Bette Rogge interviews Will Geer who played Grandpa Walton on the TV series "The Waltons."

Bette Rogge Morse graduated from the University of Dayton in 1944. She received her masters degree from UD in 1977. She served on the University's Board of Trustees from 1975 to 1981. For her service to the community and university, Bette was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1999.
Copyright is owned by Cox Media Group Ohio and WHIO-TV. Please contact the University Archives and Special Collections at the University of Dayton to inquire about permission to use this video.
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[@lesleebreene5874]

The Waltons has to be about the finest family TV series ever produced. I watched the show in the '70s and now in rerun in 2021. As an author, I find great depth of character and storyline in every show! Will Geer was an outstanding, truly believable 'Grandpa.' I'm still in love with 'John-Boy.' If only our young people today could experience this show and the priceless human and spiritual values it represents.

[@RC0307]

I have to say The Waltons is the best tv show I've ever watched. I grew up watching it and it brings joy to my heart whenever I watch it today. I finally have the complete Dvd set including the tv movies.

[@calebhubble1884]

A really kind and intelligent person!! I loved his character. What a lovely interview.

[@rickfullerton9075]

One of the best shows from my childhood Thursday night Dad control the remote and he always put on The Waltons and we all look forward to it what a wonderful show down to earth have all the DVDs in my collection

[@michele21auntiem]

When my Dad was in his last years we rewatched all the episodes. Then we talked about times gone by.

[@fireball0762]

your dad would have gotten along well with my dad. We always watched the waltons. great family tv

[@mikeinocencio9516]

I wish will was my grandpa for real. I love that man. He seems so down to earth and loving and caring, but not afraid to get into mischief. So sad he passed away, even tho it was many years ago, it still saddens my heart. I hope I get to meet him in heaven if I make it.

[@karenleemallonee684]

I loved the mikes hanging off the front of their clothes... technology has definitely come a long way! Her flowered cover up reminds me of sheets I had when I was very small. I feel so lucky to have found this interview with Will Geer, I have really grown to appreciate his career and talents. Thank you! 🌼

[@robgrossen3905]

What a great show and Will was a great gentleman and a fabulous actor!

[@jamesrobiscoe1174]

He had a great zeal for life and a profound inclusiveness for all that is. Gave him a real authenticity as a human being, which made him so persuasive as Grandpa Walton. I've no doubt he's cutting up antics in the Great Beyond.

[@m.corege9726]

Thank you Grandpa Walton for the wonderful character that you portrayed - here we are in 2017 and I still watch the reruns every night - it brings back such wonderful memories - thx to all the Walton clan for bringing such uplifting lovely stories into our homes each night - they sure don't make television like that anymore - cheers from Canada

[@mikeinocencio9516]

And thats sad too, nothing on TV anymore but see and murder. Nothing wholesome or something that teaches values and morals. I watch the Waltons everyday.

[@normathompson5743]

Was Watching in November 2021

[@bdub1078]

I loved Will Geer. What a SPIRIT!!!!

[@samsoncrosswood7259]

A great actor. He was really good at playing Will Geer.

[@lindadavis5479]

The coolest Granpa ever.. .

[@20alphabet]

Unless you're a boy. 😆

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

@@20alphabet You’re not funny. Or clever.

[@jeneanhoban1678]

I grew up watching the Waltons and now as a gramma I watch the reruns. It brings me back to a simpler more carefree time. I loved gramps Walton as if he were my own. I grew up without grandparents so I held gramma and grandpa Walton dear. Rest in Heavenly peace dear man.

[@20alphabet]

He was homosexual.

[@stevenalec]

@@20alphabet So what?

[@20alphabet]

@magnetothewhite You're an idiot.

[@hishamjararwah3125]

Answer for questions jenean hoban will geer date of death, cause of death, and age of death?

[@heygetoffmylawn1572]

We’ve been streaming reruns of the Waltons. I have a greater appreciation for this TV program now than I did growing up. Loved this interview with Will Geer. He was such a great character on the show.

[@drricksjoquist4358]

Will Geer was a national treasure. In some ways he defined the best spirit of 1930s.

[@marymarysmarket3508]

A gay man? The best spirit??? No

[@muckstar23]

Sorry you are bitter

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

@@marymarysmarket3508 Bisexual. Not that it really matters. Unless you’re a busybody who actually thinks one’s sexuality means anything.

