Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[Blergh]

On 10/9/2023 at 12:15 PM, Superclam said:

Now I want roast pork. :(

Perhaps you should surf here AFTER you've eaten a large meal!

Amazing how many large meals got served in Casa Ingalls- despite there being no refrigerator to store anything or even any kind of pantry or storage area depicted!

[Mr. Sparkle]

For those who haven't read the books, LIW is always talking about food. Those make me hungry! 

[debraran]

8 hours ago, Blergh said:

Perhaps you should surf here AFTER you've eaten a large meal!

Amazing how many large meals got served in Casa Ingalls- despite there being no refrigerator to store anything or even any kind of pantry or storage area depicted. 
 

And perfect every time. ;)   Never saw dishes washed. I want that kitchen!

[Blergh]

5 hours ago, debraran said:

And perfect every time. ;)   Never saw dishes washed. I want that kitchen!

Would you have been willing to let your minor child trade one of the family horses to a mean child to have gotten it?

[debraran]

8 hours ago, Blergh said:

Would you have been willing to let your minor child trade one of the family horses to a mean child to have gotten it?

On No!! I meant the seamless cleanup. lol. I am in the minority for real, that is what ruins the Xmas show for me. I didn't think a child that young could barter with an adult (sorry Nels, you are almost perfect but not this time) and the chaos to get it back, silly, because we can't make Nellie like animals or Laura have a bad decision. Her dad could have bought the stove and Laura bartered by working or whatever, something else special, but alas I know I'm in minority. Just didn't like it.

I realize though though you are jesting and I had a visceral reaction to something "sweet".  😉

 

[Blergh]

17 hours ago, debraran said:

On No!! I meant the seamless cleanup. lol. I am in the minority for real, that is what ruins the Xmas show for me. I didn't think a child that young could barter with an adult (sorry Nels, you are almost perfect but not this time) and the chaos to get it back, silly, because we can't make Nellie like animals or Laura have a bad decision. Her dad could have bought the stove and Laura bartered by working or whatever, something else special, but alas I know I'm in minority. Just didn't like it.

I realize though though you are jesting and I had a visceral reaction to something "sweet".  😉

 

Yes, I agree that the whole storyline of the grown man merchant Nels letting Laura trade in Charles's horse to Nellie for the stove (instead of, at the very least, telling Laura that he'd have to clear it with Charles) was preposterous and annoying.

However, on a . . jesting note I can't help but think you'd at least have been momentarily tempted to have allowed your [hypothetical] kid render the above transaction if it meant that you got a wood burning stove that never needed to have its chimney or base swept out- much less needed any wood placed into it to work and somehow this included having no dishes to wash (since the Widow Thurman's never were seen again after Charles did chores[and batted his eyes] for them and only in the Big Bad Cities of Winoka and Rochester did dishes require washing).

[debraran]

Yes, you nailed it. 😄

And knowing Charles wanted to buy his wife a stove like an "adult" he gives him a catalog picture and doesn't tell him his very minor daughter is giving him her horse for the stove. It wasn't HIS gift. Even if he mentioned working on the saddle, he would have kept mum I bet.  Totally ludicrous. Poor Caroline never got anything really for Xmas, things were made for Charles, it was her only big gift in 20 years. Even the dishes were not to be. Tin plates, same clothes, 50 kids in a room, but never broke her.

In the "bad " city though, their home was lovely. I saw scenes with Caroline on the phone (gasp) talking to a relative, and it seemed very nice and although we never saw the little ones, with all the rooms maybe they were lost. lol.

Edited October 13, 2023 by debraran

[jason88cubs]

yea what DID Charles end up getting her for Christmas?

[Zella]

1 hour ago, jason88cubs said:

yea what DID Charles end up getting her for Christmas?

Popcorn. Probably. 😁

[Blergh]

8 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

yea what DID Charles end up getting her for Christmas?

I think this may have been about the time they conceived the poor doomed Freddie.

