Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[shipmate]

Blizzard in my neck of the woods, too, starting today and all I can think of is sweet Miss Beadle killing kids!

just saw the Laura Ingalls wilder episodes and the absolutely beautiful acting choices of Lucy Lee Flippin. I’m sure James Cromwell has had decades of people going up to him saying “that’ll do pig, that’ll do” but I also wonder how many people have told him off for how Harv Miller led on Eliza Jane!

[debraran]

12 hours ago, shipmate said:

Blizzard in my neck of the woods, too, starting today and all I can think of is sweet Miss Beadle killing kids!

just saw the Laura Ingalls wilder episodes and the absolutely beautiful acting choices of Lucy Lee Flippin. I’m sure James Cromwell has had decades of people going up to him saying “that’ll do pig, that’ll do” but I also wonder how many people have told him off for how Harv Miller led on Eliza Jane!

He played it completely clueless though. I've lived long enough to see that many men if they aren't "into a woman" in any way, like her in that way, they don't see how much she likes them. I've seen a guy tell me a person who adored him was "just a friend" and I was crazy to think she liked him that way.He was very popular for some reason. She did and it was obvious but he thought she was nice, a little on the heavier side of what he liked, so invisible. He was a jerk and it was for the best. Then he said he liked me and thought I was talking to him because I liked him and it was the furthest from the truth. I can't get into his brain but I feel many women are invisible if a guy doesn't like the way they look.

So I see that episode as he knew Eliza liked him and was helping him "like a sister" and he already had his heart and cap on for the other woman and that was his focus. Later Eliza is made to do the same thing to the guy at the conference who sent her flowers and she liked the awful professor. Why would the flowers be from Mort,  she made herself think they were from the professor.

Edited January 5 by debraran

[The Wild Sow]

On 1/4/2025 at 6:40 PM, shipmate said:

Blizzard in my neck of the woods, too, starting today and all I can think of is sweet Miss Beadle killing kids!

I think Ted McGinnis (an adult) was the only actual death in that one, wasn't he?

Since that's my maiden name -- Ted could have been an uncle somewhere along  the line!  I know my great-grandpa James & his family came over sometime  between 1871  (when his youngest brother was born in Scotland) and 1889, when his oldest child, my grandpa Bill, was born in the US.  Have to check family records and see if there's a Ted in there -- I know we have quite a few Henrys!

Blizzards really do come up that fast on the plains.  Read about the Schoolhouse Blizzard of January 12, 1888, for more stories about that.  An unusually warm day, about 60 degrees F at noon, people out and about without their heavy winter clothes -- and the storm just hit like a WALL about 3:30 PM.  Terrifying!

[debraran]

16 hours ago, The Wild Sow said:

I think Ted McGinnis (an adult) was the only actual death in that one, wasn't he?

Since that's my maiden name -- Ted could have been an uncle somewhere along  the line!  I know my great-grandpa James & his family came over sometime  between 1871  (when his youngest brother was born in Scotland) and 1889, when his oldest child, my grandpa Bill, was born in the US.  Have to check family records and see if there's a Ted in there -- I know we have quite a few Henrys!

Blizzards really do come up that fast on the plains.  Read about the Schoolhouse Blizzard of January 12, 1888, for more stories about that.  An unusually warm day, about 60 degrees F at noon, people out and about without their heavy winter clothes -- and the storm just hit like a WALL about 3:30 PM.  Terrifying!

That was horrible ! 400 deaths, 213 kids 50 inches of snow.  NYC had it the worst they say.  Not many photos online but chilling in more than one way 

[crazy8s]

On 1/4/2025 at 6:40 PM, shipmate said:

Blizzard in my neck of the woods, too, starting today and all I can think of is sweet Miss Beadle killing kids!

Miss Beadle got the blame. but at the mercantile McGinnis himself tells Joey's dad that Henry and Joey stopped by after school let out. He seemed to have seen no danger in letting them continue on towards home.

McGinnis would also known his wife was at the Olsen's because he was shooing her out of the shop to keep her from looking at the books. So he knew no one was home.

I always wondered what happened to the Harris girls and little Tommy Spencer Doc brought in and the children Nels and Lars brought in?? Nowhere in sight Christmas day when Edwards appears. Certainly they did not head for home in the middle of the night in a blizzard. Also the other ladies that came to the church to decorate and were shown there later just vanished.

The school house expanded quite a bit so the benches could be moved out and Charles can be shown sleeping off to the side with that heavenly glowing light on his head. Where was that light even coming from with the windows shuttered and the lamps turned very low?

[debraran]

Found this Blade article. Does anyone think her memoir was thrown out when her assisted living apartment was cleaned out? I do think she at least kept a journal. She was an only child, no husband or children or heirs it seems. What a shame if so. Would have been the best book of the bunch and nice income if they asked her too. I also wish I knew where to write her then. ; ) One piece of trivia Alison mentioned was Richard Bull was in the same place with his wife and when he passed, she had lunch with her and said they both lost a wonderful husband.

