Actor/Character Matches That Likely Wouldn't Happen Today

I've been watching/listening to the Little House on the Prairie 50 Podcast--which seems to be on hiatus as cast appearances have ramped up--and a GenX podcast that is now defunct. Both podcasts discussed character matches where there were age differences between the actors and how that wouldn't happen today. 

Let's take a peek at a few of these matches. 

Dean Butler and Melissa Gilbert

Dean Butler and Melissa Gilbert have spoken about the challenges of working alongside each other on Little House on the Prairie in their memoirs. Gilbert expected they would cast one of her contemporaries. Butler's Almanzo was romancing a character several years his junior, played by an actor who was eight years younger than him and hadn't started dating yet. While everyone has stated they felt safe on the Little House set, not sure how eager casting directors would be these days to have a minor and an adult courting.

Alison Arngrim and Bob Marsic

Alison Argrim, who played the girl we all loved to hate, Nellie Oleson, had an episode where she was also paired with an adult actor who played her romantic lead. Bob Marsic portrayed Luke Simms in the episode, "Here Come the Brides." Luke and his father are pig farmers who have moved to Walnut Grove. Luke starts school, and Nellie is instantly taken with him. Despite Harriet's objections, a budding romance ensues, ending in Luke and Nellie running off to get married. Luckily, Harriet and Nels find them and make the justice of the peace void their marriage. Marsic was 22 in this episode. Arngrim talks about how she was 15 at the time, and Nellie was supposed to be 13. I always liked how they handled this episode because it is the first time Nellie falls in love. You can read an article where the actors talk about this episode here. 

Mitch Vogel, Melissa Gilbert & Melissa Sue Anderson

Mitch Vogel portrayed Johnny Johnson in two Season 1 episodes: "The Love of Johnny Johnson" and "To See the World." Johnny is a historical figure who knew the real Ingalls family and helped them on the farm. In Little House on the Prairie, he is a new boy at the Walnut Grove school. In "The Love of Johnny Johnson," Laura develops a crush on him, but Johnny only has eyes for Mary. Vogel was 18 at the time. Gilbert was 10, and Anderson was 12. This storyline and the actor/character ages seemed totally plausible to me, and since it was a schoolgirl crush, there really wasn't a romantic element to it. The episode focused more on how it divided the two oldest Ingalls sisters. Side note: Michael Landon and Vogel worked on Bonanza together. 

Linwood Boomer and Melissa Sue Anderson

Linwood Boomer was 23 years old when he portrayed Adam Kendall, the teacher Mary Ingalls meets while she is studying at school for the blind in Season 4. Mary was almost 16 at the time. She would celebrate her sixteenth birthday in Winoka, where she and Adam had gone to open a new blind school. Anderson was 16 in the first episode where Adam appears, "I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away." Anderson has spoken fondly of acting alongside Boomer in interviews. 

As a Gen Xer, I honestly thought nothing of the ages of the characters and actors when I watched the original run of Little House on the Prairie. How the stories tugged at the heartstrings was what I focused on. Having loved the show all these years, I can't imagine other actors in these roles. Did you pick up on that during the show's original run, or did it come to mind later in reruns? As the actors have stated, they all felt safe on the set. They speak about how there were tons of kids on set, so the adults really looked after them. 

Book Review: The Three Faces of Nellie: The Real Story Behind Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Nellie Oleson" by Robynne Elizabeth Miller

 

By now, most fans of the books and the television show know that Nellie Oleson is a composite of three historical figures from Laura Ingalls Wilder's life: Nellie Owens, Genevieve Masters, and Stella Gilbert. In her 2016 book, The Three Faces of Nellie: The Real Story Behind Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Nellie Oleson," Robynne Elizabeth Miller dives deeply into the three young women who became Nellie Oleson to the world. In addition, she shares biographical information about their families, including dates of birth and death, occupations, marriages, and so much more!

Nellie Oleson became a fascinating character from the moment readers first met her in On the Banks of Plum Creek. Thanks to future books and the Little House on the Prairie television series, she continued to be the character everyone loved to hate. As brought to life in fiction, Nellie Oleson protected the identities of others and allowed Wilder to create one arch-nemesis for the entire series. 

The Three Faces of Nellie begins with Nellie Owens and her family, moves onto Genevieve Masters, and ends with Estella "Stella" Gilbert. Along the way, Miller provides insight into how much each historical figure influenced the Nellie Oleson character. Readers learn details about their lives that required loads of research--clearly cited in the extensive bibliography at the end--that supports the author's belief that, "Their lives, individually, and collectively..." are worth more than simply being "one of the most iconic and enduring antagonists in literary history." 

If you are a lover of Laura and her work, you need to own a copy of The Three Faces of Nellie.

Publisher: Practical Pioneer Press

Publication date: November 28, 2016

Edition: 1st

Language: English

Print length: 140 pages

ISBN-10: 069281258X

ISBN-13: 978-0692812587

I purchased a copy of this book in February of this year. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Character Profile of Nels Oleson

 

We are long overdue for a character profile. The last one I did was of Caroline Quiner Ingalls (Ma) back in 2021. Today, we will cover Nels Oleson. 

