©2005-2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : The original 2005 cast & crew of The Homecoming at The Hamner Theater in Nelson County, Virginia. The theater was established in Earl Hamner's honor in 2005. The Homecoming is currently on stage there until December 18th. Earl Hamner talks about his Christmas story this Thursday on the radio with NCL publisher Tommy Stafford.

Afton, Virginia
Memphis, Tennessee
If you are from Nelson County you know about the The Homecoming. If you aren’t from Nelson County, you probably still know about The Homecoming. This December marks 6 years of stage productions at The Hamner Theater in Afton, VA. The theater was established in honor of Nelson County native Earl Hamner, Jr from Schuyler. His Homecoming inspired the long running CBS television series, The Waltons. The stage production of The Homecoming is currently playing until December 18th at The Hamner Theater. This is a must see!

This Thursday – December 8th, Earl Hamner and NCL Publisher, Tommy Stafford will be on the radio in Memphis, Tennessee for an hour and a half talking about The Homecoming, Earl’s Christmas memories from here in Nelson, and much, much more. Tommy is frequently on the radio back in Memphis as part of The Earle Farrell Radio Show in the afternoons. Memphis is where Tommy began his television news and weather career.

You don’t have to be in range of a radio to hear the broadcast, simply head on over the www.kwam990.com on Thursday afternoon starting at 4:30 PM EST to listen to the live stream and hear Earl talk all about Nelson!

All Photos By Woody Greenberg : ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Actor Richard Thomas (right) who played John Boy Walton in the television series The Waltons, presents a Literary Lifetime Achievement Award to Nelson native, Earl Hamner, Jr this past Saturday October 15, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia
By Woody Greenberg

The 14th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards Celebration honored Earl Hamner with its Literary Lifetime Achievement Award Saturday, Oct. 15 held at the Library of Virginia in Richmond.

The event was hosted by noted Virginia author Adriana Trigiani, who said she grew up in Big Stone Gap with six brothers and sisters watching “The Waltons”, which was about a similarly sized Virginia family. She said she was inspired by Hamner to become a writer and said other Virginia writers learned a great deal from him.

“Earl taught us how to desribe something, how to tell a story, how to be truthful and was never ashamed to have a big heart,” Triginiani told the overflow crowd, which included best-selling authors David Baldacci and John Casey as well as former Gov. Linwood Holton. She read passages from “Spencer’s Mountain” which was the basis for “The Homecoming” and “The Waltons” tv series.

Schuyler Virginia's Earl Hamner with Adriana Trigiani and Richard Thomas at awards event.

Triginiani introduced a surprise guest,l actor Richard Thomas, whose first great success was playing “John-Boy” on “The Waltons.”

“Earl is the one person in my life responsible for the success I’ve had,” said Thomas, who has appeared on Broadway numerous times, has directed a number of Shakespearian plays, and has starred in many movies. “With ‘The Waltons’ we got to do not just a tv series but American short stories,” he said, adding that Hamner’s stamp was on every show.

Earl Hamner speaks to guests this past Saturday October 15th in Richmond as Richard Thomas and Adriana Triginani look on.

Nelson County, Virginia native, Earl Hamner at Saturday's presentation in Richmond, VA

Hamner thanked his brothers and sisters, three of whom were in the audience, Jane, his wife of 57 years as of Oct. 16, and his two children, Caroline and Scott, who also attended. He told several jokes about getting old and ended with a passage from “Spencer’s Mountain” as a teenage Clay-Boy leaves his family to go off to college.

See more pictures that Woody took at Friday night’s reception leading up to the award presentation by clicking here.

Congrats again Earl!

Photos By Woody Greenberg : ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Earl Hamner, Jr. (second from left) chats it up this past Friday night at a reception in Richmond with David Pounds (left) and Scott Lucas, owners of Waltons Mountain B&B in Schuyler, and longtime friend Judy Greenberg of Nelson County, Virginia.

Richmond, Virginia
A little over 88 years ago, Earl Hamner of Nelson County was born in Schuyler. Since then the man has accomplished a lifetime of work seen all over the world. Saturday October 15th, Earl will received a Literary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia for his work.

Hamner grew up in Schuyler, Virginia, with seven brothers and sisters. From an early age he exhibited a love of words and writing. When he was six his poem, “My Dog” was published on the Children’s Page of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. His potential was recognized and he received encouragement from his teachers and members of
the tight-knit community.

