About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2018)
4B I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I dawsonnews.com Wednesday, December 5,2018 The Waltons are timeless When I was growing up, especially as a teenager, people would often say, “It must be hard being a preacher’s kid.” It could be difficult because there were high expectations. Being a preacher’s child, though, was nothing difficult com pared to being the wife of a television writer. My husband has almost ruined television for me. He walks into the room when I’m viewing a show — and by the way, I grew up loving television — and more often than not, he rolls his eyes and says, “You’re not watching that, are you?” Then, he begins a critique because he believes in the power of good television. This has gotten so troublesome that I am developing low self-esteem when it comes to television show selection. To avoid this, I usually put the TV on a high-brow selection like a PBS docu mentary then I switch the channel to the lower brow shows I adore. If I hear Tink’s footsteps, I quickly hit the previ ous button so that when he comes into the room, a pleasing show is on. There is an exception, though. A show that unites us in joy and entertainment. It is the 1970s’ series, The Waltons, about a Depression-Era family in the Blue Ridge Mountains. That show holds up as well today as it did when it debuted in 1971. The INSP channel runs two episodes daily so I record them. John Tinker, truly a child of televi sion, having grown up in the industry, is infatuated with its simple yet complex storytelling. His admiration is so strong that he watches two or three episodes nightly. “This is the best show.” He practically gushes and Tink is not a gusher. He is mesmerized by the quality. “Look at how they take their time in this scene. The director lets their emotions play out. This show would never get made today.” It almost didn’t get made in 1971. A Waltons television Christmas movie had done reasonably well in the ratings but it was a hard series sale at CBS which, ironically (because it was Tink’s fami ly), was investing in modern, fresh shows like the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Merv Adelson, partner at Lorimar Productions, and Earl Hamner, creator of the show and the model for John Boy, were in a futile pitch at CBS when chairman, Bill Paley, walked in. Paley ran the television and radio network he built (with genius Frank Stanton) with an iron fist. He asked what was being pitched and, after being brought up to speed, said decisively, “Do it. We’ve taken a lot out of television. Let’s give something back.” What they gave is still giving after almost 50 years. It’s drama at its heart rending best where the characters are well-defined and the ending, even if it isn’t idyllic, is satisfying. The emotions are real and relatable. Though the show and actors were awarded many acco lades, Tink says often that Ralph Waite, who played father John Walton, was wildly underrated for his nuanced per formances. In the two degrees of Tinker separa tion often found in the entertainment world, Tink’s brother, Mark, worked on the show in the beginning of his career. “I wonder where these outdoor scenes were shot,” Tink said. The Walton house is on a studio lot and is still used today. It was, in fact, on the series, Gilmore Girls. “Somewhere an hour north of Los Angeles.” Tink, doubting me, texted Mark who responded quickly with, “An hour from L.A.” Our pleasures in The Waltons are many — Hamner’s melodic narration, extraordinary storytelling and a depic tion of rural life filled with rich, inspir ing characters like people we know. One night after a particularly satisfy ing episode, Tink asked quietly, “Wouldn’t it be something if, 50 years from now, we had written a show that was still this relevant and absorbing?” Indeed, it would. Thank you, Mr. Earl Hamner. And, you too, Mr. Bill Paley. Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of Mark My Words: A Memoir of Mama. Visit www.rondarich.com to sign upforherfree weekly newsletter. RONDA RICH Columnist Bob Christian Dawson County News Sophomore Mason Barnes rolls in a lay-up in a game against Clarke Central on Dec. 1. FROM 1B Tigers in,” Pittman said. “You don’t do that just by show ing up.” Chism set the tone for the second half, opening the third period by steal ing the inbound pass and taking it to the house with a glass-rattling slam dunk. Sophomore Mason Barnes took over the outside shooting work in the third period as he was able to add two more 3-pointers to put extend the Tigers lead by double digits for the final period. Flowery Branch was obviously out of gas as the fourth period opened and the Tigers were quick to take advantage and put the game completely out of reach as sophomore Max Tierney joined Barnes, Chism and Gibson in scoring during the final set to win with a score of 79-47. The Tigers took the court again during the North Georgia High School Showcase on the Dahlonega campus of the University of North Georgia Dec. 1 for their first-ever matchup against the Clarke Central Gladiators out of Athens. Both teams opened the first period running the basketball the length of the court in a fast-break style of play that made for a lot of shots but didn’t give either team a distinct advantage. Over the course of the period the inside play on both ends of the court from Burruss and senior Ahmad Kamara proved to be the edge, and the Tigers out-paced the Gladiators 13-5. The Dawson County offense opened up as Chism created room underneath the basket in the second period and put up the first of his 19 points on the day while Burruss moved to the outside and twice found the net from 3-point ter ritory. Clarke Central fought back, forcing a string of turnovers that allowed them to close the gap with an 8-0 run late in the sec ond, but the Tigers took a double-digit lead into halftime Chism continued to drive the lane, finding the basket for another 8 points, and cleared defenders from the outside to allow Burrus and Gibson both to put in long buckets. Any momentum that the Tigers could establish was interrupted by the foul-heavy defense mounted by the Gladiators as they sent the Tigers to the line a remarkable 29 times during the game. The Tigers relied on the free throw in the fourth period, scoring 9 of their 20 points from the line and Gibson, who led the team in scoring with 29 points, was 13 of 16 from the top of the key. As the final buzzer sounded Dawson County moved to 4-1 on the season with a 77-46 victory over the Clarke Central Gladiators. Dawson County trav eled to Fannin County to open regional play with a game against the Rebels on Dec. 4, but results were unavailable as of press time. DCHS drama students to perform ‘A Christmas Carol’ By Jessica Taylor jtaylor@dawsonnews.com The Tiger Den Players of Dawson County High School will be presenting three performances of “A Christmas Carol” this Friday and Saturday. The musical, written by Broadway heavy hitters Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens, breathes new life into the clas sic tale. Ebenezer Scrooge is a prosperous curmudgeon who believes that person al wealth is far more valuable than the happiness and comfort of others. With an infuriated “Bah! Humbug!” Scrooge summates his feelings of Christmas tidings and charitable giv ing, but he’s forced to face his selfish ways when three ghosts on Christmas Eve lead him through his Past, Present and Future. Thanks to their guidance, Scrooge recognizes his faults and greets Christmas morning with a cheerful “Happy Christmas” before spending the day reconnecting and sharing love with those that mean the most to him. The shows are at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Performing Arts Center at 1665 Perimeter Road. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door. 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