'Little House' Popularity Endures
The Little House on the Prairie television series, which ran for nine seasons beginning in 1974, struck a lasting chord with audiences on its way to becoming one of TV’s most popular and enduring programs.
by Bob Gulla
The Little House on the Prairie television series, which ran for nine seasons beginning in 1974, struck a lasting chord with audiences on its way to becoming one of TV’s most popular and enduring programs. Set in the community of Walnut Grove, Minn., in the 1870s, the NBC show focused on the pioneering Ingalls clan led by hard-working homesteader Charles Ingalls, portrayed by Michael Landon.
The hour-long weekly drama earned consistent high ratings in its Tuesday night slot and has since gone on to syndication in more than 100 countries. “It’s been fantastic for us,” says Jaclyn Cohen, vice president of programming for TV Land, one network that continues to air the show. “We put it back in its old time slot at 8 p.m., and it’s up to almost 70 percent over our programming from the past year, which is a tribute to the passion and feelings viewers have for the show.”
Due to that popularity, many viewers have wondered whatever became of the cast since the show went off the air in 1983. Landon, the executive producer and heartbeat of Little House, died in 1991 of pancreatic cancer at age 54. Karen Grassle, who played Charles’ loving wife, Caroline, has toured the country performing in various theater productions and now lives in Pacific Palisades, Calif., with her adopted daughter, Lily.
Melissa Gilbert, the youngest actor ever to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, played feisty Laura “Half-Pint” Ingalls, whose character is based on the woman who went on to author the enduring Little House books. Gilbert, now 42, is a mother and working actor, starred in the 2005 TV movie Thicker Than Water and recently served two terms as president of Hollywood’s Screen Actors Guild. Melissa Sue Anderson, who played Laura’s big sister, Mary, is now 44 and a mother of two living in Topanga Canyon, Calif.
Little sister Carrie Ingalls actually was played by twins Sidney and Lindsay Greenbush. Sidney is writing an autobiography, while Lindsay is busy with Little House cast-reunion activities. “We’re all closer now than when we were doing the show,” Lindsay says. “It’s more like a family than ever.” In 2005, several cast members convened in Tombstone, Ariz., at a Western film symposium, and again at the Homestead Days festival in Beatrice, Neb.
Nellie Oleson, Walnut Grove’s favorite bad girl, was played by Allison Arngrim and was one of the show’s most colorful characters. Since leaving Little House in 1981, Arngrim has done stand-up comedy (recent show title: Older! Uglier! Meaner!) and is a social activist on behalf of the National Association to Protect Children and the Ambassador Council of AIDS Project in Los Angeles. “The show’s continuing popularity blows my mind,” Arngrim says
Katherine McGregor, who played Nellie’s hissably wicked on-screen mom, Harriet, was—contrary to her character—one of the set’s best-loved personalities. Today, she is an advocate of meditation and spiritual healing and a follower of Vedanta, an Eastern religion. Richard Bull, who played her husband, Nels, boasts a long line of TV and film credits before and after his work on Little House. The young actor who played Willie Oleson, Jonathan Gilbert (the real-life brother to his co-starring sister, Melissa, and another sister, actress Sara Gilbert, who went on to fame on TV’s Roseanne), lives in New York and works as a stockbroker. Matthew Laborteaux, who played Albert Ingalls, is an actor specializing in video-game voiceovers.
Kevin Hagen, who portrayed Doc Baker, died of cancer last year; Victor French, who played Isaiah Edwards, died in 1989 shortly after completing work on the final season of another series, Highway to Heaven; and Steve Tracy, who played Percival Dalton, Nellie Oleson’s husband, died of an AIDS-related illness in 1986.
“The show is like a gift that keeps on giving,” Arngrim says. “I’m embarrassed to admit it, but we’re still all heinously attached to each other, which tells you the kind of amazing experience we had.”
Bob Gulla is a writer in Wakefield, R.I.
first appeared: 12/3/2006
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12/4/06 2:49 PM
I really enjoyed the Little House article, especially finding out what has happened to some of the actors that comprised one of my favoritye shows. However, I wonder if the writer could have included what happened to Armonzo & Mary's husband (can't remember his name). They were there longer and more often than Nellie's husband, yet he was mentioned.
