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Re: the Waltons



A sign on the door of Earl Hamner's office reads: "work is for people who
don't know how to fish," so if there is no answering knock it is probable
that Earl is trolling for salmon in British Columbia, fly casting for bone
fish in Florida or gone to Baha in search of marlin.

While he has caught the Canadian salmon, the Florida bone fish and the
Mexican marlin, the writer's happiest fishing grounds are on the Rockfish
River in his home town of Schuyler, Virginia where he first learned to fish
with his father during the Great Depression of the 1930's.

Hamner was born in Schuyler in 1923. The village has since been the
fountainhead of much of his literary work and has become a Mecca for fans of
his books and television work from all over the world.The oldest of eight
red headed children, born to Doris Gianinni Hamner and Earl Hamner Sr., Earl
began writing when he was six. He wrote a poem about a wagon full of puppies
which he carted about in a little red wagon. Since he had neither puppies
nor a little red wagon at the time, his first effort at creativity caused
his father some anxiety. Nevertheless, the poem was published on the
children's page of The Richmond Times Dispatch and Earl was hooked on a
writing career.

Upon graduation from Schuyler High School, Hamner entered the University of
Richmond on a scholarship. He was drafted into the United States Army in
1943 and received training in the demolition of land mines. On the
battlefield, such an occupation has a life expectancy of thirty to forty
seconds for the demolisher as well as those around him. Fortunately, the
Army reconsidered and assigned Earl to a Quartermaster Corps unit in Paris
where he served without demolishing himself or any of his fellow soldiers.
While Earl never became a boulevardier he did learn how to get from Opera to
Auberville on the Metro and how to order ouefs et jambon in a French
restaurant.

Upon his return to as civilian life Hamner worked at radio station WMBG in
Richmond. He furthered his education at Northwestern University and
graduated from the University of Cincinnati.

While working as a radio writer at the National Broadcasting Company in New
York, Earl published his first novel, "FIFTY ROADS TO TOWN." Other novels
followed such as "YOU CANT' GET THERE FROM HERE," and the best seller
"SPENCER'S MOUNTAIN" which was made into a Warner Brothers film starring
Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara. Earl also wrote the novel "YOU CAN'T GET
THERE FROM HERE" which was optioned by Broadway's Richard Rogers. Rogers was
working on the musical version of the novel at the time of his death.
Hamner's novella "THE HOMECOMING" became the basis for the beloved CBS
Christmas special starring Richard Thomas, Patricia Neal and Edgar Bergen.

Hamner worked in live television during its Golden Age, and when the
industry moved from New York to Hollywood, Hamner moved there too in 1961.
He wrote episodes for many of the major freelance markets including THE
TWILIGHT ZONE, and CBS PLAYHOUSE. He also became active in feature films and
was selected by E. B., White to write the film adaptation of "CHARLOTTE'S
WEB." Earl's other film credits include "WHERE THE LILLIES BLOOM" and "PALM
SPRINGS WEEKEND."

In 1970 the distinguished Virginian was asked by Lorimar Productions to
write a television special based on his novel "THE HOMECOMING." The
overwhelming critical and audience response to the special led to the series
"THE WALTONS" which had a spectacular run of eight years on CBS followed by
a year of special programs on NBC. These many years later the series is
still being rerun on The Family Channel where it is their top rated show.

During that time Hamner also wrote and produced the series APPLE'S WAY,
BOONE, THORPE, THE YOUNG PIONEERS, MORNING STAR- EVENING STAR and THE LONG
HOT SUMMER.

In a total change of pace from gentle family fare Hamner wrote and produced
the pilot for FALCON CREST, a study of a rich and ruthless family of
vintners in California's Napa Valley. With Jane Wyman starring, the series
enjoyed a successful run of eight years on CBS. 

Earl recently served as co-executive producer for the Family Channel series,
"SNOWY RIVER: THE MCGREGOR SAGA."

For his writing Hamner has been honored by the Television Academy with an
Emmy. He has also received the Peabody Award for Distinguished Journalism,
The Man of the Year Award from the State of Virginia, the Man of the Year
Award of the Broadcast Industry by the SPATE Convention. He has received
Honorary Doctorates from the University of Richmond, Berea College, Morris
Harvey College, DePaul University in Chicago and Loyola University of New
Orleans.

Hamner lives in Los Angeles and Laguna Beach, California with his wife,
Jane. They have two children, Scott and Caroline (Carrie).


Return to the Hamner Family Page

Return to The-Waltons Home Page

©1998 Blue Ridge Publications. This Web site was designed by the editor of
The Blue Ridge Chronicles. If there are any problems with these pages or if
you would like more information about The Waltons, please email him at
ralph@blueridgeweb.com

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