Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[BigBingerBro]

I want to think that Miss Beadle had a small house not so close to the school.  She did on occasion be driving a buggy, so she didn't walk to school.  Also, when she was out with the broken leg and Caroline came to visit her, it was a nice parlor that did not appear to be an upper room of anywhere.   Maybe it was a house a bit farther out from where Mrs Whipple lived?

[Mr. Sparkle]

Oooh, Albert's about to punch Miss Plum and that Carter kid! First he's gonna fall on his ass playing baseball. 

Edited January 19, 2021 by Superclam

[CountryGirl]

Jeb needed a good slap.

Miss Plum, I'm meh on.

[K.Hagen]

I will CHERISH every moment I was soo fortunate to spend with my Dad (Kevin Hagen) and the Entire cast of LHOTP! 

 

[jason88cubs]

Watched "The Award" last night. MA came off really bad in that episode lol

 

When she made that snide remark when she commented Nels only paid Mary 50 cents for three works of work and he said "you mean 50 cents a week", the look on her face lol

[jason88cubs]

Did they have anything where they could put a blanket up to seperate the beds downstairs or was it just wide open?

[alexa]

8 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

Did they have anything where they could put a blanket up to seperate the beds downstairs or was it just wide open?

I know the books reference hanging things like that in some of their houses.

[BigBingerBro]

In the books, when Laura had her first teaching post, she had to share a bedroom with a strange couple with only a sheet between them.

[debraran]

I don't like gross practical jokes, never did (which Michael seemed to favor) but this was a funny one he did with Johnny Carson

 

[Blergh]

On 1/19/2021 at 2:52 PM, BigBingerBro said:

I want to think that Miss Beadle had a small house not so close to the school.  She did on occasion be driving a buggy, so she didn't walk to school.  Also, when she was out with the broken leg and Caroline came to visit her, it was a nice parlor that did not appear to be an upper room of anywhere.   Maybe it was a house a bit farther out from where Mrs Whipple lived?

What's even odder is that Miss Beadle, Doc Baker and the Olesons ALL seemed to have ready access to horses, carriages, buggies,wagons,etc. at a moment's notice- yet not only did NONE of their homes/offices have any structures anywhere near that could have resembled barns, but there never was any attempted dialogue to refer to any possible Walnut Grove Livery Stable (and only in Winoka was one in existence).  And yet all these townsfolks had  easy access to horse transportation and  a wide variety of equipment but, if any of them   DID set up their own horsedrawn transport themselves, their clothes and shoes somehow remained completely pristine! 

(Can anyone imagine Mrs. Oleson putting together a horse team,harnesses, reins and a wagon as easily as a 20th century character could have started up a car?) 

[jason88cubs]

"Survival" was on again. Yea I watched it. I freaking love that episode.

 

Cant imagine being in their position no food, having to go out find wood. geez

[Blergh]

On 1/17/2021 at 6:45 AM, debraran said:

Or that after scaring her parents to death with running away and having Pa and Edwards look for her for days, she was going to do it AGAIN with the friend with leukemia! Just hop a train to the ocean and hope we get back without going to detention hall. Sentiment aside, that was a dumb thing to do and Charles ended up helping for Highway to Heaven type of ending but if she did just leave, you know, she'd be okay. Mary would get grounded for a year. ; )

Something else that didn't ring true re that episode (besides William Randolph Hearst appearing at least a generation older than Laura despite being only four years her senior IRL), why was it that none of the four train-hoppers who'd gone all the way from Minnesota thought to take off their shoes when they finally  got to the Pacific Coast ocean?! Even if they hadn't been the least bit curious about feeling the ocean waves or beach sand on their feet, wouldn't they have done so to, at the very least, keep their leather shoes from being ruined by the salt water? It's not as though shoes grew on trees for pioneer folks! 

Oh, and did anyone think of how the dying teen's widowed mother must have felt knowing her only child was  sick and dying out there and having no true idea of his whereabouts beside him trying to make his Pacific Coast pipedream come true?   I don't recall Charles or anyone else sending her word of the teen being OK. Even if he somehow made it back home alive (which never was clear whether he did), did they think the 'he got to see the ocean' instead of spending what time he had left with her have brought her any comfort? Would Charles have liked it had Baby Frederick had been spirited away on a jaunt instead of with him or Caroline during his last days? 