12/5/06 11:43 AM
I too would like to have seen more of the cast included in the updating. I guess they really did change the time but now I can't find it on all at all! It was listed in our index but it did not come on.
12/5/06 6:41 PM
I too enjoy reading about Little House on the Praire. I watch all the shows on TV everyday after work. And I am starting to collect the book series and dvd series also. It doesnt matter how many times they have been on I still enjoy them especially the later yrs when Laura and Almanzo first got together and about Mary and Adam. I too would like to know more about Nellie and what her familys is doing thank you Andrea
12/6/06 3:28 PM
I was glad that I wasn't the only one who noticed the ommision of Almanzo (Laura's husband) and Adam (Mary's husband) from the cast updates. Would love if the author of the article who did such a terrific job could also provide an update on these two characters.
12/6/06 11:01 PM
The Little House article was great! I really enjoyed reading it...it was very interesting. I have watched the show my entire life and still enjoy it. It's still a wonderful show. Thanks for writing an article about it!
12/9/06 12:55 PM
If there ever were a LHOP fan, it's me. I have read the series at least three times. I watch the shows religiously. When there is a marathon, I make certain to be at home. My love ones always tease me about the show. They always ask me why do I continue to watch them, even though I know the lines. I'm quickly to defend myself that the shows have morals and values, two things that are quickly diminishing today. The set is fabulous! Before I leave this walk of life, I pray to be able to visit the original set, especially the general store and the Ingalls' house, and to meet some of the cast, also. Does anyone know if the original house is still standing or where it is?
Sandra Glover
Holly Springs, MS
12/9/06 3:57 PM
There is a wonderful site I found that will give you house locations and other sites. it also has tons more of info, original pictures and you can even here songs from Pa's fiddle! its
http://webpages.marshall.edu/~irbyl/laura/
12/10/06 6:40 PM
Two people in my church presented me with a copy of the article concerning the
Little House television program as I do not get the newspaper and they know how fond I am of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
I enjoyed reading the article, finding out what the cast has been doing since the show ended. I was saddened to read of the several deaths that have occurred; of course, I knew that Micheal Landon had passed away BUT I didn't realize he was only fifty-four years old. I also appreciated the photos of how the cast looks today.
Thanks for the update, Bob Gulla!
PS. This is for Sandra Glover (Holly Springs, MS): In reality, the Ingalls did not really live in Walnut Grove for all that long, and the house no longer exists. But the town has put together an interesting tourist attraction, and you are allowed to go out to see the remains of the dugout along the creek where the Ingalls lived before Pa built the house.
Laura was born in Pepin, Wisconsin; then the family moved out on the prairie near Independence, Kansas; back to Pepin; then to Walnut Grove, Minnesota; Burr Oak, Iowa for almost a year; back to Walnut Grove; Pa then moved the family to DeSmet, South Dakota. That is where Laura met and married Almanzo - they lived near DeSmet for awhile, but eventually made their home in Mansfield, Missouri. I have happily been to all of Laura's homesites.
I also encourage you to check out that website:
http://webpages.marshall.edu/~irby1/laura/frames.html - there is alot to learn about Laura that is posted there, and you just might see me there on their message board!
12/10/06 9:14 PM
I was surprised to learn that "Mary" had actually never married as the tv series depicts. Also that the family didn't really live that long in Walnut Grove and Laura did not meet her husband there. AS the site explains, some things had to be changed to accomadate television.
12/11/06 5:53 PM
As an avid fan of Little House for many years, I was very pleased with the article of the whereabouts of some of the characters. As a writer myself
I was drawn to the set every time it was on. I watch it on the Hallmark Channel and it comes on twice a day- two hours in the morning and in the afternoon. It is such a blessing to watch with the great family values, unlike what is on tv today. That is why I have Sky Angel Satellite where it's all Christian based Tv. I pray Little House reruns are on for a very long time so my grandchildren can enjoy them as much as I have .
GOD BLESS
Linda Gentry
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