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/11/27/katherine-macgregor-remembered/

Edited January 8 by debraran

[Blergh]

Thanks for the link,@Debraran!

Interesting that the author claims Miss MacGregor wrote him that she had already finished her autobio (evidently their correspondence took place a few years before she entered the Motion Picture Home) ! I wonder if she might have attempted to shop it around to have it published before she moved from her apartment? Also, I wonder if either AA or Dean Butler [both of whom, by all accounts, stayed in close touch with her to virtually the end] might have seen a manuscript and/or knows its ultimate fate? I'm wondering how many personal affects she was able to  bring with her TO the Home since many assisted living places have very strict guidelines (e.g. a family friend donated quite a few tons of books due to only being allowed FIVE books in her retirement home). Maybe it didn't even make it to the Home. Perhaps we could see about asking AA or Mr. Butler and see if they might respond.

Yes, I heard about Miss MacGregor's joint dinner with Mr. Bull bona fide widow and that was touching. IIRC a few years before his death, the relocated to his hometown of Chicago but evidently this didn't work out and they wound up at the Home in LA. I wonder what might have spurred their return (and why they didn't seek out any Chicago area retirement homes).

Anyway, thanks for the article!

 

[debraran]

6 hours ago, Blergh said:

Thanks for the link,@Debraran!

Interesting that the author claims Miss MacGregor wrote him that she had already finished her autobio (evidently their correspondence took place a few years before she entered the Motion Picture Home) ! I wonder if she might have attempted to shop it around to have it published before she moved from her apartment? Also, I wonder if either AA or Dean Butler [both of whom, by all accounts, stayed in close touch with her to virtually the end] might have seen a manuscript and/or knows its ultimate fate? I'm wondering how many personal affects she was able to  bring with her TO the Home since many assisted living places have very strict guidelines (e.g. a family friend donated quite a few tons of books due to only being allowed FIVE books in her retirement home). Maybe it didn't even make it to the Home. Perhaps we could see about asking AA or Mr. Butler and see if they might respond.

Yes, I heard about Miss MacGregor's joint dinner with Mr. Bull bona fide widow and that was touching. IIRC a few years before his death, the relocated to his hometown of Chicago but evidently this didn't work out and they wound up at the Home in LA. I wonder what might have spurred their return (and why they didn't seek out any Chicago area retirement homes).

Anyway, thanks for the article!

 

Yes, I will try to ask either in the future if I can.

Maybe it was cheaper to live there or a discount from being part of the actor's guild. I doubt it was just to be near Katherine. ; )

Edited January 8 by debraran

[Blergh]

11 hours ago, debraran said:

Yes, I will try to ask either in the future if I can.

Maybe it was cheaper to live there or a discount from being part of the actor's guild. I doubt it was just to be near Katherine. ; )

That would make sense that the Bulls might have decided that the Motion Picture Home would have been more feasible due to both of them having had longtime performing careers which would have qualified them for spots- as opposed to hoping to afford a place with their funds in the Chicago area. Still, I imagine they likely had spent in their relocation attempt that they truly couldn't spare.

Funnily enough, MG says she went to visit Mr. Bull in the Home- and virtually the first thing he said was that there was 'no escaping' Miss MacGregor  ( he may not have been entirely joking).

[debraran]

7 hours ago, Blergh said:

That would make sense that the Bulls might have decided that the Motion Picture Home would have been more feasible due to both of them having had longtime performing careers which would have qualified them for spots- as opposed to hoping to afford a place with their funds in the Chicago area. Still, I imagine they likely had spent in their relocation attempt that they truly couldn't spare.

Funnily enough, MG says she went to visit Mr. Bull in the Home- and virtually the first thing he said was that there was 'no escaping' Miss MacGregor  ( he may not have been entirely joking).

Oh what I would give for a later interview with them. Can you imagine Katherine not in some way, running the place lol  I know she lived to read a couple of memoirs and probably had her opinion for sure.....well, it is what it is. Being alone isn't a crime but it does make things after death different. I very much hope I get an opportunity to ask Alison one day. She's worried about fires in CA now and that is very disturbing. I hope things get better soon.

The booklet I bought years ago had very long interviews with them before they died and I think the last interviews. The French writer that travels with Alison did it. I remember Richard talking about Jonathan and how much he admired him etc and how his mom ignored him. Katherine also was very outspoken. I wish I didn't send it to a super fan now because I'd like to read it again. ; )

This was it.

https://prairiememories.bigcartel.com/product/prairie-memories

[Blergh]

Yes AA has good reason to worry about those fires! I hope she and so many others will be okay with their homes intact.

