in denial of this, as Curtis and Stevie take a liking to each other. Olivia doesn't want to force the idea of adoption on Ann, but John-Boy tells Ann that love isn't like money, in that one can't save it up for the future. She changes her mind, and the Nortons adopt Stevie. |
| 21 |
45 |
"The Ghost Story" |
February 14, 1974 (1974-02-14) |
| The Waltons bring Luke, a boy whose mother he loved very much has died, into their home while Ike gives John-Boy a "spirit board", which his writer's curiosity leads him to investigate. As he and the children play with it in several sessions, the "spirit" apparently delivers the fragmentary message "Luke .. must not ..." A series of circumstances then seem to conspire to prevent the family from getting Luke on a train to go to his father. Then they hear on the radio that a serious accident has derailed the train. |
| 22 |
46 |
"The Graduation" |
February 21, 1974 (1974-02-21) |
| John-Boy's high school graduation finally approaches, and the family buys him a new suit for the occasion. Then Chance the cow dies, and John-Boy sells the suit back over his father's strenuous objection, to give him the cash to replace the cow. Grandma and Olivia replace the suit by altering the tweed suit Grandpa was saving for his burial. |
| 23 |
47 |
"The Five Foot Shelf" |
March 7, 1974 (1974-03-07) |
| When a traveling salesman comes selling the 50-volume set of Harvard Classics, Olivia makes a $3.00 down payment, since they will replace some of John-Boy's required college books, and help satisfy her occasional desire for adventure. She also allows the salesman to stay in the barn. But instead of ordering the books, he uses the money to buy his daughter a doll from Ike's store. When John and John-Boy figure out his deception, John demands the money back, but decides to just banish him and write it off as a lesson learned when he sees how desperation has overridden the man's ethics and sense of pride. The man's conscience finally wins out: he persuades Ike to buy the doll back and returns the money to the Waltons. After this, Olivia decides to still buy the books. |
| 24 |
48 |
"The Car" |
March 14, 1974 (1974-03-14) |
| John-Boy looks to buy a car which he will need to get to college. On a tip, he offers to repair the storm damage to the home of a reclusive man in exchange for the beautiful car he keeps in his garage. The man grudgingly accepts, but proves unwilling to part with the car because it belonged to his son, who is dead. After his wife threatens to leave him, and John-Boy gets him to talk about his son, he relents. |
| Ep |
№ |
Title |
Original airdate |
| 1 |
49 |
"The Conflict" |
September 12, 1974 (1974-09-12) |
| In a two-hour episode, the family visits some of their hill-folk kin, the family of Grandpa's sister-in-law: Martha Corinne (Beulah Bondi), her son Boone (Morgan Woodward), and married grandson Wade (Richard Hatch). They are being forced off of their property by a Civilian Conservation Corps project to build a national park and federal highway. Grandpa supports them in their determination to take up arms against the government if necessary to defend Walton land, which puts him at odds with John-Boy. John tries with the help of Virginia senator Lucas Avery (Paul Fix) to appeal the state's decision to displace the family, but is unsuccessful. Martha Corinne finally relents when a marshal shoots John-Boy in the side. |
| 2 |
50 |
"The First Day" |
September 19, 1974 (1974-09-19) |
| John-Boy's first day at Boatwright goes from bad to worse. |
| 3 |
51 |
"The Thoroughbred" |
September 26, 1974 (1974-09-26) |
| John-Boy enters his mule Blue into a horse race which Grandpa was the last Walton to win, and finds himself in competition with one of his wealthy classmates, who not only enters a thoroughbred horse in the race, but competes with him for the attentions of a female student (Kathleen Quinlan), the granddaughter of the race's sponsor. John-Boy narrowly wins the race, and learns a lesson in good sportsmanship. |
| 4 |
52 |
"The Runaway" |
October 3, 1974 (1974-10-03) |
| Jim-Bob runs away from home. |
| 5 |
53 |
"The Romance" |
October 10, 1974 (1974-10-10) |
| When Olivia learns to drive and enrolls in a college art class, the young male teacher becomes romantically attracted to her. |
| 6 |
54 |
"The Ring" |
October 17, 1974 (1974-10-17) |
| Mary Ellen is invited to a Boatwright dance by one of John-Boy's classmates. She buys a handbag from the local junk dealer, and finds an amethyst ring concealed inside it. Even though she knows who the handbag's owner is, she rationalizes that she can borrow the ring for the dance and return it later. She loses the ring in the lady's room at the dance. John-Boy's girlfriend helps her retrieve it, at the cost of breaking university rules, which denies her eligibility in a prestigious sorority. Mary Ellen clears her conscience by returning the ring to its owner. |
| 7 |
55 |
"The System" |
October 24, 1974 (1974-10-24) |
| John-Boy makes a new friend when he is asked to tutor a football player at risk of failing a history class and losing his scholarship. The son of a Pennsylvania coal miner, this young man intends to give back to his home community by becoming a lawyer. John-Boy is confident he has learned what he needs to pass an upcoming test, but finds him in a moment of insecurity glancing at his neighbor's test paper. The school's honor code, and the man's good conscience, demand that John-Boy unwillingly turn him in, but he successfully defends his friend against expulsion. |
| 8 |
56 |
"The Spoilers" |
October 31, 1974 (1974-10-31) |
| The Hanovers move into Walton's Mountain and quickly make enemies within the Waltons. |
