Season 2
2.01 The Richest Man In Walnut Grove (25)
2.02 Four Eyes (26)
2.03 Ebenezer Sprague (27)
2.04 In The Big Inning (28)
2.05 Haunted House (29)
2.06 The Spring Dance (30)
2.07 Remember Me: Part I (31)
2.08 Remember Me: Part II (32)
2.09 The Camp-Out (33)
2.10 At The End Of The Rainbow (34)
2.11 The Gift (35)
2.12 His Father's Son (36)
2.13 The Talking Machine (37)
2.14 The Pride Of Walnut Grove (38)
2.15 A Matter Of Faith (39)
2.16 The Runaway Caboose (40)
2.17 Troublemaker (41)
2.18 The Long Road Home (42)
2.19 For My Lady (43)
2.20 Centennial (44)
2.21 Soldier's Return (45)
2.22 Going Home (46)
Starring: Michael Landon, Karen Grassle (1-15,17-221), Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson, Lindsay Sidney Greenbush2 (1-15,17-221). Executive Producer: Michael Landon. Produced by John Hawkins (1,3,5-14,16-18,20-22), B. W. Sandefur (2,4,15,19). Developed for Television by Blanche Hanalis. Based Upon the "Little House" Series of Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
The Town: Richard Bull (Mr. Oleson 1,3-11,13,17,20,21), Kevin Hagen (Dr. Baker 4,6-8,11,12,15,21), Katherine MacGregor3 (Mrs. Oleson 1-11,13,14,17,19-21), Karl Swenson (Mr. Hanson 1,3,4,7,8,11,14,17,19,20,22), Dabbs Greer (Reverend Alden 1,4,7,8,11,15,20-22), Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle 1-4,6-11,13,14,17,20), Ted Gehring (Mr. Sprague 3,10,19).
B. W. Sandefur (Co-Producer 1,3,5-14,16-18,20-22), John Hawkins (Co-Producer 2,4,15,19), David Rose (Music), Kent McCray (Associate Producer), Ted Voigtländer A.S.C. (Director of Photography 1,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,17,18,22), Haskell Boggs A.S.C. (Director of Photography 2,4,6,9,11,14-16,19-21), Walter M. Jefferies (Art Director), Jerry Taylor (Editor 1,3,5,7,8,10,13,14,16,19-21), John Loeffler (Editor 2,4,6,9,11,12,15,17,18,22), Don Webb (Set Decoration), Miles S. Middough (Assistant Director 1,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,17,18,22), Maury Dexter (Assistant Director 2,4,6,9,11,14-16,19-21), Edward R. Morse (Casting), Marvin Coil A.C.E. (Supervising Editor), Allan Snyder S.M.A. (Makeup), Larry Germain C.H.S. (Hair Stylist), Andy Matyasi (Men's Costumer), Richalene Kelsay (Women's Costumer), Edna Bullock (Music Editor), Edward P. Ancona Jr. (Color Consultant), Charles Knight (Sound Recording), Dave Dockendorf (Sound Recording 1-11,13-22), Jay Harding (Sound Recording 12), Photographed with Panavision Equipment®, Processed by Consolidated Film Industries, Sound by Glen Glenn Sound, An NBC Production In Association with Ed Friendly.
Interiors shot at Paramount Studios, Hollywood.
Copyright © MCMLXXV [1975] by National Broadcasting Company, Inc. (1-13,15)
Copyright © MCMLXXVI [1976] by National Broadcasting Company, Inc. (14,16-22)
1 Credited across all episodes, but only appears in those indicated.
2 Carrie is played jointly by twin actresses Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush.
3 aka Scottie MacGregor.
Overall Nielsen rating for season: outside top 30.
Episode# 2.01 (25)
Written by Michael Landon
Directed by Michael Landon
Broadcast September 10, 1975, NBC / Production #2001
Guest Star: Kelly Thordsen (Baker Makay). Featuring: Jim Jeter (Hans Dorfler), Queenie Smith (Mrs. Whipple), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson), Tracie Savage (Christy Kennedy).
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
The lumber mill closes when a major customer declares bankruptcy, leaving Mr. Hanson unable to pay Charles. In turn, this means the Ingalls can't pay their bill at the Oleson mercantile. With Mrs. Oleson leaning heavily on them, the whole Ingalls clan has to take on extra work to discharge the debt.
One of my favorite moments rewatching The Richest Man In Walnut Grove last night was the Laura-cam when Laura and Miss Beadle were approaching Nellie/Willie on the steps of the Mercantile. What was up with that? (jpgr)
That scene in the hayloft with Pa and Laura usually gets mentioned for Pa's speech about hard work. But it's really the way Laura stops on the ladder and tells Pa how much she loves him that makes the scene golden. MG was such an amazing child actor – she makes many of her scenes seem ad-libbed, which I am certain they are not. (charlieboo)
OTHER COMMENTS
Episode# 2.02 (26)
Written by B. W. Sandefur
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast September 17, 1975, NBC / Production #2002
Guest Star: Ford Rainey (Dr. Burke). Co-Starring: Brian Richards (John Stacey). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson), Tracie Savage (Christy Kennedy). Cindy Moore (Tall School Girl)2.
