Little House On The Prairie (DVD) Review

Nominated for 17 Emmys, including one Golden Globe for Best TV Series - Drama, Little House On The Prairie is one of the most popular shows in television history. Based on the autobiographical series of "Little House" books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the show explores the inner-workings of a small town and family on the 19th Century American frontier. Director/Co-Executive Producer Michael Landon (of Bonanza and Highway to Heaven fame) also wrote one-third of the episodes (in addition to playing a lead role as the family's father, Charles, when the actor originally cast for the part failed to show). Charles would go on to become one of the show's most popular characters, and Little House On The Prairie would become an American favorite, boasting ten successful seasons to its credit… Little House On The Prairie follows the lives of the Ingalls family as they settle on the banks of Plum Creek in the township of Walnut Grove, Kansas during the 1870's. A true pioneer family, the story is seen through the eyes of the Ingalls' middle-daughter, Laura (Melissa Gilbert), who experiences all the normal growing pains and emotions of a young girl growing up on the prairie. Carpenter Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) and his former school teacher wife, Caroline (Karen Grassle), head up a family of three that includes two additional daughters, Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) and Carrie (Lindsay & Sidney Greenbush). The town also includes a loveable cast of supporting characters, such as Walnut Grove School teacher Eva Beadle (Charlotte Stewart), town doctor Hiram Baker (Kevin Hagen), pastor Robert Alden (Dabbs Greer), family friend Isaiah Edwards (Victor French), the wealthy Oleson family, and a host of other characters… The Little House On The Prairie DVD features a number of dramatic episodes including the series premiere in which the Ingalls family travels from Big Woods, Wisconsin to the more open and fertile lands of the Kansas prairie. Along the way, they make friends with Mr. Edwards (who helps them settle), have a run-in with some Indians, and fight a dangerous fire… Other notable episodes from Season 1 include "Ma's Holiday" in which Charles and Caroline decide to go on a second honeymoon, and "Circus Man" in which a traveling salesmen tries to hoodwink the people of Walnut Grove into the notion that he possesses magic healing powers… Below is a list of episodes included on the Little House On The Prairie (Season 1) DVD: Episode xx (Pilot) Air Date: 03-30-1974 Episode 1 (Harvest of Friends) Air Date: 09-11-1974 Episode 2 (Country Girls) Air Date: 09-18-1974 Episode 3 (100 Mile Walk) Air Date: 09-25-1974 Episode 4 (Mr. Edwards' Homecoming) Air Date: 10-02-1974 Episode 5 (The Love of Johnny Johnson) Air Date: 10-09-1974 Episode 6 (If I Should Wake Before I Die) Air Date: 10-23-1974 Episode 7 (Town Party, Country Party) Air Date: 10-30-1974 Episode 8 (Ma's Holiday) Air Date: 11-06-1974 Episode 9 (School Mom) Air Date: 11-13-1974 Episode 10 (The Raccoon) Air Date: 11-20-1974 Episode 11 (The Voice of Tinker Jones) Air Date: 12-04-1974 Episode 12 (The Award) Air Date: 12-11-1974 Episode 13 (The Lord is My Shepard) Air Date: 12-18-1974 Episode 14 (Christmas at Plum Creek) Air Date: 12-25-1974 Episode 15 (Family Quarrel) Air Date: 01-15-1975 Episode 16 (Doctor's Lady) Air Date: 01-22-1975 Episode 17 (Plague) Air Date: 01-29-1975 Episode 18 (Circus Man) Air Date: 02-05-1975 Episode 19 (Child of Pain) Air Date: 02-12-1975 Episode 20 (Money Crop) Air Date: 02-19-1975 Episode 21 (Survival) Air Date: 02-26-1975 Episode 22 (To See the World) Air Date: 03-05-1975 Episode 23 (Founder's Day) Air Date: 05-07-1975