| 9 |
57 |
"The Marathon" |
November 7, 1974 (1974-11-07) |
| On a whim, John-Boy decides to enter a seven-day dance marathon after meeting Daisy, a young woman who also enters. Olivia is angry about him entering, but eventually comes to terms with the fact that he is becoming an adult, responsible for taking care of himself. John-Boy discovers how brutally the marathon organizers treat the dancers, and how desperate Daisy is to win the prize money so she can leave Virginia for big-city life. Halfway through, he finally decides to quit. |
| 10 |
58 |
"The Book" |
November 14, 1974 (1974-11-14) |
| John-Boy stretches himself academically by taking an advanced writing class, but soon gets the feeling he's gotten himself in too deep. Meanwhile, his mother sees an advertisement for a publishing company looking for new authors, and gives them a sample of his work. They send a letter offering to publish him, with a contract which he signs over his father's warning. Since he is now a "published author", he gets a slightly swelled head in his writing class, and his professor sets up a radio interview in his class. John-Boy learns a hard lesson when he receives a bill with his delivered books; the company is a vanity press. He is ashamed, but decides to share the lesson he's learned with the interviewer (Gerald McRaney). In a subplot, Jason's musical talents are discovered by the agent of Bobby Bigelow, a modestly famous Virginia native country singer, who hires him to play in his band. |
| 11 |
59 |
"The Job" |
November 21, 1974 (1974-11-21) |
| John-Boy takes a part-time job reading to a young blind woman named Ruth, a former Boatwright student. He has reservations about keeping it when he learns how bitter, closed and afraid of the world Ruth has become from her disability and the recent death of her father. When he can't take it anymore, he leaves in anger, causing Ruth to reconsider her attitude. She decides to accept his invitation to come to Walton's Mountain, and Olivia prepares a family picnic at Drucilla's Pond. On the way home, Elizabeth foolishly walks on the bridge rail and falls onto the riverbank, knocking herself unconscious, and Ruth, all by herself, tries to rescue her. Ruth takes some training at an institute for the blind, returns to Boatwright and becomes a state social worker. |
| 12 |
60 |
"The Departure" |
December 5, 1974 (1974-12-05) |
| It's John Sr's turn to become restless, deciding to take a job in a machine shop in Norfolk, 90 miles from Walton's Mountain, planning to return on weekends. This frustrates Olivia to the point of anger, and his absence is felt by the entire family, including John-Boy, who is encountering some academic problems at Boatwright. John finds he has to work overtime the first weekend, and has to contend with a jealous, bitter fellow worker and boarder named Stavros. When John-Boy drives to visit his father, John takes him to the local bar, where they end up in a fight. John finally comes to his senses, and returns home with his son. |
| 13 |
61 |
"The Visitor" |
December 12, 1974 (1974-12-12) |
| An old neighbor who moved away five years earlier, returns to his abandoned house, saying his wife will be coming soon. The Walton women and a friend clean up the house, in anticipation of her return. But then the man's son arrives, with the news that his mother died two years ago and his father has not accepted this. |
| 14 |
62 |
"The Birthday" |
December 19, 1974 (1974-12-19) |
| Grandpa has a heart attack on his birthday. |
| 15 |
63 |
"The Lie" |
January 2, 1975 (1975-01-02) |
| Ben borrows John-Boy's car to take his girlfriend Nancy to a secret meeting with her mother who left home several years ago. Nancy swears Ben to secrecy because she is afraid of her embittered father finding out. The good deed gets Ben into serious trouble when a joy-rider temporarily steals the car and has a hit-and-run accident, and the victim records the license number. John-Boy pieces together what happened, and convinces Ben to come clean. The girl tells her father about the meeting, and John Sr. makes him realize he was afraid of losing his daughter, but that he has no need to fear. |
| 16 |
64 |
"The Matchmakers" |
January 9, 1975 (1975-01-09) |
| John's unmarried cousin Cora-Beth Walton comes for an extended visit on the death of her mother. The family introduces her to Ike Godsey, who takes a liking to her and decides he is tired of the bachelor life. He surprises John by proposing to Cora-Beth, and she accepts, despite her own reservations. Reverend Fordwick marries them. |
| 17 |
65 |
"The Beguiled" |
January 16, 1975 (1975-01-16) |
| John-Boy is "beguiled" by Sis Branford, a rich, spoiled Boatwright student who almost has a traffic accident with him, ruining one of his tires. She also steals his chemistry notebook, which he desperately needs to pass an exam. She flirts and makes up with him, and he invites her home. She brings him a new tire, but frames Jim-Bob's friend for the notebook theft. John-Boy realizes she's only been using him as a play-thing and he tells her off. |
| 18 |
66 |
"The Caretakers" |
January 23, 1975 (1975-01-23) |
| Grandpa and Grandma feel cut off from the family and decide to move away. |
| 19 |
67 |
"The Shivaree" |
January 30, 1975 (1975-01-30) |
