The “Little House on the Prairie” TV series ran for 9 seasons, making it one of the longest running scripted primetime TV dramas of the time. The show introduced millions of people worldwide to the Ingalls family and garnered various awards. Today, audiences continue to engage with these stories and explore different facets of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life through new and highly acclaimed documentaries, mini-series, musicals, and podcasts.
In March 2024, the small city of Simi Valley, California transformed into a nostalgic haven as fans and cast members of "Little House on the Prairie" gathered to celebrate the show's 50th anniversary. With tours of the iconic Big Sky Ranch, where much of the beloved series was filmed, the weekend was packed with fun, heartfelt moments,...
As I sit down to write this article about my upcoming book, Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond, for LittleHouseonthePrairie.com, I know I am writing for perhaps the most devoted group of Little House on the Prairie fans in the world—those who love the Little House books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder beginning over 90 years...
About the TV Series "Little House on the Prairie" is one of the most successful dramatic series in television history. This TV legend began with the two-hour pilot movie first broadcast on NBC March 30, 1974 that introduced the Ingalls family to millions of viewers around the world. It was subsequently picked up as a series which...
The "Little House on the Prairie" television show is an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s best-selling Little House books based on her own life. This TV legend began with the pilot in March of 1974, which introduced millions of viewers around the world to the Ingalls family. It was then picked up as a series and became one of the...
The adventures of the Ingalls Family continue in Season Two of "Little House on the Prairie". The original episodes of Season Two aired from September 10, 1975, to March 31, 1976. These heart-warming stories captured the attention of fans around the world and garnered two Emmy nominations for the episode "Remember Me, Part 1 and 2"....
Season 3 of "Little House on the Prairie" is filled with love, courage, hardships, and tests of faith. Just as in seasons past, the Ingalls must come together to face decisions about their future and find the courage to overcome tragedies. Season 3 aired from September 27th, 1976 through April 4th, 1977 and led viewers on many...
In Season Four of “Little House on the Prairie,” we experience a great many exciting adventures with the Ingalls. The original episodes of Season Four aired from September 12, 1977 to March 13, 1978. We watch as a trip to Chicago makes Charles and his daughter, Mary, appreciate their home, Laura and Mary witness the drowning of a...
The adventures of the Ingalls family continue in Season 5 of "Little House on the Prairie". The original episodes of season 5 aired from September 11, 1978 to March 19, 1979. Due to economic problems, the Ingalls, Olesons and Garveys leave Walnut Grove and settle in Winoka for a time. However, they find that the hustle and bustle of the...
The adventures of the Ingalls Family continue in Season Six of “Little House on the Prairie.” The original episodes of Season Six aired from September 17, 1979, to May 12, 1980. Season after season, these heart-warming stories continue to capture the attention of fans around the world. Season six brings new characters that we grow to...
The adventures of the Ingalls Family continue in Season Seven of “Little House on the Prairie." The original episodes aired from September 22, 1980, to May 11, 1981. In Season 7, change is in the air! Laura and Almanzo say, "I do." Adam's sight returns and he and Mary open a law practice. Laura begins teaching. Nellie's pregnancy...
In Season 8 of "Little House on the Prairie," which ran from 1981 to 1982, we get to relive some of the most endearing moments and see some significant changes in the little town of Walnut Grove. Adam and Mary leave for New York where Adam intends to practice law, Percival and Nellie go for New York to take over his father's business,...
The adventures of the Ingalls Family continue in Season Nine of “Little House on the Prairie." The original episodes aired from September 27, 1982, to March 21, 1983. In Season 9 of "Little House on the Prairie",change is in the air! The Ingalls family (apart from Laura) leave Walnut Grove and move to Iowa. Laura and Almanzo adopt...
Today, Big Sky Ranch is known as the iconic backdrop of beloved Hollywood shows such as "Little House on the Prairie,” “Twin Peaks,” and “Gunsmoke.” However, when the Little House producers originally went scouting locations for the show, they started in Arizona, then worked their way to Northern California, before finally discovering...
