The Waltons, which aired on CBS from 1972 until 1981, was one of television's most successful family dramas. Created by Earl Hamner Jr. (1923–), the series depicted the struggles and successes of the large Walton family during the Great Depression (see entry under 1930s—The Way We Lived in volume 2). The series stood in stark contrast to other television (see entry under 1940s—TV and Radio in volume 3) programming of the era as it emphasized wholesome family values rather than sexual and violent content. The Waltons were a united family who faced economic and personal hardships together. A vast audience responded to the series and made it one of the most successful programs of the 1970s.

Hamner based The Waltons on his own experiences growing up in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains of Schuyler, Virginia. His 1961 novel Spencer's Mountain led to a movie of the same name, starring Henry...