Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[debraran]

My son is a school psychologist and you can't in reality say that word before a certain age but you can say a child has tendencies to be a sociopath. Nancy tried to kill a human and would have had fake tears about that. She was scary. Nels did say she killed a rabbit by neglect.  It's scary for my son who has to teach them to get by in life, which in a sense is teaching them to fool other people because we can't lock them up at 10.

It was just a show but to make a family show so dark, I don't get it. It was much worse than the rape which he did for ratings too.

Common signs of sociopathic traits in children include consistent:

Lack of remorse

Impulsivity

Manipulating others

Violence or aggression

Frequent lying

Cruelty toward animals

lack guilt, or not learn from their mistakes

blame others for problems in their lives

Stealing

Edited June 17, 2023 by debraran

[BusterHymen]

On 6/17/2023 at 6:55 AM, debraran said:

Yes, to say I blew up the town because ratings kept falling was a big "duh" . Of course they did. The bright idea of a orangutan in Walnut Grove, a sociopath, the Carter's squeezing into the Ingall's home with all their stuff wasn't a pull for fans? You pulled your family to work in the "big, bad city" and the only way the fans saw a glimpse of the old show, was Albert puking for an hour and then better, but at least you got to see them home.

So many things he didn't want, Alison was written off and given a bad wig, (really bad) and he could have done something with her and Percival and Willie. Willie and Rachel could have moved into the LHOP cabin, that would have been sweet, he gets the WHOLE house. ; ) Mike just didn't want to do it anymore and from the acting, neither did the ones left. He had a good core but let the stories get stale and dry and brought in way to many kids and extras thinking they would help. They don't, the fans liked the Ingall's and he mistakenly thought any cute kid will do. He reused scripts, how many bad newspapers can we have? (I realize the tabloids killed him, but that was a consequence of his behavior being a star)

We will always have the first 5 seasons but I really hate how he ended it. Maybe just having it end with them moving and leaving the cabin empty for visits or having doc or someone there buy it, would have been better. He hated movies done later about the show but still would have left it open. He could have taken down the set if he didn't want anyone using it. So silly.

Yup, kind of ironic really...seems like the show, producers, Michael Landon, etc. were always anxious to kill and get rid off characters, but yet Charles Ingalls never met an orphan he didn't like! 

[Blergh]

On 6/18/2023 at 10:28 PM, BusterHymen said:

Yup, kind of ironic really...seems like the show, producers, Michael Landon, etc. were always anxious to kill and get rid off characters, but yet Charles Ingalls never met an orphan he didn't like! 

Are you sure about that? Why would he have had them live in that sardine-can crackerbox that was already packed with his own progeny if he had liked them- especially since it didn't even to have a chamber pot on the premises?

I wouldn't be surprised if Albert didn't wish he'd stuck to shining shoes and stealing coins on the Winoka streets nor that James and Cassandra may have wished they'd just taken their chances with the strict Amish [?] couple and their framing son instead of winding up  in such cramped quarters - both in Walnut Grove and on those mean Burr Oak, Iowa big city streets!

Edited June 23, 2023 by Blergh

[BusterHymen]

13 hours ago, Blergh said:

Are you sure about that? Why would he have had them live in that sardine-can crackerbox that was already packed with his own progeny if he had liked them- especially since it didn't even to have a chamber pot on the premises?

I wouldn't be surprised if Albert didn't wish he'd stick to shining shoes and stealing coins on the Winoka streets nor that James and Cassandra may have wished they'd just taken their chances with the strict Amish [?] couple and their framing son instead of winding up  in such cramped quarters - both in Walnut Grove and on those mean Burr Oak, Iowa big city streets!

No doubt about it, Blergh....Common sense (which ain't so common with LHOTP) would tell us that Charles Ingalls should have been more fiscally and socially responsible when taking in orphaned children! Which leads me to another point...we all know the narrative of the poor farmers of Walnut Grove, right? but especially with the Ingalls family...One has to wonder if Charles had any vices like gambling, drinking, piss poor investments, soliciting prostitutes, etc. that we the audience weren't aware of??!! How is it someone like him who was multi-talented and very hardworking (farmer, craftsman, carpenter, insert whatever) but yet never had a dime to his name or two pennies to rub together??!! LOL!