Earl Hamner with son Scott to his left and wife Jane (immediate right) along with daughter Caroline at Friday night's reception in Richmond.

Hamner received a scholarship to the University of Richmond, but midway through his sophomore year Hamner was drafted. He spent time learning to drive tanks and defuse mines, but his ability to type landed him in the Quartermaster Corps. While in the U.S. Army Hamner began to submit stories for publication.
After his discharge in March 1946 he returned to Richmond and briefly worked for local radio station WMBG. In the fall of 1946 Hamner enrolled in the school of broadcasting at the University of Cincinnati and graduated in 1948.

Shortly after graduation Hamner went to New York City and found work as a radio writer for NBC. His first book, Fifty Roads to Town, was published by Random House in 1953 and in 1961 his novel Spencer’s Mountain was published by Dial Press. He began writing scripts for episodes of the Twilight Zone and CBS Playhouse. The film rights to Spencer’s Mountain were purchased by Warner Bros. and Hamner was on his way as a success in Hollywood. In 1970 The Homecoming was published by Random House and became a CBS special starring Patricia Neal and later was the basis of the long-running and hugely popular television series The Waltons. Hamner garnered additional fame as a writer for Falcon Crest, a prime time soap opera, which aired on CBS from 1981 to 1990.

Earl with sisters Nancy Jamerson Hamner, Audrey Hamner and brother Paul Hamner.

Thanks to Woody Greenberg for sending the pics along!

Congrats Earl!

Portions of the text from Library of Virginia release.

©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Nelson County native Earl Hamner & NCL Publisher Tommy Stafford will be on Memphis, TN radio KWAM 990 Friday July 29th at 4PM Eastern Time. He'll be talking about Nelson and tons more!

Nelson County, VA
Memphis, TN
Studio City, CA
Nelson County’s own Earl Hamner, and founder of The Waltons will be on KWAM 990 radio in Memphis, TN this Friday afternoon just after 4PM eastern time. Earl will be appearing with NCL Publisher, Tommy Stafford. Tommy was on air in the Memphis TV market back in the early 90′s through the early 2000′s.

The two will be talking with host Earle Farrell about Nelson County, The Waltons, Earl’s childhood here in Virginia, and his newest book, just released!

You don’t have to be in Memphis to listen, just click here to listen to the live stream online!

©2011 www.nelsoncountylfe.com : Earl Hamner during a visit with us here at NCL a few years ago.

Studio City, California

Today marks 88 years that Nelson’s native son, Earl Hamner has been on this earth. Ironically it’s the wedding anniversary of Tommy & Yvette Stafford too! A great day! Earl Hamner, Jr. was born on July 10, 1923 in Schuyler, Virginia.

Earl is best known for creating the long running series, The Waltons on CBS. Though he has a very long list of other career accomplishments spanning his entire life. Just within the past few weeks it was announced that Earl will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia.

Via earlhamner.com: Nelson County native Earl Hamner, writer of novels, television shows, and movies and the force behind the semiautobiographical television series The Waltons, will receive the 2011 Literary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia at the 14th Annual Literary Awards Celebration on October 15, 2011.

You’ve seen some of the columns in our NCL magazine over the years that Earl has written. We continue to stay in touch with him to this day. We talk by phone at least every month or so just to see what’s happening on each side of the country. For decades Earl has been living out west in Studio City, California. Though he still thinks of his birthplace, Schuyler, as his home.

©2009 NCL Magazine : Nelson County, Virginia native, Earl Hamner, Jr. turns 86 years old today. He was born on this date back in 1923 in Schuyler. Here he sits on the steps of his old home place back in Schuyler.

Happy Birthday Earl from all of back here in Nelson!

Our previous birthday coverage here. And here. And here.

Te read more about Earl visit his blog here.

Photos By Hayley Osborne : ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Mary McDonough (left) poses with one of her many fans this past weekend in Schuyler, Virginia. Mary played Erin Walton in the long running series, The Waltons. Based loosely on the life of Earl Hamner, Jr. from Schuyler.

Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
Fans from near and far descended on Schuyler this past weekend to get a chance to meet Mary McDonough who played Erin Walton in the long running CBS television series, The Waltons.

“I’ll always be a Walton,” said the former child star who is still a prominent actress and now a published author of Lessons from the Mountain: What I learned from Erin Walton. “That’s why I wrote [the book]. There are so many loyal fans and I wanted to share with them all of the lovely memories and the lovely behind-the-scenes antics. And the other reason is the lessons I have learned.”