[debraran]

Yes, his presence was enough, I'm sure that extra money for the stove got spent somewhere else. Charles got many gifts, remember the pajamas and hat and shirt and scarf and mittens, but Ma? Even Carrie got a toy Laura made I think but Uncle Chris make her a nice wooden one when he saw she was left out during his visit. Another one who never really had a birthday on LHOP. I  never saw a gift of cloth doll, rocking horse etc. We saw one birthday cake Ma got when they made a mess they couldn't clean up yet but more were made for others. She was just the silent,"it's not about me" wife/mother. 

For whatever reason when they were ridiculously snowed in , there were gifts galore for everyone, store bought gifts, I remember being  distracted by it. But again, Charles knew what was in his because he "peeked" but what did Caroline get???

Edited October 15, 2023 by debraran

[jason88cubs]

I wish they had a set time with how long it took to get to Walnut Grove from their house, seem liked it would change base on situation

[Katy M]

3 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

I wish they had a set time with how long it took to get to Walnut Grove from their house, seem liked it would change base on situation

Well, it would definitely take longer in 2 feet or more of snow than in clear weather.  Also walking with Carrie when she was little would take much longer.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Charles is at his literally preachiest at the end of "Gold Country." 

[Mr. Sparkle]

And he's at his literally nipple-est in "Castoffs."  

[jason88cubs]

On 10/19/2023 at 3:20 PM, Katy M said:

Well, it would definitely take longer in 2 feet or more of snow than in clear weather.  Also walking with Carrie when she was little would take much longer.

I meant sometimes it seemed like it was a short walk, sometimes it seemed like it was miles away depending on the episode even if the weather was fine

[Blergh]

It was odd that sometimes it seemed like a short walk over a single hill from Casa Ingalls to Downtown Walnut Grove while other times it seemed a wagon ride of roughly an hour was required!

[Mr. Sparkle]

I was watching an ep the other day ("The Inheritance") and they said the Ingalls farm was 3 miles from the Oleson's store. Of course, this show is not know for its consistency. 

[Katy M]

On 10/26/2023 at 7:26 AM, Superclam said:

I was watching an ep the other day ("The Inheritance") and they said the Ingalls farm was 3 miles from the Oleson's store. Of course, this show is not know for its consistency. 

I always thought it was about 2 or 3 miles. That's an hour leisurely walk, 20-30 minute speed walk, 15 minutes for a kid to run. Not too long if they hook up the horse and wagon.  I can't recall any episodes (besides the blizzard, where it makes sense) that it seemed like it was far away.

[debraran]

He also had them take other routes home from school, not the road. They would go by creeks and other homes, etc. If they took just the road home, I doubt they'd get into so much mischief. ; )

Edited October 28, 2023 by debraran

[Blergh]

7 hours ago, debraran said:

He also had them take other routes home from school, not the road. They would go by creeks and other homes, etc. If they took just the road home, I doubt they'd get into so much mischief. ; )

Not to mention, that they would have been able to have gotten started on their homework and [non-existent] chores straight away! LOL

[debraran]

2 hours ago, Blergh said:

Not to mention, that they would have been able to have gotten started on their homework and [non-existent] chores straight away! LOL

Yes, you rarely saw chores being done, just promises to do them or Laura saying she'd do Mary's to get her to do something else. They did fish and pick berries (which also got them in trouble) and Laura met older men but the hard things like laundry and dishes and peeling potatoes, no. I guess they couldn't have a show if everyone was as  busy as a real pioneer family. Unlike the poor chap who got beaten like he killed someone for being late for his chores (which was Albert's fault) for talking him into staying longer. He never had to do anything either. 

