<Table> <Tr> <Th colspan="2"> The Waltons </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Genre </Th> <Td> Family drama </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Created by </Th> <Td> Earl Hamner Jr . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Based on </Th> <Td> The Homecoming by Earl Hamner Jr . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Starring </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Richard Thomas </Li> <Li> Ralph Waite </Li> <Li> Michael Learned </Li> <Li> Ellen Corby </Li> <Li> Will Geer </Li> <Li> Judy Norton </Li> <Li> Jon Walmsley </Li> <Li> Mary Elizabeth McDonough </Li> <Li> Eric Scott </Li> <Li> David W. Harper </Li> <Li> Kami Cotler </Li> <Li> Peggy Rea </Li> <Li> Joe Conley </Li> <Li> Ronnie Claire Edwards </Li> <Li> Leslie Winston </Li> <Li> Patricia Neal ( The Homecoming : A Christmas Story ) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Narrated by </Th> <Td> Earl Hamner , Jr . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Composer ( s ) </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Jerry Goldsmith ( theme music ) </Li> <Li> Arthur Morton </Li> <Li> Alexander Courage </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Country of origin </Th> <Td> United States </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Original language ( s ) </Th> <Td> English </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> No. of seasons </Th> <Td> 9 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> No. of episodes </Th> <Td> 221 ( list of episodes ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="2"> Production </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Executive producer ( s ) </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Lee Rich </Li> <Li> Earl Hamner Jr . </Li> <Li> Rod Peterson </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Producer ( s ) </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Robert L. Jacks </Li> <Li> Andy White </Li> <Li> Rod Peterson </Li> <Li> Claylene Jones </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Running time </Th> <Td> 45 -- 48 minutes </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Production company ( s ) </Th> <Td> Lorimar Productions </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Distributor </Th> <Td> Warner Bros. Television Distribution </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="2"> Release </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Original network </Th> <Td> CBS </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Picture format </Th> <Td> 480i </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Audio format </Th> <Td> Mono </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Original release </Th> <Td> September 14 , 1972 ( 1972 - 09 - 14 ) -- June 4 , 1981 ( 1981 - 06 - 04 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="2"> Chronology </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Preceded by </Th> <Td> The Homecoming : A Christmas Story ( 1971 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Followed by </Th> <Td> A Wedding on Walton 's Mountain ( 1982 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="2"> External links </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.the-waltons.com </Td> </Tr> </Table>
when did the tv show the waltons first air
September 14 , 1972 ( 1972 - 09 - 14 )