NCL Photographer, Hayley Osborne and writer, Jennie T Williams, got the chance to speak and photograph Mary when she was back in Schuyler. Mary talked with Jennie about her life on The Waltons and beyond. Hayley got the chance to walk down memory lane with Mary in Schuyler during her photoshoot. Mary was there signing her new book at Waltons’ Mountain County Store.

An endless line of people wait outside Walton's Mountain Country Store in Schuyler, Virginia for a chance to meet Mary McDonough and have her sign her new book, Lessons From The Mountain.

Mary peeks out the upstairs bedroom window of Earl Hamner, Jr's boyhood home in Schuyler, Virginia. The home and his life are the focus of the long running CBS television series.

We’ll share lots more with you about Mary’s visit back to Schuyler and about a new book Earl Hamner just released. All of that in our June 2011 issue coming out late this month!

Mary McDonough who played Erin Walton on the long running CBS television series, The Waltons, will be in Schuyler The Waltons' Mountain Country Story this weekend.

Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
By Jennie T. Williams

Many Nelsonians (and, to be fair, many Americans) of a certain age (and, to be inclusive, of pretty much all ages) grew up learning important life lessons from watching The Waltons on television.

Mary McDonough grew up learning those same important life lessons from being a Walton on television.
And now she’s written a book to help us non-Waltons feel even more like part of the family.

Mary, who played Erin Walton on the long-running television series based on the writings of hometown hero Earl Hamner, was cast as Erin when she was just 10 years old. Though the show (which aired from 1971 to 1981) and movies were set in 1930s and 1940s Nelson County, Mary didn’t set foot in the county until 1992 for a Walton’s reunion. And she hasn’t been able stop coming since.
“I love it!” she said.

Mary will be back 1 p.m. May 14 at Walton’s Mountain Bed & Breakfast in Schuyler to sign copies of her new book, Lessons from the Mountain: What I learned from Erin Walton.

For more information, visit www.waltonsmountaincountrystore.com or www.marymcdonough.com.

All Photos Courtesy of INSP : ©2010 www.insp.com : Nelson County, VA native and The Waltons creator, Earl Hamner, Jr. on the set with the original cast members of the popular television series. A special television reunion is set for October 18th. Click on images to enlarge.

Los Angeles, California
For roughly two years fans of The Waltons have not been able to view the highly popular series in reruns. The long running CBS television series was created by Nelson County, Virginia native, Earl Hamner, Jr. who was born and raised in Schuyler. The show was loosely based on his childhood in the Eastern Nelson County community. On October 18th a special reunion featuring many of the original cast members will air on a new cable television network called, INSP, short for Inspiration. The special television reunion will air at 7PM EDT followed at 8PM by the very first episode of The Waltons. According to a promotion placed on YouTube, reruns will then air on the network.

Nelson County native, Earl Hamner, Jr. on the INSP reunion set.

The above video is a behind the scenes look at the filming of the special Waltons Reunion that will air October 18th on INSP.

Ralph Waite (center seated) who played John Walton in the series and Michael Learned (right) who played Olivia Walton, go over notes with a member of the production staff during the shooting of the reunion series.

Unfortunately, according to INSP’s cable system finder, the television network is not currently available in the Nellysford 22958 / or Lovingston 22949 zip on cable or in the 22902 zip for Charlottesville, but does show available on DirecTV Channel 364 and DishTV Channel 259.

©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : April 1, 2010 marks the 5 year anniversary of Nelson County Life Magazine!

Nelson County, Virginia
Five years ago today our first issue hit the stands here in Nelson County and the surrounding area. How things have changed in those 60 months! But one thing has remained the same, our love for Nelson County, and our gratitude to you our readers for the huge support over the past five years.

©2005-2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : ©2005-2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Publishers, Tommy & Yvette Stafford in our first publisher's photo from 2005 taken at the Saunder's Christmas Tree Farm the prior December.

Since that first issue, lots has happened. Elections, droughts, businesses come and gone. This website has grown by leaps and bounds. Nearly 1000 of you a day check us out, and when the weather is bad or something else happens, that increases by as much as 8 times. And, our Facebook and Twitter sites are busier than ever! Over 800 of you follow us daily just on Facebook. You name it. It’s been a busy 5 years indeed!

Our permanent arrival in Nelson was 2004. Months later we took the magazine idea we had years ago as television news reporters, and launched it here. We haven’t a regret, and we haven’t looked back. What a welcome reception, and a wonderful place to live!

