One of the things the younger lackeys will someday discover is the potentially delicate dance of entertaining the visiting in-laws. Well, last weekend this lackey's in-laws were in town, resulting in my first visit to Walton's Mountain Museum.For our younger readers (younger than, say, 30), The Waltons was beloved TV show that ran from 1972-1981, and took place just a half-hour south of Charlottesville, in Schuyler...although the location was referred to as Walton's Mountain. (Hence, the name of the museum.) Check out Wikipedia for more info on the show. Suffice it to say, it was not an action-packed thrill-ride. But the in-laws watch it twice a day on the Hallmark Channel, so we made the pilgrimage.
If any of you who have been in Charlottesville for any length of time have (inexplicably) yet to visit Walton's Mountain Museum, let me summarize the experience.
It started with a video shot in 1992, when the museum opened, about why the show was so great, and how it improbably trounced the Flip Wilson Show and the Mod Squad in ratings (they must have mentioned that a half-dozen times) and thereby saved America from moral decay and cultural doom. Thank heavens.
The most interesting thing, though, was that we weren't the only ones visiting the museum when we were there. There were probably 6 other groups or families visiting. At least one had an English accent. And apparently there's not just a Waltons Fan Club (which you can join for $15/yr), but some kind of Waltons groupie club in England, too. Who knew?
Anyway...if you're a Hallmark Channel junkie (and I know lots of you are), and want to restore your faith in good old American virtue, go for it. ($6 for admission)
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