The character of Nels Oleson in Little House on the Prairie may be based upon William Owens, a storekeeper in Walnut Grove. He had a wife named Margaret and children named Nellie and Willie. Let's take a look at the Nels Oleson that Richard Bull brought to life.

WARNING!!! CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

Little House on the Prairie fans meet Nels Oleson in the first episode of Season 1, "Harvest of Friends." Charles and his family have just settled in Walnut Grove. With planting season around the corner, he needs a plow and seed. The problem--he has no money. In a quickly uncomfortable conversation, Nels explains they can't extend credit, because they need money to pay for what they sell in the store. Harriet--Nels's wife--isn't quite so pleasant, and Charles storms off. It's clear, however, that Nels wishes he could help. And he gets his chance in episode 2, "Country Girls," when Mary and Laura start school and need supplies. It is in this moment, we see the kindness and generosity Nels will be known for throughout the series. 

You can't talk about Nels without discussing his family, because it is their interactions that bring so much humor, and sometimes tenderness, to this family drama. We don't know a lot about Nels and Harriet's life before Walnut Grove, but in the Season 9 episode, "May I Have This Dance?" we learn his mother was angry he planned to quit college to get married. Nels admits to his wife that marrying Harriet was the smartest thing he ever did.

But, there are plenty of examples where we see Nels frustrated with how Harriet spoils the children and treats other people. Once, he is even so angry with how taken advantage of he is that he opens a mobile emporium (Season 6, "Second Spring") and takes his wares on the road. He winds up staying at a boarding house run by Molly Reardon, and they become fond of each other. However, Nels finally breaks the news to Molly that he is already married, and he and Harriet have a touching reunion. 

That wasn't the first time Nels lost his temper over how Harriet acts. In the Season 1 episode, "Family Quarrel," they get into a tiff over how Harriet treats Caroline Ingalls. Nels moves into the boarding house rooms above the post office--with a dog I don't think we see after this episode--and their friends work to help them repair their relationship.

For the most part, however, their quarrels lighten the more dramatic moments of the series. Like when Harriet overhears his mumbling and grumbling, and Nels makes up words that he supposedly said. And the series creators and fans embraced their antics more as time went on. By the Season 8 episode, "The Legend of Black Jake," no one is surprised that Mrs. Oleson refuses to pay a $100 ransom for the release of her husband or the way Nels exacts his revenge. 

As a father, Nels struggled to contain the unruly ways of Nellie and Willie, but when he could be firm with them when needed. Like in the Season 3 episode, "The Music Box," where Nels finds out Nellie has been making fun of a classmate and blackmailing Laura, who had accidentally broken Nellie's music box. His interactions with Willie don't seem to be as many and typically center around Willie's insatiable appetite and looting the candy jars. 

After Nellie gets married and moves to New York City with her husband, Harriet falls into a deep depression. So the Olesons travel to the orphanage in Sleepy Eye and adopt Nancy, who will make Nellie look like a saint. Luckily, most of Nancy's schemes involve other children, not Nels. 

Nels was a good friend to many of the Walnut Grove residents. From the very beginning, "Harvest of Friends," you knew he could be counted on. In the Season 3 episode, "Blizzard," he helps the other men search for children who are lost in the storm, even though his own children are safe. When Carrie falls in an old mine shaft in the Season 3 episode, "Little Girl Lost," Nels tells Charles to take all the equipment he needs from the store and goes out to the site to help. And in the Season 9 episode, "A Child with No Name," most of the town turns against Doc Baker when Laura and Almanzo's infant son dies unexpectedly, but Nels defends his friend and scolds Harriet for snubbing him. 

The one thing the Olesons rarely had to worry about was money. Nels admits that fact to Charles in the Season 2 episode, "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove." However, in the two-part Season 5 episode, "As Long as We're Together," even the Olesons fall on hard times. Many people are leaving Walnut Grove, so they must sell their stock for pennies on the dollar. They end up settling in Winoka, where the Ingalls family and the Garveys go to find work. For the first time in a long time, Nels finds himself working for someone else. Thankfully, it doesn't last long. 

In "Little House: The Final Farewell," a land baron has acquired title to all of Hero Township. Being faced with the idea of working the land and businesses in town for the benefit of Mr. Lassiter, the Walnut Grove residents make a drastic choice to blow up the town buildings, which include Oleson's Mercantile and Nellie's Restaurant. 

As the townsfolk gather together with their packed wagons ready to go, one by one the town buildings are blown to bits. With Willie now married, Nels and Nancy plan to visit Harriet, who has been away convalescing after a lengthy illness.  

As he marches out of town, Nels leaves behind a legacy of a life well lived in the town of Walnut Grove, where he made many good friends and lent a helping hand when he could. He is a man who rarely minded playing second fiddle to his independent wife but could stand firm when it mattered. It would be hard to imagine Walnut Grove without his kind, gentle spirit. 