[Zella]

He was unlucky, guys! The weather and Harriet were always out to get him and destroy his crops and deny him cash on the barrel! 

[Zella]

On a more serious note, I know the show was never going to show Charles with tons of flaws, but I do think that the real Charles's financial insecurity was often the product of his own bad decisions, specifically his perpetual urge to move. I know a lot of people who are like that in real life. They can be very talented and bright and quite likable, but they're constantly dissatisfied and moving and quitting jobs. And it's always for the most petty reasons. Sometimes bad luck just happens, but if your response to any hardship is just to quit and move, you don't leave your problems behind. They just follow you. 

And all this is not to say that a fresh start isn't the right call sometimes or that a strategic realization your energy would best be used elsewhere isn't the right one either sometimes or that some people really do just seem to have bad luck even when their decisions are solid. But when it's your default to throw your hands up and escape anytime you encounter issues, that's not a great way to adult, and it's not surprising when that person has a shaky financial situation as a result.  

Edited June 20, 2023 by Zella

[Mr. Sparkle]

25 minutes ago, Zella said:

He was unlucky, guys! The weather and Harriet were always out to get him and destroy his crops and deny him cash on the barrel! 

Plus the quite baffling number of fractured ribs. 

[debraran]

I always wondered since they killed or grew their food mostly and didn't have electricity or gas to worry about, didn't buy his kids toys really or books, why he had to be shown always without any money in the bank or jar on the counter. Edwards and Garvey worked with him and did okay with a larger home (Garvey) and child and wife. He worked at the mill and sold crops and did odd jobs for things. When Mary got sick, he went to work, always dangerous work and made money but just a train or buggy ride was a big thing. He gave his bonus which was nice to the guys family who got blown up, but he still made a lot more than at the mill that season. I guess it varied show to show but I never felt others suffered the same way....especially the way most ate at Nellies, lol. I don't eat out that much. ; )

Even all the work and sweat and gossip he did for that varnish/woodwork for Mariette Hartley, (maybe worth it) those dumb dishes, a really nice thing, were never shown again, because the "poor" Ingall's couldn't have something that wasn't tin or mismatched even when you worked hard for it. (sorry, I put that to bed a long time ago, but it always bothered me, I don't know why)😛

[Blergh]

Maybe Mariette Hartley's dishes got sold off to pay off some of the Ingallses' debts including all the stuff they bought when pinning everything on a kook uncle's inheritance.

Edited June 22, 2023 by Blergh

[jird]

21 hours ago, Blergh said:

Maybe Mariette Hartley's dishes got sold off to pay off some of the Ingallses' debts including all the stuff they bought when pinning everything on a kook uncle's inheritance.

Thedishes (that Laura said they used every day) might be in the dungeon outside of town with all the characters that were their best friends for one episode.

[debraran]

i'm off today and saw a later LHOP (when Willie fails a test for college) I love how Jon finally got something meaty in his acting on the show and was so proud of how he told his mother what he was going to do. Nel's talk with him was very sweet too and although he went to college, it wasn't needed for Willie to have a living. Of course Harriet was thinking he'd meet a woman of "breeding" and she'd have rich inlaws and everything would be wonderful but of course, he probably would live in another town (what could he do in Walnut Grove?) she'd hardly ever see 2 sets of grandkids or children and of course this was before they knew St Mike would blow up the town. lol

Jon has the most beautful blue eyes, and turned out quite handsome back then. I wonder why no one ever interviewed or asked the actress who played Rachel what she thought of him or if he ever kept in touch. He did with some of the cast or had "friends of friends".

This was one of the last episodes I liked and glad it was on and not so many of the others. Not many without Laura etc in it mostly.

