Little House on the Prairie

Cult TV show based on the series of books by Laura Ingalis Wilder.

The year was 1878, the rush for land was on, and among the many who sought a new life in the new land were the Ingalls; Charles, his young wife, Caroline, and their three daughters, Mary, Laura and Carrie. Packing their few belongings into a wagon, they said goodbye to friends and relatives and joined the trek westward that would lead them to their new home in Plum Creek, on the plains of Minnesota.


Little House on the Prairie was aired on the NBC network from September 11, 1974, to March 21, 1983. During the 1982-83 television season, with the departure of Michael Landon, the series was broadcast with the new title Little House: A New Beginning. A miniseries called The Little House Years was aired in 1979.


The show was a loose adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House on the Prairie books.


Although it differed from the original books, and many new characters and situations were added, Although predominantly a drama, the program did have some comedic moments, thanks to supporting cast members such as Mr. Edwards (played by Victor French) and the Oleson family: Nels Oleson (Richard Bull), Harriet Oleson (Katherine MacGregor), Willie Oleson (Jonathan Gilbert), and Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim).


The show's central characters are Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon), farmer and patriarch, with his wife, Caroline (Karen Grassle), and three daughters, Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson), Laura (Melissa Gilbert), and Carrie (Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush). The Ingalls family also adopts 10-year-old Albert Quinn (Matthew Laborteaux), whom the family meets when they move (briefly) to Winoka, Dakota Territory in a series of 1978 episodes. Later the Ingalls family adopts more children, James (Jason Bateman) and Cassandra Cooper (Missy Francis), a brother and sister who are orphaned after their parents are killed in a wagon accident.


Other essential characters included the friendly Nels Oleson, proprietor of the town's general store, Oleson's Mercantile; his malicious, gossipping wife, Harriet; and their two spoiled children, Nellie and Willie; and later, their adopted child, Nancy (Allison Balson). Also appearing in the series are Merlin Olsen (as Jonathan Garvey), Dabbs Greer (as Reverend Robert Alden), Karl Swenson (as Lars Hanson, the town's founder and proprietor of the town's mill), and Kevin Hagen (as Dr. Hiram Baker, the town's doctor). Malcolm in the Middle creator Linwood Boomer appears as Mary Ingalls's teacher-turned-husband, Adam Kendall, whom she meets at the school for the blind in the 1978-1979 season. In 1979, Dean Butler joined the cast as Almanzo Wilder, and he and Laura are married in the 1980-1981 season premiere.


Michael Landon directed the largest number of episodes (87); producer William F. Claxton (68).Co-star Victor French helmed 19 episodes.The most successful western-dramatic series ended in 1983, due to low ratings (after Landon's decision of leaving the show), but this show set the tone for one other series that is similar to Little House: Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. In addition, the show is immensely-popular in reruns in syndication.


Cast


* Michael Landon as Charles Phillip Ingalls - A Farmer near Walnut Grove and father of Mary, Laura, Carrie, and Grace (1974-1982)


* Karen Grassle as Caroline Lake Quiner Ingalls - Charles' wife (1974-1982)
* Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Amelia Ingalls - Charles' & Caroline's older daughter (1974-1981)
* Melissa Gilbert as Laura Elizabeth Ingalls - Charles' & Caroline's middle daughter
* Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (who were identical twins) as Caroline Celestia "Carrie" Ingalls - Charles' & Caroline's younger daughter (1974-1982)
* Matthew Laborteaux as Albert Quinn Ingalls - Charles' & Caroline's adopted son (1978-1983)
* Richard Bull as Nelson "Nels" Oleson
* Katherine MacGregor as Harriet Oleson
* Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson (1974-1981)
* Jonathan Gilbert as Willie Oleson
* Kevin Hagen as Dr. Hiram Baker
* Dabbs Greer as Reverend Robert Alden
* Victor French as Isaiah Edwards (1974-1977, 1979, 1981-1983)
* Dean Butler as Almanzo James Wilder (1979-1983)
* Merlin Olsen as Jonathan Garvey (1977-1981)
* Linwood Boomer as Adam Kendall (1978-1981)
* Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh (who were identical twins) as Grace Pearl Ingalls (1977-1982)


 


 


 


  • Mr M Wigg
    Hello. Firstly, a belated thank you for your reply a month ago. I'm pleased to say my wife now has Seasons 6 and 7 on region 2 DVD which were eventually released online. However, if the remaining seasons continue to be unavailable this year on website shops, I may well take your advice (as long as they're not too expensive!) Thanks again, with regards, Mr M Wigg.
  • Blahjddi
    Would love to finish buying the full collection Region 2, English, English boxs. Come on finish what you started, Please.
  • Bev_payne
    you can get seasons 6 7 and 8 now on amazon....
  • Mrs Donna Hart
    Hi I'm a massive fan of Little house on the Prairie, just like your wife, My husband also tries to buy all the Seasons, and until today I just had Seasons 1-5, my husband was briefly looking at all the box set's in 'W.H. smiths' to his delight he found me Season 6. I know I'am 5 months behind your email, but I just thought I would like to tell you, W.H.Smith's or HMV can order in any Season! We just got the last one they had in, but if I were to see Season's 7,8,9 & 10, I would grab them at an instant as I do agree they are very hard to get hold of! But now WH Smith have released Season 6, I do know it isn't long before Season 7 comes out. many reagards, Donna Hart
  • Marion
    Seasons 6-10 are all available to buy on e-bay which are all region DVDs. I have bought them and they are very good. If you wait for Universal to get their act together and release the DVDs you will be waiting for ever!
  • Mrs K. Woodley
    Every time I log on to your web site I find e-mails asking for the next series of "Little House On The Prairie" to be released. Isn't it time you considered this? I am sure most of the people who have bought them would like the full series as this is a cult TV show and has had a lot of followers over the years. Personally I found the later series even more interesting than the first five already released and would like to add them to my collection. I do hope you will consider this very soon.
  • Mr M Wigg
    Like the person whose comment I've just read I would also like you to release seasons 6, 7 and 8 (plus seasons 9 and 10 as well). My wife has very much enjoyed watching Seasons 1-5 but is intending to collect the whole series. Whenever I try to find Season 6 it is either a US or Dutch import or one with a German title, etc. when what I'm really looking for is a British Region 2 DVD like the others we've got. Any information/assistance you can give in this matter would be much appreciated. With Thanks,
  • orlagayson
    Please could you release season 6,7 , 8 of this dvd as I'm sure there is a popular demand for them. My family and I have been looking at them and we very much enjoy them. Will it be available any time soon here in ireland..? Thanks.