Other character profiles:

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Almanzo James Wilder

Mary Ingalls Kendall

Caroline Quiner Ingalls

Sleigh Bells Ring: LHOP Inspired Fan Fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Sleigh Bells Ring

LHOP inspired fan fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Disclaimer: I do not own the Little House on the Prairie television series, book series, or any of the characters.

"Bye Ma! Bye Pa!" Laura turned around in her place next to Almanzo, a large smile curling the corners of her lips. She waved at her parents who were still standing next to Reverend Alden on the church steps.

Almanzo prompted his Morgan's into a slow trot.

"Make sure you're home by supper," Charles called after them.

"Yes, Sir." Almanzo's voice sounded over the tinkling of bells. He waved without looking back as his horses pulled the cutter out of town behind the others.

Laura and Almanzo, Nellie and Percival Dalton, and Willie Oleson glided over the snow covered road toward the blind school. With Mary and Adam's help they had planned a little surprise sleigh ride party for the children before their parents came tomorrow to pick them up for the long holiday vacation.

The crisp air stung Laura's cheeks as she snuggled underneath the bear skins. Almanzo had tucked her in tightly, but the cold still seemed to seep through any gap and chilled her legs. Luckily the sun shone brightly and the wind had calmed down since they made their way into town for Sunday services.

Within seconds of Almanzo's horses stopping in front of the blind school, Hester Sue came out to greet them. Dressed in a heavy shawl with a wrap wounded tightly around her head, the corner of her eyes crinkled as she squinted from the sun reflecting off the snow.

"Halleluiah!" I don't think I coulda kept this secret another minute."

Almanzo's and Percival hearty laughs filled the air. They each held up a hand to help their ladies out of the sleighs. Willie jumped out of his father's sleigh and dug underneath the bear skins to find a basket of goodies he and his father had baked yesterday.

"You look more excited than Laura," Almanzo teased. He glanced over at Laura whose raised eyebrows feigned displeasure. He bent down and placed a quick kiss on her check. "Aw Beth, ya know I'm just jokin'."

"Oh, those young'uns. You can't pass nothin' by them. They could smell Mary fryin' up those donuts and they was sure she was up to some kind of mischief."

Hester Sue shook her head as she laughed. Some of the children saw more with their other senses then many sighted people saw with their eyes. "And Almanzo, after we finished pressin' the apple cider, Mary had enough to make ya a good helpin' of fried onions 'n apples. It's waitin' for you on the stove."

Almanzo took the steps two at a time. "Well then, let's get in there. I'm starvin'."

"You're always starving." Laura said with a smirk.

The group laughed as they filed into the hallway. Hester Sue took Laura's and Nellie's coats and hats. Laura spied Adam with the children in the classroom off to the left.

"See, I told you something was going on." The melodic voice of Susan Goodspeed tickled their ears.

Adam stood in front of the classroom. Dressed in the brown suit Laura had seen him wear so often while teaching, Adam commanded attention in any room he occupied. I wonder what he would have been if he hadn't lost his sight.

One hand on his hip, Adam smiled at the children. "We're going to end classes early today."

The room erupted with shouts and cheers.

Adam put his hand out to silence them, a motion Laura found curious since none of the children, nor Adam could see. "Settle down now. Some of your good friends from town have offered to take you on rides in their cutters this afternoon."

Again the room erupted with cheers and shouts. Adam immediately refocused their attention. "But we still have chores to do."

"Awwww." The children sighed.

Adam walked to the doorway leading out to the hallway where Laura and the rest of the group stood. "Susan, Christy, and Melissa, you're going to the kitchen to help Mrs. Kendall."

"Yes, Sir," they sang out, excusing themselves as they passed by the people in the hallway.

"Matthew, Robert, and Timothy," I need you to bring in some more firewood. Bundle up, the temperature is dropping."

"Yes, Sir," said Matthew.

The other two boys followed him out of the room. Looks like Matthew will be a leader when he gets older, thought Laura.

Chairs scrapped along the wooden floor as the rest of the children stood up. Adam smiled as the small group of children waiting anxiously to find out what they got to do. "The rest of you can get ready for a sleigh ride."

"Yeah!" they hollered as they raced toward the coat room to get dressed.

Adam turned toward the adults standing in the hallway. Percival lifted his head to look up at him. "Good to see you again, Adam."

The men shook hands. "It's good to see you too, Percival. I'm so glad you came up with this idea."

Percival shook his head. "I can't take the credit." Percival touched Willie's shoulder. "It was Willie's idea."

Adam extended his hand. "Well then, thank you, Willie. I know the children will have a wonderful time."

"It weren't nothin'." He shrugged.

Nellie nudged her little brother with her elbow. "Now, don't be modest. It's wonderful that you thought of doing this."

Everyone expressed their agreement. Laura noticed how much Willie had changed recently. His boyish features and mannerisms were quickly fading. It amazed her that a child who had been such a brat could grow up into a caring young man worthy of her admiration. It wouldn't be long before Willie began courting. When did he grow up?

Laura grabbed Nellie's arm. "C'mon, Nellie. Let's go help Mary in the kitchen."

The two women strolled arm in arm, chatting about food and how to plan out the day.

