Judy Norton recently shared her family's home video footage from the set of The Waltons

This rare look shows the cast out of costume and the Warner Bros. backlot in the 1970s.

Judy Norton / Youtube

Movie and TV sets are some of the most secretive places on the planet, especially in a time when everyone has a camera in their pocket. But even in years past, only certain outsiders were allowed behind the scenes and cameras were strictly forbidden, except in rare cases.

One of those special occasions happened on the set of The Waltons in the 1970s. Judy Norton, who played the oldest Walton daughter, Mary Ellen, revealed in a recent Youtube video that her mom filmed the set when she visited with Judy's aunt and grandma.

The footage starts with shots of a beach in Malibu, an area which actually was utilized occasionally in The Waltons whenever characters visited the coast. The video goes on to show the Warner Bros. backlot with all the hustle and bustle expected on a busy filming day.

One of the best moments captured on video is when Judy and Eric Scott, who played Ben Walton, walk arm in arm up to the "Waltons Mountain School." The school was really just the trailer where the cast did their onset learning but it demonstrates the camaraderie and fun that happened behind the scenes which undoubtedly shows up onscreen.

Judy Norton / YoutubeRichard Thomas and Michael Learned hang out on set.

Other highlights from the home video footage include Richard Thomas and Michael Learned hanging out before going on camera, the Walton house surrounded by filming equipment and part of the Western street on the Warner Bros. lot that was "modernized" to work as a 1930s town for The Waltons but was, of course, mostly used for Western shows and movies.

It’s not every day we get a glimpse into what it was like to actually be on the set making The Waltons but the images in these home videos put us right there.


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22 Comments

RebeccaPratt 42 months ago
EC also had a tiny but wonderful part in 'It's a Wonderful Life' with Jimmy Stewart where she plays a customer during the run on the Bailey Building & Loan.
LoveMETV22 43 months ago
She certainly has an impressive career according to the Bio's on her. Actress,Singer,Writer and Director, several social media pages. Married, 2 children. All in all a successful career.
Andybandit 43 months ago
Interesting story. I like how all the family members on the Waltons live together.
MrsPhilHarris 43 months ago
The only episode I watch is a Christmas episode, but this was interesting.
vinman63 43 months ago
The grandmother on the Waltons was
not only John Waltons mother, she was Lurch’s mother also.
Pacificsun vinman63 43 months ago


Not quite.
vinman63 Pacificsun 43 months ago
Mother Lurch Visits the Addams Family (15 Jan. 1965)
Corey vinman63 43 months ago
Ellen Corby sold Barney Fife a lemon in The Andy Griffith Show.
vinman63 Corey 43 months ago
She never had real live kids, but she had a few in the sitcoms.
Corey vinman63 43 months ago
But her kids in The Andy Griffith Show was crooks.
vinman63 Corey 43 months ago
Put it this way it seems she got around and she also went both ways.
denny vinman63 43 months ago
So did Grandpa Walton.
DerekBird 43 months ago
What nothing from her Playboy shoot?
Deleted 43 months ago
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Pacificsun 43 months ago
He was right, I misread the comment (not to excuse my mistake, I was wrong) but I missed the part about it being LURCH'S mother and not Grandma'ma, the regular character (Blossom Rock).

I don't remember the episode with Lurch's mother, wish I had though. I'm sure Ellen Corby was great in that role!!

😉
Thanks for following up!!
Pacificsun 43 months ago
Thanks for the tip! That's very good to know. I'm betting it's in that "Attache Case" collection that was released initially. I'd gotten it as soon as I saw it out there.
Corey 43 months ago

Ellen Corby sold Barney Fife a lemon in The Andy Griffith Show.
43 months ago
This comment has been removed.
AnnieM 43 months ago
Her whole YouTube channel has lots of great behind-the-scenes stories from The Waltons.
LoveMETV22 43 months ago
Thank You MeTV ! I love this show. Awesome story and video.
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