[debraran]

I can’t believe for 50th reunion LHOP is coming to my state.  Never happened. CT

LHOTP original cast members scheduled to appear will include: Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder)Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls)Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle)Melissa (Missy) Francis (Casandra Ingalls)Alison Arngrim (Nasty Nellie)Allison Balson (Nasty Nancy Olsen)Lucy Lee Flippen (Eliza Jane Wilder)Pamela Roylance (Sarah Carter)Stan Ivar (John Carter)David Friedman (Jason Carter)Wendi Lou Lee (Grace Ingalls)Jennifer Donati (baby Rose Wilder)Olivia Barash (Sylvia Webb)Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls)Gil Gerard- (Chris Nelson)Leslie Landon-Matthews (Miss Plum)Victor & Tracy French (Victor French’s Children) & special guest, Susan McCray (casting director for LHOTP).

Three BIG days of fun, as we celebrate 50th 

I was surprised to see Gil Gerard after what Karen wrote about him  ;) 

[Egg McMuffin]

That’s quite a list. But no Jason Bateman?

[debraran]

I don't think he’s made any and Melissa  Sue is in Canada   I’m going to do Saturday if all goes well  Don’t know anyone who’d pay to go, so solo.

[jason88cubs]

wow! 50 years?!??! Amazing

[Blergh]

On 11/6/2023 at 10:21 AM, debraran said:

I can’t believe for 50th reunion LHOP is coming to my state.  Never happened. CT

LHOTP original cast members scheduled to appear will include: Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder)Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls)Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle)Melissa (Missy) Francis (Casandra Ingalls)Alison Arngrim (Nasty Nellie)Allison Balson (Nasty Nancy Olsen)Lucy Lee Flippen (Eliza Jane Wilder)Pamela Roylance (Sarah Carter)Stan Ivar (John Carter)David Friedman (Jason Carter)Wendi Lou Lee (Grace Ingalls)Jennifer Donati (baby Rose Wilder)Olivia Barash (Sylvia Webb)Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls)Gil Gerard- (Chris Nelson)Leslie Landon-Matthews (Miss Plum)Victor & Tracy French (Victor French’s Children) & special guest, Susan McCray (casting director for LHOTP).

Three BIG days of fun, as we celebrate 50th 

I was surprised to see Gil Gerard after what Karen wrote about him  ;) 

Well, they're both currently single. . .

[debraran]

7 hours ago, Blergh said:

Well, they're both currently single. . .

“My attraction to Gil gave me an adrenaline rush, the work had gone well, and tension over my contract was in the past,” the Little House star recalled. “All was right with my world. Wasn’t it?”“He had that charisma many women find irresistible,” she remarked of Gerard. “When he showed up on the set, even the little girls sat up and took notice. He was sweet and hard-working and endeared himself to all of us women – young and old.”

Hmm, maybe if he held onto the tool belt. ; )

[Blergh]

IIRC, a few years before the end of his life, ML got a facelift along with this 3rd wife Cindy. Funnily enough, ML insisted that these his and hers facelifts were because his 30-something wife was blue about appearing older and he only went under the knife to cheer HER up! Yeah,  natch, that the 50-something ML stayed such a youthful Adonis to the very end despite smoking like a chimney and drinking 'socially' like a fish for decades. I'm amazed that he didn't attempt to claim that he had to show ID to vote since he was too youthful looking to pass for an adult. SHEESH what an ego and WHO did he think he was fooling!

At least, he let Pa have SOME angst about getting older and a sense of humor about himself!

[debraran]

2 hours ago, Blergh said:

IIRC, a few years before the end of his life, ML got a facelift along with this 3rd wife Cindy. Funnily enough, ML insisted that these his and hers facelifts were because his 30-something wife was blue about appearing older and he only went under the knife to cheer HER up! Yeah,  natch, that the 50-something ML stayed such a youthful Adonis to the very end despite smoking like a chimney and drinking 'socially' like a fish for decades. I'm amazed that he didn't attempt to claim that he had to show ID to vote since he was too youthful looking to pass for an adult. SHEESH what an ego and WHO did he think he was fooling!

At least, he let Pa have SOME angst about getting older and a sense of humor about himself!

I remember thinking Cindy did not need a face lift but what a world they live in. I am glad he let Charles go grey on show. Most of them don't look great no matter how much money they have to pay the doctor.

[jason88cubs]

Random, but I don't recall EVER seeing fall time, leaves all over the place scenery....