[@marymarysmarket3508]

@@himwhoisnottobenamed5427 I certainly don't consider the gay lifestyle to be in the best spirit of any time...

[@NkotbJoeyJordanFan]

Wow! Was he ever like Grandpa Walton! What a wonderful man he was.

[@Libertyjack1]

@@20alphabet What's your agenda, Bub?

[@20alphabet]

@magnetothewhite In in the same realm, sympathizer.

[@20alphabet]

@@Libertyjack1 Well tomorrow I've got a dental appointment in the morning, then lunch... nothing else in the afternoon. Why? Living vicariously?

[@Libertyjack1]

@@20alphabet Sucks to be you man! Looks like you can use some help.

[@20alphabet]

@magnetothewhite There are none so blind as those who will not see. You're beyond help.

[@LittleBlueOwl318]

Will Geer was smart, funny and kind... "everyone's Grandpa" and a very sweet soul. RIP

[@davesiler4064]

@@20alphabet you are so damned ignorant!

[@selloutasaurus]

Love Will Geer. Grew up watching the Waltons.

[@ysgol3]

Great man who should never be forgotten.

[@20alphabet]

Hardly.

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

@@20alphabet Oh no. He also liked sleeping with men. Oh, the horror. 😒

[@jerryszagala4460]

WALTONS ARE VERY SPECIAL MEMORIES TO ME .I MET THE REAL GRANDMA .BLESS HER HEART .😇

[@20alphabet]

That's sad.

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

@@20alphabet What’s sad is that for all your bitching that Geer was in to graping kids, you never once back it up.

[@garywarmee4367]

It is completely delightful to get to see Will Geer as himself here. I have heard so much said about him - the kind of free spirit he was and how Zebulon Walton was his favorite role where he was able to pretty much play himself. Will on tape is scarce and thank you for posting this little peak,

[@lindafarnsworth7302]

i watched The Walton's as a kid and was really happy to find the whole series on Prime Live. I hope it stays on there Prime Live until my Granddaughter is old enough to watch it with me. Such good value in this show!! I always loved it!

[@blanchbrook566]

The perfect Grandpa! loved him

[@robertnymand9889]

Great actor! Played all his roles grest.

[@marykoch1666]

I love this man so much. Absolutely loved him as Grandpa Walton

[@ImportantBits]

Beautiful, beautiful man! :)

[@20alphabet]

Hardly.

[@20alphabet]

@Liquid Eternity 👈🏼presumptuous twat

[@watchout361]

LOVE THIS MAN! RIP!

[@FrankHampton-n5l]

I finally have the entire Walton series on DVD. It's been on my bucket list.

[@PC-lu3zf]

He was a fine actor

[@georgealderson4424]

Like many people I expect, I have only seen Mr. Geer in The Waltons but I know he was a highly educated man and even a short video such as this shows how well spoken he was off script. May he rest in peace

[@sallydeeperry138]

I loved this old man.

[@20alphabet]

How sad.

[@Toywithme200]

loved the waltons!

[@donnasanders7899]

Loved his character.

[@delladawn1149]

What a sweetie 💕

[@renaissanceman165]

Class Act!!!

[@hardlines4]

Best Grandpa!

[@jgsmile1331]

Will Geer did a great job here selling us on watching the Waltons and reminding us to get up and try, try, again when life knocks you down. All of the cast and writer Earl Hamner spoke so well of him. He must of been a wonderful person, not faultness, like each of us are but making the best of life. He had several children of his own so I don't know that he was gay, straight or both or miss represented but he is well thought of by the Waltons cast so that should speak volumes to his character. Thus he was not an imposing person and kept his faults to himself I would imagine. Thank you Will for the wonderful character you played. It is a wonderful show and much needed at this time in America.

[@jgsmile1331]

I am sorry to hear that. I love the USA and do not support communism or the immorality that you mentioned.

[@jgsmile1331]

@Liquid Eternity I do think for myself. That's why I know there is only male and female. You have a nice day.

[@jgsmile1331]

@Liquid Eternity but what you don't understand is that I choose to believe that the Bible is the LIVING WORD OF GOD. If you choose to not believe it that is your choice. That is called free will.

