The BiG Story

The Waltons
after another
delicious meal
prepared by
Olivia.
Photo courtesy
Blue Ridge
Publications

Mann On The
Mountain

How a Jewish
professor found
his way to the
home of the
Waltons.

Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

3/20
1998

62

define lives: what to say to a
"I got the part, though he [Hamn-
arl Hamner always wanted to
salesman who absconds with
er]
had
nothing
to
do
with
it,"
Keen
be a writer.
some of the family's money to buy
said. In fact, Hamner had someone
Noah Keen never wanted
a.gift for his daughter, how to
very different in mind for
to be an actor. By chance,
After
h
is
appear-
react to a much-loved grandmoth-
the role of Professor
the two became friendly
once o n the pro- Mann. "He wanted
er who has suffered a stroke, the
while living as neighbors
gram,
Noah
Keen
turmoil of a son who cannot fight
Hume Cronyn," Keen
in Cincinnati.
heard from fans. said. "But the director
in the war because he believes
Years later, they would
killing is wrong.
insisted on me."
meet up again in Holly-
i Three times during its nine-season
Now celebrating its 25th
wood when Keen auditioned for a
run "The Waltons" concentrated on
anniversary, "The Waltons" was
leading role in an episode of "The
Jewish characters, including an
I the gentle story of a family during
Waltons," the popular TV series
I
episode
in which one of the Wal-
the
1930s
and
1940s.
Programs
based on Hamner's youth in
ton sons dates a Jewish girl, anoth-
focused on the small moments that
Schuyler, Va.
.