One big change in the past five years was the arrival of Junior Publisher, Adam Stafford back in 2008! Nelson native, Earl Hamner writes about Adam and our 5 years in this month's issue. Click the image above to read it!

By far the biggest change in our lives was the arrival of Adam back in 2008. You’ve watched him grow up from nothing more than a little sprout! Rumor has it, on page 5, he may have company soon!

We can’t thank you enough for your continued support and friendship since we started the magazine back in 2005. What a journey!

We haven’t skipped a beat here on the website since it started, but in celebration of our 5 years, we are skipping a beat over the next day or so and the coming weekend. A break if you will! Not to worry, we’ll be nearby if something happens, but we are taking a day or two to reflect … and rest!

See you back here on Monday!

Enjoy the great weather and here’s to the next 5 years!

Thank you again!

Tommy, Yvette, & Adam

©2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Earl Hamner on stage at The Hamner Theater earlier this month with the cast of The Homecoming which kicks off tonight in Afton, Virgina.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
The return, after three years, of the beloved family Christmas story, The Homecoming, by Earl Hamner.
The Homecoming is the heart-warming story of a family waiting for the magic of Christmas Eve to arrive – not Santa, but Daddy – told from the perspective of the adult Clay-Boy as he remembers the journey he took, on that snowy evening long ago.
Says writer Earl Hamner of The Homecoming, “It is remembered in my family that on Christmas Eve of 1933 my father was late arriving home. That, along with the love he and my mother bestowed upon their eight red-headed offspring, is fact. The rest is fiction.”

Performances will take place Thu. – Sat. at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. There will be a free Preview Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. There will be no shows on Thursday & Friday of Thanksgiving week, Nov. 26 & 27. Performances on Thursday, Nov. 19 and Friday, Nov. 20 will be followed by a free cider & cookies reception with cast and crew. Tickets $10, $5 for 12 & under. Reservations are suggested, phone (434)361-1999. Visit www.thehamnertheater.com for more information.

Event Date: Thursday 19th of November 2009 07:30 PM

Location/Address: Hamner Theater

Contact Telephone Please call 434 361 1999 for more information

Photos By Tommy Stafford : ©2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Mr. & Mrs. Paul Saunders (left) chat it up with Nelson County native, Earl Hamner, Jr. Thursday night during his homecoming at The Hamner Theater in Afton. : Click any photos to enlarge.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Earl Hamner, Jr. best known as the creator of The Waltons television series on CBS returned home last night to his native Nelson County. Hamner was born on July 10, 1923 in Schuyler, Virginia. Earl turned 86 this past July. The Waltons was based loosely on his childhood experiences growing up here in Schuyler. (Waltons Mountain in the series)

Jeff & Tam Stone, owners of Wintergreen Winery, along with their daughters, greet Earl at the theater. Wintergreen provided wine for the reception. (BTW) Earl's favorite of all wines is Wintergreen's Black Rock Chardonnay

Earl took to the stage in the theater to read lines the 2009 Homecoming cast. Hamner wrote the story which eventually led to The Waltons television series.

Thursday night Earl returned to The Hamner Theater, which was named in his honor. Earl visited with fans first, then read lines from The Homecoming (the pilot that inspired The Waltons television series.) to a sold out crowd.

Yep. Junior Publisher, Adam Stafford, got the chance to meet Earl!

Earl autographs a book for a fan at Thursday night's reception.

A fan stands in line clutching a book for an autograph Thursday night at The Hamner Theater.

Earl will be making several other stops in the nearby vicinity as part of appearance coordinated by his international fan club based in South Carolina.

Previous coverage on Earl Hamner and The Hamner Theater by clicking here.

At 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 5th, Earl, along with the cast of the upcoming production, will read from his play, THE HOMECOMING.

Afterwards, this consummate gentleman, who had, for multiple years, 30 million viewers watching his creation (THE WALTONS) every Thursday night, will answer questions about TV, John-Boy, life, love, FALCON CREST (Earl created that, too), Hollywood, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, and anything else you might be wondering about. He will also be signing copies of his books (available to purchase at the theater).

Reception 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Meet and greet Nelson’s native son, buy a book and have him sign it.
Reading 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Earl Hamner will read scenes from The Homecoming with the cast of the upcoming production. Followed by a Q&A with the author.

All tickets $50. Dessert and coffee, cash bar. EVENT SOLD OUT!

Proceeds will go to support the on-going work of the Hamner Theater.