[Katy M]

41 minutes ago, jason88cubs said:

Random, but I don't recall EVER seeing fall time, leaves all over the place scenery....

Well, sure, it was California.

[crazy8s]

1 hour ago, jason88cubs said:

Random, but I don't recall EVER seeing fall time, leaves all over the place scenery....

No leaves and they certainly couldn't show a harvest since Pa Ingalls never grew a successful crop. 😂

[jason88cubs]

On 11/11/2023 at 3:33 PM, crazy8s said:

No leaves and they certainly couldn't show a harvest since Pa Ingalls never grew a successful crop. 😂

Charles: Looks like a successful crop this year!

(Next day hails)

(next year)

Charles: Now here we go, a crop of success

(Next day tornado)

(The next year)

Charles: Third time is the charm right (winks)

(Next day a flood

 

(The next year))

Charles: Let's think positive. A successful crop is on the agenda

(day goes by nothing happens)

Charles: I told you all this was the year!

(next day freeze and blizzard comes through)

Charles: I spoke too soon..........

Caroline: Oh Charles don't worry we have your violin to sell if needed

Charles: How dare you talk about my violin like that!

[Zella]

7 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Charles: Looks like a successful crop this year!

(Next day hails)

(next year)

Charles: Now here we go, a crop of success

(Next day tornado)

(The next year)

Charles: Third time is the charm right (winks)

(Next day a flood

 

(The next year))

Charles: Let's think positive. A successful crop is on the agenda

(day goes by nothing happens)

Charles: I told you all this was the year!

(next day freeze and blizzard comes through)

Charles: I spoke too soon..........

Caroline: Oh Charles don't worry we have your violin to sell if needed

Charles: How dare you talk about my violin like that!

Then Pa "Cash on the Barrel" Ingalls gets offended because the Olesons think he's a credit risk, so they won't extend him any credit. LMAO 

[Blergh]

16 hours ago, jason88cubs said:

Charles: Looks like a successful crop this year!

(Next day hails)

(next year)

Charles: Now here we go, a crop of success

(Next day tornado)

(The next year)

Charles: Third time is the charm right (winks)

(Next day a flood

 

(The next year))

Charles: Let's think positive. A successful crop is on the agenda

(day goes by nothing happens)

Charles: I told you all this was the year!

(next day freeze and blizzard comes through)

Charles: I spoke too soon.........

Caroline: Oh Charles don't worry we have your violin to sell if needed

Charles: How dare you talk about my violin like that!

Charles: What did you pay the Winoka pawn shop to get the violin back for Mary's birthday party?

Caroline: Nothing.

Charles:Nothing?

Caroline: They refused to be believe it could be played with the bow a foot away from the strings!

8 hours ago, Zella said:

Then Pa "Cash on the Barrel" Ingalls gets offended because the Olesons think he's a credit risk, so they won't extend him any credit. LMAO 

Maybe they're afraid he'll pay his bills in Monopoly money. . .

Edited November 15, 2023 by Blergh

[debraran]

Yes, even when the weather just hit the little house and not anyone else's you wonder why he just didn't try being a blacksmith. ; )  I think after the rapiest died, it was open. Even when the crops were okay, a kid would get kicked by a horse, the only one doing chores it seems. Can't have a birthday or anniversary or holiday go well. Can't let Caroline have a trip that goes well, a reunion where everyone is not doing badly usually because they were  "well off". Can't have an old friend have a decent husband, Charles was last of the them in the big woods I guess. Can't move your family to the "bad city" without sacrificing the smart, street savvy one to morphine because Albert would do that.....wasn't enough to burn down a school, kill his sister's baby and friends mom, I'll go crazy and make Pa take me back to Walnut Grove, because detoxing in the bad city is impossible. I can go back there later though.

You just have to love it. ; )

[debraran]

I just read that Jonathan's wife on the show is going to be at the reunion in Ct too. I wouldn't bother her about it, but I did wonder about her relationship if any to him since they had so many scenes together. Did he keep in touch with her or like her, that kind of stuff.