I HATED this episode's priorities! 

[debraran]

10 hours ago, Blergh said:

Something else that didn't ring true re that episode (besides William Randolph Hearst appearing at least a generation older than Laura despite being only four years her senior IRL), why was it that none of the four train-hoppers who'd gone all the way from Minnesota thought to take off their shoes when they finally  got to the Pacific Coast ocean?! Even if they hadn't been the least bit curious about feeling the ocean waves or beach sand on their feet, wouldn't they have done so to, at the very least, keep their leather shoes from being ruined by the salt water? It's not as though shoes grew on trees for pioneer folks! 

Oh, and did anyone think of how the dying teen's widowed mother must have felt knowing her only child was  sick and dying out there and having no true idea of his whereabouts beside him trying to make his Pacific Coast pipedream come true?   I don't recall Charles or anyone else sending her word of the teen being OK. Even if he somehow made it back home alive (which never was clear whether he did), did they think the 'he got to see the ocean' instead of spending what time he had left with her have brought her any comfort? Would Charles have liked it had Baby Frederick had been spirited away on a jaunt instead of with him or Caroline during his last days? 

I HATED this episode's priorities! 

I  forgot she didn't know, what a horrible thing! I can't imagine my anxiety and thoughts and if he died on the way? So many holes. The fact Laura was going to leave a note and take off to places without money (off course breaking the law is ok if you are an Ingall's) and do that again made me forget he did too.

[Blergh]

3 hours ago, debraran said:

I  forgot she didn't know, what a horrible thing! I can't imagine my anxiety and thoughts and if he died on the way? So many holes. The fact Laura was going to leave a note and take off to places without money (off course breaking the law is ok if you are an Ingall's) and do that again made me forget he did too.

Yep! And when Charles caught up to them and got guilted to join them as stowaways,  it was  X number of days until that train reached the Pacific coast, and they didn't seem to send any kind of word re the boy's safety to his distraught mother  that entire time but just kept trying to stay hidden on the freight car until they got caught. MAYBE they thought to ask Mr. Hearst to send her a telegram after they got there (since those were VERY expensive back then- and most folks only would usually send them to announce births, marriages or deaths) but we're given no clue- and, for all we know they didn't say a peep to update her on his whereabouts until his possible return home (IF he made it home). 

[jason88cubs]

Watched Foundrs day today. not a bad episode. Funny seeing Charles try to control his temper at the start, being talked down too

[Zella]

I just watched "Back to School, Parts 1 and 2," and by the end, I kind of wanted to set the whole Ingalls family on fire. Okay, maybe just Pa and Laura but still. 

I know the audience is supposed to think Nellie is just a complete bitch (and she totally is), but I thought Laura was a real bitch herself to sabotage that dish and then expect Nellie to just do her a favor for existing. And for her to keep expecting Nellie not to stab her in the back and to be surprised every single time it happens? 🙄

 

 

[CountryGirl]

Well, Nellie did telegraph to Laura at one point, saying, "Laura, you are naive." Of course, it was meant that Laura was being naive about Miss Wilder not wanting Laura to pass the exam and take her job (which, totally untrue) but I kind of love that Nellie laid it out there so beautifully and dumb ol' Half-Pint fell for it..

Just like she fell for Nellie promising to be good to Bunny or when she fell for Nellie forgiving her for the music box theft and also believed Nellie would want Anna in the secret club for anything other than to make fun of her stammer. 

[Katy M]

31 minutes ago, CountryGirl said:

Well, Nellie did telegraph to Laura at one point, saying, "Laura, you are naive." Of course, it was meant that Laura was being naive about Miss Wilder not wanting Laura to pass the exam and take her job (which, totally untrue) but I kind of love that Nellie laid it out there so beautifully and dumb ol' Half-Pint fell for it..

Just like she fell for Nellie promising to be good to Bunny or when she fell for Nellie forgiving her for the music box theft and also believed Nellie would want Anna in the secret club for anything other than to make fun of her stammer. 

I loved how Mary tried to warn her in The Talking Machine and Laura was all, "no, Nellie's nice now."  If I were Mary, I would have found something really heavy to hit her over the head with and knock some common sense into her.  Although, that is one of my favorite episodes for some reason.