Event Date: Thursday 5th of November 2009 06:00 PM

Location/Address: Hamner Theater

Contact Telephone Please call 434 361 1999 for more information

This post was submitted by HamnerTheater.

©2007-2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Earl Hamner during his last visit to the Afton, Virginia theater named in his honor. Peter Coy, Nancy Mulrine and Boomie Pedersen of The Hamner Theater, chat with Earl before he enters the theater.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia

If you are a lover of The Waltons or any of the other countless works Earl Hamner, Jr is responsible for, you don’t want to miss his own homecoming to Nelson next week. Next Thursday, November 5th, Earl will be appearing at a fund raiser for The Hamner Theater beginning at 6PM. We first told you about the special occasion here. I speak with Earl from time to time by phone and in our most recent conversation a few days ago, he was so excited to be coming back to Virginia! He will be appearing in several other locations as part of his international fan club.

Be sure to get your tickets now for the event at The Hamner Theater. Their phone number is 434.361.1999

The best way to get the feel is by reading what Earl has posted over in his website at www.earlhamner.com

We’ll see you next week Earl!

HAMNER GOES HOME!

Old Earl is going home! Home to my beloved Virginia, home to where everybody knows your name, home to people who invite you to sit up and talk till bedtime, people who know how to fry chicken, how to properly make ham biscuits, and how to correctly pronounce the words – about, house, and mouse!

Carolyn Grinnell is throwing a party! Those of you who have attended past reunions of the Walton’s International Fan club know it is a day long adventure capped off with an unforgettable banquet.

The 2009 Reunion will be held on November 7th at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Carolyn has invited Jon Walmsley and me to be guests of honor, and we are looking forward to the day. Her theme this year is an Early Christmas and every guest is asked to bring an old fashioned decoration to dress up the tree.

The day will be a full one. It will include a visit to the Schuyler Baptist Church where the Hamner family worshiped, The Waltons Mountain B and B with its extensive collection of Walton books and Virginia antiques, and a stop by the Hamner house which has been so lovingly and faithfully restored by owner Pamela Rutherford as well a visit to the Museum of Rural History at Lovingston.

Guests will need to arrive on November 6th since activities will start early on the next morning. Space is limited but for further information contact Carolyn at 336-993-2752.

#2

OLD WRITER TURNS ACTOR!

I was once invited by the director of a stage production of “The Homecoming” to perform at the Laguna Playhouse here in California. With my knees knocking in fright, I looked out over an ocean of people and read an opening, a kind of curtain raiser, and at the end of the play a closing paragraph. You should have heard the applause!

I have never been the same and always craved for more! So when Peter Coy and Boomie Peterson, Directors of the Hamner Theater back home in Afton, Virginia, invited me to spend an evening with them and to perform with the cast of their production of “The Homecoming” I leapt at the chance.

At 6:00 PM, Thursday November 5th, 2009, along with the cast of the upcoming production, I will be on hand for the festivities.

From 6:00 to 7:00 I look forward to saying hello and to autographing copies of my books that will be on sale at the theater.

From 7:30 to 8:30 I will read scenes from “The Homecoming” with the cast of the upcoming production.

I look forward to this evening. It is not only a source of pride to me that the theater is named after me, but that it continues to bring quality drama and entertainment to Nelson County and the surrounding area.

All tickets are $50.00. Proceeds of this event will go to support the on going work of the theater.

After the reading we can visit as long as you like.

I should stress that I will be there only for this special event. The actual run of the play will begin on Thursday, November 19th at 7:30 pm and will end on December 13th. Tickets for these performances are $10, $5 for 12 and younger. Reservations are suggested. Call 434-361-1999.

Who would have ever guessed that the glorious words of William Shakespeare, the production of a play recently on Broadway, original drama, highlights from the world of dance and music from all over the world, a school for actors, directors and writers and a play written by a boy from Schuyler, would find a home at 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton, Virginia!

See you there!

#3

AND A LITTLE TO THE SOUTH – -

Down at Hendersonville, Tennessee the Steeple Theater Players will also present–

THE HOMECOMING.

Friday, November 13th through Sunday, November 22nd Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:00.

The Staples Players’ Program Notes were so beautifully written that I couldn’t resist reprinting them.

A play based on the book by Earl Hamner, Jr. (and the inspiration for the 1970s TV series, “The Waltons”). The time is the great depression and the large Spencer family, living at the foot of a Virginia mountain, is struggling just to survive. With his father having to take the only available job a long way from home, Clay-Boy is stuck with unusual responsibility for his brothers and sisters. Just reaching manhood, Clay-Boy has a secret yearning that’s quite extraordinary for the practical, earth-bound community in which he lives. He wants to write! His father comes home and brings a special gift for his son, a gift that reveals unexpected understanding and the strength of a loving family.