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
2 Uncredited on episode's titles; this entry has been taken from the Internet Movie Database and has not been verified.
Teacher Miss Beadle and the Ingalls become concerned about Mary's poor performance in school, until Charles realizes that she has a problem with her eyesight. Now fitted with glasses, Mary is teased by the Oleson kids. Upset, Mary then refuses to wear her glasses... That is, until she meets the handsome boyfriend of the similarly bespectacled Miss Beadle.
It looks like a cold misty morning chez Ingalls near the start of the episode (as Charles walks over from the barn), but when Carrie looks out the window moments later, it is bright and sunny.
Not to mention that the part of the refraction (fit for prescription) he was doing is what measures the strength and direction of the correction of your astigmatism, which is customized and specific, and even labs/optical shops today can't keep astigmatic lenses of all strength and direction combinations on hand, for all frame sizes and shapes, unlike that doctor. (Mussel Bound)
Oh ML, how I love the fact that you have NO boundaries. Miss Beadle's late-20s, early 30s boyfriend breezes into town, practically hits on a 13-year old and then is all hot for teacher right in plain sight of her students? Jezebel indeed! (DoxieMama)
Episode# 2.03 (27)
Written by Hindi Brooks
Directed by Victor French
Broadcast September 24, 19751, NBC / Production #2003
Guest Star: Ted Gehring (Ebenezer Sprague). Featuring: Janice Carroll (Mrs. Kennedy), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Ed Crick (Mr. Taylor), Ruth Foster (Mrs. Foster), Jonathan Gilbert2 (Willie Oleson), James Killmond (Johnny), Lloyd "Sunshine" Parker (Freight Man), Tracie Savage (Christy Kennedy), Donna Anderson (Woman).
1 Sources (e.g. IMDb) which list Haunted House for this date would seem to be incorrect.
2 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
Laura is shocked to discover that her amiable fishing friend is none other than Walnut Grove's new banker, miserly Ebenezer Sprague, and is upset when he accuses her of befriending him simply to secure a loan for her family. On reflection, he regrets his attitude and buys Laura's school a new set of textbooks to say sorry.
About half-way through this episode, Laura goes fishing with Sprague along with Jack the dog. However, afterwards, as Laura is taken home, Jack has vanished.
Episode# 2.04 (28)
Written by B. W. Sandefur
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast October 1, 1975, NBC / Production #2008
Guest Star: Victor French (Mr. Edwards). Special Guest Star: Gregory Walcott (Slick McBurney). Co-Starring: Karl Lukas (Jebediah Mumfort), Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Snider), June Dayton (Margaret Mumfort). Featuring: Chuck Hayward (Cosby), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson). Ruth Foster (Mrs. Foster)2.
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
2 Uncredited on episode's titles.
It's the annual baseball game between Walnut Grove and Sleepy Eye. Walnut Grove believe they have found a new secret weapon in the form of Jebediah Mumfort. When Mumfort's strait-laced wife finds out that people are gambling on the outcome of the game, she forbids her husband from taking part. Caroline Ingalls intervenes and promises any winnings to the church; Mumfort is allowed to play, and Walnut Grove goes on to win the game.
Today they had the one where the men of Walnut Grove play Sleepy Eye in baseball. Of course the Sleepy Eye men were all evil with their gambling, drinking and cheating. After Pa was the hero at the plate and drove in three runs to even the score, a big brawl broke out as Pa was running for home and ran into the main Sleepy Eye character (of course Pa scored the winning run after the opposing player dropped the ball, but I digress). During the brawl, Pa kept getting thrown onto and over a table that held all the baked goods and the darn thing didn't break! All I kept thinking was, "My what a strong, well-built table." Anyone else notice it? (murphsully)
The batting order illegally changes during the game – Doc Baker hits before Edwards, but then Edwards hits before Doc Baker.
According to the Internet Movie Database: "Reverend Alden was counting foul balls as strikes. Foul balls didn't start counting as strikes until the National League adopted the rule in 1901. This game takes place more than 20 years before that."
According to the Internet Movie Database: "Before the game, [the] Sleepy Eye captain argues in favor of the teams getting 4 outs an inning like they did in their previous game. Baseball had been using 3 outs per side for over 20 years by then."