| The family hosts the wedding of Olivia's namesake, the orphaned daughter of a friend, to Bob Hill, a city boy from Richmond. Ike and Clancy plan a shivaree, a Blue Ridge tradition based on an old French-Canadian hazing ritual where the groom is kidnapped and left in the woods on the wedding night. After John-Boy explains this to Bob, who has little sense of humor and wants nothing to do with it, he and his father leave a message for Ike and Clancy, who are off on a hunting trim, warning them to cancel the hazing, but they don't get it in time and carry it out. Bob is so upset he tells his bride he thinks the wedding was a mistake, but the family fixes up the old cabin on top of the mountain as a honeymoon cottage and he relents. Ike and Clancy cause some tension by showing up again, but their intent now is only to serenade the young couple. |
| 20 |
68 |
"The Choice" |
February 6, 1975 (1975-02-06) |
| Believing the Depression will soon end, John and Zebulon have plans to expand the lumber business into "Walton and Sons", depending on Jason to be a major partner. But Miss Hunter has been encouraging Jason to develop his musical talents with professional lessons, and John-Boy to expand his writing skills by writing a novel. John-Boy is not so sure he is ready to write a novel, but Jason gets a piano teacher, who advises him to apply for a scholarship at a music conservatory. Jason wants to be a composer like George Gershwin. John is firmly opposed, believing Jason won't be able to earn a living with music. When he finally changes his mind and decides he wants his children to achieve their own life goals, John-Boy gets the inspiration to write the novel about his family. |
| 21 |
69 |
"The Statue" |
February 13, 1975 (1975-02-13) |
| Grandpa wins first prize in the church raffle: a statue of a young woman, donated by the Baldwin sisters. The statue is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem Annabel Lee, but bears an uncanny resemblance to Grandpa's old girlfriend. Grandma recognizes it too, which causes a bit of strife. Grandpa decides to use it to decorate his and Grandma's grave, but she says she'd rather be buried in the cow pasture, so Grandpa relents and has the children dump it in Drucilla's Pond. One of John-Boy's stories, a thinly veiled and somewhat unflattering portrayal of the Baldwin sisters, has been accepted for publication, but he must decide if publishing it would be worth the hurt it would cause to Miss Mamie and Miss Emily. |
| 22 |
70 |
"The Song" |
February 20, 1975 (1975-02-20) |
| Ben and Jason's relationship is strained when Ben suggests Jason hire a girl he likes, Sally Ann (Erin Moran), to sing his new song with him in Bobby Bigelow's band. The plan backfires on Ben when Sally falls for Jason instead. Ben sulks and refuses to join the family at the performance, but listens to it on the radio. But Sally dedicates the song to Ben, which causes him to come to the performance and make up with her. The song, Will You Be Mine?, was actually written by Jon Walmsley (Jason). |
| 23 |
71 |
"The Woman" |
February 27, 1975 (1975-02-27) |
| John and Olivia's 20th wedding anniversary proves to be eventful. |
| 24 |
72 |
"The Venture" |
March 6, 1975 (1975-03-06) |
| When John falls ill, John Boy and Jason must give up their dreams to keep the family going. |
| Episode # |
Title |
Plot |
Airdate |
| 1 |
"The Sermon" |
John Boy is coaxed into preaching a sermon while Reverend Fordwick is away on his honeymoon. Meanwhile, Olivia teaches school for Mrs. Fordwick |
September 11, 1975 |
| 2 |
"The Genius" |
A child genius comes to stay at the Waltons |
September 18, 1975 |
| 3 |
"The Fighter" |
A prize fighter starts work at the Walton farm, much to the chagrin of Olivia and Grandma |
September 25, 1975 |
| 4 |
"The Prophecy" |
John wrestles with feelings of failure as his high school reunion nears |
October 2, 1975 |
| 5 |
"The Boondoggle" |
A government writer comes to Walton's Mountain to write a Guide to Virginia. His meddling uncovers dark secrets about Judge Baldwin |
October 9, 1975 |
| 6 |
"The Breakdown" |
Jason learns the hard way that you can't do everything you want to do at once. Meanwhile, John Boy gets a job in the basement library at the college |
October 16, 1975 |
| 7 |
"The Wing-Walker" |
John Boy and Jim Bob vie for the attention of a lady wing walker |
October 23, 1975 |
| 8 |
"The Competition" |
Mary Ellen and Erin both fall in love with a visiting forestry student |
October 30, 1975 |
| 9 |
"The Emergence" |
One of John Boy's high school flames returns, with an arrogant and greedy fiance |
November 6, 1975 |
| 10 |
"The Loss" |
Olivia's niece returns to Walton's Mountain after the recent death of her husband |
November 13, 1975 |
| 11 |
"The Abdication" |
As the United Kingdom's King Edward VIII abdicates his throne, John-Boy's friend A.J. Covington (George Dzundza) returns[3] to Walton's Mountain with a movie company, filming a movie he has written. A.J. has written a good story based on his prior experience on the Mountain, but has a poor ear for dialects and has his characters speaking stereotypical, "hillbilly" dialog which sets the onlookers laughing. John-Boy offers the director (Leonard Stone) some suggestions on how to fix this, so the man asks him to rewrite the problem dialogue. The director (and the film's stars) are so impressed with the result that he fires Covington and offers John-Boy a screenwriting job. John-Boy is upset that his friend was fired, so he "abdicates" the offer. In a subplot, Mary Ellen is romantically attracted to A.J.'s English assistant (Stephen Collins). |
November 20, 1975 |
| 12 |
"The Estrangement" |
Wade Walton (Richard Hatch)'s wife Vera returns to Walton's Mountain, having run away from her unhappy marriage. She cites a drastic change in Wade's behavior since the government forced them off their property,[4] which causes her to suspect Wade is cheating on her. In fact, he is running moonshine for his grandfather Boone, and quits his job in anger when his boss speaks to him about his declining performance. After the sheriff arrests him, John-Boy persuades Boone to bail him out, and John offers him a new job making use of his woodworking skills, he comes to his senses and patches things up with his wife. |