[@gpwerner]

This is great. Looks like right before he filmed "Jeremiah Johnson."

[@senecastevens9512]

Are you sure you can skin Grizz???

[@onefatstratcat]

You've done well pilgrim....

[@kellysisney1383]

I really loved the grandpa character will gear he was 😎 thanks for these memories ❤♥

[@BlueSky-qv7cd]

Nobody would dare click the thumbs down on Grandpa Walton.

[@bennyhillconsideredfunnier3356]

I did!

[@Taz-yr6xd]

Ulysses McCaskill must be miserable acting like a hero for some old loser

[@20alphabet]

I did too.

[@coshyno]

@@Taz-yr6xd your the miserable fuck ! no fucking wonder human kind is going were its going, because of people like you !

[@20alphabet]

@@coshyno Be a good dog and stop barking.

[@L70s]

I remember Betty Rogge, she interviewed so many stars. Her, bob braun, and paul dixon were such staples to the dayton/springfield area.

[@sarahmessex8231]

A very wonderful special Grandpa❤✝️🙏🏻

[@ohmeowzer1]

What a nice man

[@20alphabet]

Untrue!

[@tinahardman9805]

I think you have a problem with people being gay. Your attitude is extremely stupid and ignorant, you are a sad troll and you just deserve to be laughed at for your ridiculous attitude. Will Geer seemed to be a nice guy and a free spirit. Good for him.

[@kellyoxo2818]

For some reason he reminds me of Mark Twain. I wonder if he is related to Richard Geer.

[@sandi3561]

Kelly oxo He absolutely is. 😊

[@20alphabet]

They both enjoyed having things shoved up their keisters.

[@SwingingCreeper]

No relation to Richard Gere.

[@SwingingCreeper]

20alphabet sounds like you have some personal experience

[@scottcozart8950]

Why would anybody give this a thumbs down. Must. Be from the Addams Family.

[@deedeegreen8338]

I loved grandpa Walton. I wish I had a grandfather like him. Oh, how I wish to be there with him; fishing at Drucillas Pond, and collecting beautiful flowers. How I wish to go to Ike's store. But, sadly, it's only make belief.

[@davesiler4064]

No, DeeDee, it's not make believe, Earl Hamner, in creating the grandparents on the Waltons, based them on his actual grandparents, the Hamners and the Gianinni's.

[@davesiler4064]

In fact, you can visit the original Waltons/Hamner house between March and December in Schuyler

[@deedeegreen8338]

@@davesiler4064 I hope to visit that house, someday. I would love to see it. Earl Hamner was one of the greatest storytellers of our time. I write fiction and people tell me that I am a good storyteller. Hearing that warms my heart. Story telling is as old as time and it really stokes the imagination. My Irish father was a great storyteller, and my eyes would be big with excitement as his stories took me to places I longed to be. It was Hamner's stories in the Walton's that made me feel like I would love to go fishing with grandpa Walton at Drucilla's Pond, which is the "make believe" part I mentioned.

[@alainfortin7087]

I love The Waltons, one of the best shows on television ❤ Grandpa Walton was a great character on the Waltons, smart as a fox, kind and loving as can be. Mr. Will Geer the greatest Grandpa on television. RIP Grandpa 🌹 🌹 🌹 Grace from Canada ❤ ❤❤

[@strothermartin5368]

A true hippie.

[@karenbarlow-goodsell8483]

Will Geer and Ellen Corby made The Walton’s a success!

[@westvalley411]

Grandpa Geer was a family man who had a one track mind, but Ellen Corby kept him in line...what a hoot...

[@Harpo.jr70]

Will gave a great performance in the movie Jeremiah Johnson.

[@mitteradams1216]

Loved will character

[@rampageclover9788]

As pure as they come…..

[@7karlheinz]

Wow, the series hadn't started yet, just The Homecoming. I was wondering why he kept referring to the show "on Thursday nights" and explaining what the Waltons show was about. He reminds me of James Broughton...

[@springstud]

he was every ones grandpa

[@Taz-yr6xd]

kris imes he is disgusting

[@Taz-yr6xd]

Susan Ryan Ok

[@20alphabet]

Not mine. Can't imagine a grandpa sodomizing another man, or enjoying being sodomized. He was a homosexual.