After the game yesterday, Ma told Pa that maybe they should play more baseball. She told him it would be good exercise and get him outside more. What the heck? I know he's just a hobby farmer, but he's outside all the time and working. Even when he works at the mill. (robinette01)
Episode# 2.05 (29)
Teleplay by Ray Goldrup and John Hawkins & B. W. Sandefur, story by Ray Goldrup
Directed by Victor French
Broadcast October 8, 19751,2, NBC / Production #2007
Guest Star: John Anderson (Amos Pike). Featuring: Steffen Zacharias (Jamie Dent), Lisa Lyon (Lilly Baldwin), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert3 (Willie Oleson), Karen Nicoletti (Jane).
1 Sources (e.g. IMDb) which list The Camp-Out for this date would seem to be incorrect.
2 I can find no original evidence that this episode was aired on September 24, 1975, as suggested by e.g. IMDb.
3 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
Egged on by Nellie and Willie, Laura dares to investigate the local "haunted house". She finds a reclusive old man, Amos Pike, who can't accept the death of his wife, a beautiful actress, many years previously. Although he's initially hostile, the man's confidence is gradually won by Laura. She helps him to stop deluding himself that his wife will still return home someday, and to start living a fuller life.
Think ML would have tried to do the "young girl becomes friends with creepy old man" plot if LH was on the air today?
Somehow, I don't think so. (prairiegirl)
Episode# 2.06 (30)
Written by Gerry Day
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast October 29, 1975, NBC / Production #2004
Guest Stars: Victor French (Mr. Edwards), Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Snider), Clay O'Brien (Henry Henderson). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson). David Prowse (Sawmill Foreman)2, Clay Greenbush3 (School Kid)4.
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
2 Uncredited on episode's titles; this entry has been taken from the Internet Movie Database and has not been verified. I am dubious about the identification of Dave Prowse as being in this episode.
3 Clay Greenbush is the brother of Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (who play Carrie).
4 Uncredited on episode's titles; this entry has been taken from the Internet Movie Database and has not been verified.
Laura wants to be invited to the annual spring dance by Henry Henderson, while Grace Snider hopes she will be asked by Mr. Edwards. However, both Henry and Mr. Edwards are making no moves. Caroline suggests a plan that she once used on Charles – "make him jealous"... But the results this time are not as Caroline remembers and Charles has to jog her memory. In the end, both Laura and Grace do the asking!
Good story, but don't join the episode late or you won't know what's going on.
Laura didn't have a whole lot of sense when it came to guys. In The Spring Dance she tries to make Henry jealous with... Willie?? First of all, who would be jealous of some kid who spends half his time in the outhouse? Have he and Laura ever given any indication that they can even stand each other? And is Willie even into girls yet? (DoxieMama)
This is one of the billion things that has always bugged me about LH. I am assuming you are referring to The Spring Dance when Half-Pint is stalking yet another "soon to be murdered and buried in the land of lost tertiary souls" character? I swear it to God that when Laura announces the lunch that she made to entice her victim, she says it as "pear and butter sandwiches". Even as a kid, it always threw me for a loop. I'm not sure if she just says it weird or if those enormous teeth are in the way, but does anyone else notice this? Or do I need to go and get my hearing checked? (Shakespearette)
Episode# 2.07 (31)
Written by Michael Landon
Directed by Michael Landon
Broadcast November 5, 1975, NBC / Production #2009
Guest Star[sic]: Victor French (Mr. Edwards), Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Snider), Radames Pera (John Jr.)1. Special Guest Star: Patricia Neal (Julia Sanderson). Co-Starring: Brian Part (Carl)1, Kyle Richards (Alicia)1, Jim Goodwin (Tyler)2. Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert3 (Willie Oleson). Ruth Foster (Mrs. Foster)4.5
1 This is the first appearance of the Sanderson kids, who would be adopted by the Edwards: Radames Pera (John Jr.), Brian Part (Carl) and Kyle Richards (Alicia).
2 In some copies of this episode, this credit appears to have been added afterwards and reads "Jim Goodman" (instead of "Goodwin").
3 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
4 Uncredited on episode's titles.
5 Sheldon Allman (Jason Anders) and Gerry Gaylor (Sylvia Anders) are credited but do not appear. Likewise, Irene Tedrow (Minerva Farnsworth) is credited on some copies of this episode.
A widowed mother, Julia Sanderson, learns she has terminal cancer and, with no close relatives to care for her three children, gets Charles to promise to find them a new home after she dies. Meanwhile, Laura and Mary rescue some puppies from being drowned, and the relationship between Mr. Edwards and Grace Snider begins to blossom.
Very sad story, amazing Patricia Neal, cute Alicia (before she played some other random kid) and NotYetGayJohn (plus that 3rd kid who never did anything).
