The Waltons

- Season 5

(1976)

John-Boy prepares to publish his first newspaper. It includes a story about Ben's troubles, which infuriates Olivia. She demands that he delete it, but John-Boy has to publish the story to follow his convictions.

Nursing student Mary Ellen is sure she knows what is causing Grandma's stomach pains, but it turns out the problem is different-and life-threatening. Erin begins a new job as a phone operator for Fanny Tatum.

Jason's scholarship at the music academy is canceled. He gets a job at the Dew Drop Inn. Red Turner (Merle Haggard), who lost his son in an earlier episode, is talked into performing at the Dew Drop.

A famous evangelist (John Karlen) is coming to town, and Olivia and Esther hope John and Ben will be converted and baptized. Jim-Bob finds a peacock and names him Rover.

John-Boy becomes the target of public indignation when he insists on printing excerpts from Hitler's "Mein Kampf" in his newspaper. Erin competes in a beauty pageant.

A prowler is lurking around Walton's Mountain, which threatens Jason's plans to hold a community dance at Ike Godsey's new Hall.

Mary Ellen is engaged to Dr David Spencer and they plan the wedding. Dr Curtis Willard arrives to be the town doctor. Mary Ellen begins to have second thoughts about her engagement.

Mary Ellen is engaged to Dr David Spencer and they plan the wedding. Dr Curtis Willard arrives to be the town doctor. Mary Ellen begins to have second thoughts about her engagement.

In a desperate attempt to make a loan payment on his printing press John-Boy sells his 10 acre meadow on Waltons Mountain, deeply upsetting Grandpa. Mary Ellen experiences her first challenges as a nurse.

Jim-Bob fixes up Ike's old motorcycle and enters a motorcycle race. The Godseys look into adopting a baby.

Grandpa's 90 year old sister-in-law, Martha Corrine (Beulah Bondi), comes to the mountain to visit. She's a meddlesome house guest, but her cantankerous ways mask a solemn secret. She helps Ben build a pony cart.

Olivia wants this Christmas to be the best ever. Everything seems to happen to prevent this.

Sheriff Bridges is running for re-election but an out of town opponent has more charm and threatens to put Ep out of a job. A wild mustang is captured and Grandpa is determined to make sure it can continue to run free on Walton's Mountain.

Another woman begins to play the church organ instead of Grandma which upsets Grandma. Olivia is restless and decides to get a perm with terrible results.

As the annual carnival approaches, Elizabeth has recurring nightmares of being trapped on a runaway Ferris wheel. Meanwhile, Ben believes that his height is affecting how people see and treat him.

The forestry student who previously visited Waltons Mountain (in "The Competition") now returns, and asks Erin to marry him.

Grandma's medical bills and the mill's deterioration force John to take a job away from home to make more money. At the job, everyone in the office fears the manager who makes life miserable for all. Elizabeth is a tomboy.

Erin graduates from high school still having no direction for her life. She gets a job as a switchboard operator to buy a typewriter for John-Boy. Family members sneak a look at John-Boy's novel about them and the community.

The Waltons find out Sheriff Ep is a decorated war hero and John-Boy wants to write about it. Ep wants to keep it quiet. Also, an old friend of Ep's comes to visit. Jim-Boy likes to talk to her about cars and war.

John-Boy wins a journalism prize: $25 and a trip to New Jersey to cover the landing of the Hindenburg. Curt is growing annoyed with the continual presence of Mary Ellen's family.

Jason falls in love with Curt's restless sister, Vanessa (Linda Purl), who has left her husband to become a singer. John-Boy publishes a story from his novel in his newspaper that upsets his grandfather.

Grandma's hospitalization troubles the family, especially Grandpa, who becomes depressed and withdrawn.

The Baldwin's niece arrives from war-threatened Vienna. John-Boy wants to interview her about events in Europe, but she objects. Jason joins the National Guard and Olivia is upset.

John and Ben again come to blows about work at the mill. Ben quits and becomes a used-car salesman. He does a good job - but with questionable sales tactics.

John-Boy sent his novel to a publisher and does not hear anything. He travels to New York to get an update. There, he is torn between the city and home.