December 4, 1975 |
| 13 |
"The Nurse" |
Mary Ellen leaves home for the weekend to take her entrance exam for medical school |
December 11, 1975 |
| 14 |
"The Intruders" |
Walton's Mountain ain't big enough for two sawmills! A rival sawmill comes to town and Ben begins working for them |
December 18, 1975 |
| 15 |
"The Search" |
Olivia, Jim Bob and Elizabeth find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere |
January 1, 1976 |
| 16 |
"The Secret" |
Jim Bob makes a startling discovery when he starts to think he's not a Walton |
January 8, 1976 |
| 17 |
"The Fox" |
Grandpa doesn't seem to want to go to the Spanish-American War veteran's reunion, even though he talks so much about his charge up San Juan Hill. Meanwhile, Ben goes into the fur business |
January 15, 1976 |
| 18 |
"The Burn Out (Parts I and II)" |
In a two-hour episode, a fire severely damages the second floor and kitchen of the Walton house. John-Boy fears he may have started it, by leaving a lit pipe he has taken up the habit of smoking, but the more likely cause is a space heater that Grandpa forgot to turn off. As John, Grandpa and John-Boy make repairs, the family must parcel out the younger children to friends and neighbors. John-Boy finally is able to restart the manuscript of his novel, which was destroyed in the fire. |
January 22, 1976 |
| 19 |
"The Big Brother" |
A runaway girl gets the attention of the entire Walton family, except Grandpa, who knows a con artist when he sees one |
January 29, 1976 |
| 20 |
"The Test" |
Maude, who gave her goat to the Waltons earlier in the series, doesn't adapt well to the retirement home, while Olivia gets a job as a seamstress in a high-end fashion store |
February 5, 1976 |
| 21 |
"The Quilting" |
Mary Ellen refuses to follow country traditions and Grandma doesn't like it one bit |
February 12, 1976 |
| 22 |
"The House" |
Grandma begins a petition to save the old Whitley house, while Grandpa has been contracted by the county to tear the house down |
February 19, 1976 |
| 23 |
"The Fledgling" |
John Boy is offered an amazing printing press for an unbelievable price. He gets a full time job to pay for the press, but begins to realize that he's working too hard |
February 26, 1976 |
| 24 |
"The Collision" |
John Boy struggles to decide where he belongs: Walton's Mountain or Spain |
March 4, 1976 |
| Episode # |
Title |
Plot |
Airdate |
| 1 |
"The First Edition" |
The Blue Ridge Chronicle (John-Boy's newly founded newspaper) is open for business! The only problem is the paper causes problems in the family as it includes a story about a local housebreaker, Ben. |
September 23, 1976 |
| 2 |
"The Vigil" |
Something ails Grandma! Trying to prove herself as a nursing student, Mary Ellen treats her... |
September 30, 1976 |
| 3 |
"The Comeback" |
Jason becomes the new piano man at the Dew Drop Inn, much to chagrin of Olivia and Grandma |
October 7, 1976 |
| 4 |
"The Baptism" |
A famous revival preacher is coming to town, but John doesn't seem too pleased. |
October 14, 1976 |
| 5 |
"The Fire Storm" |
John-Boy's attempts at keeping Walton's Mountain residents up to date with current events don't work out so well, especially after he attempts to put excerpts of Mein Kampf in his newspaper |
October 21, 1976 |
| 6 |
"The Nightwalker" |
A mysterious being stalks Walton's Mountain |
October 28, 1976 |
| 7 |
"The Wedding" |
In a double-length episode, Mary Ellen surprises everyone with the announcement of her engagement to hospital intern David Spencer. A new doctor, Curtis Willard (Tom Bower) arrives, though he and Mary Ellen don't get along well. But she comes to decide she doesn't really love David, and her love-hate relationship with Curtis ends in marriage. |
November 4, 1976 |
| 8 |
"The Cloudburst" |
John-Boy sells most of John-Boy's Meadow to keep the Blue Ridge Chronicle printing, deeply upsetting Grandpa |
November 11, 1976 |
| 9 |
"The Great Motorcycle Race" |
Jim Bob uses Ike's motorcycle to enter a local bike race |
November 18, 1976 |
| 10 |
"The Pony Cart" |
Martha Walton makes an unexpected return to Walton's Mountain |
December 2, 1976 |
| 11 |
"The Best Christmas" |
Olivia sets about making this Christmas 'the best we ever had', but circumstances seem to keep the Waltons apart |
December 9, 1976 |
| 12 |
"The Last Mustang" |
John-Boy gets tangled up in the coming sheriff's election. Meanwhile, Grandpa tries to keep 'The Last Mustang' free |
December 16, 1976 |
| 13 |
"The Rebellion" |
Grandma threatens to become a Methodist when she is asked to share organ duties with one of her fiercest rivals. *Note: This is the last episode Ellen Corby appears in until after she recovers from her stroke. Her first episode back is "Grandma Comes Home" (see below) |
December 23, 1976 |
| 14 |
"The Ferris Wheel" |
Nightmares begin to get the better of Elizabeth |
January 6, 1977 |
| 15 |
"The Elopement" |
Chad Marshall returns to Walton's Mountain and proposes to Erin |
January 13, 1977 |
| 16 |
"John's Crossroad" |
John gets a city job, but begins to realize it's not for him |
January 20, 1977 |
| 17 |
"The Career Girl" |
Erin has finally graduated high school. Now she must decide where her future lies. |
January 27, 1977 |
| 18 |
"The Hero" |
Honor Day brings about some surprising facts about Sheriff Ep Bridges' involvement in World War I. |
February 3, 1977 |
| 19 |
"The Inferno" |
John-Boy wins a journalism contest. The prize: $25 and an all-expense paid trip to cover to landing of the Hindenburg. |