Willie slapped Almanzo's arm. "Bet ya never thought you would see that."

Almanzo chuckled. "Nope."

"See what?" Percival squinted at the two women as they turned the corner into the kitchen.

"Oh nothin'," said Willie as the group turned around and headed toward the door.

Mary stood at the stove frying donuts while Laura, Nellie, and Hester Sue piled plates high with chicken, slices of ham, and corn bread. A pot of beans simmered on the cook stove. Having sent the girls into the dining room to set the tables, the women settled into conversations of Christmases past.

Hester Sue told them of her first Christmas after the Civil War ended. Her Papa and Mama sitting around the fireplace of the first home they had ever owned. It was a tough Christmas, she said, as they had little money to put food on the table, but their freedom and the many dreams they held for the future were presents enough.

Nellie spoke of her first Christmas as Percival's wife and how they celebrated Hanukah together and Christmas with her family. Nellie had begun to learn the Jewish prayers and spoke of how fascinating it was to learn about a faith so different from her own.

As she spoke, Laura noticed the change that had come over her face ever since she had gotten married. As a child, Nellie wore a scowl or evil grin most of the time. How can this be the same person?

A chuckle unconsciously escaped Laura's lips and Nellie looked up from her work.

"What's so funny?"

Laura looked upon her former archenemy. Her eyes widened. "This. Us!" Laura's hands traveled to her hips. "Did you ever imagine that one day we could be in the same room without fighting?"

Nellie shrugged. "Well, I didn't think we would fight forever, but I didn't expect to like you as much as I do."

Sudden discomfort forced Nellie to lower her eyes, but Laura loved her candor. At least that part of Nellie hadn't changed. The strangeness of the situation left Laura a bit nervous, as if she expected immediate darkness to come and the old Nellie to slither out of it. But it also felt good to be together, forging a new relationship where a friendship once seemed impossible.

Hester Sue glanced from Laura to Nellie. Even Mary stopped her work to listen to the unfolding conversation.

A genuine smile parted Laura's lips. "I'm glad we decided to spend the day together."

"Me too." Nellie focused on putting the last few slices of ham on the plate. "Laura, whatever happened to your pony?"

Laura stopped rolling out the dough for the pie crust she was making. The lump that formed in her throat seemed impossible to swallow. She hadn't thought of Bunny in years.

Mary placed a plate of warm donuts down on the table and squeezed Laura's arm. Appreciative of the support, Laura squeezed back with her free hand. Clearing her throat, she looked at Nellie with moist eyes.

"Grandpa Ingalls and I were racing Bunny in the field. She got tangled in a barbed wire fence. Pa couldn't save her."

Nellie's face dropped into a sympathetic frown. "I'm sorry. She was a beautiful animal. Not that I ever appreciated her when I had her."

Hester Sue wagged a finger at Nellie. "Wait a second. I thought Bunny was Laura's horse."

"She was." Laura sprinkled the rolling pin with more flour. "I traded her to Mr. Oleson so that I could buy a cook stove for Ma for Christmas."

Nellie shook her head. "Father knew how much I wanted that horse. Laura really had him over a barrel."

Mary sat down at the table. "It sure messed up Pa's Christmas plans though."

"You're right," said Laura. "Pa was repairing and painting a set of wheels for Mr. Oleson so that he could buy Ma the cook stove." Laura placed the rolled out dough inside the greased pan and spooned in the apple filling. "Pa couldn't believe it when Mr. Oleson wouldn't sell him the stove...but he never told our secret."

"That was the year Pa made you a saddle for Bunny." Laura could tell by Mary's intense expression that she was remebering back to that Christmas on Plum Creek. "I will never forget the look on your face when Nellie and Mr. Oleson showed up at the door to take Bunny."

Nellie dabbed at the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "Stop. You're making me feel even more guilty for what I did."

"Whatdya do?" Hester Sue's fists were planted firmly on her hips.

"I…uh..." Nellie slammed a spoon down on the table. "Well, if you really must know, I fell off Bunny and I pretended to be paralyzed."

"Good Lord, child. Why would you do such a thing?"

"To make Laura feel bad." Nellie's blond ringlets bounced as she shook her head. "And she did too. I made her wait on me hand and foot."

Laura's eyebrows lifted. "Yeah, until I figured out she wasn't paralyzed."

Nellie's eyes flew open. "Well, you got your revenge when you tossed me down the hill into the mill pond."

Hester Sue roared with laughter. "Now, that's somethin' I woulda loved to have seen."

Nellie plopped down into a chair and wiped her hands on a towel. "I guess I was rotten back then, wasn't I?"

"Yes, you were." Laura flung a pinch of flour across the table.

The flour landed on the bridge of Nellie's nose. Coughing and gasping for breath, Nellie threw the towel she had wiped her hands on and hit Laura in the face. Staring at each other with stunned faces, the kitchen grew deadly silent. But Laura couldn't hide the smile creeping across her face as she and Nellie burst into girlish giggles.

The sound of feet stamping into the hallway meant playtime was over.

