Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie: Summary

Airs Next:NBC at Wednesday 12:00 AM (60 min.)
Status:Ended
Premiered:September 11, 1974
Last Aired:March 21, 1983
Show Categories:Drama

This award-winning family drama was based upon Laura Ingalls Wilder's 9-part series of autobiographical books. Television producer and NBC executive Ed Friendly became aware of this enduring story in the early 1970s. He asked Michael Landon to direct the pilot movie, who agreed on the condition that he could also play Charles Ingalls.

TIME: beginning in the 1870s.
PLACE: the American frontier - more specifically, Walnut Grove in the state of Minnesota.
THE CHARACTERS: Charles/Pa Ingalls: a homesteader farmer/woodworker; compassionate and loving, yet quick-tempered and ready to throw a defensive punch whenever necessary

Caroline/Ma Ingalls: Patient and understanding wife and mother; the ideal prairie woman Laura Ingalls Wilder: The winsome, tomboyish second daughter of Charles and Caroline, who serves as the voice of the entire series, and eventually married Almanzo Wilder

Mary Ingalls Kendall: Charles and Caroline's pretty and ultra-responsible oldest daughter, who longs to be a teacher and goes completely blind at the age of 15. She later marries Adam Kendall, although this is a fictional piece created just for the TV series

Carrie Ingalls: The cute third daughter of Charles and Caroline, who didn't have a large role but was always portrayed as a very sweet little girl

Grace Ingalls: Charles and Caroline's fifth and final child, who was only about 4 when her role in the series ended

Jack: the loyal, lovable family dog, who was replaced by Bandit when he died in Season 4.

Albert Quinn Ingalls: The fictional adopted son of Charles and Caroline--an orphaned runaway whom the Ingalls meet while living temporarily in Winoka

James Cooper Ingalls: The fictional adopted son of Charles and Caroline, who comes to live with them after the death of his parents

Cassandra Cooper Ingalls: The fictional adopted daughter of Charles and Caroline, and the younger sister of James

Supporting characters include: Miss Eva Beadle: The first teacher of Walnut Grove, who taught Laura to read and helped Mary realize her dream to teach

Dr. Hiram Baker: the loyal town physician

Reverend Robert Alden: The town's devout and hugely caring Church minister

Mr. Isaiah Edwards: The mountain-man/drifter-turned-farmer who settled in Walnut Grove, who had a drinking problem and, despite his happy-go-lucky exterior, had a lot of emotional turmoil in his life

Grace Snider: A widow and town postmistress who marries Isaiah and adopts three orphaned children with him

John Sanderson Edwards: the oldest adopted son of Isaiah and Grace, who lives with them after the death of his widowed mother, and becomes a writer

Carl Sanderson Edwards: Isaiah and Grace's second adopted child, brother of John and Alicia

Alicia Sanderson Edwards: The sweet youngest adopted child of Isaiah and Grace, and the younger sister of John and Carl

Lars Hanson: The beloved founder of Walnut Grove, and proprietor of the Hanson Lumber Mill, where Charles and Isaiah worked

Nels Oleson: father and proprietor of the mercantile (general store).

Harriet Oleson: The rude, gossiping woman who spoils her children rotten and has a perpetual hold on her ever-patient husband

Nellie Oleson Dalton: The bratty oldest child of Nels and Harriet, who butts heads with Laura throughout their childhood and later marries Percival Dalton (another fictional event).

Willie Oleson: Nels and Harriet's youngest child, who is mischievous but has more of his father's kindhearted traits; eventually marries Rachel Brown

Adam Kendall: Mary's husband, who is also blind and wins her heart by teaching her to reclaim her life when she first goes blind. Has two children with Mary, but they both die in infancy

Almanzo Wilder: Laura's charismatic husband, a farmer who has two children with Laura, one of whom dies in infancy

John Carter: A blacksmith and family man who moves from Walnut Grove to New York in Season 9 with his wife and two sons, moving into the Ingalls house when they relocate to Iowa.

