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Richard Thomas got fan mail from Midwest farmers thanking him for The Waltons
The Waltons found drama in the things that mattered most!
Today’s television is so fast-paced and action-packed, it’s enough to give any viewer whiplash. But sometimes, people mistake excitement for quality. A show like The Waltons kept things calm and focused on what it felt was truly important: family.
That didn’t mean the show was made for easy watching; the Walton family went through its own fair share of hardships. The difference was that the conflicts portrayed on the series were more realistic to rural America, giving television audiences something they could identify with.
During an interview with Hartford Courant, Richard Thomas, who played John-Boy Walton throughout the series, gave an insider’s perspective on why the series thrived.
"I’ll tell you what it is, why the show’s so popular," Thomas said. "I get lots of mail from farm people in the Midwest, and they tell me they’re gratified that their way of life is considered important enough to be the subject of a television series ..."
"They’re not smart trial lawyers, heroic policemen or private eyes," Thomas continued. "This show is theirs; it’s about their values, their close-knit families, the small community."
The Walton family, like so many other American families at the time, was hardworking and willing to do anything they could to help each other survive. Not only did this message tug on the heartstrings of America, but it also sent them a message: We see you, and you matter.
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