My main gripe is that Charles was supposed to be Julia's closest friend who she would trust with her kids, yet (insert eyeroll) we had never seen or heard of her family before. And the one thing I find funny is the way Julia is constantly standing or lying there and just waves her hand in the air as she purrs "Charrrrrrrrles". (charlieboo)
I don't care how many times I watch that, I cry every time when Rev Alden reads Julia's note at her funeral. Michael Landon was an excellent writer, the scene where he tells Laura that life is all about loving each other and making memories so that people aren't really gone when they die is very poignant, considering what happened to him at such a young age. (prairiegirl)
Episode# 2.08 (32)
Written by Michael Landon
Directed by Michael Landon
Broadcast November 12, 1975, NBC / Production #2010
Guest Star[sic]: Victor French (Mr. Edwards), Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Snider), Radames Pera (John Jr.). Co-Starring: Brian Part (Carl), Kyle Richards (Alicia), Sheldon Allman (Jason Anders), Irene Tedrow (Minerva Farnsworth). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Gerry Gaylor (Sylvia Anders), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson). Ruth Foster (Mrs. Foster)2.3
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
2 Uncredited on episode's titles.
3 Patricia Neal (Julia Sanderson) is credited but only appears in flashbacks to Part I.
After Julia Sanderson's death, her three children are temporarily looked after by Grace Snider with help from Mr. Edwards. When Charles is unable to find someone to adopt all three children, he has to make the difficult decision to place them in separate homes. At the very last minute, Mr. Edwards makes a monumental move – he marries Grace, and they take on all three children.
Episode# 2.09 (33)
Teleplay by Gerry Day, story by Joseph Bonaduce
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast November 19, 19751,2, NBC / Production #2006
Guest Stars: Katherine MacGregor3 (Mrs. Oleson), Richard Bull (Mr. Oleson). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert4 (Willie Oleson). Cindy Moore (Tall Schoolgirl)5.
1 Sources which list Ebenezer Sprague for this date would seem to be incorrect.
2 I can find no original evidence that this episode was aired on October 8, 1975, as suggested by e.g. IMDb.
3 aka Scottie MacGregor.
4 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
5 Uncredited on episode's titles; this entry has been taken from the Internet Movie Database and has not been verified.
After she concludes that Laura and Mary will have the upper hand over Nellie in a practical science project, Mrs. Oleson invites herself along on the Ingalls' camping trip. Unfamiliar with the true country environment, both Willie and Mrs. Oleson are soon contaminated with poison ivy. Elsewhere, Laura and Nellie accidentally fall into a river and are swept downstream. They eventually come to a stop just yards from certain death. The ever-spiteful Nellie accuses Laura of engineering the whole incident in an attempt to drown her!
After the opening credit the camera starts to zoom in on the schoolhouse, to the right of the school there is a wagon with a man and a woman sitting in the seat. Well they were really going at it BIG TIME!!!! I thought he was just going to suck her face off... and this is a family show?? (mommy2girls)
I just never got the point of the Ingalls going camping as a vacation. I mean, let's define camping: sleeping on a crappy bed, leaky shelter, cooking over an open fire, catching your own food and spending every waking minute with your family. That's the Ingalls' life every freakin' day.
So camping for the Ingalls is living for a week without even FEWER conveniences. It hardly seems possible. And leave their cow behind? Who milked it? And fed the other animals? Really, such non-realism. And yes, I know they had to find leaves, but surely there were dozens of different trees around there; they didn't have to go away for a week. (Mugsy)
And I love it that those majestic, huge mountains were only a day's walk from Walnut Grove. Who knew? (Goshen Girl)
When Charles and Nels cross the fallen tree, somebody can be seen steadying(?) the trunk on the other end of it. He looks back towards where the camera is. (Steve)
As the two girls leave the river, Nellie has a very bad dubbed line: "No! Wait for me!" when she isn't even speaking!
One of the relationships on LH that has always interested me was CaroLINE's and Harriet's. At times, they are complete archenemies, but when times get tough or people move away, they show their true feelings for each other. One of my favorite scenes in LH is in The Camp-Out when the Laura and Nellie are missing and presumed drowned in the raging river, and Harriet and CaroLINE are talking to each other. Harriet confesses that she truly likes CaroLINE and there will be a different Harriet in the Mercantile next time she comes in. Then, of course, the girls are found and Nellie blames the whole thing on Laura who actually saved her. Naturally Harriet reverts to her usual ways of yelling at the Ingalls family and backing Nellie no matter what ridiculous things come out of her mouth. And CaroLINE and the rest of the family just take it in [their] stride. (Shakespearette)
Episode# 2.10 (34)
Written by Arthur Heinemann
Directed by Michael Landon
Broadcast December 10, 19751, NBC / Production #2005
Featuring: Shane Sinutko (Jonah), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert2 (Willie Oleson).
