John-Boy Walton and an 1879 $20 gold piece
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This episode of the television program "The Waltons" shows a United States Liberty Head $20 gold piece.
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1. Program title
The program opens with John-Boy, an aspiring writer, giving an introduction.
Growing up in a family as large and as close as mine made it hard to realize that there were many
people who lived in loneliness and solitude.
However, the realization of that sad truth also brought me close to a remarkable woman
and sent me on a journey that I was to remember for the rest of my life.
The Waltons live in a large house on a farm or ranch.
Some members appear in this scene.
2. The Walton Family
John-Boy has been trying to get a date with the local beauty, Marcia Woolery, for a school dance.
She hasn't given him a direct answer, but John-Boy, hopeful, goes to the general store to buy a
pair of new pants.
3. Walton truck at the general store
Inside the store John-Boy looks at clothing.
4. John-Boy tries on new pants
Marcia happens to be in the store when John-Boy tries on a pair of pants.
Later at school he asks her again for a date.
5. John-Boy asks Marcia again
She plays with him and then agrees to go with him.
John-Boy heads to the store to purchase the "imported wool" pants for $2.35.
The price illustrates the 1930's depression value of clothing.
6. Dr. Vance sees Mrs. MacKenzie
Dr. Vance tells her to stop driving (she owns a 1920's Model A Ford).
John-Boy's grandmother knows her and she asks John-Boy to come over for a visit and to fix her car.
7. John-Boy and Mrs. MacKenzie
She shows him a picture album with photographs of her husband and the ship on which she arrived
from Scotland in 1879.
8. Photographs of young Mr. and Mrs. MacKenzie
Mr. MacKenzie, already in America, met the ship and the ship captain married them.
9. Shipboard wedding
Mrs. MacKenzie shows John-Boy something else.
10. Mrs. MacKenzie shows John-Boy something
She produces a US $20 gold coin dated 1879 which was given to her as a wedding present
by the ship's captain.
11. The $20 gold piece obverse
Mrs. MacKenzie tells John-Boy that 1879 was also the year of her marriage,
that her husband died a long time ago, and that the next day would be her 55th wedding anniversary.
12. The $20 gold piece reverse
John-Boy asks her "she is in mint condition, isn't she?"
Actually she would not be breaking the law as the 1933 Roosevelt gold recall order had exemptions for
$100 worth of personal souvenir gold coins and coins of numismatic interest.
A United States $20 gold piece of the period:
13. United States $20 gold coin 1884-S
The San Francisco Mint produced huge quantities of these coins at the time.
Back to the program:
Mrs. MacKenzie asks John-Boy to drive her to the seashore the next day which would be a full day drive.
After some thought he agrees and then goes to the store to return the pants.
14. John-Boy returns the pants
He receives his $2.35 and tells Marcia that he can't take her her to the dance.
15. Mrs. MacKenzie and John-Boy at the seashore
Mrs. MacKenzie tells John-Boy that 55 years ago she and her husband visited a restaurant
called "The Mermaid" and find that it is still there.
16. Mrs. MacKenzie finds the old Mermaid Restaurant
John-Boy and Mrs. MacKenzie have lunch and she tells him that it looks like it did in 1879 and
that even the pianist is playing the same song that was played at her wedding.
(Writer Earl Hamner, Jr. previously wrote episodes for the "Twilight Zone" program).
17. Lunch at the restaurant
The couple have lunch and then dance to the music.
Mrs. MacKenzie starts seeing her deceased husband in place of John-Boy.
18. John-Boy sees Mrs. MacKenzie
She thanks him for driving her and hands him the $20 gold piece.
19. Mrs. MacKenzie gives John-Boy the $20 coin
He refuses the coin but she convinces him to take it.
20. Mrs. MacKenzie pushes the coin into John-Boy's hand
The coin here looks a little different than the one in the earlier scene.
21. John-Boy writing
Some people are drawn to oceans and others to the shimmering sands of deserts
Others feel only at home on land that flows beside a river
My people were drawn to mountains
And there on Walton's Mountain we were to share the fun and excitement of growing up together
The final scene of most episodes is of the Walton house at night.
22. Walton House finale
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Cast, Directors, Writers:
Richard Thomas as John-Boy Walton
Linda Watkins as Mrs. Maggie MacKenzie Tammi Bula as Marcia Woolery Ralph Waite as John Walton, Sr. Michael Learned as Olivia Walton Writers: Earl Hamner Jr., Nigel McKeand |
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