Edited June 28, 2023 by debraran

[Snow Apple]

That was one of the few episodes I like in the later seasons.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Hallmark Channel is showing a marathon today and tomorrow. Most of seasons 3 & 4. There goes my chance of getting anything done this weekend! 

[Mr. Sparkle]

The end of "Carrie Fall in the Well" always gets me in the feels! 

[Blergh]

On 6/28/2023 at 8:43 AM, debraran said:

i'm off today and saw a later LHOP (when Willie fails a test for college) I love how Jon finally got something meaty in his acting on the show and was so proud of how he told his mother what he was going to do. Nel's talk with him was very sweet too and although he went to college, it wasn't needed for Willie to have a living. Of course Harriet was thinking he'd meet a woman of "breeding" and she'd have rich inlaws and everything would be wonderful but of course, he probably would live in another town (what could he do in Walnut Grove?) she'd hardly ever see 2 sets of grandkids or children and of course this was before they knew St Mike would blow up the town. lol

Jon has the most beautful blue eyes, and turned out quite handsome back then. I wonder why no one ever interviewed or asked the actress who played Rachel what she thought of him or if he ever kept in touch. He did with some of the cast or had "friends of friends".

This was one of the last episodes I liked and glad it was on and not so many of the others. Not many without Laura etc in it mostly.

Mr. Gilbert definitely had better acting chops by the end than he was given credit for. I suppose either he himself decided and/or was told that there could only be ONE Gilbert sib in 'the biz' and bowed out of acting as soon as the LHOTP run was done shortly before he parted ways with/ was thrown out of the Gilbert family.

Regardless, I  agree with you that none of his adult or fellow minor performers seemed to attempt to keep in contact with him after . .the parting of ways- to say nothing of ML himself.

Does anyone know if Mr. Gilbert attended ML's funeral a few years later ? None of the accounts of it within the bios mention his presence. ..or absence!

I don't pretend to offer any proof but I think it's possible that since he was adopted that he may have found out his original birth name. .and possibly have been using THAT as his legal name to maintain his low profile all these decades.

Edited July 2, 2023 by Blergh

[debraran]

9 hours ago, Blergh said:

Mr. Gilbert definitely had better acting chops by the end than he was given credit for. I suppose either he himself decided and/or was told that there could only be ONE Gilbert sib in 'the biz' and bowed out of acting as soon as the LHOTP run was done shortly before he parted ways with/ was thrown out of the Gilbert family.

Regardless, I  agree with you that none of his adult or fellow minor performers seemed to attempt to keep in contact with him after . .the parting of ways- to say nothing of ML himself.

Does anyone know if Mr. Gilbert attended ML's funeral a few years later ? None of the accounts of it within the bios mention his presence. ..or absence!

I don't pretend to offer any proof but I think it's possible that since he was adopted that he may have found out his original birth name. .and possibly have been using THAT as his legal name to maintain his low profile all these decades.

I don't think he did or it would have been talked about, sent somerthing, IDK? I know "Nels" spoke well of him, said he was the smartest kid on the set, very well mannered and ignored by his mom, Melissa was the star. From an interview "  Richard Bull said he was very close to Jonathan and his wedding on the show was emotional to him, seeing him grow up in many ways...also made mention of how smart he was, "terribly bright". Katherine said, "Darling boy, started at 6, ended at 15, finished high school, took 9 years of money and took off. He never thought of himself as an actor, MG got all the attention. She went on he was a normal boy, played with the kids, did as he was told and he made Willie his own.

Alison commented on his intelligence (too bad if he didn't go to college)and thought he was brighter than anyone on the set. Then she said, I adored him, foster mom ignored him (how sad)She felt that was one of the reasons he left. 