Oh I sure can imagine Miss MacGregor stirring up the Home in her twilight times even if she was nicer than Harriet.

[jason88cubs]

Where was the Doc living during the episode of blizzard?

[debraran]

8 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Where was the Doc living during the episode of blizzard?

I thought he lived above his office all the time.

[jason88cubs]

16 hours ago, debraran said:

I thought he lived above his office all the time.

since the school was so small I wonder if they had extra room over there for people?

[debraran]

36 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

since the school was so small I wonder if they had extra room over there for people?

His room was above post office   Office on side

 

Edited January 10 by debraran

[Blergh]

16 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

since the school was so small I wonder if they had extra room over there for people?

Do you mean that Doc Baker's upstairs living area somehow was supposed to shelter all those one-shot besties,citizens,etc.? Perhaps they may have been living in Hansen's Mill,etc. That would make as much sense as so many other Walnut Grove housing arrangements. LOL

[debraran]

2 hours ago, Blergh said:

Do you mean that Doc Baker's upstairs living area somehow was supposed to shelter all those one-shot besties,citizens,etc.? Perhaps they may have been living in Hansen's Mill,etc. That would make as much sense as so many other Walnut Grove housing arrangements. LOL

I thought of that but they never showed his place with him going to it, unless in Doctor's Lady...he did go home toward this office and then looked for the chain. They show him going into his room with a bed and all the dressers, wash bowl etc  It does seem like they only had 2 hotel rooms above PO. I know he didn't seem to have a kitchen. The restaurant had rooms too though that Nel's showed the developer?  They were nice. I only saw office at mill. But it was LHOP...things change. : ) Certain people like Miss Beadle and Doc don't have to eat.

Edited January 11 by debraran

[tearknee]

"things change"

[Blergh]

On 1/11/2025 at 4:44 AM, tearknee said:

"things change"

I wish 'things change' would include that dinosaur of a show FINALLY taking a leap into the tar pits so we'd never have to hear from it again!

Sorry off topic!

 

OK, here's something somewhat ontopic! Patrick Labyorteaux has now said that Jason Bateman was a bit of a pain to him when they were pre-adult performers via taunting him with the term 'has been'(and the two evidently have NOT become friends as adults). Anyway, since I doubt that the elder Mr. Labyorteaux totally kept his own council about this as a teen re his younger brother, IF he did indeed share his dislike for young  Master Bateman,it would somewhat make Albert's disdain for James (after James 'borrowed' then broke Albert's one shaving razor) seem more believable beyond the mere words in the script.

[tearknee]

 

 

I kind of wonder, which Ingalls would have been good for a "Freaky Friday"-type type swap plot and in which season? 

 

 

Edited January 13 by tearknee

[debraran]

Wow thanks for the heads up for that. I never liked him on LHOP but I wonder what his issue was to be that nasty so young. Sad, but I'm not judging the action Todd and Patrick took one day. : )

In December 2024 on the YouTube channel Working Actors School, Labyorteaux claimed that while enrolled at a school geared towards child actors, his former Little House co-star Jason Bateman would throw garbage at him and bully him.  That would have been a funny story to talk about with Todd if he had made the reunion.

 

Edited January 13 by debraran

[Blergh]

17 hours ago, debraran said:

Wow thanks for the heads up for that. I never liked him on LHOP but I wonder what his issue was to be that nasty so young. Sad, but I'm not judging the action Todd and Patrick took one day. : )

In December 2024 on the YouTube channel Working Actors School, Labyorteaux claimed that while enrolled at a school geared towards child actors, his former Little House co-star Jason Bateman would throw garbage at him and bully him.  That would have been a funny story to talk about with Todd if he had made the reunion.

 

Yeah, back then I thought both the Bateman sibs were pleasant individuals. .

Oh well.

Oddly enough I don't recall Melissa Francis expressing her POV of whether she liked or disliked the performer who played her bro on the show or even what she thought of his performing skills.

[tearknee]

Missy Francis could have actually been great. Just not in a TV show run by Mick Landon, whose PTSD and God knows what else, was never treated. This was a reality which frequently was visible in scripts and elsewhere on-screen.

[mustbeme]

So I'm watching the town goes boom....and so many things about this.....you mean to tell me that all those episodes about paying taxes, selling farms, buying property....not once did anyone notice that they didn't OWN the land they were paying taxes on and buying and selling......it just makes my head hurt.   Upside next up is the pilot then Harvest of Friends.

*It really sucks for the Carters.....they just BOUGHT the little house, so Charles keeps the money and the Carters just have to leave???????

[debraran]

37 minutes ago, mustbeme said:

So I'm watching the town goes boom....and so many things about this.....you mean to tell me that all those episodes about paying taxes, selling farms, buying property....not once did anyone notice that they didn't OWN the land they were paying taxes on and buying and selling......it just makes my head hurt.   Upside next up is the pilot then Harvest of Friends.