The Steeple Players Theater is devoted to encouraging the development of God-given talents in a supportive Christian, family environment through the experience of producing quality entertainment. The Steeple Players is a non–profit community theater located at 206 Main Street in the City Square Shopping Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee. It has presented family-oriented theater to the local and surrounding community for over fifteen years.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kym Sims, Director of “The Homecoming” and when I suggested a few slight changes in dialogue from the original script she was not only happy to make the changes but to welcome me to taking an active role in the production – typical of the warm reception I have always found in Tennessee.

I would like to take advantage of this occasion to send greetings to my many friends in Hendersonville and the nearby Nashville area. I will never forget filming the pilot for BOONE there and being allowed to film in such legendary sites as the Ryman and next door at Tootsies. I will never forget that when the Governor gave a reception for us visiting fireman that one of the guests was Minnie Pearl and that when I went over to greet her I said, “I have loved you all my life.” And she said, “Honey, I feel the same way about you.” And I am endlessly grateful to all those friends who worked at Ron Pit kin’s Cumberland House Publishing who have kept my books alive all these years.

Warm thoughts to one and all.

Earl

©2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Earl Hamner, Jr. during his last appearance at the Nelson County theater named in his honor. March 2007.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia

Reception and Reading with Earl Hamner at the Hamner Theater Thursday, Nov. 5 from 6:00 p.m.

The Hamner Theater is hosting an evening with renowned author (and Nelson County native) Earl Hamner on Thursday, November 5th. There will be a reception and book-signing from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. At 7:30p.m., Earl Hamner will read from his beloved Christmas story, The Homecoming. He will be joined by the cast from the upcoming production of The Homecoming (on stage at the Hamner from November 19 to December 13). Admission for this benefit is $50, which includes reception, book-signing and reading. All proceeds will go to the Hamner Theater. Seating is limited, call 434 361 1999 for reservations.

Click on poster above for larger version and more details.

About Earl Hamner: Best-selling author Earl Hamner is well-known as the creator of a television series which drew as many as 50 million American viewers every Thursday night; THE WALTONS remains in syndication, and has aired in nearly every country around the world. It is perhaps less widely-known that his TV adaptation of HEIDI once bumped off the air a pivotal late-season pro-football game between the Raiders and the Jets. (The score was tied with 2 minutes to go.) Born in 1923, in Nelson County, Earl Hamner is also the author of six novels, including the best-seller, “Spencer’s Mountain”, which was made into a film starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara. His work has been awarded an Emmy as well as the most prestigious honor in broadcast journalism, the George Foster Peabody Award. He is the recipient of no less than six Christopher Awards, an award established to ‘salute media that affirm the highest values of the human spirit; award winners encourage audiences to see the better side of human nature and motivate artists and the general public to use their best instincts on behalf of others.’

About the Hamner Theater: The Hamner Theater, a non-profit project of the Rockfish Valley Community Center in Nelson County, receives funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Donovan Foundation, the Perry Foundation and anonymous donors to support its mission of bringing professional theater to Nelson County and to foster new works for the stage.

###

Summary:
What – Reception and Reading
Who – Earl Hamner and The Cast of The Homecoming
Where – The Hamner Theater, at the Rockfish Valley Community Center, 190 Rockfish School Lane Nellysford, VA
When – Thursday, November 5 from 6:00 p.m.
Reception 6:00 – 7:00p.m., Reading 7:30 – 8:30p.m.
Tickets – $50 (tax-deductible)
Information 434 361 1999 or www.hamnertheater.com

Photos By Tommy Stafford : ©2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Youngsters read lines at last night's audition for parts in the upcoming production of The Homecoming at The Hamner Theater in Nelson County, Virginia.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Fall Begins Today @ 5:18 PM EDT
We told you over the weekend about the upcoming production of The Homecoming at The Hamner Theater later this fall. Sunday and Monday folks showed up to try out for parts in the highly popular pilot that inspired the long running television series, The Waltons.

The production is based on Earl Hamner’s life in the mountains of Nelson County near Schuyler set in the early 1930’s.

Just a few of the people showing up for parts in The Homecoming.

Check The Hamner Theater’s website by clicking here for more information about the performance schedules