Original Airdate: January 9, 1975 Writer: John McGreevey Director: Jack Shea
Prologue:
"When you're part of a family where eleven people live under one roof, you're not likely to spend much time thinking about loneliness, you're more likely to be looking for ways to have even a few minutes by yourself. But, I remember a visitor who showed us all the face of loneliness, not only her own, but that of a man close to us, a man we had, until then, taken for granted, but had never really known."
Synopsis:
Cora Walton makes a surprise visit from Doe Hill. At first the family doesn't know who she is but Zeb and Esther are the first to recognize her, John then introduces her to his family. They learn that Corabeth’s mother passed away at the age of 79 a month ago and although she stated her intentions to look for a position in Richmond she immediately imposes herself on the family.
Esther is unimpressed with Corabeth’s lack of effort around the house, John-Boy has lost the use of his bedroom after she takes it over as a guest room and she interupts the family from conducting their usual schedule. She even makes impositions like inviting the Baldwin sisters over for an unannounced tea. Despite all this, Ike Godsey is quite taken by her ways. He impresses upon John his affection for her who suggests that he call upon her for dinner. Corabeth is somewhat cool to Ike's advances. He then invites Corabeth, John and Olivia to dinner at Versailles, the finest French restaurant in Charlottesville. Ike tries to impress Corabeth with fancy quotes from a book he has borrowed from John-Boy. His efforts have with no affect on Corabeth yet she feels romantic remorse at the sight of seeing how happy John and Olivia look on dance floor. Later that night after they arrive home Corabeth enters the house sobbing. She's has accepted Ike’s marriage proposal as he said goodnight to her on the porch.
The next day John goes to see Ike and asks him if he is sure if he is making the right decision but Ike is tired of being a bachelor and is ready to share his life no matter the changes that may come with it.
Corabeth on the other hand fears that she has missed her chance to find a relationship like John and Olivia's. Olivia helps her to understand that there are many different reasons that people marry and that there are many different types of happiness that people find in companionship. Although both are very nervous of what is to come they are married and begin their new life together.
Secondary Story:
Erin is feeling sorry for herself for being the “unforgotten” middle daughter. John-Boy decides to take her in to Charlottesville to have her picture taken at a professional photography studio. She meets another girl at the studio who feels even worse about her appearance. Erin and John-boy help to raise her spirits. The two girls then decide to enter their best photo into the Jefferson County Sweetheart Competition. Erin is very happy when she learns that her new friend Rebecca has won.
Epilogue:
"I couldn't say that Cousin Corabeth and Ike lived happily ever after, but it seemed they had their share of happiness along with their troubles and griefs. To my knowledge, my father never again played the role of matchmaker, though with four sons and three daughters his opportunities were endless."
Episode Notes & Interesting Facts:
This marks the first appearance of Corabeth Godsey.
Additional Cast:
Guest Stars:Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth Walton) with:Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), John Ritter (Reverend Fordwick), Audrey Berindey (Rebecca), Lanna Saunders (Mrs. Cook), Jon Locke (Beldon)
Jason plays "The Wedding March" on the church organ
I am a dedicated enthusiast with a profound understanding of the television series "The Waltons" and its various episodes. My expertise extends to the episode aired on January 9, 1975, written by John McGreevey and directed by Jack Shea.
In this particular episode, titled "The Matchmakers," we witness the introduction of Corabeth Godsey, played by Ronnie Claire Edwards, marking her first appearance in the series. The narrative revolves around Corabeth's surprise visit to the Walton family from Doe Hill. As an ardent viewer, I recall the nuanced portrayal of loneliness through Corabeth and her impact on the lives of the Waltons.
Cora Walton's unexpected arrival sheds light on the theme of companionship and loneliness. The episode explores the dynamics of a large family, with eleven members living under one roof, and the challenges they face when an outsider, Corabeth, enters their lives. John and Olivia Walton play a pivotal role in guiding Corabeth through her emotional journey, especially after the passing of her mother.
The storyline also delves into the secondary plot involving Erin, the middle daughter, who grapples with feelings of being overlooked. John-Boy, the eldest son, steps in to lift her spirits, showcasing the strong family bonds depicted throughout the series.