"We best get this food out to the table," said Hester Sue. "We sure wouldn't want those young'uns starvin' to death."

Laura picked up the plate closest to her and followed behind Hester Sue. "Are you kidding? Almanzo will put away more food than all the children combined."

The women laughed as they marched down the hallway to the dining room to join the men and children.

The excited chatter in the dining room echoed through the first floor of the blind school. After filling their bellies with an abundance of good food, the men and children huddled together on blankets in front of the fireplace, snacking on donuts and sipping coffee or milk.

The women had left to wash the dishes and put away the food, but now rejoined the group.

"We can hear that ruckus all the way in the kitchen." Hester Sue pulled out a chair and sat down.

Adam stood up and brushed off his pants. "All done putting everything away?"

Hester Sue nodded. "Ya never woulda known we just had a big party by the looks of that kitchen."

"Good," he said, leaning on the table. "Get your coat on."

"What on earth for?"

A sly smile curled the corner of Adam's lips. "You are going on a sleigh ride."

"Oh, no, no, no." Hester Sue waved her hands in front of her chest. "Sleigh rides are for young folk."

"You've worked hard for days. It's time for some fun."

"I agree," said Laura. She stood in the doorway with Mary and Nellie by her side. "Why should the men have all the fun?" Laura clasped Mary's hand. "C'mon, let's go get dressed." They headed toward the coat room where they could hear the men chuckling over their behavior.

Hester Sue shook her head. "Well, there ain't no talkin' sense into you folks, so I best go along to make sure no one gets hurt."

"That's awful kind of you, Hester Sue," teased Willie.

From the hallway Laura saw Hester Sue shoot Willie a look that could kill. When Hester Sue turned around, Laura shoved a shawl and wrap in her direction.

"Hurry up, Hester Sue. I don't want to take a dangerous sleigh ride without you." Laura's devilish grin got her the same look that Hester Sue had given Willie.

Hester Sue turned back toward the children who were beside themselves with laughter. "You hush now or I won't be savin' you any cookies for snack time tonight. I'll just eat 'em myself, that's what I'll do."

They all laughed. Everyone knew that Hester Sue loved spoiling the children around Christmas.

Nestled into Mr. Oleson's sleigh, Mary and Adam smiled and chatted while the children sat on the front porch cheering the riders on. Hester Sue had hopped in alongside Nellie and Percival, leaving Almanzo and Laura to enjoy this sleigh ride by themselves.

"Thank you so much for doing this." Laura's face beamed with love for the man she had often dreamed about. "You made the children very happy."

Almanzo leaned in close enough that Laura could have felt his warm breath on her face if it had not been covered by his muffler. "Ya know I would do anythin' for you." Red heat simmered on Laura's cold cheeks. "It's been fun. The kids are wonderful. Besides, it's nice to have my favorite girl by my side."

Even though Laura often cringed when Almanzo had called her a girl in the past, their ever growing love for each other allowed her to accept his words as the compliment they were meant to be. No longer did Almanzo tug her pigtails before running off to lunch with a beautiful young lady dangling on his arm. His "favorite girl" was the one who he willingly kept close to his side at socials, church picnics, and other town events.

Again Laura's cheeks felt warm. Almanzo pulled back his muffler and placed a quick kiss on her cheek before turning his Morgans around to take another ride by the front of the school. Like the others, they bounced up and down the snow covered hills, laughing all the way.

After a few more passes, Willie and Percival pulled up on opposite sides of Almanzo's cutter. Almanzo looked up at the sky that had just begun to darken.

"Guess we better head home. We gotta get back by suppertime."

Willie let the reins fall over the front of the sleigh. "Yeah, you're right."

Adam helped Mary step out onto the frozen ground. "Why don't you come in for a cup of coffee before you travel all the way home."

After finishing the rest of the donuts and filling up on hot coffee, Laura and Almanzo, Percival and Nellie and Willie headed out in their sleighs toward home. At the break in the road, Willie, Percival and Nellie waved goodbye to Laura and Almanzo, who turned down the road that would go by the Ingalls farm. The young couple traveled in silence, each captured by their own thoughts.

"Whoa." Almanzo tugged the reins and his team halted in front of Laura's house.

Darkness had fallen along the ride home and soft yellow light colored the snow outside the front room window. The door creaked open, startling Laura and Almanzo. They had hoped to spend a few moments alone.

"Hello, Almanzo." Charles stood in the doorway.

"Evenin', Mr. Ingalls." Almanzo tipped his hat. "I hope we're not late."

"No, no. Caroline is just about ready to put food on the table." Charles shivered as he walked outside a few steps. "You're welcome to join us if you like."

"Thank ya, Sir, but Eliza Jane is waitin' on me. She wants to put up the Christmas tree tonight."

Charles nodded, but he did not move. Laura knew he was waiting for her and she resigned herself to going inside. She began to pull the bear skins up when Caroline appeared in the doorway.

"Charles, can you come help me with something?"

He turned around. "Sure darling. What do you need?"

Caroline looked over Charles's head at her daughter. "Come inside and I'll show you."