February 10, 1977 |
| 20 |
"The Heartbreaker" |
Jason falls deeply in love with Curt's sister, not realizing that she takes relationships rather lightly |
February 17, 1977 |
| 21 |
"The Long Night" |
Grandpa is banned from seeing Grandma in the hospital. He's down until he discovers that Amie Godsey needs a grandpa |
February 24, 1977 |
| 22 |
"The Hiding Place" |
The Baldwin sisters' cousin has just come back home after 17 years living in Germany. John-Boy thinks she's hiding something. Meanwhile, Jason joins the National Guard. |
March 3, 1977 |
| 23 |
"The Go-Getter" |
Ben decides to become a used car salesman, smooth-talking customers to buy old clunkers |
March 10, 1977 |
| 24 |
"The Achievement" |
Having completed his novel, John-Boy sends it in to a publishing company; but after six weeks with no reply, he goes to New York City to personally discover its fate. *Note: This is Richard Thomas's farewell episode. He would make two more guest appearances before the role was recast to Robert Wightman. As John-Boy reminisces about his experiences, flashback clips are shown from previous episodes, including two from the original The Homecoming pilot, (in which Learned and Waite are edited in to replace Patricia Neal and Andrew Duggan, who played Olivia and John in the pilot). |
March 17, 1977 |
| Episode # |
Title |
Plot |
Airdate |
| 126 |
"The Hawk" |
Grandpa and Jim Bob try to trap a hawk who's been terrorizing the Walton's chickens; while a new preacher come to town, stirring up a big 'to do' among the ladies |
September 15, 1977 |
| 127 |
"The Stray" |
A young black boy is found in the Walton barn. Not knowing where he came from or who his parents are, the Walton's take him in for awhile |
September 22, 1977 |
| 128 |
"The Recluse" |
Jason makes friends with a reclusive woman, wanting to help her to come back into the world |
September 29, 1977 |
| 129 |
"The Warrior" |
An Indian man and his grandson come to stay with the Waltons and they make a shocking discovery: a sacred Cherokee Indian burial ground is beneath the Walton barn |
October 13, 1977 |
| 130 |
"The Seashore" |
Contracted to fix the Baldwin sisters' beach cottage, John will be gone for at least a week, so Olivia decides the whole family needs a vacation. The Waltons meet an English girl who seems to be hiding something she's not talking about, while Ben stays home to watch the house. |
October 20, 1977 |
| 131 |
"The Volunteer" |
When Erin declines G. W. Haines's marriage proposal, he decides to join the U.S. Army |
October 27, 1977 |
| 132 |
"The Grandchild, Part I" |
Mary Ellen goes into labor, while a fire at the Drew Drop Inn leaves Jason jobless |
November 3, 1977 |
| 133 |
"The Grandchild, Part II" |
Mary Ellen is scared to death of omens after she encounters a very superstitious woman |
November 3, 1977 |
| 134 |
"The First Casualty" |
Curt is called into the U.S. Army Medical Corps and the first Walton's Mountain war casualty occurs... |
November 10, 1977 |
| 135 |
"The Battle of Drucilla's Pond" |
U.S. soldiers begin staging war games at Drucilla's Pond, while Olivia enters her paintings in a local art show |
November 17, 1977 |
| 136 |
"The Flight" |
Jim Bob becomes friends with a boy who says he's joining the Air Corps, but he seems to be hiding something |
December 1, 1977 |
| 137 |
"The Children's Carol, Part I" |
Two children from London, whose parents were lost in a German bombing, are sent to live with the Baldwin sisters, but they are temporarily moved to the Walton's for Christmas. |
December 5, 1977 |
| 138 |
"The Children's Carol, Part II" |
The British children don't seem happy in Walton's Mountain and run away. Meanwhile, Jason considers giving up music in order to 'toughen-up' for his National Guard training. |
December 5, 1977 |
| 139 |
"The Milestone" |
Olivia suddenly becomes emotionally fragile and runs away from her home. Going to her Aunt Kate for help |
December 8, 1977 |
| 140 |
"The Celebration" |
The Waltons are excited to find out that after two more payments, John will own the mill and be completely clear of debt |
December 22, 1977 |
| 141 |
"The Rumor" |
When a German family moves onto Walton's Mountain, many rumors begin circulating going around |
January 5, 1978 |
| 142 |
"Spring Fever" |
Ben and Jim Bob begin to act hostile toward each other, culminating in them competing for each others' girls |
January 12, 1978 |
| 143 |
"The Festival" |
Josh, the boy who was found in the Walton barn, and Jason become a great musical team, but some doors are closed to them because Josh is black |
January 26, 1978 |
| 144 |
"The Anniversary" |
Many surprise gifts are exchanged as John and Olivia's 25th Anniversary nears |
February 2, 1978 |
| 145 |
"The Family Tree" |
Elizabeth becomes pen pals with a soldier, the only problem: she says she's 18 and sends him a picture of Erin, saying it's her. Meanwhile, Verdie tries to find her family's roots |
February 9, 1978 |
| 146 |
"The Ordeal, Part I" |
Due to Jim Bob and Ben's negligence, Elizabeth has a dire accident |
February 16, 1978 |
| 147 |
"The Ordeal, Part II" |
The family must help keep Elizabeth's determination high when the doctor is unsure as to whether she will ever walk again |
February 16, 1978 |
| 148 |
"The Return, Part I" |
John Boy returns to Walton's Mountain after he receives a letter from Olivia saying that hard times have hit Jefferson County and jobs are scarce |
March 16, 1978 |
| 149 |
"The Return, Part II" |
John-Boy decides to reopen the Guthrie coal mine to create more jobs. But, when many of the local men (including John, Jason, Ben, and Jim Bob) are trapped in a cave-in, John-Boy seems to be the person to blame |