1 This episode was scheduled for October 22, 1975, in many listings but postponed for World Series Baseball.
2 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
While Laura is fishing with her friend Jonah, they think they have discovered gold and the two friends spend all their waking hours digging it out of the riverbed. Laura fantasizes about her family becoming wealthy and lording it over the destitute Olesons. However, on attempting to deposit their treasure at the bank, Mr. Sprague delivers some very unwelcome news: the booty is pyrites – fool's gold – and worth nothing at all.
I may be alone in this, but I really love At The End Of The Rainbow. The dream sequences get a bit tiresome (in Laura's dreams, Pa looks like he was dressed by the long-legged ladies in a ZZ Top video) but I feel so sorry for Laura and her little friend. They spend all those afternoons panning for gold that turns out to be fool's gold. I really like David Rose's music in this episode, especially his variation on "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (I think David Rose was married to Judy Garland at one time, right?) Mr. Sprague seems so genuinely disappointed for the kids, too. I love it too when Nellie goes head first through the screen door and Willie deadpans, "Screen's back." (mmecorday)
Even before finding out about The Wig, I figured that AA [Alison Arngrim, as Nellie] must have enjoyed that episode with the fool's gold because the hair in those twangy mouth harp scenes isn't done up in those big sausage curls. Maybe they didn't bother nailing the wig to her head in this one. (awomanawoman)
Right near the end of the episode, when Willie and Nellie go to give their mother a kiss, you can see the grandfather clock in the background says 1:21. When Mrs Oleson goes over to see what's happening with the screen door, the clock's changed to 7:52.
Episode# 2.11 (35)
Written by Rocci Chatfield
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast December 17, 1975, NBC / Production #2013
Co-Starring: Lurene Tuttle (Agnes Molson). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Anne Gee Byrd (Mrs. Hobson), David Byrd (Faubus), Michael Fiore (Bertie), Ruth Foster (Mrs. Foster), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson), Peter Haas (David), Cindy Moore (Cissy), Eve McVeagh (Mrs. Hillstrom), Heather Totten (Miss Ames).
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
Mary is entrusted with the money collected for Reverend Alden's birthday. Hoping to increase the amount, Laura persuades Mary to invest in a door-to-door medicine-selling scheme of dubious worth. The girls sell nothing, but Reverend Alden allows them to save face by saying that the box the medicines came in makes an excellent present – a case for his Bible.
My favorite bit from the Bible episode is where Laura pretends she's really poor because a) how many people did she expect to fool, anyway? and b) her disguise consists of a burlap sack, a few dirt smudges, and unbraided but immaculate hair. (awomanawoman)
There is a scene in this episode where Mary and Laura are fishing and discussing whether to tell Pa that they spent the Sunday School money on medicine bottles instead of a Bible for the Reverend Alden. Pa comes along and joins them and then Mary and Laura leave, but as they're walking away they're wearing different clothes than they were wearing while they were fishing. (Jennifer M)
Episode# 2.12 (36)
Written by Michael Landon
Directed by Michael Landon
Broadcast January 7, 1976, NBC / Production #2015
Guest Stars: Victor French (Mr. Edwards), Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Edwards), Radames Pera (John Jr.). Co-Starring: Brian Part (Carl), Kyle Richards (Alicia), Neil Russell1 (Len Coty), E. J. Andre (Amos Thoms), Peter Haas (Tad Coty).
1 aka Bing Russell.
Trying to interest his newly adopted son, John Jr., in more "manly" pursuits than reading and writing poetry, Isaiah Edwards buys a rifle for the lad's birthday and stubbornly insists that the two of them go hunting. During the trip, a dangerous encounter with a bear leads Mr. Edwards and John Jr. to understand a thing or two about each other.
As John Jr. cuts his cake, we see it's spelled "BIRTDAY"! An earlier shot of the "same" cake was spelled correctly.
Episode# 2.13 (37)
Written by Harold Swanton
Directed by Victor French
Broadcast January 14, 1976, NBC / Production #2012
Guest Star: Eric Shea (Jason). Special Guest Star: George Furth (Hannibal Godfrey). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson). Clay Greenbush2 (School Kid)3, Cindy Moore (Tall Schoolgirl)3.
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
2 Clay Greenbush is the brother of Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (who play Carrie).
3 Uncredited on episode's titles; these entries have been taken from the Internet Movie Database and have not been verified.
Laura and Nellie compete for the affections of a scientifically-minded new schoolboy, Jason. When Laura seems to be gaining the edge, Nellie uses a new-fangled cylinder recording machine to trick Laura into revealing her innermost thoughts about Jason; she then plays the recording in school to embarrass Laura. However, a second attempt by Nellie to discourage Laura and Jason backfires on her.