[Zella]

2 hours ago, CountryGirl said:

Well, Nellie did telegraph to Laura at one point, saying, "Laura, you are naive." Of course, it was meant that Laura was being naive about Miss Wilder not wanting Laura to pass the exam and take her job (which, totally untrue) but I kind of love that Nellie laid it out there so beautifully and dumb ol' Half-Pint fell for it..

Just like she fell for Nellie promising to be good to Bunny or when she fell for Nellie forgiving her for the music box theft and also believed Nellie would want Anna in the secret club for anything other than to make fun of her stammer. 

Yes Nellie did make the comment about Laura being naive, and she totally had that smirk on her face she always has when she's baiting Laura, and because Laura is dumb as a bag of hammers, she fell for it hook, line, and sinker. This has been going on for six seasons, and I feel like if she's still that clueless, she has earned all the shit Nellie dumps on her.

This is actually something that really baffles me in general about the town dynamics, the way people continue to include Harriet and Nellie in things and then are shocked that they're awful. I know socially that there are slim pickings around there, but I feel like the whole town enables their bad behavior because they keep crawling back for more. 

[CountryGirl]

Just now, Katy M said:

I loved how Mary tried to warn her in The Talking Machine and Laura was all, "no, Nellie's nice now."  If I were Mary, I would have found something really heavy to hit her over the head with and knock some common sense into her.  Although, that is one of my favorite episodes for some reason.

Oh, yes, another time she fell for Nellie. I'm sure there are more. 

[jird]

13 hours ago, Zella said:

 

I know the audience is supposed to think Nellie is just a complete bitch (and she totally is), but I thought Laura was a real bitch herself to sabotage that dish and then expect Nellie to just do her a favor for existing. And for her to keep expecting Nellie not to stab her in the back and to be surprised every single time it happens? 🙄

 

 

Yes! And this time Laura completely started it, by volunteering to cook dinner for Almanzo as "a favor for a friend." Nellie didn't even ask her to do it. So Laura pulls this mean backstabby trick on Nellie, but then Nellie is SO MEAN when she does the same to Laura immediately afterward.

[Zella]

2 minutes ago, jird said:

Yes! And this time Laura completely started it, by volunteering to cook dinner for Almanzo as "a favor for a friend." Nellie didn't even ask her to do it. So Laura pulls this mean backstabby trick on Nellie, but then Nellie is SO MEAN when she does the same to Laura immediately afterward.

Yes! It was a pretty gross thing to do to anyone, and it really pisses me off that Laura always gets a pass since she's an Ingalls. 

If Laura had just left well enough alone, Nellie would probably have screwed that dinner up on her own. LOL 

[debraran]

16 hours ago, Zella said:

Yes! It was a pretty gross thing to do to anyone, and it really pisses me off that Laura always gets a pass since she's an Ingalls. 

If Laura had just left well enough alone, Nellie would probably have screwed that dinner up on her own. LOL 

Yes and saying "I'm a woman!" when she acts like a little girl and brawling in the street. But yes she is an Ingall's and she can be a brat, stay out at night, go into an old man's house after being told not too, run away more than once, treat her "brother" badly because he's a boy and the son she always feared replacing her. The list goes on. At least she didn't scare the handyman away or think her dad was having an affair with the dish lady and call her a spider. ; )  They did make her naive. One thing to think the best of others, give another chance, another to keep touching the hot stove and expect it to not be hot.

[Blergh]

Yeah, it did get frustrating to see Laura fall for Nellie's traps again and again and again. She seemed even more gullible than the Beaver was to Eddie Haskell (and she didn't have to fake being nice to Nellie just because her elder sib was pals with her nemesis unlike Beaver) . I'm sure   Mrs. Wilder must have spun a few hundred times in her grave if she got wind of  the show depicting this since I don't think she EVER let her guard down re Nellie IRL after that very first burn! 

[jason88cubs]

It was weird how Laura did alot of wrong things as well but Ma and Pa never seemed to have an issue with it. There were times where she was punished but not as much as she should have been

[jird]

46 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

It was weird how Laura did alot of wrong things as well but Ma and Pa never seemed to have an issue with it. There were times where she was punished but not as much as she should have been

Like how Ma got all fired up about the pepper chicken thing, but later in the same season when Laura ripped off Almanzo's date's skirt in front of everyone at the circus, Ma just made the, "Oh, you little silly!" face at her.