Fans of the Little House on the Prairie TV Show will recognize many of these quotes and exchanges. The wise words of the Ingalls family and their friends can speak to us still today. Feel free to pin and share these fan favorite quotes and enjoy!“I knew there would be rivers to cross and hills to climb, and I was glad, for this is a...
When you love somebody, it’s worth putting your pride behind you. —Caroline Ingalls, Season 4, Episode 9 – The High Cost of Being RightWhile there are many aspects and facets of love, from crushes, true romances, marriage and simple connections with one another, there are many episodes of “Little House on the Prairie” that teach us that...
Why don't you make a SHORT cake? How 'bout some SHORT ribs? Do we need any SHORTening? You know, you really oughta write a book - SHORT cuts to cooking! —Nellie Oleson, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, Part 1One of our favorite dynamics on "Little House on the Prairie" is the clashing personalities between Laura Ingalls and Nellie Oleson....
James Cooper [to Albert]: Why didn’t you ever tell me you were an orphan?Albert Quinn Ingalls: It just never came up, I guess. Being an orphan, it’s not so bad.James Cooper: It’s bad enough. —Season 7, Episode 1Jason Bateman was born on January 14, 1969 in Rye, New York. His early life was fairly nomadic – his family lived in Boston,...
In 2005 The Wonderful World of Disney aired a mini-series based on the Little House on the Prairie book and produced by ABC/Touchstone Television in association with Ed Friendly. Katie Ford wrote the teleplay. David Cunningham directed the mini-series, which starred Cameron Bancroft as Charles Ingalls, Erin Cottrell as Caroline Ingalls,...
Little House on the Prairie, The Musical was a stage adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories and derived inspiration from six Little House books with particular emphasis on the family’s life in De Smet, South Dakota in By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie and These Happy Golden Years. Through...
Alicia Sanderson Edwards: "You forgot?"Isaiah Edwards: "Never, never! What was supposed to remember?"Alicia Sanderson Edwards: "We were going to have lunch together. I made sandwiches." Season 6, Episode 8Kyle Richards' Early Life and Career Kyle Richards was born on January 11, 1969. Kyle, along with her sisters, Kathy Hilton and...
Hester Sue: Just for the record, I have been married once and I don’t plan on being married again. Not to anyone. Not if he was the last man on Earth. But of course, you may call me “Hester Sue.” Joe (chuckles): Hester Sue, the town you’re going to ain’t nothin’ like St. Louis where there’s lots of colored folk. In Walnut Grove, as far...
Adam Kendall: You know what I like about this school?Mary Ingalls: No, what?Adam Kendall: I can kiss you in front of the entire class, and no one would ever know. —Season 5, Episode 4Linwood Boomer’s Early Life and Career Linwood Boomer was born on October 9, 1955, the third of four sons, and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia....
For me, Little House on the Prairie means “home” in the truest sense of the word. —Melissa Gilbert in My Prairie CookbookMelissa Gilbert’s Early Years Melissa Ellen Gilbert was born May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, and adopted by dancer and actress, Barbara Crane, and her husband, comedian Paul Gilbert. Her parents later adopted...
Perseverance isn’t just the willingness to work hard. It’s that plus the willingness to be stubborn about your own belief in yourself. —Merlin OlsenMerlin Olsen Early Years Born in Utah, Merlin Olsen was the second oldest of nine children, making for a busy and exciting home growing up. His parents often opened their home up to...
Mary Ingalls: God’s world isn’t fear and hate. It’s love, its understanding.Woman: Amen to that!Mary Ingalls: And learning is part of that understanding. —Season 4, Episode 15 “Whisper Country”Early Life and Career Born September 26, 1962, in Berkeley, California to James and Marion Anderson, [1] Melissa moved to southern California...