In the episode where Laura was in love with the inventor kid they used the word "airplane" which, of course, hadn't been invented yet. Now, people had been attempting flight either with balloons ... or whatnot but the actual word wouldn't exist would it? Flying machine, perhaps? (jodela-he-hoo)
Did Ms. Beadle ever make Nellie stand in the corner?
I'm watching The Talking Machine right now and Nellie intentionally humiliates Laura in front of the whole class. Yet Ms. Beadle just tells Nellie to turn it off. Doesn't even punish her.
This isn't the first time Nellie has done something like that. But Ms. Beadle lets her get away with it. (kathyjo27)
AA [Alison Arngrim as Nellie] is so funny when Miss Beadle tells Nellie to turn it off: "I can't, the lever's stuck." (prairiegal)
Episode# 2.14 (38)
Written by Arthur Heinemann
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast January 28, 1976, NBC / Production #2014
Co-Starring: John Howard (Hiram Potter). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Beth Howland (Clerk), Gracia Lee (Mrs. Bell), Doris Martin (Monitor #1), Peggy Drier (Monitor #2), Ricky Segall (Small Boy). Mindy Dow (Mary O'Donnell)1, Cindy Moore (Tall Schoolgirl)1.
1 Uncredited on episode's titles; these entries have been taken from the Internet Movie Database and have not been verified.
Mary enters a state mathematics competition but Charles can't afford to pay the travel expenses necessary for her to take part. The town council foots the bill but Mary worries she will let them down by not winning. Mary comes second in the contest, but the town gives her a hero's welcome home just the same.
Secondly, the story should have expressed the awe that Mary (and her mother) felt about the big city. We don't see their reactions to the hotel, to busy streets, to a meal in a restaurant, to a flushing toilet... To them, such a trip would have been about more than just the mechanics of the competition.
There is a scene where Mary and Laura leave school and then Laura runs back to tell Miss Beadle the reason that Mary won't be in the competition. Mary and Laura are wearing different clothes when they're walking home than they had in town. Then when Laura goes back to town, she is wearing the original dress she had when she left school. (Kama and Jennifer H)
Yesterday I watched The Pride Of Walnut Grove, and holy crap was Mary in her ultimate Prisspot Bitchiness finest! Even as a kid watching this ep, I could not figure out why she was so fucking upset about coming in 2nd in the whole state. I would have been thrilled! And even Ma looked worried when Mary was whining about how the town thinks she won. Um, I seriously doubt that the entire town just assumed you won, BitchFace. Ever heard of a telegram?
And apparently I was a slow child like Carrie, because at the end when Mr. Hanson hugs Mary and tells her that she put WG on the map of Minnesota, I literally thought that was her prize for coming in second – that now the town of WG would be printed on all the maps. I have never peed on the sidewalk of a storefront, though.
And Laura's fawning over Pa also squicks me out. Okay, I know it is fun to have extra responsibility and prove yourself as an almost grown up, but for the love of god just cook the meals and clean the house. Putting your hair in a bun and mending his shirt and basically trying to channel Ma while she is not there is disturbing. (Shakespearette)
Episode# 2.15 (39)
Written by B. W. Sandefur
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast February 4, 1976, NBC / Production #2011
Co-Starring: Kenneth Tobey (Barrett), K. T. Stevens (Mrs. Cullers), John Alderson (Turnbull), Morgan Jones (Brad Cullers), Moosie Drier (Junior Barrett). Featuring: Ruth Foster (Mrs. Foster), Alan Decker (Toby Cullers).
Caroline scratches herself on some wire, but thinks little more of it. Later, alone in the house while the rest of the family are away enjoying themselves on a trip, a serious infection develops which sends her into a delirious fever. Summoning up enough energy to consult her Bible, she reads, "And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off." Inspired by this, she painfully cuts out the wound with a hot knife just in time to save herself.
The main problem is that the Bible quote mentioned is figurative and really not about literal amputation. In any case, whatever Caroline is doing to her leg (Lancing the wound? Cauterizing it? Cutting out tissue?) she sure ain't chopping it off. The episode is also very drawn out.
The first time I saw this episode, I definitely thought her plan was to cut it off. Then when I rewatched it a few years later, I thought that the episode is written so that you are led to believe that she intends to cut if off, until near the end when Doc Baker says that she knew exactly when to stop the infection. Of course, this makes no sense to me, because you'll want to stop the infection as soon as possible, right? (bergh)
I actually still treat any small wound I get to this day, because I'm afraid I might have to retreat to my knife drawer and start hacking. (DoxieMama)
Episode# 2.16 (40)
Teleplay by John Hawkins, story by Ernie Durham
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast February 11, 1976, NBC / Production #2016
Guest Stars: Victor French (Mr. Edwards), Seán McClory (Sandy Nelson). Co-Starring: Don Collier (Schultz), Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Edwards). Co-Starring: Arch Johnson (Shell), Brian Part (Carl). Featuring: Parley Baer (Diamond), Larry J. Blake (Asa Dunn), Paul Bryar (Kelly), James Chandler (Hotchkiss), Robert Hoy (Fireman), Skip Riley (Jim Fox), Troy Melton (Homer Greenwood), Jerry Gatlin (Steve Ames), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie).