[jason88cubs]

i always liked when Nels gave Charles that present for marys wedding day

 

1)It showed how awesome Nels is

2)He basically said Mary was his favorite lol

[Blergh]

6 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

It was weird how Laura did alot of wrong things as well but Ma and Pa never seemed to have an issue with it. There were times where she was punished but not as much as she should have been

Yeah, and right after Ma promised Mrs. Oleson that Laura would be 'appropriately punished' for the Cayenne chicken prank, Laura ran off and didn't come back until after dark, but Ma (and Pa) didn't say or do anything to punish her for either the prank itself or running away without a word of her whereabouts until late at night. Oh, and Ma only encouraged Laura to keep hanging onto her teen crush for Almanzo - after Laura  attacked Nellie in the mud pit and then ran  across who knows how many farms' acres  in broad daylight to their own home wearing only Almanzo's robe and long johns rather than  making any attempt to punish her  daughter for those actions despite wanting to keep her job in Nellie's Hotel and Restaurant! If Ma punished her for ANY of the above, Laura sure kept quiet about it. 

[jason88cubs]

Camping trip is such a great episode. I laugh so much

[debraran]

1 hour ago, Blergh said:

Yeah, and right after Ma promised Mrs. Oleson that Laura would be 'appropriately punished' for the Cayenne chicken prank, Laura ran off and didn't come back until after dark, but Ma (and Pa) didn't say or do anything to punish her for either the prank itself or running away without a word of her whereabouts until late at night. Oh, and Ma only encouraged Laura to keep hanging onto her teen crush for Almanzo - after Laura  attacked Nellie in the mud pit and then ran  across who knows how many farms' acres  in broad daylight to their own home wearing only Almanzo's robe and long johns rather than  making any attempt to punish her  daughter for those actions despite wanting to keep her job in Nellie's Hotel and Restaurant! If Ma punished her for ANY of the above, Laura sure kept quiet about it. 

She always got a "I should do this" but that's it. When she pulled the run away thing, I think I would have nailed her dress to the chair aka Mr Edward's tip. ; ) She also with her sister Mary (begrudgingly for Mary) sold those dumb potions to neighbors and got away with that in a sense. No neighbors called her on it and but if I remember they came close. She didn't realize you don't use others money at your whim? I forgot how she got the package but it had to be a secret or her parents would wonder where it came from

[Blergh]

2 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Camping trip is such a great episode. I laugh so much

Especially considering how the Ingalls Family had just BEEN 'camping' for months before they built their Little House- one would think they'd have had their fill of 'the great outdoors' so up and close (the same way many Colonists wouldn't so much as look at the ocean again after having survived perilous Atlantic sea voyages to reach the New World). 

Of course, it's funny to watch in retrospect thinking of how much fun Miss Arngrim and Miss Gilbert had through this shared, risky adventure as pals despite playing characters who loathed each other! 

[Zella]

11 hours ago, jird said:

Like how Ma got all fired up about the pepper chicken thing, but later in the same season when Laura ripped off Almanzo's date's skirt in front of everyone at the circus, Ma just made the, "Oh, you little silly!" face at her.

I just watched the circus episode, and I was absolutely appalled at Laura's actions and Ma's reaction. Basically, by the standards of the day, Laura caused her rival to run naked in front of everyone in town, and it's supposed to be funny?

The vibe I get from the show is that there is nothing worse in the world than being snooty, so it is acceptable to violently assault or publicly humiliate anyone who is snooty. And I'm not going to say that I'm not above enjoying someone being knocked off their high horse when they need it, but I don't think Laura's responses are ever proportional to the offense. And I also don't think the show's stance would be that someone treating Laura the way she treats perceived rivals is okay. 

[jird]

15 hours ago, Zella said:

And I also don't think the show's stance would be that someone treating Laura the way she treats perceived rivals is okay. 

Yes! I mean, the time that she and Albert knowingly let Harriet and Nellie drive away (in a horse-drawn wagon, no less), with a tree trunk full of angry bees? That could have killed someone, and it would have been absolutely unforgivable if it had been done to an Ingalls, instead of by the Ingalls.