I had a thousand things go through my mind years ago, abuse of some kind had him bolt, mental illness, arrest, found his bio parents, things only inner circle know but it's sad he spent his childhood and teens with a family, and no one is close enough to be in touch. Sara, Melissa, his parents obviously not, but it was a big secret it seems. Melissa would just admit she saw him twice I think since he left and had the police look for him initially. They make up things about him which is insulting. I don't blame the Internet, tabloids and "Where are they now?" will lie to fill in blanks, but people closer to him? No. It's wrong to joke about plays, wall street, being a monk. Just say you don't know.  A guy told me no pics online are of him or any bio info true, he knew someone on the set. I can see that but it's funny how the internet makes it so.

Melissa Sue knew someone who knew him, one the "Carrie twins" for a bit, Richard Bull but then he dropped off. I wondered about Katherine, but she didn't like to interview much. I just hope he is well and taking care of himself. Believe me with all the things they have today to trace someone, even SS numbers, I can't imagine unless he left the country, they couldn't find him but at this point, doesn't seem like anyone does or they know things and leave it be.

Edited July 2, 2023 by debraran

[Lisa418722]

While I admit I'm curious as to what happened behind the scenes (but I also admit it's none of our business) I just hope Jonathan is living his best life, and he is happy being away from being known as Melissa's brother and he's finally his own person.  

[debraran]

I'm off today and saw beginning of The Racoon. Not a fav but I forgot about the doll. Now I had misgivings about a prairie girl not knowing what poison ivy was when Laura thought she had a bad disease, in another episode but what prairie girl puts a china doll on a branch precariously balancing and then plays ball 2 feet away? I think on the ground, she'd be safer. I realize plot device but have it fall out of bed or something, it just seemed silly. Laura was never that attached to dolls on the TV show either.

The other thing was the cheapest doll head was 59 cents and Pa said no, the winter money is never enough....of course. But don't they get more than that for selling eggs at times or doing chores. Nothing they can do for 50cents? Well 40, Mary had 11 cents. ; ) Working for Nel's Mary got over a 1.00 once to pay for book.  I know again, it's a plot device but the heavy emphasis on Laura loving a doll and not having 50 cents over some time, was kind of sad. They never had any money I guess. How did they afford the whole doll I wonder? I realize it's frivolous and I would make sure she knew how to take care of it in future but just another time of "we never have any money". I really think they didn't budget all the crop/mill money well. ; ) And of course the things Jasper broke probably added up the same. Food on floor, broken bowls, etc.

I also think my dislike of raccoons, always being a little afraid of them, entered into my dislike and they are wild, not pets really.  It was enough to see the beginning and miss the rabies and angst at the end.
 

 

Edited July 4, 2023 by debraran

[kathyk24]

On 6/17/2023 at 10:12 AM, Egg McMuffin said:

Every show has a natural lifespan. The great thing about early LHOTP is the cast of characters had a little something for the entire family: you had the relationship between Charles and Caroline  and Charles and Isaiah for the adults; Laura, Mary, Nellie, and Willie for the kids; comic relief in the form of Nels and Harriet; and sturdy support from Doc Baker, Rev Alden, and Miss Beadle. The whole thing felt organic. And the cast had great chemistry.

Later on, when cast members grew up and/or left, they started bringing in all those clones. It started with Jon and Alice Garvey, a big step down from the Edwards clan. But it soon got worse with Nancy, Cassandra, Miss Plum, Jenny, the Carters, etc. It didn’t feel organic at all; they just plugged similar characters into the holes left by others and hoped the chemistry would be the same. It wasn’t.

Landon really amped up the melodrama in these later years, too. Early LHOTP had its share, but because it was used relatively sparingly, and it was more impactful. Later, the tragedies were just constant: Albert burning down the blind school and killing Mary’s baby and Alice Garvey; Sylvia getting raped and climbing up a Ladder of Doom; James getting shot and Charles willing a miracle; Jenny almost drowning (twice, I think); Almanzo suffering a stroke; a tornado destroying the house; Rose getting kidnapped; etc. The more tragedies that happened, the less impactful they were. It was kind of like the later years of “Melrose Place,” where they kept trying to top the genuinely fun twist of Kimberly coming back from the dead. They were never able to.

