CTVA US Western - "Little House On The Prairie" (NBC) Season 1 (1974-75)

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Starring Michael Landon (as Charles Ingalls) & Karen Grassle (as Caroline Ingalls)

Season 1 (NBC) (1974-75)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
references:
TV Guide / Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive


 ######### Little House On The Prairie ########
############ Pilot TV Movie 1974 #############
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"Little House On The Prairie" (2hr Pilot TV Movie)
30-Mar-1974
Written by Jack Hanrahan, Blanche Hanalis
Directed by Michael Landon
Guest Cast;
Victor French ... Isaiah Edwards
Marian Beeler ... Charlotte Holbrook
John Steadman ... Frederick Holbrook
Victor Mohica ... Soldat Du Chene
Cal Bellini ... Brave
Sam Vlahos ... 1st Indian
Richard Alarian ... 2nd Indian

######### Little House On The Prairie ########
############## season 1 1974-75 ##############
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NBC Wednesdays 8:00-9:00pm Eastern

1.1 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
A HARVEST OF FRIENDS
11-Sep-1974
Teleplay by William Putman, John Hawkins; Story by John Hawkins
Directed by Michael Landon
Guest Cast:
Ramon Bieri .... Liam O'Neill
Hal Burton .... Driver
"Home is the nicest word there is." The Ingalls settle on the banks of Plum Creek in Walnut Grove. Charles must work very
hard in order to prepare the farm, and takes on three jobs. When he is injured after a fall from a tree, it looks as if
they might lose everything. O'Neill goes to get the Ingalls Oxen, which Charles put up for collatoral, and Laura and Mary
rush to his side to help him. The men of Walnut Grove come to his aid, after seeing how unfeeling O'Neill was.

1.2 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
COUNTRY GIRLS
18-Sep-1974
Written by Juanita Bartlett
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
Georgia Schmidt .... Mrs. Grandy
Laura and Mary attend their first day of school in Walnut Grove. There they meet Nellie Oleson, who condescendingly refers
to them as "country girls". Not having been to school before, Laura makes an extra effort with her studies. When she is
unable to write the words for an essay about her Ma, she recites it directly from her heart.
Comment: When viewing later episodes, it's amazing to see how much they will grow during the course of the series.

1.3 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
THE 100 MILE WALK
25-Sep-1974
Written by Ward Hawkins
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
Bill Zuckert .... Tom Cassidy
Eve Brent .... Elna Jacobsen
Richard O. Hurst .... Jacob Jacobsen
Celia Kaye .... Willa Sweeney
Lance Kerwin .... Danny Peters
Don Knight .... Jack Peters
Terry Lumley .... Connie Faraday
Joe Haworth .... Williams
Max Power .... Konig
Things are looking bright for the Ingalls until a hailstorm destroys their crops. Charles must leave his family to look
for work and, along with some other farmers, ends up working in a quarry. Meanwhile, Caroline convinces the women in
Walnut Grove to band together to harvest by hand what remains of their crops.

1.4 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
MR. EDWARDS' HOMECOMING
2-Oct-1974
Written by Joel Murcott
Directed by Michael Landon
Guest Cast:
Lloyd 'Sunshine' Parker .... Driver
Robert Swan .... Bartender
In Mankato, Charles bumps into Mr. Edwards, who has just been thrown out of a saloon because of a brawl, and invites him
to come to Walnut Grove. Caroline tries play matchmaker with Mr. Edwards and the widow Grace Snider but Mr. Edwards is able
to charm Grace all by himself. However, a conflict arises because Mr. Edwards had renounce God since the deaths of his wife
and daughter. Caroline convinces him to look towards the future rather than the past.

1.5 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
THE LOVE OF JOHNNY JOHNSON
9-Oct-1974
Written by Gerry Day
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
Mitch Vogel .... Johnny Johnson
Jimmy McNichol .... Harry Baker
Laura has a case of puppy love with Johnny Johnson, a new student much older than Laura. Unfortunately for Laura, Johnny
is interested in Mary. And though Mary is not interested in Johnny, Laura's actions create tension between the sisters.

1.6 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
IF I SHOULD WAKE BEFORE I DIE
23-Oct-1974
Written by Harold Swanton
Directed by Victor French
Guest Cast:
Josephine Hutchinson .... Amy Hearn
Ruth McDevitt .... Maddie Elder
Henry Olek .... Father Gorman
Brett Parker .... Sean Hearn
Herman Poppe .... Andy Hearn
Janice Carroll .... Mother
Betty Lynn .... Bridget
Robin Muir .... Maureen
When her friend dies, Miss Amy convinces the Ingalls and Doc Baker to help her stage her own death. With her family
always too busy to visit her, this was the only way for Miss Amy to see them again.