*It really sucks for the Carters.....they just BOUGHT the little house, so Charles keeps the money and the Carters just have to leave???????

Luckily, the Carters have a rich father or father-in-law to help them. I have no idea where most of the people are going and maybe they didn’t either.  It wouldn’t take much for whomever owns the land to build new buildings and all the other homes are still standing. Who had to pay taxes and who didn’t and who could just leave a home and who had to sell it and all that , never made any sense throughout the series so I stopped thinking about it because it also gave me a headache. 🤕

[Snow Apple]

I just saw "I remember, I remember" and that episode always make me wonder how Charles afforded the pearl necklace. Maybe he can save up for one but I can't believe he would pay for an entire string. Is it fake? Did he buy on credit? Did he trade work for it like he did for the widow's dishes?

[debraran]

4 hours ago, Snow Apple said:

I just saw "I remember, I remember" and that episode always make me wonder how Charles afforded the pearl necklace. Maybe he can save up for one but I can't believe he would pay for an entire string. Is it fake? Did he buy on credit? Did he trade work for it like he did for the widow's dishes?

I’d go with fake or because we don’t see them again, they were real and she returned them because they were in a hole again 

Edited January 16 by debraran

[debraran]

For anyone interested in Carrie and her thoughts on being on the show, these two articles touched on a little bit. I had already known that she was afraid of Michael Landon, but I didn’t realize that she was annoyed at having to act like a baby all the time. I would’ve been too. I also didn't realize she wanted to write her own memoir and didn't get a publisher. With all the not so great memoirs out there, I'm sure just all the behind the scene pics she had (many on her old website) would have been interesting to fans. They also went into jobs like accounting and computers so they weren't "slow" as kids, but maybe a speech issue at one point. I feel bad they weren't helped more. Or maybe writing for them as babies, made that more apparent.

Lindsay + Sidney Greenbush: What Happened To Carrie from 'Little House'?

One interview said "Interestingly enough, she said the most difficult part of filming is that producers didn't really want Carrie to grow up. They wanted to keep her as young as possible on the NBC show."They wanted her to stay a little girl so they would write things for Carrie that would have been for a much younger child," Sidney explained.

https://jamarattigan.com/2009/07/06/soups-on-sidney-greenbush-in-the-kitchen-interview/

 

https://news.amomama.com/281234-sidney-greenbush-little-house-husbands-t.html

 

Edited Friday at 09:57 AM by debraran

[tearknee]

Happened to Dodie and Buffy as well.

 

Then in the late '80s/early '90s you had Andy Keaton and then Chrissy Seaver (and the toddler blonde twins were much prettier/cuter than the 99c store Little Orphan Annie wannabe).

[tearknee]

On 1/16/2025 at 5:39 AM, debraran said:

Luckily, the Carters have a rich father or father-in-law to help them. I have no idea where most of the people are going and maybe they didn’t either.  It wouldn’t take much for whomever owns the land to build new buildings and all the other homes are still standing. Who had to pay taxes and who didn’t and who could just leave a home and who had to sell it and all that , never made any sense throughout the series so I stopped thinking about it because it also gave me a headache. 🤕

Plus, after blowing it up, how are they all going to sustain themselves until they are set up in a new place (and _that_ won't just be a few days, either)?

[jason88cubs]

2 hours ago, tearknee said:

Plus, after blowing it up, how are they all going to sustain themselves until they are set up in a new place (and _that_ won't just be a few days, either)?

Off to Winoka and cash on a barrel

[Blergh]

1 hour ago, jason88cubs said:

Off to Winoka and cash on a barrel

Maybe they could try their luck in Sleepy Eye. There doesn't seem to have been much that ever happened there- and it was very close to Walnut Grove!

[tearknee]

Carrie: please don't leave me in Burr Oak with these three. I no longer fear Hell!

 

 

[crazy8s]

4 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Off to Winoka and cash on a barrel

It is funny how they all followed Charles like lemmings every time the story line made the Ingalls family bail on Walnut Grove.

Then in the end of whatever disastrous adventure, Charles proclaims "let's go home" and they all return to the exact same place apparently none of them could make a living.

Edited Saturday at 10:59 PM by crazy8s

[debraran]

45 minutes ago, crazy8s said:

It is funny how they all followed Charles like lemmings every time the story line made the Ingalls family bail on Walnut Grove.

Then in the end of whatever disastrous adventure Charles proclaims "let's go home" and they all return to the exact same place apparently none of them could make a living.

When you put it that way.......lol

Or the times he said he was wrong and Caroline was like "I you only asked the woman-folk in the family, we would have told you".  I would have been more like Harriet, "What are you thinking of now??"