The characters from the early years of Little House were actually in Laura's books. Once the show added Albert that changed. Most of the things that happened on the show never happened to the Ingalls family. Almanzo did suffer a stroke making it difficult for the Wilders to succeed. 

[debraran]

16 hours ago, kathyk24 said:

The characters from the early years of Little House were actually in Laura's books. Once the show added Albert that changed. Most of the things that happened on the show never happened to the Ingalls family. Almanzo did suffer a stroke making it difficult for the Wilders to succeed. 

That's true but Mike wanted something different than the wholesome show he said people wanted later. The stroke was real and losing baby Charles but that's about it. Having Mary marry when both blind and lose 2 babies, one tragically. Fires, how many attempted suicides by adults and children, John Jr had to die, Mrs Garvey, he didn't want Alison to stay but brought in a crazy child to replace her. I know not all the fans loved Albrert, but some for sure, but then he does James and Cassandra?  He was desperate but he never saw the ratings dropped because he messed with the formula. Walton's had dark shows but the core stayed the same.

Melissa Sue saw it, I think in part that is why she wanted to leave. They would never be happy, just one tragedy after another.  Hard times doesn't always have to be death and rape

I love the struggles in the beginning, the shows just about school or a friend or neighbor or illness but then things got a bit too crazy. But I'll always smile watching them get their stockings in the movie and their peppermint sticks and Charles being the richest man in Walnut Grove in one way even if after 20 years, they never got it in money. I just wish he ended it earlier and had different plots but it's easier to see it later.

Edited July 5, 2023 by debraran

[Blergh]

Yeah, it got bogus how, the instant Laura lost those pigtails, she suddenly became a Gibson Girl fashion plate despite having no means to have purchased that wardrobe much less taken any time in sewing it. I can't think of a single time Laura was shown so much as holding a skein of yarn for her Ma- much less actually sewing anything even in the earliest episodes. Yet, she's supposed to go through the plights of being a struggling teaching student, a storm-ravaged farm wife, etc. but never looks less than runway-ready!

Edited July 7, 2023 by Blergh

[debraran]

6 hours ago, Blergh said:

Yeah, it got bogus how, the instant Laura lost those pigtails, she suddenly became a Gibson Girl fashion plate despite having no means to have purchased that wardrobe much less taken any time in sewing it. I can't think of a single time Laura was shown so much as holding a skein of yarn for her Ma- much less actually sewing anything even in the earliest episodes. Yet, she's supposed to go through the plights of being a struggling teaching student, a storm-ravaged farm wife, etc. but never looks less than runway-ready!

Yes, she never seemed as "motherly" but I think that was true and didn't seem at least on the show, to want to cook etc. Nothing wrong with wanting to work but she always had more than her Ma with clothes, home, etc.

Of course, her Ma kept getting children dropped off and did the best she could. : )

[Blergh]

1 hour ago, debraran said:

Yes, she never seemed as "motherly" but I think that was true and didn't seem at least on the show, to want to cook etc. Nothing wrong with wanting to work but she always had more than her Ma with clothes, home, etc.

Of course, her Ma kept getting children dropped off and did the best she could. : )

It also didn't help that Miss Gilbert didn't believably convey that Laura was doing any true work-either for pay or as a homemaker (not even when she carried the buckets for the apple orchard). I mean one time she brought out a pitcher of (evidently) fresh lemonade-complete with floating ice cubes and topped with lemon slices but I just couldn't imagine Miss Gilbert having squeezed the needed lemons much less successfully chopping little cubes from a block of ice from an ice house! At least Miss Grassle was a believable pioneer working mother!

[Snow Apple]

I think Melissa G was just too young and not that skilled an actor to pull off being Laura as a grown woman instead of just acting out the antics of a child. She comes off as harsh when she meant authoritative, like she can't act out more than one emotion at once. 

Karen Grassle was amazing when she needed to act tough but her love and compassion still came through. She should have won an Emmy for that infected leg episode. I still watch it on the edge of my seat, her fear was so real.