1.7 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
TOWN PARTY, COUNTRY PARTY
30-Oct-1974
Written by Juanita Bartlett
Directed by Alf Kjellin
Guest Cast:
Kim Richards .... Olga Nordstrom
Jan Merlin .... Jon Nordstrom
Maya Van Horn .... Helga Nordstrom
Michelle Christie .... Cassie
Laura becomes good friends with a lonely schoolmate, Olga, who has a minor disability because she was born with one leg
shorter than the other. Without her father's permission, Charles helps Olga by building her an elevated shoe. Olga's
father is upset at Charles when he finds out...until he sees Olga running and playing with the other children.

1.8 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
MA'S HOLIDAY
6-Nov-1974
Written by Dale Eunson
Directed by Leo Penn
Guest Cast:
Norma Connolly .... Mrs. Kirkwood
Olive Dunbar .... Saleslady
Walter O. Miles .... Man at Theatre
When Charles and Caroline go away for their second honeymoon, Mr. Edwards is left to take care of the children. The
honeymoon is less than spectacular when Caroline is unable to stop thinking about the children. Meanwhile, Mr. Edwards
has his hands full with Carrie, and nails her dress to the roof while he was repairing it. Mr. Edwards also makes his
famous rattlesnake soup, much to the dismay of Laura and Mary.

1.9 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
SCHOOL MOM
13-Nov-1974
Teleplay by Ward Hawkins; Story by Jean Rouverol
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
Dirk Blocker .... Abel Makay
Jimmy McNichol .... Harry Baker
When Ms. Beadle sprains her ankle, Caroline substitutes for her at the school. Caroline takes a special interest in helping
an older student, Abel, learn to read. However, her work is ruined when Mrs. Oleson disrupts the class. Caroline quits
in frustration, but returns after she convinces Abel to go back to school.

1.10 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
THE RACCOON
20-Nov-1974
Written by Joseph Bonaduce
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
Charles allows Laura adopts a baby raccoon, Jasper, until it grew bigger. After being caged, Jasper bites Laura and Jack,
and runs away. When it returns to kill a chicken, Charles kills it and discovers it was rabid. Jack is tied-up and Laura
is confined to bed until it can be determined whether they have rabies. It turns out that the raccoon Charles killed was
not Jasper, and Laura and Jack are alright.

1.11 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
THE VOICE OF TINKER JONES
4-Dec-1974
Written by Tony Kayden & Michael Russnow
Directed by Leo Penn
Guest Cast:
Chuck McCann .... Tinker Jones
Jimmy McNichol .... Harry Baker
Wayne Heffley .... Mr. Kennedy
Eileen Ryan .... Mrs. Kennedy
Sean Penn .... Kid (uncredited)
The town becomes divided when Mrs. Oleson offers to buy a bell for the church ...including a plaque with the Oleson name.
The differences and arguing begin to affect the schoolchildren. A mute craftsman, Tinker Jones, decides to settle the issue
and gets the children to help him forge a bell. The town is surprised to hear the bell ringing on Sunday and learn a lesson
about peace and goodwill from the children.

1.12 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
THE AWARD
11-Dec-1974
Written by Michael Landon
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
While studying for an academic contest in the barn, Mary accidentally knocks over a reading lamp and starts a fire. Caroline
punishes Mary by forbidding her to participate in the contest and, afterwards, reluctantly enforces it.. Mary takes a part-
-time job at the mercantile to repay Ms. Beadle for a book damaged in the fire. Despite her job and chores, Mary continues
to find time to study for the contest. In the end, she respect her Ma's wishes and does not participate in the contest.

1.13/1.14 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD (2hr Episode)
18-Dec-1974
Written & Directed by Michael Landon
Guest Cast:
Ernest Borgnine .... Jonathan
Bill Cort .... Dr. Mayo
Laurie Lusher .... Nurse
Caroline is pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy, Charles Ingalls Jr., who captures the attention of the family. Laura
resents her baby brother because she believes she no longer has her Pa's affection. When the baby becomes seriously ill
and dies, Laura believes it to be her fault because she didn't pray for her brother. After talking to Reverend Alden,
Laura becomes determined to seek God and ask for a miracle. Blaming herself for her brother's death, Laura runs away from
home. She wants to become "closer" to God and climbs the nearest mountain. There she meets a friendly hermit, Jonathan,
(Ernest Borgnine) who takes care of her and guides her in her spiritual journey. Charles and Mr. Edwards are desperately
searching for Laura and find clues leading to the mountain. When Laura realizes her Pa has found her, she tries to run but
the Jonathan stops her and tells her that God wants her to be with her Pa.

