About
"Thomas Wolfe was my idol, and I modeled myself after Wolfe. And he too grew up in this small town. He was in North Carolina, I in Virginia, but we still had that same southerness of love of the land, love of the people, victim of history, worship of education and writing."
In his four-hour interview, Earl Hamner, Jr. (1923-2016) talks briefly about his earliest writing credits, for shows such as Today; Wide, Wide World; and The United States Steel Hour. Next, he speaks about his experiences writing for the anthology series The Twilight Zone, and discusses each of the episodes he wrote. He recalls the controversy surrounding the television movie Heidi, which he wrote, when it interrupted an important football broadcast. Hamner details his experiences as the creator of the drama series The Waltons and speaks about the creation of the program, the cast, and the show's parallels with his own childhood. He also talks about several of his later series, including Apple's Way, The Young Pioneers, Falcon Crest, Brewster Place, and Snowy River: The McGregor Saga. He also describes writing the script for the 1973 film adaptation of E.B. White's beloved Charlotte's Web. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on September 18, 2003 in Studio City, CA.
Highlights
Earl Hamner on the inspiration for The Waltons
Earl Hamner on working with Rod Serling and writing teleplays for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on how Ellen Corby's stroke was handled on The Waltons
Earl Hamner on how the "Goodnight John Boy" trademark came into being
Earl Hamner on the idea that sparked the creation of Falcon Crest
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on writing ever since he was a child; on studying radio at the University of Cincinnati
On winning the Dr. Christian contest; on working at a radio station in Ohio in the 1940s as a radio writer; on transitioning from radio to working in television; on working at NBC as a staff writer
Chapter 2
On radio programs he worked on at NBC; on his first writing assignments for television at NBC; on working as a writer on the Today show
On his move from New York to Los Angeles; on memories of working with the crew of The Twilight Zone; on what The Twilight Zone was about; on episodes he wrote of The Twilight Zone
Chapter 3
On teleplays he wrote for The Twilight Zone
On feedback he's received on his episodes of The Twilight Zone; on the effect of the Blacklisting era; on programs he wrote for in the 1960s; on writing a version of Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang; on an episode he wrote of ABC's Stage 67
Chapter 4
On shows he worked on in the 1960s; on writing the TV version of Heidi and the broadcast's memorable interruption of a football game
On the genesis of The Waltons; on the TV movie The Homecoming; on how The Homecoming developed into the TV series The Waltons
Chapter 5
On the casting process for the The Waltons
On the children cast on The Waltons; on how cast changes were handled on the show
Chapter 6
On narrating for The Waltons; on being a producer on The Waltons; on the writers of the show and the process of developing an episode; on his family's response to the show
On The Waltons reception by critics and audiences; on the show's multiple Emmy wins and its resonance with viewers; on fan mail he receives; on his favorite episode of The Waltons; on the end of the series and Waltons reunion TV movies
On his association with Lorimar; on writing the script for the 1973 film Charlotte's Web; on creating the show Apple's Way
Chapter 7
On developing the show The Young Pioneers; on the creation and casting of Falcon Crest; on a lawsuit that was filed against the show; on a comparison of Falcon Crest to his previous series, The Waltons; on creative control on Falcon Crest
On working on the TV movie A Gift of Love; on his memories of writing for the TV series Boone; on producing the TV drama Morningstar/Eveningstar
On his involvement with the show Brewster Place; on producing Snowy River: The McGregor Saga; on producing an episode of Masterpiece Theater for PBS
Chapter 8
On then-current projects and hobbies; on his favorite projects from his career; on his writing style
On his writing mentors; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
ABC Stage 67
Earl Hamner on an episode he wrote of ABC's Stage 67
Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Earl Hamner on writing spec scripts for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Andy Griffith Show, The
Earl Hamner on writing spec scripts for The Andy Griffith Show
Apple's Way
Earl Hamner on creating the show Apple's Way
Boone
Earl Hamner on writing for the TV show Boone
Brewster Place
Earl Hamner on working with Oprah Winfrey on the TV show Brewster Place
CBS Playhouse
Earl Hamner on working on CBS Playhouse: "Appalachian Autumn"
Falcon Crest
Earl Hamner on the idea that sparked the creation of Falcon Crest
Earl Hamner on the casting of Falcon Crest leads Jane Wyman, Robert FoxWorth, Susan Sullivan and other cast members
Earl Hamner on a favorite scripted moment from Falcon Crest
Earl Hamner on a lawsuit that was filed against Falcon Crest regarding a similarity in concept to another project
Earl Hamner on a comparison of elements in Falcon Crest to his previous series The Waltons
Earl Hamner on being amazed by the cast he had on Falcon Crest
Earl Hamner on why he left Falcon Crest mid-run
Gift of Love, The: A Christmas Story
Earl Hamner on writing the TV movie The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story
Heidi
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of Heidi and the broadcast's memorable interruption of a football game
Homecoming, The: A Christmas Story
Earl Hamner on the genesis of The Waltons and creating the "Homecoming" special
Earl Hamner on bringing The Waltons to television and creating the "Homecoming" special
Interns, The
Earl Hamner on working on the outline for the TV show The Interns
Invaders, The
Earl Hamner on working on the TV show The Invaders
Kate Smith Hour
Earl Hamner on writing for the show The Kate Smith Hour
Earl Hamner on his Twilight Zone script that was first used as an episode on The Kate Smith Hour
Earl Hamner on his script "The Hunt" for The Kate Smith Hour
Long Hot Summer, The
Earl Hamner on writing the pilot for The Long, Hot Summer
Masterpiece Theatre
Earl Hamner on producing an episode of Masterpiece Theater for PBS
Nanny and the Professor
Earl Hamner on working on the TV show Nanny and the Professor
Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
Earl Hamner on producing Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
Today
Earl Hamner on working as a writer on the early Today shows
Twilight Zone, The
Earl Hamner on writing teleplays for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his work on teleplays for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his script "A Piano in the House" for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his script "Jess-Belle" for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his script "Ring-a-Ding Girl" for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his script "You Drive" for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his script "Black Leather Jackets" for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his script "Stopover in a Quiet Town" for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his script "The Bewitching Pool" for The Twilight Zone
Waltons, The
Earl Hamner on the genesis of The Waltons
Earl Hamner on bringing The Waltons to television
Earl Hamner on the casting process for The Waltons and the cast of the show
Earl Hamner on the children cast on The Waltons and how cast changes were handled on the show
Earl Hamner on producing The Waltons
Earl Hamner on his favorite episodes of The Waltons
Earl Hamner on a comparison of elements in Falcon Crest to his previous series The Waltons
Wide Wide World
Earl Hamner on writing for the show Wide Wide World
Young Pioneers, The
Earl Hamner on developing the show The Young Pioneers
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Earl Hamner on working with Rod Serling and writing teleplays for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of The Homecoming with actress Patricia Neal in the role of the mother
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of The Homecoming with Richard Thomas in the role of John Boy and other members of the cast
Earl Hamner on how the "Goodnight John Boy" trademark came into being
Earl Hamner on where sayings originated for The Waltons
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Earl Hamner on inspiration for episodes he wrote of The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on the inspiration for The Waltons
Emmy Awards
Earl Hamner on The Waltons multiple Emmy wins and its resonance with viewers
Hollywood Blacklist