The show was going off the rails then, but I did like Jon's scenes with his dad and how mature he was. They tried to make the young couple not able to keep their hands off each other, something you didn't see with others, but the show was getting older and flagging in ratings .

Mike hated reunion shows but a couple of years later would have loved a 2 hour special with everyone meeting in the city or showing WG while Nel's and Harriet and Willie are getting ready to go to Nellie's for Thanksgiving. Something like that. Or vice versa. Alas it wasn't meant to be but it would have erased the last years I think and they wouldn't have aged that much in a few years (Mike's worry)

Edited November 17, 2023 by debraran

[Blergh]

Something that needs to be said re  Charles bringing the morphine-addicted Albert to Walnut Grove. Before the episode finished, Charles virtually spelled out that his original intention was to ABANDON Albert in Walnut Grove like a stray cat. Did Charles think that Half-Pint, Manly, Isaiah or even Harriet would have deserved to have had a rootless Albert lurking around raiding the sugar bins for a fix?

[debraran]

19 hours ago, Blergh said:

Something that needs to be said re  Charles bringing the morphine-addicted Albert to Walnut Grove. Before the episode finished, Charles virtually spelled out that his original intention was to ABANDON Albert in Walnut Grove like a stray cat. Did Charles think that Half-Pint, Manly, Isaiah or even Harriet would have deserved to have had a rootless Albert lurking around raiding the sugar bins for a fix?

I don't remember that...Wow. I thought it was odd he was made an addict, attracted to kids he wouldn't have liked,  but Michael did want to bring somethings in his life to the screen. (I think Cheryl his daughter had addiction issues) Suicide was another thing he had way to often and his mom used to pretend to do that. He had a lot of issues to work out in scripts.

Was that in a conversation with Doc? I must have glossed over it probably thinking the same thing you did. Wasn't show I wanted to watch a lot.

I just remember the kind storekeeper asking Charles why he left, and he said something about "failed crops" or whatever.  He did have him on another episode, a friend that had a heart attack while traveling with him.

I got the demonizing of the city, but they weren't all dens of sin, sure they had a saloon but not every shopkeeper was mean and insensitive and WG wasn't free from crime, rapists, racists and mayhem.

All I know is Caroline looked happy in the one episode of her on a telephone call and her home seemed very nice and she had so much room, you never saw Carrie or Grace or her other kids in any scene. I wish they showed more of it, eating dinner at a table with real plates, having a bathroom for Carrie, a bed not 2 feet from their grade school child.

I hated seeing the Carter's stuff in the little house...sure they had less kids but it was so crowded with things, like she downsized but didn't give enough away. : )

Edited November 17, 2023 by debraran

[jason88cubs]

Getting to the time to watch the pilot movie!

Edited November 21, 2023 by jason88cubs

[Egg McMuffin]

On 11/16/2023 at 11:07 PM, Blergh said:

Something that needs to be said re  Charles bringing the morphine-addicted Albert to Walnut Grove. Before the episode finished, Charles virtually spelled out that his original intention was to ABANDON Albert in Walnut Grove like a stray cat. Did Charles think that Half-Pint, Manly, Isaiah or even Harriet would have deserved to have had a rootless Albert lurking around raiding the sugar bins for a fix?

I think Harriet would have been OK with it. She was willing to live with attempted murderess Nancy. Say what you will about Albert and his addiction to morPHINE, he never killed or tried to kill anyone. Well, except for Mary’s baby. And Alice Garvey.

Edited November 22, 2023 by Egg McMuffin

[debraran]

Okay, but that wasn't deliberate, just careless. I think the reason the actress who played Nancy stayed away from LHOP reunions was her character was disliked so much. Not her fault, but I think she's going this year and hoping most forgot the awful scripts she was paid to read. I think overall, she had some of the "you hate me" worst scripts of anyone on the show. So sad, Michael killed the show with having a sociopath on it. She was never redeemable and I'm not sure who in his life was like that, but it retrospect, it was sad. She wasn't even made that way by the system, she was like that when they got her which is worse.