Edited July 8, 2023 by Snow Apple

[Zella]

2 hours ago, Snow Apple said:

I think Melissa G was just too young and not that skilled an actor to pull off being Laura as a grown woman instead of just acting out the antics of a child. She comes off as harsh when she meant authoritative, like she can't act out more than one emotion at once. 

Yes I agree. In general, I think she was a better performer as a child. She could do spirited in the early seasons really well. As an adult, she was often quite shrill and I don't think that was what she was aiming for. 

[debraran]

13 hours ago, Snow Apple said:

I think Melissa G was just too young and not that skilled an actor to pull off being Laura as a grown woman instead of just acting out the antics of a child. She comes off as harsh when she meant authoritative, like she can't act out more than one emotion at once. 

Karen Grassle was amazing when she needed to act tough but her love and compassion still came through. She should have won an Emmy for that infected leg episode. I still watch it on the edge of my seat, her fear was so real.

I agree, Karen wasn't appreciated enough with money or time online. She begged for episodes to show her talent and got a few. She was far above "do you want coffee?" She also loved The Handyman because it showed her femininity and not just "mother" role and how someone else would see her. I didn't like how it ended but I did like seeing her "being seen" and although she'd never cheat on the man she loved, just be visibly appreciated. I also loved how Chris saw Carrie and had scenes with her and even made her a toy, things I never saw with Charles and family.

I thought she was good as school teacher too but not as big a stretch as other roles.

I felt bad for her when I read Mike kept her from making a movie when she could have without much time. She did get to do one but with so few scenes some shows or none at all, they could be filmed early. She had stand in for distant shots.  Boy in the Plastic Bubble was movie. She said

“The Boy in the Plastic Bubble would take me away from the Little House shooting schedule for just one day,” Grassle recalled. “Mike refused. He ‘needed me’ in Sonora, he said. I sat on a picnic blanket in a distant shot that Ruthie could have easily done in my place.”The former Little House star went on to reveal she was “furious, knowing I didn’t need to be there and knowing there was nothing I could do about it.”

I also agree, Melissa couldn't stretch that much and my dislike of her was in part because of the roughness and harshness. She was excellent as a little kid.

I think Melissa Sue deserved the Emmy nod for her blindness episodes (maybe some jealousy on set?) I know some make fun of her but I thought she did a fabulous job showing how it would feel, the claustrophobia, the fear, depression, anger, etc.

Edited July 9, 2023 by debraran

[BusterHymen]

Come to think of it, Sydney and Lindsay Greenbush twins had the best job in the world. all they had to do was basically remember one line for the majority of their episodes..." I gotta pee!" Even for child actors, it's good work if you can get it!

 

Edited July 10, 2023 by BusterHymen

[Blergh]

11 hours ago, BusterHymen said:

Come to think of it, Sydney and Lindsay Greenbush twins had the best job in the world. all they had to do was basically remember one line for the majority of their episodes..." I gotta pee!" Even for child actors, it's good work if you can get it!

 

I'd agree when they were four or five but surely they were mortified by the limitations by the time they were twelve!

[Blergh]

I wonder if Cassandra ever thought it would have been better to take her chances with the strict old couple than having to hang out with Carrie.

[debraran]

13 hours ago, Blergh said:

I wonder if Cassandra ever thought it would have been better to take her chances with the strict old couple than having to hang out with Carrie.

Ever notice except for Charles closet friends most of the neighbors were nasty? NO ONE in Walnut Grove could adopt those kids and be kind.  Kind of sad. Even with the Sanderson's. You had alcoholics, bigots, thick headed dads who wanted their daughter's to limp, dad's who beat their kids to holy heaven for being  a little late to chores, crazy religious dads, (lots of nutty dads) neighbors who thought a nice guy stole their money and left pregnant wife alone.