March 16, 1978 |
| 150 |
"The Revelation" |
John-Boy proposes to Daisey and she accepts, so they return to Walton's Mountain to make preparations. Then, an assignment in London and a secret about Daisey's past cut things short |
March 23, 1978 |
| 151 |
"Grandma Comes Home" |
Grandma finally returns home after being in the hospital for over a year. Grandpa is overjoyed, but thinks there is something wrong with his "old woman". *Note: This is Will Geer's last episode as he died before the show started its 7th season. This is also Ellen Corby's first episode back after suffering from a stroke during the latter half of the 5th season |
March 30, 1978 |
| Episode # |
Title |
Plot |
Airdate |
| 152 |
"The Empty Nest, Part I" |
Life seems to be changing on Walton's Mountain after Grandpa's death |
September 21, 1978 |
| 153 |
"The Empty Nest, Part II" |
John has the opportunity to take a job which would offer security, money, and a good life; but it requires the family to move to Richmond |
September 21, 1978 |
| 154 |
"The Calling" |
Jim Bob falls for the Baldwin's pretty Catholic cousin while Ben hire a helping hand on the mill, not realizing he's a drunkard |
September 28, 1978 |
| 155 |
"The Moonshiner" |
Boone Walton, finally caught running his moonshine business, is convicted to a jail sentence. Jason offers to pay the fine and take Boone into his custody, hoping to reform the old man |
October 12, 1978 |
| 156 |
"The Obsession" |
Mary Ellen becomes dependent on amphetamines to keep her going during the stressful time leading up to her nursing exams |
October 19, 1978 |
| 157 |
"The Changeling" |
Strange happenings coincide with the coming of Elizabeth's 13th birthday. Meanwhile, Jason becomes the host of a new radio show |
October 26, 1978 |
| 158 |
"The Portrait" |
Erin wrestles with feelings of love and fear toward an artist who has devastating memories of German-occupied Paris |
November 2, 1978 |
| 159 |
"The Captive" |
Corabeth, not satisfied with her life, seeks refuge in alcohol |
November 9, 1978 |
| 160 |
"The Illusion" |
Verdie Foster's daughter Esther comes home and creates turbulent feelings with her revolutionary (for the 1940s) ideas about a black woman's place in society |
November 16, 1978 |
| 161 |
"The Beau" |
One of Grandma's old beaus comes to visit and begins to really bond with her. Meanwhile, Jim Bob and Yancy turn Yancy's still into a fuel maker to get more fuel for their cars and machines after gas is rationed |
November 23, 1978 |
| 162 |
"Day of Infamy" |
Just as Mary Ellen prepares to join Curt in Hawaii Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor, forcing the U.S. into World War II and personally affecting Mary Ellen. (This episode was first aired on Pearl Harbor Day.) |
December 7, 1978 |
| 163 |
"The Yearning" |
Waltons Mountain has new minister and Elizabeth has a major crush on him, but she is devastated when he only wants to be pals |
December 14, 1978 |
| 164 |
"The Boosters" |
Wanting to make a profit off of the now heavy traffic near Walton's Mountain, Ben, Ike, and Corabeth decide to create an auto court and 'boost' the community |
December 28, 1978 |
| 165 |
"The Conscience" |
Jason considers signing up as a conscientious objector while Jim Bob can't wait to join the Air Corps |
January 4, 1979 |
| 166 |
"The Obstacle" |
John-Boy's old college roommate Mike Paxton stays with the Walton's after he is injured when his ship is torpedoed by a German U-Boat |
January 11, 1979 |
| 167 |
"The Parting" |
Olivia's visit to the doctor results in unwelcome news which forces her to leave the family for a while... |
January 18, 1979 |
| 168 |
"The Burden" |
When his car falls on top of him, nearly killing him, Jim Bob believes it's a sign for him to enter the ministry. Meanwhile Elizabeth bothers the family with her bug collecting |
January 25, 1979 |
| 169 |
"The Pin-Up" |
Intended as a joke, a somewhat revealing picture of Erin makes its way into the newspaper, instantly becoming a hit at Camp Lee; but John isn't very happy |
February 8, 1979 |
| 170 |
"The Attack" |
The Walton children offer to look after the general store when Ike has a heart attack. |
February 15, 1979 |
| 171 |
"The Legacy" |
Miss Emily's memories of her old beau Ashley Longworth are stirred up when his son Ashley Jr. (Jonathan Frakes) arrives on leave from the Navy. |
February 22, 1979 |
| 172 |
"The Outsider" |
The entire Walton family is shocked when Ben announces that he's eloped with Cindy |
March 1, 1979 |
| 173 |
"The Torch" |
John's old high school flame buys the Dew Drop Inn while Elizabeth, Erin, and Cindy attempt to open a canteen for the soldiers on leave from the camp at Rockfish |
March 8, 1979 |
| 174 |
"The Tailspin" |
Jim-Bob's sky-high dreams of becoming a pilot crash and burn when he learns his eyesight isn't 20/20. |
March 15, 1979 |
| 175 |
"Founder's Day" |
The Waltons with the Godseys and the Baldwins compete to see who is the founding family of Walton's Mountain |
March 22, 1979 |
| Episode # |
Title |
Plot |
Airdate |
| 176 |
"The Home Front, Part I" |
John becomes the local draft board director while Erin tries to get a raise from J.D. Pickett |
September 20, 1979 |
| 177 |
"The Home Front, Part II" |
John must deal with a very angry father who's son (that John drafted) dies on his troop transport headed for Europe and with his own feelings of loss when he receives a telegram stating John-Boy is MIA |
September 20, 1979 |
| 178 |
"The Kinfolk" |
Cousin Rose and her two grandchildren arrive at the Walton's, causing some trouble around the house. Meanwhile, Ike and Jim Bob build an air-raid siren |
September 27, 1979 |
| 179 |