1.15 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
CHRISTMAS AT PLUM CREEK
25-Dec-1974
Written by Arthur Heinemann
Directed by William F. Claxton
The winter holiday is approaching and the members of the Ingalls family go about their holiday shopping in secrecy. Charles,
Caroline, and Mary are able to find means to create or purchase gifts. Charles makes a saddle for Laura, and rebuilds some
wagon wheels with the intention of buying Caroline a stove she wants. Both Mary and Caroline make Charles the same shirt,
but Caroline hides the one she made so not to spoil Mary's surprise. Carrie buys a silver star for the top of the Christmas
tree. Laura...well, she comes up with a plan. At Christmas, Caroline is surprised to receive an oven -- presumably from
Charles, but, actually, from Laura. We learn that Laura traded her beloved horse, Bunny, to Mr. Oleson in order to buy the oven.

1.16 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
FAMILY QUARREL
15-Jan-1975
Written by Ward Hawkins
Directed by William F. Claxton
The bubble finally bursts when Nels and Harriet go their separate ways after an argument. The town attempts but fail to
bring the two back together. It's only when Charles and Caroline are able to make them remember the better aspects of
each other do they reconcile.

1.17 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
DOCTOR'S LADY
22-Jan-1975
Teleplay by Arthur Heinemann; Story by Arthur Heinemann & Ann Beckett
Directed by Lewis Allen
Guest Cast:
Anne Archer .... Kate Thorvald
Douglas Dirkson .... Ole Olafsen
Steven Kunze .... Hans Olafsen
Bea Morris .... Helga Olafsen
Harriet's niece, Kate, visits Walnut Grove. She and Doc Baker spend time together and fall in love. Despite Doc Baker's
reservations about his age, he and Kate decide to get married. Unfortunately, Doc Baker realizes that his fall years
should not impede on Kate's spring, and, painfully, he lets her go.

1.18 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
PLAGUE
29-Jan-1975
Teleplay by Michael Landon; Story by William Keys & Michael Landon
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
Ivy Bethune .... Alice Harper
Helen Clark .... Sylvie Boulton
Matt Clark .... Eric Boulton
Robert Foulk .... Peterson
Bradley Greene .... Paul Boulton
Leslie Landon .... Leslie
Bill Quinn .... Carl Harper
An outbreak of typhus hits Walnut Grove. Doc Baker, Charles, and Reverend Alden set up quarantine in the church. Despite
their attempts to control plague, it continues to spread. They are finally able to trace the source to a rat-infested
cornmeal shed.

1.19 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
CIRCUS MAN
5-Feb-1975
Teleplay by Ward Hawkins; Story by Ward Hawkins & Preston Wood
Directed by Victor French
Guest Cast:
Red Buttons .... O'Hara
A traveling sideshow performer, O'Hara, comes to Walnut Grove and delights the children with his tricks. However, Harriet
Oleson almost loses her life when she refuses an operation in lieu of O'Hara's magic powder. O'Hara leaves but returns
to "treat" Laura's dog, Jack, who is injured. And in doing so, he give Laura hope. When Jack recovers, O'Hara confesses
to the children that his act was phony.

1.20 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
CHILD OF PAIN
12-Feb-1975
Written by John Meston
Directed by Victor French
Guest Cast:
Harris Yulin .... John Stewart
Johnny Lee .... Graham Stewart
Wayne Heffley .... Mr. Kennedy
The town determines how to handle an alcholic father, John Stewart, who beats his son, Graham. Caroline takes in Graham
while Charles stays with John and works him hard to help him stay sober. John is able to overcome his problem and realizes
inner aspects about himself.