Earl Hamner on the effect of the Blacklisting era
Industry Crossroads
Earl Hamner on the effect of the Blacklisting era
Memorable Moments on Television
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of Heidi and the broadcast's memorable interruption of a football game
Pop Culture
Earl Hamner on working with Rod Serling and writing teleplays for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of The Homecoming with actress Patricia Neal in the role of the mother
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of The Homecoming with Richard Thomas in the role of John Boy and other members of the cast
Earl Hamner on how the "Goodnight John Boy" trademark came into being
Earl Hamner on where sayings originated for The Waltons
Sports
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of Heidi and the broadcast's memorable interruption of a football game
Television Industry
Earl Hamner on writing spec scripts for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Andy Griffith Show
Earl Hamner on the effect of the Blacklisting era
Professions
Writers
Earl Hamner on working with Rod Serling and writing teleplays for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on why he writes
Earl Hamner on being known as a homespun, folksy writer
Earl Hamner on his writing style
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Earl Hamner on an episode he wrote of ABC's Stage 67
Comedy Series
Earl Hamner on writing spec scripts for The Andy Griffith Show
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Earl Hamner on writing spec scripts for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Earl Hamner on the casting of Falcon Crest leads Jane Wyman, Robert FoxWorth, Susan Sullivan and other cast members
Drama Series
Earl Hamner on writing for the show The Kate Smith Hour
Earl Hamner on writing for the show It's a Man's World
Earl Hamner on writing the pilot for The Long, Hot Summer
Earl Hamner on the genesis of The Waltons
Earl Hamner on the casting process for The Waltons and the cast of the show
Earl Hamner on the children cast on The Waltons and how cast changes were handled on the show
Earl Hamner on producing The Waltons
Earl Hamner on his favorite episodes of The Waltons
Earl Hamner on creating the show Apple's Way
Earl Hamner on writing for the TV show Boone
Earl Hamner on working with Oprah Winfrey on the TV show Brewster Place
Earl Hamner on producing Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
Earl Hamner on producing an episode of Masterpiece Theater for PBS
Earl Hamner on working with Sylvia Sidney on the TV drama Morningstar/Eveningstar
News and Documentary
Earl Hamner on working as a writer on the early Today shows
Earl Hamner on writing for the show Wide Wide World
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Earl Hamner on writing teleplays for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his work on teleplays for The Twilight Zone
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of the TV movie The Homecoming
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of Heidi
Earl Hamner on reuniting for six Waltons reunion TV movies
Earl Hamner on writing the TV movie The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story
Western Series
Earl Hamner on developing the show The Young Pioneers
People
Fred Allen
Earl Hamner on memories of listening to Fred Allen on the radio
Jack Benny
Earl Hamner on memories of listening to Jack Benny on the radio
Edgar Bergen
Earl Hamner on memories of listening to Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy on the radio
William Blinn
Earl Hamner on writing for the show It's a Man's World and other writers who wrote for the show, including John McGreevy and William Blinn
Earl Hamner on working on the TV show The Interns with William Blinn
Ray Bradbury
Earl Hamner on his introductions to Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont and Ray Bradbury on Los Angeles
Fred Brogger
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of Heidi with Fred Brogger and James Franciscus
John Carradine
Earl Hamner on the actor that played a lead role in the script "The Hunted," that he wrote for The Kate Smith Hour
Fielder Cook
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of The Homecoming with director, Fielder Cook
Ellen Corby
Earl Hamner on working with Ellen Corby on The Waltons
Bill Cosby
Earl Hamner on working on the CBS special Aesop's Fables with Bill Cosby