Sarah Carter: A newspaper editor and loving mother, wife of John Carter.

Jeb Carter: John and Sarah's oldest child, fairly underdeveloped, but always a good kid

Jason Carter: John and Sarah's adorable, endearing youngest son who was often Michael Landon's go-to kid for comic relief in some of the darker episodes from Seasons 9 and 10

Jenny Wilder: the sweet, effervescent fictional niece of Laura and Almanzo, who comes to live with them permanently after the death of her father, Almanzo's brother Royal.

Nancy Oleson: A young girl that Nels and Harriet adopt once Nellie is grown; a monstrous, manipulative child who has her mother wrapped around her little finger This award-winning family drama was based upon Laura Ingalls Wilder's 9-part series of autobiographical books. Television producer and NBC executive Ed Friendly became aware of this enduring story in the early 1970s. He asked Michael Landon to direct the pilot movie, who agreed on the condition that he could also play Charles Ingalls.

TIME: beginning in the 1870s.
...

Bless All the Dear Children

Aired: Monday December 17, 1984

A trip to Mankato for some Christmas shopping flares into a nightmare when Laura and Almanzo's 2-year-old daughter Rose is kidnapped by Elsa Norris, an emotionally unstable young woman who is grieving the loss of her baby. Elsa brings the little girl home to her husband, and they care for her as their own. Laura, Almanzo, and Mr. Edwards search frantically for Rose and, along the way, are joined by young Samuel, an orphaned runaway who is searching for a family to call his own. Back in Walnut Grove, with his wife away for the time being, Nels jumps at the opportunity to teach his greedy daughter Nancy some important lessons about the true meaning of the season. Jason Carter will stop at nothing to afford a Christmas present for his mother, and John and Sarah do their best to make the holiday special for their boys, who may not have much to open on Christmas morning this year. Lastly, Mr. Montague--who is initially disgusted by the commercialism of Christmas--comes through for his friends when they need it most.

Times are Changing

Charles shares one final moment with his daughter in their beloved home as they are forced to sell their house and leave Walnut Grove with the hopes of finding a more promising life.

Posted: 11/10/05
Views: N/A
Comments: N/A

Welcome to the TV.com Blog for Little House on the Prairie! by SYS 02/27/2007 3:02pm

Kevin Hagen dies at 77
The man who played Doctor Hiram Baker on Little House on the Prairie has died of cancer.
- 07/12/05 5:00 PM
- 15 comments \ add yours

Karen GrassleCaroline Ingalls (1974-1982)
Patrick LabyorteauxAndrew Garvey (1977-1981)
Hersha ParadyAlice Garvey (1977-1980)
Linwood BoomerAdam Kendall (1978-1981)
Kevin HagenDr. Hiram Baker

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lhotpdisney
member since: Oct 2, 2008
The Bottom Line: "Personal favorite"
The best show ever! ...Continue »
10/05/08 03:36pm | report abuse
9.9
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plumcreek78
member since: Aug 5, 2008
The Bottom Line: "Absolutely fabulous"
I have never found a show like this one! I have the DVD set and watch them all the time :) ...Continue »
08/04/08 01:05pm | report abuse
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DarkNinja1994
member since: Mar 7, 2007
The Bottom Line: "Off the wall"
I have the complete series on DVD... ...Continue »
06/27/08 09:09am | report abuse
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30
ShelBelle
member since: Jun 5, 2008
The Bottom Line: "Personal favorite"
Little House on the Prairie was a TV show that was filled with morals that continue to teach many children great lessons. ...Continue »
06/04/08 10:29pm | report abuse
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DrCook920
member since: Mar 11, 2008
The Bottom Line: "Classic"
The fictionalized tale of the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder as she grows up in the prairie wilds of Minnesota. ...Continue »
04/16/08 11:34am | report abuse