[@muckstar23]

I would’ve liked to share a glass of the recipe with him

[@deeanna3335]

I remember her from WHIO TV

[@selloutasaurus]

❤️

[@yuvegotmale]

great actor....he was great in In Cold Blood.......

[@benjaminglover1570]

Just a truly wonderful person. Understood the McCarthy insanity and stayed tough. Shame we lost John Garfield.

[@macedon4049]

Coolest Grandpa....

[@rebeccabernard5013]

How could this interview have been 8 years ago, Will Geer died in 1978 ???

[@shawneaton4029]

Thank YOU for sharing this. I saw y'all; what was it?; 3 or 4 (or so) x's last week...saw you flatten your seat back 2x as you saw me break word...wished you'd've physically confronted me...you've no idea how much I miss you! Call me, K- . Please. I'm asking.

[@howardmanley3388]

He was alittle on the odd side , however I enjoyed him a lot...

[@michelle81477]

💕❤️

[@aldod3937]

I think Will Geer was Grandpa....

[@inkyguy]

What is the date and location of this interview? Without this information it makes it less use as a source one can cite.

[@universityofdayton]

Our records indicate it was recorded in 1972. ecommons.udayton.edu/archives_morse_media/37/

[@shannongallagher2382]

The Waltons is my favorite TV show of all times and I love every character of this show but you know many people act and that means they act differently than what they really are in real life he portrayed to be a husband and a grandfather and a man after God's Own Heart but if he was truly after God's Own Heart and if he was truly play Christian the way he played the part he would not be gay and I don't care who wants to go against what I'm saying I can care less but truth about it is this man was gay and you can't be a true Christian and be a proud gay man or gay woman breaks my heart because you're not going to make it into heaven if you are not filled with God's holy spirit and if you are filled with God's holy spirit there's no way and that means absolutely no way you will be proud to call yourself gay.. and if you are Catholic and you follow the pope you have no idea who God really is the pope is nothing more than the Devil Himself clothed them white Catholicism is nothing but pure evil the pope is telling people that God is for the gay people and that always lead to heaven and that is absolutely false there's only one way to heaven and it's through Jesus Christ there is only one God and that is Jesus Christ

[@thomast8539]

Grandpa was a flawed, complex and loving human being, an important component to that wonderful TV show. Will Geer, the actor, was also a flawed, complex and loving human being. His best character trait? He carried and planted seeds everywhere he traveled. His worst character trait? Nope, not his bisexual predilections. It was his true and lifelong communist politics for which he was black listed in the 1950s.

[@gregrak9389]

"The Waltons" were never the same again after Will Geer passed, it was a "generational" show, you really had to have three generations under that one roof, Ellen Corby was appearing, but infrequently, not the same thing, producers eventually brought in a 900 lb. character actress to play "Cousin Rose," but she had extra baggage, in addition to those pounds, with two annoying grand kids.

[@docadams7099]

I always liked Peggy Rea as Cousin Rose and Rose's 2 grandchildren. Jeffrey especially was spunky. But, I have to admit, I truly missed Grandpa/Will Geer and felt deep respect for Ellen Corby/Grandma.

[@jackieeasterwood3001]

Greg Rak, how rude to talk about Peggy Rea and her weight like that.

[@alainfortin7087]

Loved Ms. Peggy Rea as Ms. Rose🌹 She brought so much to the show. May she RIP 🌹 🌹 🌹

[@laurymakesaway6695]

I love the Walton's but, there was always something about this man that made me look twice with a twitch 🤨 Between the communism and his sexuality I see why. His daughter bought him a purse🙄🤦🏿‍♀️

[@unowen334]

Will Geer was so crazy gay it makes hundreds of would be actors PTSD to this day.

[@unowen334]

@Liquid Eternity It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days, sittin' on the porch with my family, singin' and dancin' down in Mississippi.

[@Ma007rk]

Growing up in a foster home I absolutely DESPISED the Walton's. I did like Grandpa Walton. He reminded me of my own Grandpa.

[@valeriepaulsen5236]

So sorry that was your experience.

[@souljabd9723]

P

[@lessanders8322]

A Communist Homosexual... the irony.

[@angelinapearson5560]

Really?????Thanks for the information

[@simonsays2967]

I did #1 👎. Totally freak!