"The Diploma" |
John discovers that he never received his high school diploma since he enlisted for World War I before he graduated and the Army needs for security clearance. Meanwhile, Mary Ellen takes over for the county nurse and must earn the trust of the backwoods citizens |
October 4, 1979 |
| 180 |
"The Innocents" |
Olivia decides to create a daycare for all of the children whose mothers are working at Pickett's Steel Plant. Meanwhile, Ike takes dancing lessons |
October 11, 1979 |
| 181 |
"The Starlet" |
A Hollywood director shooting a war film at Pickett's Plant, tells Erin she has a movie-making career. She and Mary Ellen decide to move to California after they realize the defense plants out there pay more than J.D. Pickett |
October 18, 1979 |
| 182 |
"The Journal" |
With John-Boy Missing in Action, his manuscript he wrote prior to the assignment he didn't come back from is waiting to be published, but John and Olivia must sign in John-Boy's absence. Meanwhile they try to locate him through the Red Cross |
October 25, 1979 |
| 183 |
"The Lost Sheep" |
Ashley Longworth Jr. returns to propose to Erin, but he seems to be different, and Erin is having a hard time adjusting to Ashley's 'dead' outlook on life |
November 1, 1979 |
| 184 |
"The Violated" |
Olivia is shocked when she discovers the reason a soldier's wife is no longer responding to his letters. Meanwhile, she anxiously awaits to see if John-Boy has been located by the Red Cross |
November 8, 1979 |
| 185 |
"The Waiting" |
The Waltons have their minds with John-Boy after he is found severely injured in a hospital in Europe and being transferred to Washington D.C |
November 22, 1979 |
| 186 |
"The Silver Wings" |
Jim Bob falls for a much older woman, the wife of an Air Corps pilot |
November 29, 1979 |
| 187 |
"The Wager" |
Mary Ellen and Erin try to prove they can do anything as good as men can, so they enter the 1st Annual Run and Ride race in Rockfish |
December 13, 1979 |
| 188 |
"The Spirit" |
A series of thefts worries the community, while Jeffrey makes friends with a mysterious visitor on Walton's Mountain |
December 20, 1979 |
| 189 |
"The Fastidious Wife" |
Cindy follows a book's advice on how to be a good wife, but ends up exhausting herself |
December 27, 1979 |
| 190 |
"The Unthinkable" |
Jason realizes the full horrors of war when his Jewish fellow soldier reveals his grandfather was killed in a Nazi extermination camp, so Jason invites him to stay with his family over the weekend |
January 3, 1980 |
| 191 |
"The Idol" |
Elizabeth makes great friends with the new school teacher, Ms. Lamphere, until she discovers a disconcerting fact about her new-found friend. Meanwhile, Ben anxiously awaits the deliverance of his baby as the time gets close for Cindy |
January 10, 1980 |
| 192 |
"The Prodigals" |
Josh and Jeffrey get into major trouble when they get involved in some crap shooting while Ben wrestles with whether to join the Navy |
January 17, 1980 |
| 193 |
"The Remembrance" |
Grandpa's childhood friend, cousin Zadok, comes to Walton's Mountain to keep a 20 year-old appointment while Jason meets a beautiful young WAC officer |
January 24, 1980 |
| 194 |
"The Inspiration" |
Miss Mamie refuses to receive cataract surgery so John and Mary Ellen move Grandma in with the Baldwins to convince them it's the right thing to. Elizabeth tries to get a boy's attention before an upcoming dance |
January 31, 1980 |
| 195 |
"The Last Straw" |
Everything is going wrong! That's what John thinks after his helping hand crashes the truck into the mill, Jim Bob breaks his arm, and the saw breaks down; so, he quits the lumber business |
February 7, 1980 |
| 196 |
"The Traveling Man" |
Stanley Perkins, an old beau of Rose's who danced the nights away with her back in Baltimore, comes to Walton's Mountain and proposes to her |
February 14, 1980 |
| 197 |
"The Furlough" |
John Boy returns to Walton's Mountain physically healthy, but mentally tormented by the fact that he can't remember the moments of the plane crash; while Ike gets called up to serve |
February 21, 1980 |
| 198 |
"The Medal" |
Mary Ellen falls for a fiery young Mexican paratrooper who's life was saved by Curt at Pearl Harbor, while Corabeth encounters a former admirer |
February 28, 1980 |
| 199 |
"The Valediction" |
Jim Bob graduates high school as valedictorian and is excited to finally join the Air Corps. Meanwhile the other Walton boys all put in transfers to active duty |
March 13, 1980 |
| Episode # |
Title |
Plot |
Airdate |
| 200 |
"The Outrage, Part I" |
Harley is accused of a long ago murder while Elizabeth spends her time with a new horse. D-Day begins in France |
November 27, 1980 |
| 201 |
"The Outrage, Part II" |
John fights to clear Harley's name while the nation mourns FDR's death |
November 27, 1980 |
| 202 |
"The Pledge" |
Mary Ellen attempts to enroll in medical school in order to become a doctor after 'Sweet Billy' dies. Meanwhile, Jason receives many presents for his birthday as he and John-Boy fight in France |
December 4, 1980 |
| 203 |
"The Triumph" |
The war is over! But, Jason and his squad must contend with a German sniper who doesn't know it's over. Meanwhile, Ben still deals with the Japanese in the Pacific and Ike's store is robbed |
December 18, 1980 |
| 204 |
"The Premonition" |
John-Boy falls deeply in love with a French girl in Paris while Ben and some of his fellow seamen are captured by the Japanese |
December 25, 1980 |
| 205 |
"The Pursuit" |
Jim Bob comes home on furlough, but runs into trouble when a girl arrives claiming to be pregnant with his child. Meanwhile, Jason reunites with Antoinette (Toni) in Paris, and Ben and his navy buddies defy the Japanese commandant in the POW camp by raising a make-shift US flag |