1.21 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
MONEY CROP
19-Feb-1975
Teleplay by Ward Hawkins; Story by John Meston
Directed by Leo Penn
Guest Cast:
Alan Fudge .... Joseph Coulter
Julie Cobb .... Trudy Coulter
John Alderson .... Henry Holbrook
Lew Brown .... Leadbettor
Ted Gehring .... Ed Stacey
Wayne Heffley .... Mr. Kennedy
Art Lund .... Tom Jorgenson
John Pickard .... Constable
Jocelyn Brando .... Woman
A new farmer in Walnut Grove, Joe Colter, convinces the other farmers to switch from wheat to corn. On his way back from
Minneapolis with the corn seeds, Joe's wagon overturns out of sight of the road, and he is trapped beneath it. Meanwhile,
the farmers in Walnut Grove become suspicious when Joe is late to return, and they take their frustrations out on Joe's
pregnant wife. Charles is able to find Joe, and bring him and their corn seed back safely to Walnut Grove. To make up for
their poor behaviour, the farmers help an injured Joe by tending to his fields.

1.22 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
SURVIVAL
26-Feb-1975
Teleplay by Ward Hawkins; Story by Ward Hakins & Preston Wood
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
Jack Ging .... Marshal Anders
Carl Pitti .... Deputy Hill
Robert Tessier .... Jack Lame Horse
The Ingalls, on their way home from Mankato, have to seek shelter from a raging blizzard. Meanwhile, the Marshall from
Sleepy Eye is looking for a Sioux Indian, Jack Lamehorse. The Indian saves Charles who fell and his hurt while hunting.
They reach the log cabin where the Ingalls have sought refuge from the storm, and they find the Marshall who intends to
kill the Indian. The Indian, with Charles' help, escapes during the night, and Charles prevents the Marshall from killing
him. The blizzard drags on and Charles realizes he will have to kill one of his horses for food, but the Indian returns
with the deer Charles left in the snow when he was injured. The Marshall shoots the Indian, but regrets it after learning
that the Indian was in fact going to save them all from starvation. When the Marshall's aides reach the cabin at the end
of the storm, the Marshall tells them the Indian is nowhere to be found and they all go their seperate ways.

1.23 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
TO SEE THE WORLD
5-Mar-1975
Written by Gerry Day
Directed by Michael Landon
Guest Cast:
Mitch Vogel .... Johnny Johnson
Hal Bokar .... Hiram Johnson
Jim Boles .... Eldred Miller
Jane Alice Brandon .... Mimi Monroe
James Griffith .... Dandy Davis
Alvin Hammer .... Mr. Quint
John Hawkins .... Fat John
Bob Hoy .... Ben Slick
Michael Ross .... Squint
Leonard Barr .... Proprietor
Olan Soule .... Ticket Agent
Johnny Johnson's head gets filled with adventure by Mr Edwards, and after a quarrel with his father, Johnny decides to go
out and see the world. Mr. Edwards tries to dissuade Johnny, but he doesn't give in. Mr. Edwards reluctantly lets Johnny
get a ride to Sleepy Eye. Mr Edwards tries to find a way change Johnny's mind and stages a fixed pokergame so that Johnny
will lose all his money. But Johnny wins a lot more money than expected. He falls in love with a waitress, Miss Mimi,
who's supposed to be interested in him while he still has money and lose interest in him when his money dries out, in
order to teach Johnny a lesson. Mr Edwards promises Miss Mimi some money if she can persuade Johnny to go back home to his
father. She tells him that she made that mistake when she was younger and wishes she hadn't. She promises Johnny to go home
to her old ailing parents only if Johnny promises to go home. He eventually returns after losing all his own and Mr. Edwards
money.

1.24 [--] Little House On The Prairie:
FOUNDER'S DAY
7-May-1975
Teleplay by Ward & John Hawkins; Story by Ward Hawkins & Byron Twiggs
Directed by William F. Claxton
Guest Cast:
Forrest Tucker .... Jim Tyler
Ann Doran .... Helen Taylor
Wayne Heffley .... Mr. Kennedy
Georgia Schmidt .... Mrs. Grandy
Competitive spirits are high for the contests held on Founder's Day, pitting members of the Ingalls family against members
of the Oleson family. Despite his age, Jim Taylor boasts to be the best logger in town, and riles Charles for being a farmer
in logger's clothing. Caroline Ingalls is up against Mrs. OIeson in the "Best Pie Contest", and Charles and Nels fall into a
pool of mud during the Tug-of-War contest. Harriett and Nellie are up against Laura and Caroline in the Three-Legged Race.,
and Mary is in the Jump Rope Contest. On the day of the wood chopping competition, Jim Taylor's wife explains to Charles
that Jim just wanted to be rocognized for his many hard years of work. To make the contest fair, Charles handicaps himself
by using his old ax to make up the age differential, instead of his brand new one he bought especially for the contest, and
Jim Taylor wins the contest.

######### Little House On The Prairie ########
############## end of season 1 ###############
##############################################

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