[jird]

Does it make me a terrible human being that during the Plague episode, I can't help giggling when they play the mournful version of Ol' Dan Tucker to make clear we understand Mr. Edwards done got the typhus?

[debraran]

3 hours ago, jird said:

Yes! I mean, the time that she and Albert knowingly let Harriet and Nellie drive away (in a horse-drawn wagon, no less), with a tree trunk full of angry bees? That could have killed someone, and it would have been absolutely unforgivable if it had been done to an Ingalls, instead of by the Ingalls.

That wasn't funny at all and if allergic could have been worse. How can anyone cackle at bees swarming at someone? Nel's would have paid him later but they always had Albert as the "wise street kid" who could get things done. Even when he changed the prices at the store to 100% off etc. I thought, that hurt Nel's too,not Harriet. The disparaging comments about her, fine, but not money that isn't just hers.

Edited January 29, 2021 by debraran

[alexa]

I guess I am less bothered about some of the behaviors described above.  I always thought the point was that there was a little give and take with Laura’s punishments, knowing that Harriet and Nellie were usually causing issues for everyone else.  I just think having a little humor and some lighter punishment helped balance it out.  Otherwise it would seem like the Olesons always won, and occasionally the little guy needs a win too.  Because we know that Nellie was rarely punished for anything.  I think it was in character for Ma and Pa in the TV version to allow for occasional mishaps.  Also even in the books although they were very serious, Pa wasn’t very strict about some things and was open to both sides of the story.  

[Zella]

21 minutes ago, alexa said:

I guess I am less bothered about some of the behaviors described above.  I always thought the point was that there was a little give and take with Laura’s punishments, knowing that Harriet and Nellie were usually causing issues for everyone else.  I just think having a little humor and some lighter punishment helped balance it out.  Otherwise it would seem like the Olesons always won, and occasionally the little guy needs a win too.  Because we know that Nellie was rarely punished for anything.  I think it was in character for Ma and Pa in the TV version to allow for occasional mishaps.  Also even in the books although they were very serious, Pa wasn’t very strict about some things and was open to both sides of the story.  

I feel like the earlier episodes did a better job of knocking Harriet and Nellie down a peg without Laura coming across like a psycho bitch herself. 

[jason88cubs]

When  I was younger I always watch the episodes out of order so when I would see ALmonzo call Laura "Beth" all the time I would get so confused until I saw Back To School

 

 

 

[BigBingerBro]

1 hour ago, jason88cubs said:

When  I was younger I always watch the episodes out of order so when I would see ALmonzo call Laura "Beth" all the time I would get so confused until I saw Back To School

 

 

 

I hate that he called her "Beth" only because in the books, it was "Bess" or "Mama Bess".  I wish they would have followed the true story.

[Zella]

The reasoning given in the books for the nickname--that he had a sister named Laura--also made sense to me. I was waiting for the show to mention it, but unless I missed something, it was just that she had nicknamed him, so he'd nickname her. 

I meant to post this last night, but I watched "The Return of Mr. Edwards" last night and was shocked that he was wearing a different shirt from the usual. I was thinking, wow, Grace finally housebroke him and burned the nasty plaid shirt. But by the end, he was back in that same red plaid. 🤣

Edited January 30, 2021 by Zella

[Cara]

On 1/19/2021 at 11:02 PM, K.Hagen said:

I will CHERISH every moment I was soo fortunate to spend with my Dad (Kevin Hagen) and the Entire cast of LHOTP! 

 

Did you visit the set often? What are some of your favorite memories?

[Cara]

I recently read Charlotte Stewart’s autobiography. She’s had an interesting life. She hooked up with about 1/2 of Hollywood in the 60’s and ‘70’s. 😂 Including Mr Edwards and John Walton.. ah...I mean Victor French and Ralph Waite!😉

Has anyone else read it?

[Zella]

34 minutes ago, Cara said:

I recently read Charlotte Stewart’s autobiography. She’s had an interesting life. She hooked up with about 1/2 of Hollywood in the 60’s and ‘70’s. 😂 Including Mr Edwards and John Walton.. ah...I mean Victor French and Ralph Waite!😉

Has anyone else read it?

I had no idea. This sent me down a google rabbithole. She was also friends with benefits with Jim Morrison. That's an interesting combination of men. 