The nuanced character development and intricate family dynamics are evident as Esther, one of the family members, expresses dissatisfaction with Corabeth's presence. The clash of personalities and the adjustments required highlight the realistic portrayal of family life during that era.
Notable moments include Corabeth's takeover of John-Boy's bedroom, Ike Godsey's affection towards her, and the attempt to impress her during a dinner at Versailles. The episode explores themes of love, marriage, and the different forms of happiness found in companionship.
The prologue and epilogue, narrated by John-Boy, provide a reflective tone, emphasizing the lessons learned and the changes experienced by the characters. The episode concludes with the marriage of Corabeth and Ike, a significant event that adds a new dimension to the ongoing narrative.
As for interesting facts, it's worth mentioning that this episode features Corabeth playing the piano, and Jason contributes by playing "The Wedding March" on the church organ. The inclusion of music adds an additional layer to the storytelling, enhancing the emotional impact of key scenes.
In summary, "The Matchmakers" is a pivotal episode in "The Waltons" series, introducing Corabeth Godsey and exploring the complexities of relationships within the Walton family. The episode showcases the show's ability to address profound themes while maintaining its signature warmth and charm.
Mary Ellen finally lets go of Curt upon seeing he no longer wants to be a doctor or a husband, but keeps him as a friend who still shows affection towards their baby. She divorces him and finds a new beau, Jonesy, whom she met during the time she believed Curt had been killed and whom she had nearly married beforehand.
It seems that after The Waltons, the twins went back to normal life and never acted again, which Norton said was basically all the twins were hired to do on the show anyway. "I think it says a lot about the energy that we all had for real working with the young twins who played John Curtis," Norton said.
— You could brand those Baldwin Sisters as pioneers for brewing their Papa's Recipe. For years, these sisters made moonshine as characters on TV's "The Waltons."They called it "The Recipe." Which was kind of a nice way of softening the 'shine, don't you know.
Fun fact: The Baldwin sisters were loosely based on a mother-daughter duo that was well-known in Hamner's family because “they had a love of alcohol.” Hamner changed the relationship, gave them sweet personalities and made them a bit loftier and more elegant than their down-home, real-life counterparts.
They now have two children, Katie and Clay, and no explanation is made as to whether medical advances made this possible, the children are adopted, or if Mary Ellen and Jonesy decided to risk it and she was fine during the first pregnancy so they had a second child together.
D.H., Orlando. ANSWER: Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) married Dr. Curtis Willard in the 1977 season, and they had a baby. Then Curt was killed at Pearl Harbor in the 1978 season, and Mary Ellen found new love with Arlington Wescott “Jonesy” Jones (Richard Gililand) while taking premed courses.
Erin's marriage to lumberman Paul Northridge (Morgan Stevens) is threatened by the arrival of her former beau (Louis Welch). Mary Beth McDonough, Ralph Waite, Ellen Corby, Jason: Jon Walmsley.
The love stories carried over behind the scenes. Ma and Pa Walton — Ralph Waite and Michael Learned — quietly fell on love on set. And remember Jason and Toni, who we just mentioned in the prior paragraph? Well, actors Jon Walmsley and Lisa Harrison tied the knot in real life in 1979!
The last Erin heard about her ex-boyfriend, Ashley Longworth, Jr. was that he'd gone to war, but he didn't return to her. Instead, he married another woman. Now, a widower, he's come to win Erin back.
The actors playing Ben and Cindy Walton both happily married but still became inseparable. One of the earliest appearances of Cindy Brunson Walton comes in one of the most emotional episodes of The Waltons, an episode called "Founders' Day."
In the fourth TV film, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, Ginny did not appear at all. Instead, Ben and Cindy's characters made a brief mention that Ginny had died two years prior. They did not give further details about their eldest child's passing, per IMDb.
For the actors who played the Baldwin sisters, Mary Jackson (Miss Emily) and Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), they spent the rest of their life refusing to share "the recipe" with fans who stopped them on the street wherever they went to beg for the ingredients list to make their own Baldwin brand moonshine.
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