Bette Davis
Earl Hamner on meeting Bette Davis at NBC for an early Today show episode
James Dean
Earl Hamner on working on The Kate Smith Hour with James Dean
Robert Foxworth
Earl Hamner on the casting of Falcon Crest leads Jane Wyman, Robert FoxWorth, Susan Sullivan and other cast members
Anne Francis
Earl Hamner on the roles Anne Francis and James Best played in The Twilight Zone episode "Jess-Belle"
James Franciscus
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of Heidi with Fred Brogger and James Franciscus
William Froug
Earl Hamner on working with producers William Froug, Bert Granet and Herbert Hirschman on The Twilight Zone
Dave Garroway
Earl Hamner on working as a writer on the early Today shows with Dave Garroway
Will Geer
Earl Hamner on working with Will Geer on The Waltons
Bert Granet
Earl Hamner on working with producers William Froug, Bert Granet and Herbert Hirschman on The Twilight Zone
Harry Harris
Earl Hamner on working with director Harry Harris on The Waltons
Herbert Hirschman
Earl Hamner on working with producers William Froug, Bert Granet and Herbert Hirschman on The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on his Twilight Zone script "Jess-Belle" he wrote in a week for Herbert Hirschman
Buck Houghton
Earl Hamner on working with Buck Houghton on The Twilight Zone
Ernest Kinoy
Earl Hamner on working with Ernest Kinoy and other staff writers at NBC
Buzz Kulik
Earl Hamner on his Twilight Zone script "Jess-Belle," directed by Buzz Kulik
Angela Lansbury
Earl Hamner on working with Angela Lansbury on The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story
Michael Learned
Earl Hamner on working with Michael Learned on The Waltons
Jack Lescoulie
Earl Hamner on working as a writer on the early Today shows with Jack Lescoulie
Nancy Malone
Earl Hamner on his script "Stopover in a Quiet Town" for The Twilight Zone
Earl Hamner on actors, Edmond O'Brien, Roy Thinnes and Nancy Malone who starred in The Long, Hot Summer
Delbert Mann
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of Heidi with director, Delbert Mann
Martin Manulis
Earl Hamner on working on CBS Playhouse: "Appalachian Autumn" with director, Martin Manulis
Richard Matheson
Earl Hamner on his introductions to Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont and Ray Bradbury on Los Angeles
Kevin McCarthy
Earl Hamner on working on the Theatre Guild on the Air with Kevin McCarthy
John McGreevey
Earl Hamner on writing for the show It's a Man's World and other writers who wrote for the show, including John McGreevy and William Blinn
Henry Morgan
Earl Hamner on meeting Henry Morgan at NBC for an early Today show episode
Patricia Neal
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of The Homecoming with actress Patricia Neal
Edmond O'Brien
Earl Hamner on actors, Edmond O'Brien, Roy Thinnes and Nancy Malone who starred in The Long, Hot Summer
Estelle Parsons
Earl Hamner on working as a writer on the early Today shows with Estelle Parsons
Minnie Pearl
Earl Hamner on meeting Minnie Pearl in Tennessee
John Ritter
Earl Hamner on working with John Ritter on The Waltons
Eleanor Roosevelt
Earl Hamner on an interview with Eleanor Roosevelt for the radio program Biographies in Sound
Maximilian Schell
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of Heidi with actor, Maximilian Schell
Rod Serling
Earl Hamner on entering and winning the Dr. Christian contest along with Rod Serling
Earl Hamner on writing teleplays for The Twilight Zone
Sylvia Sidney
Earl Hamner on working with Sylvia Sidney on the TV drama Morningstar/Eveningstar
Kate Smith
Earl Hamner on working on The Kate Smith Hour with Kate Smith
Susan Sullivan
Earl Hamner on the casting of Falcon Crest leads Jane Wyman, Robert FoxWorth, Susan Sullivan and other cast members
Peter Tewksbury
Earl Hamner on writing for the show It's a Man's World
Roy Thinnes
Earl Hamner on actors, Edmond O'Brien, Roy Thinnes and Nancy Malone who starred in The Long, Hot Summer
Earl Hamner on working on the TV show The Invaders with Roy Thinnes
Richard Thomas
Earl Hamner on working on the TV version of The Homecoming with Richard Thomas and other members of the cast
Earl Hamner on working with Richard Thomas on The Waltons
Oprah Winfrey
Earl Hamner on working with Oprah Winfrey on the TV show Brewster Place
Jane Wyman
Earl Hamner on the casting of Falcon Crest leads Jane Wyman, Robert FoxWorth, Susan Sullivan and other cast members