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
At a station, Carl Edwards, Laura and Mary explore a railway car. Without warning, the car begins to move and is soon on a crash course with an oncoming express train. Racing against time on horseback, Charles manages to board the speeding express train and engineer a tricky link-up between the train and the freewheeling car – and the day is saved.
Caught The Runaway Caboose last night and once again ML manages to suspend reality with another hair-brained stunt of his. I understand that he was panicked when he realized that the special train had already left Sleepy Eye and was going to make oatmeal of Prisspot [Mary], Laura and Carl when it slammed into the caboose, but throwing a man off his horse and then riding away on it is a great way to get your head blown off. Just sayin'. (Shakespearette)
As Charles, on horseback, catches up with the train, there seems to be a modern electricity pylon in the background. (Steve)
Episode# 2.17 (41)
Written by John Hawkins
Directed by Victor French
Broadcast February 25, 1976, NBC / Production #2019
Guest Star: Richard Basehart (Hannibal Applewood). Co-Starring: Jack McCulloch (George Jackson), Sean Kelly (Sven Jacobsen), Cooper Huckabee (Herman Stone). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson). Clay Greenbush2 (School Kid)3, Cindy Moore (Tall Schoolgirl)3, Maggie Munro (Girl)3.
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
2 Clay Greenbush is the brother of Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (who play Carrie).
3 Uncredited on episode's titles; these entries have been taken from the Internet Movie Database and have not been verified.
Miss Beadle is relieved of her duties as teacher when the school board decides she cannot control the older children. Hannibal Applewood, a strict disciplinarian, is appointed in her place. Believing he has identified Laura as the center of the trouble, Mr. Applewood begins to pick on her. Feelings run high and Charles convinces the rest of the school board to think again and Miss Beadle is reinstated.
One question. Where does Ms. Beadle cook? I mean she has that little room above the Post Office (I think that's where it is) but I've never seen any cooking facilities there. (RhondaGC)
Mr. Applewood tells his pupils to write out his school rules, but when we see them moments later, they are all reading books. (Steve)
Episode# 2.18 (42)
Written by John Hawkins
Directed by Michael Landon
Broadcast March 3, 1976, NBC / Production #2017
Guest Stars: Victor French (Mr. Edwards), Richard Jaeckel (Murphy). Special Guest Star: Lou Gossett (Henry Hill). Co-Starring: Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Edwards), Radames Pera (John Jr.), Brian Part (Carl), Kyle Richards (Alicia), John Mitchum (Sam Benson), Bill Quinn (James Frazer), Robert Doyle (Homer), Frank Ferguson (Calder), Larry Golden (Bodeen). Featuring: Guy Raymond (Conductor), Judson Pratt (Sam Wallace), Jim Boles (Garvey).
When their grain fails to sell for the expected price, Charles and Mr. Edwards are forced to take on extra work – they make up a foursome transporting two carts of highly volatile nitroglycerin explosive over rough roads. The task isn't made any easier by racial tensions within the team, or by an encounter with bandits...
Bearing in mind what happened with explosives in 100 Mile Walk, you're never quite sure what the plot holds in store. The only downside is that things fizzle out a bit near the end. Watch out for future Oscar-winner, Louis Gossett, and try to forget that the episode is a knock-off of The Wages of Fear.
Episode# 2.19 (43)
Written by B. W. Sandefur
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast March 10, 1976, NBC / Production #2020
Guest Star: Mariette Hartley (Elizabeth Thurmond). Featuring: Richard Collier (Burnside), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson).
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
To surprise Caroline with a new set of china, Charles secretly takes on a woodworking job for an attractive young widow, Elizabeth Thurmond. A suspicious Caroline comes to believe there's more going on than woodworking behind closed doors. Mary and Laura try to put Charles and Elizabeth off of each other but then, just as Caroline is about to tackle Charles over the rumors, he presents her with the china.