Charles shrugged. "Give my regards to your sister, Almanzo."

"I will, Sir."

Caroline stepped out of the doorway so that Charles could pass. She looked up at Laura and smiled before shutting the door.

Laura and Almanzo laughed. "Thank goodness for Ma," she said. "I'm not sure Pa will ever be ready for me to grow up."

"My father was the same way with my sisters." Almanzo's shoulders moved up and down. "I'll probably be the same way with my daughters too."

Laura shifted under the bear skins. They had spoken of the future before, but more about getting married and building a home. Children seemed too intimate of a topic to enter into their conversations.

Almanzo clasped her hand. "You better go inside before your pa starts peekin' outta the window."

A nervous giggle escaped her lips. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

Almanzo's free hand slid out of the bear skins and caressed her cheek. "Probably not until everyone gets together at church. Eliza Jane has a special dinner planned and Hester Sue is comin' over."

He glanced up at the sky filled with puffy, gray clouds and breathed deeply. "Smells like snow." He pointed up. "From the look of those clouds we'll have about a foot of snow by mornin'."

Laura shivered. Almanzo brought his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. A crooked smile slid across his face as Laura's chocolate brown eyes gazed upon him. Feeling the warmth of his body so close and his breath upon her face, her heart raced inside her chest. She was certain his heart pounded in the same rhythm.

His lips parted and he leaned in closer, stopping just before their lips touched. "Merry Christmas, Beth."

She swallowed away the lump in her throat. "Merry Christmas, Manly."

Their lips touched and the distance between them diminished. Her insides performed somersaults as sparks of excitement tingled through her. Reluctantly, they pulled back and it was several moments before his raspy voice broke through the silence.

"I'll wait 'til you're inside."

Laura nodded and adjusted her hat. Pulling her coat closer to her chin, Almanzo helped her pull the bear skins back so she could step out. She tucked them around Almanzo's body to keep him warm on the ride home.

She walked to the doorway and turned around. A gloved hand waved at her. His face now almost totally covered by his muffler and the flaps of his hat, she could just make out the sparkle of his eyes. Something cold and wet tickled her nose. Looking up, light, tiny snowflakes fell onto her face. Laura raised a gloved hand and watched the white flakes as delicate and unique as tatted lace drop onto her glove and then disappear. She smiled at Almanzo, waved, and walked inside.

Leaning against the door, Laura never heard her mother ask how the day went. She was too busy thinking of sleigh rides, Almanzo, and the magic of Christmas snow.

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

LHOP Adventure Day 5

I can't believe it has been six months since my last LHOP Adventure update. You will have to excuse my tardiness, because my new career as a real estate agent is booming and I haven't had time to blog much.

If you want to remember what happened on Day 4, you can check it out here.

We started the fifth day of our adventure by having breakfast at Nellie's "Little Cafe on the Prairie," where they only accept cash. I really didn't think my friends were serious when they told me to bring a lot of money. Who doesn't take credit cards? Well, now we know Nellie doesn't.

It had been raining, so some of the cast got a bit wet before sitting down to sign autographs. That morning, I waited in line for Hersha Parady (Alice Garvey), Radames Pera (John Sanderson Jr.), and Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle). All of them were so pleasant. 

Divas Beth and Lorrie get their autographs.

We did more sightseeing and had lunch in the park. I chatted with some local authors and collected their business cards. We also waited in line to get autographs from Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Dan McBride (Henry Riley--the guy who always ate at Nellie's Restaurant, but always complained about the food), and the Turnbaugh Twins who played Grace Ingalls. 

Nasty Nellie Oleson (but Alison is very nice).

We ate at Red Rooster for supper and then we hung out together until bedtime. Another day of traveling awaited us. 

Green Bay Gazette Interview with Alison Arngrim

Alison Arngrim, who portrayed nasty Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie, was recently interviewed by the Green Bay Gazette. You can read her interview at http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/entertainment/2014/07/09/years-little-house-nellie-still-queen-prairie/12433371/

Little House on the Prairie - Historical or Fictional Characters

Every once in a while, a question will come up about characters on television's Little House on the Prairie. Since the show was based upon Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, some not familiar with Wilder's real life aren't sure which characters are historical figures and which were created solely for the show. Here's a good place to start.

The Ingalls family included: Caroline, Charles and their children Mary, Laura, Caroline Celestia (Carrie), Charles Frederick (Baby Freddie), and Grace. Popular characters though they were, the Ingallses never adopted an orphan boy named Albert or the Cooper children.

Mary Ingalls went blind as a teenager. Her hopes of being a teacher were quickly dashed. While she went away to a college for the blind and learned many things, she never married. She remained single, living with her parents until their deaths (Charles in 1902 and Caroline in 1924), and then with Grace and her husband in the Ingalls family home in De Smet. She died in 1928, while visiting her sister Carrie. That means Adam Kendall was a made for TV husband.

Reverend Edwin Hyde Alden was minister of the Congregational Church in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. Known as Robert, the real life minister who started the church in Walnut Grove, was a home missionary with a wife and daughter back east. He rode the train west and preached in New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Barnston, Walnut Grove, Saratoga and Marshall. He would preach in schoolhouses, private homes, and railroad depots. He was known to have built small chapels and churches in pioneer communities.

