Since 1974, Little House on the Prairie has captured millions of viewers’ hearts. The story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s pioneering family and their experiences gave us all a glimpse into life in the 19th century.
Even if you’ve seen every episode, you probably don’t know everything about the cast and production. This article will test your knowledge about Little House on the Prairie facts.
1. Michael Landon as Director
Michael Landon agreed to direct the pilot, as long as he could play the part of Charles Ingalls. He ended up leading 90 of the 204 episodes.
2. Popularity in Spain
In Spain, the show won several TP de Oro awards. These were similar to the Emmys at that time in Spain.
3. Inspiration from Bonanza
One of the most surprising Little House on the Prairie facts is that the show recycled scripts from Bonanza. Doing this was common for shows at the time.
4. Nellie Oleson’s Wig
Those perfect curls were a wig. Sometimes, it was so tight that it made the actress’s scalp bleed.
5. Groundbreaking Issues
The show was generally pretty light. However, some episodes considered taboo themes for the period, such as prejudice, addiction, and rape.
6. Walnut Grove is Real
While you may have assumed it was a fake town, Walnut Grove is a real place in Minnesota. Laura Ingalls Wilder lived there for a few years as a child.
7. Nellie and Laura’s Friendship
Although they were rivals in the show, Alison Arngrim and Melissa Gilbert became best friends in real life. It must have made their fighting scenes all the more fun to film.
8. Blowing Up the Town
At the beginning of the series, the producer agreed to restore the land to its original condition after production. That’s why the residents of Walnut Grove blow it up in the last episode of the show.
9. Uncomfortable Heat
Those periodic outfits had many layers, which weren’t ideal when filming in Simi Valley, California. The heat caused some of the actresses and crew members to pass out on occasion.
10. Canned Stew and Fast Food
In many scenes, you can see the Ingalls eating Ma’s hearty stew. It was Dinty Moore beef stew. When they were eating fried chicken, it was KFC.
11. Kissing Scenes
Melissa had her first real-life kiss on the set of Little House. She was only 15 years old when Laura got married, so she felt uncomfortable with these scenes.
12. Sean Penn Made his Debut
In season one, Leo Penn directed one of the episodes. He brought along his son, Sean, who was 13 years old. He played an uncredited schoolboy.
13. Karen Grassle’s Name
When Karen Grassle auditioned to play “Ma,” she auditioned with the name Gabriel Tree. Since this seemed a bit too hippie, Michael Landon asked her to use her real name.
14. Mary Was the Mean Girl
Melissa Sue Anderson, the actress that portrayed Mary, was never close with the other cast members. The rest of the Little House on the Prairie cast thought she was mean or stuck up.
15. Potential Reboot
In recent news, producers announced that a new version of Little House on the Prarie is in the works. Of course, we don’t have all the details yet, but it’s exciting!
Did You Enjoy These Little House on the Prairie Facts?
After reading these cools facts on Little House on the Prairie, you are an expert on the show. Now, you can outsmart your friends with your new Little House on the Prairie facts!
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