I guess it made life interesting, but I thought poor Cassandra maybe would like Mrs Whipple or Mrs Foster or even Harriet over living in the shoebox on the prairie. ; )

[Blergh]

7 hours ago, debraran said:

Ever notice except for Charles closet friends most of the neighbors were nasty? NO ONE in Walnut Grove could adopt those kids and be kind.  Kind of sad. Even with the Sanderson's. You had alcoholics, bigots, thick headed dads who wanted their daughter's to limp, dad's who beat their kids to holy heaven for being  a little late to chores, crazy religious dads, (lots of nutty dads) neighbors who thought a nice guy stole their money and left pregnant wife alone.

I guess it made life interesting, but I thought poor Cassandra maybe would like Mrs Whipple or Mrs Foster or even Harriet over living in the shoebox on the prairie. ; )

I'm not so sure Mrs.Whipple would have been an ideal foster parent.I mean we have no idea what kind of parent she was to Granville before he became a morphine addict. It didn't bode well that she seemed to have greenlight his idea of him moving back into her home permanently with her being his sole support.

[debraran]

Noted, but poor Mrs Whipple probably raised him okay and he got PTSD and tons of guilt from the war. I was surprised how many soldiers got hooked on morphine or people back then but I guess the effect was the same. They (like us) just gave it out too much not knowing. Well we knew, but that's another thread. Codependency is alive and well today too.

Cassandra could have learned to sew, good food and somehow Mrs. Whipple took care of herself alone with a very nice home. No mention of Mr Whipple  : )

 

 

Edited July 13, 2023 by debraran

[Snow Apple]

Poor Cassandra wanted to be in that shoebox because Caroline looked like her own mother. They need a therapist in Walnut Grove with all the issues the townspeople had. Oh wait.....Pa can fix anything.

Edited July 13, 2023 by Snow Apple

[Blergh]

But who could fix PA?

 

[debraran]

5 hours ago, Blergh said:

But who could fix PA?

The Messiah complex would take too many chickens for payments. ; )

 

 

Edited July 13, 2023 by debraran

[Blergh]

Of course one likely hindrance re preventing the Cooper children from being sheltered by the well-meaning elderly seamstress is that the performer who played Mrs.(Amanda)Whipple [with her actual name being Queenie Smith] had died of lung cancer at almost 80 in 1978.

On a shallow note,if one should happen to see pics of her in her youth,she was a surprisingly fetching blonde who was 5'1" in height who once had been engaged to(of all people)Cary Grant!

Edited July 14, 2023 by Blergh
Corrected date

[debraran]

Yes I read Rev Alden's wife died during the show or was at least sick.

They had quite a few single/widows in WG. Anna who later married Rev Alden, Mrs Foster I think, Grace, Miss. Beadle for a bit,  Mrs. Whipple, Kezia, Widow Thurmond,Mrs Sanderson, Amy Hearn, (who faked death)

I'm sure more but mostly all had a nice home, nicely decorated, they somehow ate well, dressed well , took care of home themselves and had money to eat at Nellies. ; )

[zamp33]

Flipping around the tv this morning - the Sylvia episode was on. I changed the channel so fast - here I am in my 50's and the thought of seeing that again still frightens me. HonestIy am still traumatized to this day. They should have had a warning when it first aired - I think the age I was and the shock of seeing that happen or being a bit younger than Sylvia or the fact it happened  on LHOtP really terrified me and haunts me. What was Michael Landon and the network thinking - this is great for the family hour - because back then it really was a family hour!

[jason88cubs]

Thanks for the recent laughs. Dealing with a bad break up, haven't been on here as much. Glad to see this place can still have me laugh

[Blergh]

On 7/15/2023 at 11:45 PM, jason88cubs said:

Thanks for the recent laughs. Dealing with a bad break up, haven't been on here as much. Glad to see this place can still have me laugh

Your most welcome!

Yes,despite all LHOTP's many flaws and faults, it's gotten me through quite a few tough spots down the decades. It's no wonder why folks from all walks of life in virtually every corner have taken to it!