Edited January 31, 2021 by Zella

[jason88cubs]

6 hours ago, Cara said:

I recently read Charlotte Stewart’s autobiography. She’s had an interesting life. She hooked up with about 1/2 of Hollywood in the 60’s and ‘70’s. 😂 Including Mr Edwards and John Walton.. ah...I mean Victor French and Ralph Waite!😉

Has anyone else read it?

she was also in Tremors!

[Blergh]

I read Miss Stewart's autobio and not only had no idea when watching LHOTP that she could have been anything but a prim and proper person offscreen but also had had no idea of substance issues she or Michael Landon had despite their characters being adamant teetotalers. Let's also not forget that her first husband was none other than Tim Considine ( Eldest Son Mike on My Three Sons) and she even was billed as 'Charlotte Considine' during their marriage but would revert to her original surname for her billing after the split- and has maintained that through three subsequent marriages. Still, I like how she's learned to embrace sobriety AND how much her character has meant to so many for decades.  Too bad that shehas been the only adult regular cast member who's written of their experiences on the show so far and most of the adult regulars have died.

[debraran]

This was the closest to a "book" but was really 4 interviews. I really enjoyed the ones with Richard Bull and Katherine and the emphasis put on their acting and even Jon Gilbert. They both said nice things but Richard Bull to my recollection said he was very smart and a good actor and felt sorry for how he was shut out of his family (Melissa was the star) I also found it odd in all the years the show was on, not one interview with Jon, not even a short one for a TV Guide or something. He had a pretty big part and I can't see Michael not wanting him too. I always wondered why being Melissa's brother he was almost invisible to the press for so long.

I gave this book/magazine to a fan years ago during my decluttering phase of a new year but sometimes wish I could read the interviews again. Patrick was respectful but did probe a bit more than some fluffy interviews.

I think a lot of the cast didn't want to talk about things that were not as nice and good things were already known. Unless you did a lot more acting or became someone famous in another way, it probably wouldn't be enough. All 3 women who came out with books did it pretty close together, Melissa Sue, then Melissa G and then Allison. Each one was better in the sense they added more but I didn't like the picking on Melissa Sue for some drama when she was respectful of them. Kind of Jr High like but I did find Alison's funny.

http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2014/08/prairie-memories-by-patrick-loubatiere.html

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1394745337580572&set=pb.100011353564247.-2207520000..&type=3

https://victorfrench.bigcartel.com/product/tribute

Edited February 1, 2021 by debraran

[Mr. Sparkle]

Wow, today I learned Mrs. Garvey's first husband Harold is also Thylvia's father! The actor really has a beat-up character look about him. 

[Zella]

12 minutes ago, Superclam said:

Wow, today I learned Mrs. Garvey's first husband Harold is also Thylvia's father! The actor really has a beat-up character look about him. 

Oh wow. I just watched the Harold episode last night. I've not watched Sylvia yet, but I know what happens. I'm not looking forward to that episode. 

Edited to add: Oh hell I just realized it's a two-parter. 😬

Edited February 1, 2021 by Zella

[Mr. Sparkle]

5 minutes ago, Zella said:

Oh wow. I just watched the Harold episode last night. I've not watched Sylvia yet, but I know what happens. I'm not looking forward to that episode. 

In the realm of f-d up Little House episodes, it sits on the throne. 

The Harold episode is pretty good. It's starts off as a doofy Mrs. Oleson gets a telephone and eavesdrops, and then gets fairly dramatic. The Harold/Garvey plot is much more compelling. 

[Zella]

3 minutes ago, Superclam said:

 

The Harold episode is pretty good. It's starts off as a doofy Mrs. Oleson gets a telephone and eavesdrops, and then gets fairly dramatic. The Harold/Garvey plot is much more compelling. 

Yeah, I thought it was pretty good. I was pretty frustrated with the earlier season 6 episodes, but there have been some good ones at this mid-point.

I still have no idea why anyone in that town continues to do business with Harriet--honestly, if I'd found out she was the one running the switchboard, I would have had any wires tore out of my house--but I liked the way the episode handled Alice's first marriage. I thought it was going to go in a very different direction (some sort of bizarre excuse for why she was a virgin when she married Jonathan despite having been married before), and I was glad it didn't.