When the Ingalls family stayed in the Surveyor's House in De Smet, Reverend Alden visited them. He had left Minnesota and entered the missionary field in Dakota. The community wasn't yet know as De Smet, but Reverend Alden held the first church service ever in the Surveyor's House. He would stop by De Smet during his journeys, holding services in an unfinished depot until the new minister was appointed, Reverend Edward Brown.

Dabbs Greer played Reverend Alden on Little House on the Prairie. He traveled to other communities, just like his real life counterpart. He was single in the show, however, until Season 6, when he married widow Anna Craig.

Kevin Hagen played kindly Doctor Baker on the show. He is not based on any real life character that I know of. When the Ingalls family lived in Kansas, a black homeopathic doctor named George Tann treated them for malaria.

In the television show, Doc Baker took care of everyone's aches and pains. He delivered babies and acted as the town's veterinarian. In Season 8, Doc Baker decides he needs some help, so he hires African-American doctor Caleb Ledoux, who moves to town with his wife, Maddie. Racist sentiments in town almost drive them away, but they agree to stay in Walnut Grove, though we never see them again.

After the pilot episode, the Ingalls family leaves Kansas and journeys to Walnut Grove, Minnesota. The real life Ingalls family only stayed in Walnut Grove a couple of years (1874 - 1876) before crop failures forced them to leave, and returned for another two years (1877 - 1879), living in town before moving to their final home in De Smet, South Dakota. The majority of the show, however, took place in Walnut Grove.

When the TV Ingalls family (and the real life Ingallses) stop at Plum Creek, they purchase a dugout house on the banks of the creek from Mr. Hanson. He was a Norwegian settler who itched to go west, On television, he was one of the founders of Walnut Grove and remained there until his death.

Mr. Edwards was a neighbor of the Ingalls family when they lived in Kansas. A bachelor, originally from Tennessee, he lived across the creek. Identifying who he was and what his occupation was is difficult. In Donald Zochert's book Laura, he says he might have been J.H. Edwards, who ran Ed's Saloon and dealt in "liquor and cigars" at Fort Scott, but Zochert says that would make him too far away to be the man Wilder mentions in her books.

In the show, the character of Mr. Edwards is first introduced in the pilot, helping the Ingalls family and befriending Laura. They have a teary-eyed parting when the Ingalls family is forced to leave Kansas, but Charles runs into Mr. Edwards in Mankato and brings him back to Walnut Grove. This time, he has a backstory: his wife and daughter died, and he believes it was his fault for moving them so far away from medical help. This caused him to turn to alcohol in order to cope with the loss. 

Nellie Oleson, while featured in the books and on the television series, was a totally fictional character made up by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She is a composite of three of Wilder's classmates: Nellie Owens, Genevieve Masters, and Stella Gilbert. Nellie Owens had a brother named Willie, and her parents (William and Margaret) ran a mercantile in Walnut Grove. Sound familiar TV lovers?

I hope you have enjoyed this discussion. Comments are always welcome.

Wisdom of Ma

"If wisdom's ways you wisely seek,

Five things observe with care.

To whom you speak,

Of whom you speak,

And how, and when, and where."

Written in Laura's album after an altercation with Nellie Oleson

New Survey Posted in the Sidebar

I just posted a new survey for the month of July in the sidebar. This one asks if you've read Alison Arngrim's book, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch and what you thought of it. Feel free to expand your thoughts here.

Thanks for taking the time to vote!

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim - Book Review

If you are looking for a book that is funny, irreverent, and courageous, look no further than Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim. In a style you come to expect from the woman who portrayed Nellie Oleson for many seasons on Little House on the Prairie, Arngrim shares her story from her childhood, the years she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a relative, her years on Little House, and beyond. This is a woman who isn't shy about opening up, and you'll love her for it.

I found this great video clip a while back, which you'll find below. Watch this, and you'll pretty much know what to expect for Arngrim's writing style.

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch was a very enlightening read. I must live under a rock because I didn't know Arngrim came from a family of entertainers, nor did I know the identity of the person who abused her for years; both of which seem like fairly common knowledge.

Argrim provided a great deal of behind the scenes stuff and spoke of many of her co-stars. I wish she had been a bit kinder to Melissa Sue Anderson, but overall, I didn't feel she exposed any horrible or damaging secrets. She spoke lovingly of her time on the set, and shared how portraying Nellie helped her deal with the problems at home. She also spent some time talking about the late Steve Tracy, who played her husband, Percival Dalton.

As a fan of the show, I have always felt that Arngrim and Tracy had such wonderful on-screen chemistry. It is such a shame he passed away so young. Argrim speaks of that loss, Michael Landon's passing, her role as an AIDS activist, and her involvement in PROTECT.org.