I did have two quick comments about the episode with the pretty Widow Thurmond. At the beginning of the episode, Mary seemed concerned about calling her "Widow Thurmond" what with her being so young and pretty. Funny, I don't recall her having the same concern back when Grace was "Widow Snider". And her issue about how she wouldn't want to ever be called "Widow" because it makes her think of spiders: Yeah, Mary, that's the important part, not the fact that to be "Widow" you'd have to have a dead husband. (Neko)
Why does Charles tell Mrs. Oleson that he doesn't want Caroline to know about the extra work he is doing for Widow Thurman when he has already told Caroline about it (in the bed scene beforehand)? Caroline also then mentions (to Mrs. Oleson) that Charles' extra work has been "at the mill". Or have I misunderstood something? (Steve)
Episode# 2.20 (44)
Written by John Hawkins
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast March 17, 1976, NBC / Production #2018
Guest Stars: Victor French (Mr. Edwards), William Schallert (Snell). Special Guest Star: Theodore Bikel (Yuli Pyatakov). Co-Starring: Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Edwards), Radames Pera (John Jr.), Kelly Thordsen (Baker Makay), Ike Eisenmann (Viktor Pyatakov), Rayford Barnes (Taylor), Brian Part (Carl), Kyle Richards (Alicia). Featuring: Lisa Pera (Fanya Pyatakov), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson). Ruth Foster (Mrs. Foster)2.
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
2 Uncredited on episode's titles.
It is 1876 and Walnut Grove prepares to celebrate the nation's centennial, but the party is threatened with cancellation when taxes suddenly go up. A Russian immigrant, Yuli Pyatakov, whose family has been forced out of their house, nevertheless gives an impassioned speech about what it's like to live in America, and that he loves his new land despite what it's done to him. The townsfolk are inspired to resume their celebrations.
This episode is let down very badly by the ludicrous scene where Pyatakov – sitting homeless with his family under a tree with just a rocking chair for company – praises the system which has just evicted him. Is this the way real people act?
Awesome episode today! It had everything: "foreign" accents, tertiary characters, and a preachy message. No shirtless Pa, though, so I can only give it a 7 out of 10. It was the one where the Russian immigrant family who loses their farm ends up teaching all of Walnut Grove a lesson about patriotism. Yes, they may have high taxes with no way to pay the bills, rude governmental officials who don't understand the life of the poor noble dirt farmer, and Harriet, who somehow makes everything worse by not going along with Nels' "hide the assets" approach, but gosh darn it, they have the constitution. (plk)
Episode# 2.21 (45)
Written by B. W. Sandefur
Directed by William F. Claxton
Broadcast March 24, 1976, NBC / Production #2022
Guest Stars: Richard Mulligan (Granville Whipple), Queenie Smith (Mrs. Whipple). Co-Starring: Michael-James Wixted (Roy Jr.), Kelly Jean Peters (Vera Collins). Featuring: Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Eddie Hice (Roy Collins), Ruth Foster (Mrs. Foster), Jonathan Gilbert1 (Willie Oleson).
1 Jonathan Gilbert is the brother of Melissa Gilbert (who plays Laura).
Decorated Civil War hero, Granville Whipple, returns to Walnut Grove to resume his career as a music teacher. He meets a boy whose critically injured father he had abandoned during the Battle of Shiloh. Granville's guilt causes him to relapse into an old morphine addiction. Eventually, he decides to clear his conscience by relating the truth of the incident to the boy. But, as Granville is riding over, he is killed by a falling tree while stopping for a fix of morphine.
When Mrs Whipple takes the tobacco tin from Granville's room (as he is sleeping), she shuts the lid twice, once when inside the room and once when outside.
Melissa Sue Anderson's take on the ending is given in her book The Way I See It: "Charles and Mrs. Whipple go to look for her son. Charles finds him lying under leaves and branches – hiding just the way he did on that fateful day at Shiloh. Only this time, he does not get up and walk out. He has overdosed." (Steve)
Episode# 2.22 (46)
Written by Michael Landon
Directed by Michael Landon
Broadcast March 31, 1976, NBC / Production #2021
Guest Stars: Victor French (Mr. Edwards), E. J. Andre (Matthew Simms), Lurene Tuttle (Anna Simms). Co-Starring: Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Edwards), Radames Pera (John Jr.), Brian Part (Carl), Kyle Richards (Alicia).
When a tornado hits, the Ingalls lose their crop and their buildings are badly damaged. A heartbroken Charles dejectedly decides to move the family back to the woods of Wisconsin, and he agrees the sale of the farm to an elderly couple. Later, realizing he had been too autocratic in making his decision to move, and had not been considering his family, Charles changes his mind and decides to stay. Meanwhile, John Edwards and Mary discover they have feelings for each other.
Just after the "Written by MICHAEL LANDON" credit, while we are looking at the horse, a rather strange shadow of somebody in a Stetson appears on the barn wall.
2.01 The Richest Man In Walnut Grove (25)
2.02 Four Eyes (26)
2.03 Ebenezer Sprague (27)
2.04 In The Big Inning (28)
2.05 Haunted House (29)
2.06 The Spring Dance (30)
2.07 Remember Me: Part I (31)
2.08 Remember Me: Part II (32)
2.09 The Camp-Out (33)
2.10 At The End Of The Rainbow (34)
2.11 The Gift (35)