I would have loved to see Harriet get a "Nellie" in looks but she was nice and you saw a different type of daughter, maybe overwhelmed by the things they had, but a normal kid. Harriet spoiled Nellie but Nellie wasn't evil. Vindictive and jealous at times but not evil.

Maybe the anger at the tabloids and his wife or the tarnish on Mike's image, IDK, but he lost focus and let the show die. Even Melissa G knew it toward the end. You felt you were just going through the motions.

Edited November 22, 2023 by debraran

[Lisa418722]

Lindsey and Sydney Greenbush and Allison Balson are three of the actresses I really feel sorry for because so many people hate Carrie and hate Nancy. 

Now Nancy was a psychopath or sociopath (I'm not sure which she would be), but I think that shows how great an actress Allison Balson was.  

I sometimes wonder if Carrie had been given a bigger part (like Carrie became a larger character in the books especially after Mary went to the blind school) and ML hadn't kept on adding more and more kids to the little house, if Lindsey and Sydney Greenbush would have become better.  But it felt like Carrie only had "toilet issues" and had to be there to support her newest brothers and sister.  

I don't blame any of them if they don't want much to do with the show even though I wish they would show up for the reunion. 

[Egg McMuffin]

Allison Balson was a talented little actress. It’s the writing that failed her. If Nancy had been written as a mischievous little girl instead of as an evil clone of Nellie, her character would be more fondly remembered. She came off well in the episode where Willie got married, as well as the one where Harriet and Nels were kidnapped. But those were exceptions. 

[Blergh]

On 11/22/2023 at 4:05 AM, debraran said:

Okay, but that wasn't deliberate, just careless. I think the reason the actress who played Nancy stayed away from LHOP reunions was her character was disliked so much. Not her fault, but I think she's going this year and hoping most forgot the awful scripts she was paid to read. I think overall, she had some of the "you hate me" worst scripts of anyone on the show. So sad, Michael killed the show with having a sociopath on it. She was never redeemable and I'm not sure who in his life was like that, but it retrospect, it was sad. She wasn't even made that way by the system, she was like that when they got her which is worse.

I would have loved to see Harriet get a "Nellie" in looks but she was nice and you saw a different type of daughter, maybe overwhelmed by the things they had, but a normal kid. Harriet spoiled Nellie but Nellie wasn't evil. Vindictive and jealous at times but not evil.

Maybe the anger at the tabloids and his wife or the tarnish on Mike's image, IDK, but he lost focus and let the show die. Even Melissa G knew it toward the end. You felt you were just going through the motions.

I agree! While Miss Arngrim has repeatedly said how Nellie saved from being overwhelmed via horrific abuse AND taught her how to stand up for herself so she's forever embraced the positive of the character, I can't recall Miss Balsam considering Nancy as anything more than a steady, regular role to play.

Edited November 23, 2023 by Blergh

[debraran]

Watching the episode where Charles try to wave his wand with the horse dealer. I thought their chemistry and touching was much more than anything on The Handyman.Well maybe the touching, Chris was pretty sexy and nice guy. When Charles complimented her cooking and hands and after her husband rejected her, he put his hands on her from behind while she said she was invisible. Chris just caught Caroline when she was falling. : )

I kind of liked the Bonanza version better with Hoss.  He had a lazy day copying it but of course he had more flirting etc. on LHOP  Hoss was just such a big teddy bear.

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by debraran

[Blergh]

8 hours ago, debraran said:

Watching the episode where Charles try to wave his wand with the horse dealer. I thought their chemistry and touching was much more than anything on The Handyman.Well maybe the touching, Chris was pretty sexy and nice guy. When Charles complimented her cooking and hands and after her husband rejected her, he put his hands on her from behind while she said she was invisible. Chris just caught Caroline when she was falling. : )

I kind of liked the Bonanza version better with Hoss.  He had a lazy day copying it but of course he had more flirting etc. on LHOP  Hoss was just such a big teddy bear.