[jason88cubs]

Troublemaker is on right now

 

on CoziTv

 

Of course Laura gets picked on, and of course Charles says she's no troublemaker (oh really?!?!?)

 

I do love though when Charles breaks the ruler in front of the teacher though.

 

But also what happens to Miss Beadle. What would she do for work? She would have to move right?

[jason88cubs]

I also thought miss Beadle had her own place but I think she lived in the hotel they had? They did have one in the early episodes right? or a boarding house?? Because her bedroom is right at the front door like a hotel room would be almost

[jason88cubs]

Now The Long Road Home is on..I love this episode!

[Mr. Sparkle]

It was always a bit vague where Doc Baker and the various teachers who weren't married lived. 

I'm watching on Hallmark and they're right at the start of season 9, which means I'll be skipping most of them. Schlong of Healing was on last night, but I missed it. 

2 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

Now The Long Road Home is on..I love this episode!

Victor French really sells it in this episode. 

[jason88cubs]

3 minutes ago, Superclam said:

It was always a bit vague where Doc Baker and the various teachers who weren't married lived. 

I'm watching on Hallmark and they're right at the start of season 9, which means I'll be skipping most of them. Schlong of Healing was on last night, but I missed it. 

Victor French really sells it in this episode. 

I prefer episodes like these over the typical ones we got alot. Michael was really good at building up suspense and drama

[Blergh]

1 hour ago, jason88cubs said:

Troublemaker is on right now

 

on CoziTv

 

Of course Laura gets picked on, and of course Charles says she's no troublemaker (oh really?!?!?)

 

I do love though when Charles breaks the ruler in front of the teacher though.

 

But also what happens to Miss Beadle. What would she do for work? She would have to move right?

Excellent points! Yes, Miss Beadle had no other known set of workskills and she had no relatives in the Hero Township so she'd have had to move but to where and possibly with who is unknown (especially IIRC the only family member she aluded to was her father who'd died in the notorious Andersonville Confederate prison camp).

[jason88cubs]

36 minutes ago, Blergh said:

Excellent points! Yes, Miss Beadle had no other known set of workskills and she had no relatives in the Hero Township so she'd have had to move but to where and possibly with who is unknown (especially IIRC the only family member she aluded to was her father who'd died in the notorious Andersonville Confederate prison camp).

Yes I can't imagine teacher jobs were easy to come by back then

[Blergh]

4 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Yes I can't imagine teacher jobs were easy to come by back then

True- and don't forget that as soon as Adam regained his eyesight and decided that his talents were too immense to continue teaching the blind students who had considered him, Mary and Hester-Sue to be their de facto parents, not only did Mary not put up the slightest protest to want to continue teaching them herself but it seems the entire blind school was instantly dismantled with the students scattered to the wind. Oh, and Hester-Sue quickly found out that she'd have to go back to school to (re?)qualify for teaching so that's why she accepted Caroline's invite to join her in becoming Mrs. Oleson's 'help'!

 Yes, in hindsight, it's amazing how Hester-Sue somehow continued to esteem Adam even after he pulled the plug on her school and her career just so he study to be a legal eagle!

[debraran]

7 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Now The Long Road Home is on..I love this episode!

 

5 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Yes I can't imagine teacher jobs were easy to come by back then

That was a good one and showed how there was always bias against someone.

Miss Beadle probably lived like all the other single/widows, quite well. I started to think they had a fund for food and guys just helped with chores because many women lived alone in homes. Renting just a room would be cramped, Doc Baker lived above his office, but I don't think they thought fans tracked things like where the teacher lived back then. They were on once a week and reruns if you caught them in the summer. ; )

Granted Charles had room in barn/sod house when it wasn't occupied by spoiled rich kids, angry grandson's of neighbors, suicidal fathers, runaway black child (that I wish could have stayed) or hurt Native Americans. Did I forget someone??

[Zella]

Realistically, Miss Beadle would likely have lived with a family or families would have taken turns housing her.