Episodes
1. The Journey
September 13, 1973
50 min
Maggie McKenzie would like to see the ocean once more. John-Boy takes her but must miss an important dance. Grandpa helps the children save an injured bird. Earl Hamner makes his only appearance in the series as Maggie's husband. The director of this episode, Harry Harris, who would eventually direct almost 50 episodes, was nominated for an Emmy award.
Guest Stars:
Linda Watkins, Victor Izay
2. The Odyssey
September 20, 1973
50 min
John-Boy heads for a mountain retreat and finds an old school mate who is expecting.The baby arrives with John-Boy's help. The mule, Blue makes his first appearance in this episode.
Guest Stars:
Sissy Spacek, Allyn Ann McLerie, Victor Izay
3. The Separation
September 27, 1973
50 min
The family struggles with financial crisis and the electricity is turned off. Grandpa sets out to raise some money but tells no one about his plans. Grandma becomes angry and Grandpa moves out. The bill is paid and the angry grandparents make-up at a barn dance.
Guest Stars:
Ancel Cook, Ed Call
4. The Theft
October 4, 1973
50 min
A wealthy widow, Mrs Clayborne, accuses John Walton of stealing antiques while working in her mansion. John needed new tires and he hocks his wedding ring to buy them. He refuses to tell anyone where the money came from. The mystery is finally solved when the Clayborne son admits to selling the goblets to raise money for his family.
Guest Stars:
Noble Willingham, Dennis Dugan, John Crawford
5. The Roots
October 11, 1973
50 min
Harley Foster and his son Jodie are introduced to the series. Harley roams the countryside doing odd jobs. Jodie has had no formal education. Verdie Grant takes a strong liking to Harley and eventually persuades him to stay on Walton's Mountain.
Guest Stars:
Noble Willingham, Lynn Hamilton, Hal Williams
6. The Chicken Thief
October 18, 1973
50 min
John-Boy accidentally sees a family friend, Yancy Tucker, stealing chickens and must decide whether to turn him in to the sheriff. Yancy has been helping poor friends but is arrested and charged with shooting the chicken's owner. All is resolved when the owner admits to falling and shooting himself.
Guest Stars:
Meg Wyllie, Robert Donner, John Crawford
7. The Prize
October 25, 1973
50 min
The Country Fair has come to Walton's Mountain. Grandma has entered a quilt in the competition. Ben sells a pig for the greased pig contest and Olivia's old suitor, now politician, visits the fair.
Guest Stars:
Burt Prelutsky, Peter Donat, Queenie Smith, Victor Izay, Cindy Eilbacher
8. The Braggart
November 1, 1973
50 min
Hobart Shank a teen-age orphan returns to the Walton home while John attempts to get him a contract as a professional baseball pitcher. He breaks his arm after falling out of the tree house losing his chance at fame.
Guest Stars:
Richard X. Slattery, Moosie Drier, Cindy Eilbacher, John Crawford, Doreen Lang
9. The Fawn
November 8, 1973
50 min
John-Boy secures a position of rent collector for a hated landlord while Erin, who is disappointed by her knight in shining armor, nurses an orphaned fawn back to health.
Guest Stars:
Matt Clark, James Gammon
10. The Thanksgiving Story
November 15, 1973
99 min
John-Boy anticipates a visit from his girlfriend and is pending a college scholarship exam. He has an accident in the sawmill and his vision is blurred. He is unable to finish his test and eventually must undergo surgery.
Guest Stars:
Kym Karath, Sian Barbara Allen, Cindy Eilbacher, Diane Shalet, Nadyne Turney
11. The Substitute
November 22, 1973
50 min
An inexperienced but brilliant young sub teacher wreaks havoc in the Walton's Mountain School. Because of her insecurity, she refuses advice from anyone until Olivia steps in.
Guest Stars:
Catherine Burns
12. The Bequest
November 29, 1973
50 min
Grandma finds out she has inherited $250 and decides to share her wealth. Mary Ellen experiments with being a blond and uses Jim-Bob as a test case.
Guest Stars:
Cindy Eilbacher, John Ritter
13. The Air Mail Man
December 13, 1973
50 min
An air mail pilot, due to engine trouble, lands his plane in the Walton's meadow. With the help of John, the plane is repaired and Olivia receives a surprise birthday gift, a plane ride!
Guest Stars:
Paul Michael Glaser, Julie Cobb
14. The Triangle
December 20, 1973
50 min
John-Boy experiences a heart ache because Miss Hunter, his teacher, starts dating Reverend Fordwick.
Guest Stars:
Nora Marlowe, Janet Julian, John Ritter, Mariclare Costello
15. The Awakening
January 3, 1974
50 min
Grandma's 68th birthday is here and the 2 faces of age are keenly felt by her as Grandma is confronted by old age. Mary Ellen, now 14 years old, poses an impossible barrier between her and a college student who lays claim to her heart.
Guest Stars:
Victor Izay
16. The Honeymoon
January 10, 1974
50 min
Olivia and John go on a late honeymoon at Virginia Beach while John-Boy & Marcia Woolery try to come to an understanding in their relationship.
Guest Stars:
Greg Mabrey
17. The Heritage
January 17, 1974
50 min
An investor talks John into selling the mountain as a tour center. John thinks it over but realizes what the home means to the rest of his family and turns the ofter down.
Guest Stars:
Nora Marlowe, Robert Donner, John Crawford, Noah Beery Jr.
18. The Gift
January 24, 1974
50 min
Jason learns one of life's hardest lessons: the death of a close friend. Seth Turner learns he has only one year to live because he has a fatal disease.
Guest Stars:
Ron Howard, Rance Howard
19. The Cradle
January 31, 1974
50 min
Olivia finds out she is pregnant and the children set out to make her and the baby a variety of presents. Elizabeth is jealous because she thinks because she is the youngest that her Mom will not love her the same way or will never have any more time for her. In the end Olivia loses the baby
Guest Stars:
Nora Marlowe, Victor Izay
20. The Fulfillment
February 7, 1974
50 min
The Waltons bring home an 8 year boy named Stevie who is an orphan so he can experience a family setting. Stevie meets Curtis Norton a blacksmith and an immediate bond occurs. Curtis and his wife take in the boy.
Guest Stars:
Victor French
21. The Ghost Story
February 14, 1974
50 min
The Children get a Ouija board from Ike. Olivia and Grandma have misgivings about the children playing with it and speaking to it's spirits.
Guest Stars:
Wilford Brimley, James Gammon
22. The Graduation
February 21, 1974
50 min
John-Boy gets ready to graduate from high school in a new suit. When the cow dies John-Boy returns the suit and gets his money back and uses the money to buy another cow. John-Boy graduates in Grandpa's old suit.
Guest Stars:
Vicki Lovine, Nora Marlowe, John Ritter, Mariclare Costello, William Lanteau
23. The Five Foot Shelf
March 7, 1974
50 min
A traveling salesman named George Reed talks Olivia into buying a 5 foot collection of books called The Harvard Classics. George uses the down payment to buy his daughter a doll.
Guest Stars:
Ancel Cook, Wilford Brimley
24. The Car
March 14, 1974
50 min
When John-Boy starts college and needs a car to travel to and from college, he makes a deal with Hyder Rudge. John-Boy works at the Rudge home for the car. Hyder hides the auto and refuses to sell to John-Boy because the car belong to Hyder's dead son.
Guest Stars:
Ed Lauter
