Airdate:
12/28/78
Ben, according to his dad, is getting a little big for his
britches at the mill, and so he decides to take out a bank loan for an auto lot
(motor lodge) to be built near Godsey’s store, capitalizing on the influx of
traffic from Pickett’s war plant. Ben forms a booster club to drum up more
money ad support, but the idea is abruptly aborted upon news that the War
Department has put a halt to any non-war related construction. Another idea:
why not move the buildings from the abandoned mine town to Walton’s Mountain to
create a new and improved town center? Again, no dice, as this idea was built
upon the false rumor that a new steel mill would be coming. Finally, plan C:
Ben, with some help from John, settles on the establishment of a few new
stores, including an antiquarian and a new barber shop run by newly-licensed
haircutter Yancy, creating a small boom on Walton’s Mountain.
Ben is front and center here, showcasing his continuing
attribute as the business-minded go-getter of the family. Solid, developing
story resulting in the creation of a “town center” on Walton’s Mountain –
certainly will be useful as the show tries to get beyond the bumpkin setting
and go in the wartime/homefront direction.
Amusing subplot involving Yancy taking a barber
correspondence course. And no, it doesn’t follow he expected “earnest but lousy
barber giving bad haircuts” route.
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