Jenny Wilder: [to Laura] “You don’t have to drive me to school tomorrow. I’m gonna walk.”Laura Ingalls Wilder: “That’s an awfully long way. Are you sure?”Jenny Wilder: “I’ll make it. Believe me. I’ll make it." —Season 9 Episode 12, Marvin’s GardenEarly Years Shannen Doherty Shannen Doherty was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1971. Her...
Remember me with smiles and laughter,For that’s the way I’ll remember you all.If you can only remember me with tears,Then don’t remember me at all. —Written by Michael Landon for Season 2, Episodes 7 and 8, Remember MeMichael Landon’s Early Years Michael Landon was born on October 31, 1936, as Eugene Maurice Orowitz. Like the original...
Caroline Ingalls: My home is where you are. And you and the children are my family. Charles Ingalls: Caroline Ingalls, I love you. —Pilot EpisodeWe may have fallen in love with her for her starring role as Caroline Ingalls, but Karen Grassle had a thriving career beyond that. Explore more about the amazing woman who captured our hearts...
About Ed Friendly Ed Friendly was born in Manhattan on April 8, 1922. He spent his formative summers on a ranch in Idaho where he fell in love with horses and the American West. He served as an Army captain in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he worked in New York in advertising, produced and directed radio and television...
I’m often overwhelmed by the thought that what I have written is reaching an audience of forty or fifty million people in a single night. —Blanche Hanalis in The Television Writer’s HandbookEarly Life and Career of Blanche Hanalis Blanche Hanalis was born December 11, 1915, in Ohio, but grew up in the Chicago area. According to her...
Mother says we’re not like the rest of the children. —Season 2, Episode 11, The GiftAlison Arngrim’s Early Years Alison Arngrim is a natural-born performer with a love for people and a gift for making them laugh. So, not surprisingly, she entered the entertainment field at a young age, starting out in commercials and bit parts and...
“There is no day, there is nothing I do as a producer that I don’t ask myself, on some level: What would Michael do?” —Dean Butler in an interview about his production careerWhen Dean Butler first appeared on the set of “Little House on the Prairie” to play Almanzo Wilder, he may not have known what he was getting into. His first day on...
Penelope: “I don't know what I ever saw in you. You are just like him.”Andy: “Thanks. I will take that as a compliment.” —Season 6, Episode 20 “Wilder and Wilder"Little House HeroesIf ever there were icons of perseverance in the face of adversity, it would be brothers Patrick and Matthew Laborteaux (or Labyorteaux; they used both...
By about the late 2000s, I had lived a lot of life, but I hadn’t written any of it down. Even though I’d been in the middle of some of Hollywood’s most celebrated and controversial decades (the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s), it never occurred to me that anything I’d done or seen was worth putting on paper. And then several things began to make...
Harriet Oleson: “Pride cometh before destruction; and a haughty spirit before a fall!” Proverbs 16:18 —Season 2, Episode 1 “The Richest Man in Walnut Grove”The Early Life of Katherine MacGregor Katherine “Scottie” MacGregor was born January 12, 1925, as Dorlee Deane McGregor in Glendale, California, [1] but grew up in Fort Collins,...
Charles Ingalls: “If you want some advice from a friend, I’d say marry that woman.”Isaiah Edwards: “That’s the trouble with friends. They’re always trying to give you advice!" —Season 2, Episode 7 “Remember Me: Part 1”VICTOR FRENCH EARLY YEARS Victor French (born December 4, 1934) was inducted into the Great Western Performers Hall of...
I was introduced to grace at an exceptionally young age. My sister and I landed the role of Baby Grace Ingalls as infants, and before long we responded to our new identity with ease. I’m still surprised how my toddler-self knew when to be Baby Grace and when to be Wendi. It’s safe to say, I don’t have many memories of our first three...
Cassandra Cooper: “I want homework.”Caroline Ingalls: “What?”Cassandra Cooper: “I want homework!”Caroline Ingalls: “Well, if you want homework, you’re gonna have to go to school.” —The Lost Ones: Part 2The sign-in sheet read “Little House on the Prairie,” but to me, this audition would be just like any other. At the age of eight, I had...