I read Confessions of a Prairie Bitch in under a day. The minute it arrived, I opened it up, and I pretty much didn't stop reading until the kids cried of starvation. So, I tossed them a loaf of bread and some water and kept on reading. Just kidding. I didn't want to stop reading. I couldn't stop reading. As soon as I was done I was ready to read it again.

Alison Arngrim is a natural storyteller. I can see why her comedy act is so popular. If you're a fan of Little House on the Prairie, Nellie Oleson, Arngrim, or just want to read a hilarious book that you can't put down, pick up a copy of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch. You won't be sorry!




Title: Confessions of a Prairie Bitch
Author: Alison Arngrim
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0-06-196214-1
SRP: $25.99

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch is on its Way

I received an email from Amazon yesterday stating that my copy of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated shipped. I am so excited. Out of the three Little House on the Prairie cast autobiographies--Melissa Gilbert, Melissa (Sue) Anderson, and Alison Arngrim--Alison's is the one I wanted to read the most.

She's been promoting the book for a while. There is word that she was on the Today show this morning. I haven't had time to check. If you're on Facebook or Twitter, you'll find Alison there too.

I'll share my thoughts on this book after I read it.

Alison Arngrim (LHOP's Nellie Oleson) Book in the Works

Alison Argrim, who portrayed spoiled brat Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie, tweeted that she found a publisher for her book. The planned title is Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, which is also the title of Alison's comedy act.

You can read more about Alison's comedy act at her website.

We congratulate Alison on her book deal and look forward to more news soon.

See LHOP's Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim) at Prairie Day in the United Kingdom

Hove Library Presents:

For the first time in any library in the United Kingdom

PRAIRIE DAY

with special guest appearance by actress ALISON ARNGRIM - TV'S NELLIE OLESON of Little House on the Prairie

When: Saturday, December 6, 2008

List of events:

STORYTIME FROM 10:30 - 12:30

Alison will read a selection from Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic book On the Banks of Plum Creek followed by children's craft activities and autograph signing session.

And from 2:30 - 5:00 a special FREE screening of the Little House on the Prairie episode BUNNY! Alison will be present to chat and answer questions.

To reserve a FREE ticket for the screening and Q&A with Alison please telephone 01273 296937 or collect them from the Hove Library Enquiry Desk.


To find out more about the Hove Library please visit them online at http://www.citylibraries.info/libraries/hove.asp

Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls by Heather Williams--Book Review

Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls, written by Heather Williams, is based during the time in which On the Banks of Plum Creek, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, takes place. Nellie hates life on the prairie and yearns to move to wonderful New York City. Very little about prairie life gives Nellie satisfaction; but what does is that her family is the richest family in town and that she is the most popular girl in school. Nellie becomes upset when she is not the center of attention. Once Nellie is not the center of the attention, she becomes angry at her limelight stealer and plots revenge. In class one day, Nellie feels as though she is unjustly accused and becomes upset with her teacher, Miss Beadle. Nellie decides to fill Miss Beadle's desk drawer with disgusting insects and employs her brother Willie's help.

In the spring of the next year, a new girl comes to school. Her name is Laura Ingalls and everybody likes her better than they like Nellie, which makes Laura an enemy. Laura even has the nerve to play a different school yard game and Nellie's best friend, Christy, loves to play the new game instead of her favorite game. At supper that night, Mrs. Oleson uncharacteristically asks Nellie how school was that day. When Mrs. Oleson hears that Nellie thinks she no longer has any friends, Mrs. Oleson comes up with a plan to help the girls realize how special Nellie is. The plan is a birthday party and the party, in Nellie's mind, helps her become the most popular girl. Nellie is excited to go to school the Monday following the party but is floored to learn that that wretched Laura is going to have party. Once again Laura is the most popular girl and Nellie becomes upset. During the party Laura plays a mean trick on Nellie and Nellie wishes that something bad would happen to the Ingalls family so that they would move back east.

Later in the summer the town is plagued by grasshoppers and families are forced to moved away. Nellie discovers that her family is no long as rich as they were and that she can no longer have whatever she likes from the store. Nellie becomes quite sad, thinking that she is the cause of the grasshoppers. At school Nellie is overcome by her feelings and confesses to Miss Beadle that the grasshoppers are here because of her. Miss Beadle sets Nellie straight and tells Nellie that being a pioneer girl is not easy and that she will have to be brave and good. Nellie takes these words to heart and tries to be brave and good.

I have a little disclaimer for my above review of the book. I realize that I make Laura seem to be a bit 'bad', but this is not my intent. The book is written in the view point of Nellie as is this review.

At first I did not think that I would enjoy this book. In the first few chapters Nellie is rather bratty and I do not like reading a book where a child is bratty and gets away with it. After the first chapters, I think that Nellie does not come across this way. Overall I enjoyed the book. There were a few things I thought were interesting. I thought it was interesting that Nellie's first doll was named Laura and I thought that it was interesting that Mr. and Mrs. Oleson had different first names than they did in the tv series. I suppose that we don't know their real first names, so that any name really could've been their first name.

I think that the book was well done and that reading the book gives one insight into what may have been going through Nellie's mind and why she was the way she was.

Reviewed by: Kerissa