January 1, 1981 |
| 206 |
"The Last Ten Days" |
Ben and his fellow POWs are worried they might be executed after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ensure an end to the war. Meanwhile, Jason and Toni have differing plans for their future together |
January 8, 1981 |
| 207 |
"The Move" |
Ben returns from the Pacific Theatre while the family receives unwelcome news: Olivia's tuberculosis relapses and she has to go to an Arizona sanatorium and John decides to go with her |
January 15, 1981 |
| 208 |
"The Whirlwind" |
Jason bites off more than he can chew when he buys the Dew Drop Inn and tries to repair it for reopening while Mary Ellen accepts Jonesy's proposal until she receives some shocking news that makes her break the engagement |
January 22, 1981 |
| 209 |
"The Tempest" |
Mary Ellen goes in search of her supposedly late husband in a little town in Florida after receiving information that a Curtis Packer was alive and was the spitting image of her own Curt. Could they be the same person? |
February 5, 1981 |
| 210 |
"The Carousel" |
Cindy's father dies and she discovers that she was adopted, so she goes about finding out some information about her unknown past. Meanwhile, Drew moves in with the Waltons while his family visits his ill grandmother in Richmond, much to the delight of Elizabeth |
February 12, 1981 |
| 211 |
"The Hot Rod" |
Having just been discharged, Jim Bob and Jodie cause much trouble with their new 'hot rod' car until the sheriff straightens them out |
February 19, 1981 |
| 212 |
"The Gold Watch" |
Stanley Perkins, Rose's salesman beau, returns from his 'dream territory' out west. He seems to be hiding something, until the truth is revealed |
February 26, 1981 |
| 213 |
"The Beginning" |
Walton's Mountain receives a new minister who wants to reopen the church. Meanwhile, Jason and Toni consider marriage, but religious differences threaten their plans |
March 5, 1981 |
| 214 |
"The Pearls" |
Corabeth's flapper-like sister creates fun and concern in the community while Elizabeth yearns for her parents while she's growing up |
March 12, 1981 |
| 215 |
"The Victims" |
The Waltons try to help the wife of a violent veteran while Jim Bob tries his hand in the war surplus market |
March 19, 1981 |
| 216 |
"The Threshold" |
John-Boy tries out for a job in Boatwright University's brand new television department, but must convince the trustees with a speech. Meanwhile, Jim Bob makes a TV set to watch John-Boy and Rose has competition for Stanley |
April 2, 1981 |
| 217 |
"The Indiscretion" |
Ike and Corabeth come to blows after she suspects Ike is seeing another woman |
May 7, 1981 |
| 218 |
"The Heartache" |
Stanley Perkins once again proposes to Rose and she accepts, however, after she discovers she has a heart condition she breaks the engagement. Will they ever recover their relationship? |
May 14, 1981 |
| 219 |
"The Lumberjack" |
Erin falls for the handsome son of a wealthy lumberman while Ike and Jim Bob try a get-rich-quick scheme by hunting for uranium with a geiger counter |
May 21, 1981 |
| 220 |
"The Hostage" |
After Mary Ellen saves a young girl (too young to get legally married) from marriage, the Walton family must contend with a very disgruntled groom |
May 28, 1981 |
| 221 |
"The Revel" |
John-Boy goes to New York City (again) to see if his third book is to be published; but after running in to many obstacles, he returns home feeling like a failure. Meanwhile the Baldwin sisters plan an elegant reunion ball for their finishing school class |
June 4, 1981 |
| Episode # |
Title |
Plot |
Airdate |
|
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story |
On Christmas Eve, 1931, the Walton family in rural Virginia prepare for the holiday; however, John Walton, who was forced to take work in another part of the state, hasn't returned home yet, and his family is becoming increasingly worried. |
December 19, 1971 |
|
The Waltons: A Decade of The Waltons |
The family prepare for a surprise party to celebrate Grandma's birthday, and as they are doing so, they reminisce (via flashbacks) about various events in their lives. |
May 22, 1980 |
|
A Wedding on Walton's Mountain |
Erin is excited about her upcoming wedding, though an unexpected visit from a beau from her past complicates matters. |
February 22, 1982 |
|
Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain |
Mary Ellen is about to get married, but, as Mother's Day approaches, she finds herself missing Olivia, who still recovering in a sanitarium in Arizona. |
May 9, 1982 |
|
A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain |
The family, now dispersed, return to Walton's Mountain to celebrate Thanksgiving, while John-Boy deals with writer's block and newlyweds Erin and Paul plan to move out. |
November 22, 1982 |
|
A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion |
During Thanksgiving 1963, John-Boy returns to Walton's Mountain with his fiance Janet, and as the family comes together, they learn of President Kennedy's assasination. |
November 21, 1993 |
|
A Walton Wedding |
John-Boy and Janet are about to be wed on Waltons Mountain, though Janet's overbearing aunt, who has put herself in charge of planning the ceremony, may drive everyone crazy in the process; Grandma becomes upset at an article John-Boy wrote about her father |
February 12, 1995 |
|
A Walton Easter |
It is 1969 and John and Olivia are looking forward to celebrating their 40th Anniversary, John-Boy and Janet are about to have their first child, and the entire family and community are looking forward to Easter. |
March 30, 1997 |