Penny For Your Thought By: Nancy Whitaker
Maybe no guys ever read the books or watched the TV Series, but 50 years ago when Little House on the Prairie came on TV, my family was in front of our television watching it.
Going back even farther than 60 years, was when I was in school, one of my favorite things to do was read. I was very fond of the Little House books and I think I have read them 3-4 times each. In fact I am reading them again.
The show and books were focused on Laura Ingalls Wilder and about her and her family growing up in the big woods. The stories written were about true events in the life of Laura and took place from 1869–1870. Other books in the series took place from 1873-1874.
This year marked the 50 year anniversary of the show and to celebrate and see each other again a reunion of cast mates was held. Some cast members had not seen each other since the show.
More than 18,000 people gathered for the Little House on the Prairies event, celebrating the show’s anniversary at a park in Simi Valley, California, not far from Big Sky Ranch where much of the series was filmed.
Attendees learned how to churn butter, blacksmith and use a washboard. They toured a replica of the Ingalls’ house, the Oleson’s Mercantile, and the one-room school house. But mostly they came to see the actors they loved. and remembered.
Attending were former cast members, Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura “Half Pint” Ingalls, as well as Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls), Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Edwards), Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder) and Linwood Boomer (Adam Kendall. Also attending were a couple actresses who played school teachers.
Fans waited in long lines to collect autographs, screen old episodes, and take pictures of re-creations of the iconic sets. Including the re-creation of Oleson’s Mercantile that many enjoyed.
However, it was Michael Landon’s golf cart that was made to look like a Surrey — a Christmas gift from cast and crew in 1976.
Little House on the Prairie ran on NBC from September 11, 1974 to March 21, 1983. From September 1974 to September 1976, it was aired on Wednesday nights from 8:00-9:00 EST. Beginning September 27, 1976, it was moved to Monday nights in the same time slot.
There are a few missing faces in the cast. Michael Landon died of pancreatic cancer on July 1, 1991. Also deceased are Victor French (Mr Edward’s) Catherine MacGregor (Mrs Oleson) Richard Bull ( Mr Oleson) Merlin Oleson) and the preacher played by Dabb Greer. In 2020 a reboot of Little House was mentioned and I, for one, sure wouldn’t miss it.
There are several Little House reunions being held across the country this year.
Would you go to a Little House reunion? Have you ever read Laura Ingalls Wilders books? Did you watch the TV Show?
Let me know and I’ll give you a Penny For Your Thoughts.
Many of the TV show cast members are planning to be in Pepin, Wisconsin from May 10-11 and on May 12 in LaCrosse, WI.