 

Thanks for sharing the link of that Bonanza episode I don't recall seeing before 'A Dream to Dream' (Season Nine, Episode 26, 1968). While I immediately recognized the young redhead son's performer as Johnny Whitaker, the mother Sarah Carter seemed familiar but what a surprise to do research and find that she was played by none other than that marvelous prolific performer Julie Harris (1925-2013) who'd done a phenomenal job playing the tomboy Frankie in A Member of the Wedding on Broadway and the 1952 movie! Anyway,  she wound up easily out-acting by circles Jenny Sullivan (born 1946) who played Leslie Harper in the LHOTP adaptation.  I found conveyed she conveyed Sarah's anguish over her husband Josh's self-destruction as well as her desperate need (but not love) for Hoss to rescue her and her children from being dragged down by her wounded mate. BTW, Josh Carter was played by the prolific performer Steve Ihnat (1934-1972) who'd been born in what's now Slovakia but had fled with his parents to Canada just three days before the NAZIs closed his birthplace's borders and sadly died of a heart attack at age 38 just a month after his son's birth!  Dan Blocker gave a tour-de-force performance here with Hoss being his usually fun big galoot but also himself believably  somewhat falling for the anguished Sarah and her children but wanting to do right by ALL members of the family (even when fighting back Josh's hopeless attempt to beat HIM up). Yes, Hoss himself was single and would have had no impediments getting married to Sarah after she had gotten a divorce (and it was far more believable that loaded Ben Cartwright's middle son would have  cash to spare to buy  horses from  the prosperous but anguished husband than Pa Ingalls). BTW, Dan Blocker (1928-1972) was far deeper than one might have imagined. I mean the Texas-born performer  even went so far as to refuse to appear at an event in the segregated State Coliseum  in Jackson, Mississippi in 1964 (though Canadian-born Lorne Greene and New Jersey born ML DID appear at this event). Oh, and Mr. Blocker himself  also started the Bonanza/Ponderosa Steakhouse franchise in 1963!

 I also should add that Johnny Whitaker as young Timmy Carter gave an unexpectedly deep and believable performance as a young child who had no illusions about his parents' union but still cared enough about his wounded father to appeal to Hoss to see if he could give Josh one last chance to relearn to live again.

 P.S. The name of the Carters' lost eldest son was Michael (as in the LHOTP version) but, not surprising since ML had helped write both episodes!   Still, it's interesting that either he and/or the Bonanza producers believed that Hoss/Mr. Blocker would be a better 'rescuer' than ML's Little Joe (whose lasting interest in any female usually meant a literal kiss of death for her). 

P.P.S. Though the episode ended with the Carters giving each other yet another chance, I have to wonder what the reactions of Ben and Little Joe would have been had they found out that Hoss had been willing to take on a miserably but still legally wed potential fiancee with children- to say nothing of him having done a LOT more than simply buy horses on this jaunt!  Somehow I think they'd have been more surprised at that turn of events than Narrator Laura would with Charles's (even though there was no hint of a 'Baby Hoss/Eric' being born 'two years later' in the former episode).

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by Blergh

[debraran]

13 hours ago, Blergh said:

Thanks for sharing the link of that Bonanza episode I don't recall seeing before 'A Dream to Dream' (Season Nine, Episode 26, 1968). While I immediately recognized the young redhead son's performer as Johnny Whitaker, the mother Sarah Carter seemed familiar but what a surprise to do research and find that she was played by none other than that marvelous prolific performer Julie Harris (1925-2013) who'd done a phenomenal job playing the tomboy Frankie in A Member of the Wedding on Broadway and the 1952 movie! Anyway,  she wound up easily out-acting by circles Jenny Sullivan (born 1946) who played Leslie Harper in the LHOTP adaptation.  I found conveyed she conveyed Sarah's anguish over her husband Josh's self-destruction as well as her desperate need (but not love) for Hoss to rescue her and her children from being dragged down by her wounded mate. BTW, Josh Carter was played by the prolific performer Steve Ihnat (1934-1972) who'd been born in what's now Slovakia but had fled with his parents to Canada just three days before the NAZIs closed his birthplace's borders and sadly died of a heart attack at age 38 just a month after his son's birth!  Dan Blocker gave a tour-de-force performance here with Hoss being his usually fun big galoot but also himself believably  somewhat falling for the anguished Sarah and her children but wanting to do right by ALL members of the family (even when fighting back Josh's hopeless attempt to beat HIM up). Yes, Hoss himself was single and would have had no impediments getting married to Sarah after she had gotten a divorce (and it was far more believable that loaded Ben Cartwright's middle son would have  cash to spare to buy  horses from  the prosperous but anguished husband than Pa Ingalls). BTW, Dan Blocker (1928-1972) was far deeper than one might have imagined. I mean the Texas-born performer  even went so far as to refuse to appear at an event in the segregated State Coliseum  in Jackson, Mississippi in 1964 (though Canadian-born Lorne Greene and New Jersey born ML DID appear at this event). Oh, and Mr. Blocker himself  also started the Bonanza/Ponderosa Steakhouse franchise in 1963!

 I also should add that Johnny Whitaker as young Timmy Carter gave an unexpectedly deep and believable performance as a young child who had no illusions about his parents' union but still cared enough about his wounded father to appeal to Hoss to see if he could give Josh one last chance to relearn to live again.

 P.S. The name of the Carters' lost eldest son was Michael (as in the LHOTP version) but, not surprising since ML had helped write both episodes!   Still, it's interesting that either he and/or the Bonanza producers believed that Hoss/Mr. Blocker would be a better 'rescuer' than ML's Little Joe (whose lasting interest in any female usually meant a literal kiss of death for her). 

P.P.S. Though the episode ended with the Carters giving each other yet another chance, I have to wonder what the reactions of Ben and Little Joe would have been had they found out that Hoss had been willing to take on a miserably but still legally wed potential fiancee with children- to say nothing of him having done a LOT more than simply buy horses on this jaunt!  Somehow I think they'd have been more surprised at that turn of events than Narrator Laura would with Charles's (even though there was no hint of a 'Baby Hoss/Eric' being born 'two years later' in the former episode).

 

Yes, it was much better and thanks for all the extra info. I loved his performance and thought the baby born after Saint Charles left was a bit much but so Michael Landon. lol

I can't watch the LHOP version without wanting the acting performance from the original. Dan was a great actor and knocked this out of the park with subtle strokes instead of sledgehammer. All of them were excellent.

This short video from Johnny mentions what he remembers of that episode and Its so Dan to get him gifts and be kind.

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by debraran

[Blergh]

15 hours ago, debraran said:

Yes, it was much better and thanks for all the extra info. I loved his performance and thought the baby born after Saint Charles left was a bit much but so Michael Landon. lol

I can't watch the LHOP version without wanting the acting performance from the original. Dan was a great actor and knocked this out of the park with subtle strokes instead of sledgehammer. All of them were excellent.

This short video from Johnny mentions what he remembers of that episode and Its so Dan to get him gifts and be kind.

 

Even though young Mr. Whitaker's character was NOT the primary focus of that episode, it was great of Mr. Blocker to not just remember his preteen colleague's birthday but to have gifted him those chaps and that cowboy hat (too bad Mr. Whitaker lost track of them). Of course, it needs to be mentioned that Mr. Blocker had four children of his own even though Hoss stayed single and childless to his character's death.

To keep this ontopic, it's interesting that Mr. Whitaker recalls ML himself having visited the set during the three day shoot even though this storyline had zilch to do with any of the Cartwrights besides Hoss. I suppose he wanted to see for himself how his screenplay would be fleshed out by these performers (and having not just Mr. Blocker but the renowned Miss Harris and Mr. Ihnat as well as young Mr. Whitaker had to have been a big boon for ML).