Happy Throwback Thursday! Our throwback year this week is 1974. That year, television audiences were introduced to a show that would become one of the most beloved family dramas of all time: Little House on the Prairie. Loosely based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House book series, the show followed the Ingalls family as they built their lives on Plum Creek near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, during the 1870s–1890s.
The journey to bring the books to television began in 1972 when producer Ed Friendly acquired the rights. With the encouragement of his wife and daughter, Friendly enlisted Michael Landon—best known then for Bonanza—to direct the pilot movie. Landon agreed, but only if he could also play Charles Ingalls. That decision shaped the show’s future: Landon not only starred in the series, but also took over creative control, writing, directing, and producing many of the episodes. In fact, out of 205 episodes, Landon directed 90 himself.
Casting was no small feat. Forty-seven actresses were considered before Karen Grassle was chosen as Caroline Ingalls. Landon sought authenticity for the children, preferring “real little girls” over seasoned child actors. He ultimately found Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary) and Melissa Gilbert (Laura), affectionately nicknaming Gilbert “Half Pint” on set. To keep the period setting authentic, braces were hidden on young actors with white candle wax—a true frontier solution for a modern problem!
The show also gave early breaks to future stars. Sean Penn appeared uncredited in a first-season episode, and Jason Bateman joined the cast in 1981 for his first TV role, appearing in 23 episodes as James Cooper Ingalls.
Attention to detail was central to Landon’s vision. He and the production team studied more than 50 books on frontier life to ensure the sets, tools, and props were historically accurate. Interiors were filmed on sound stages at Paramount Studios, including one originally built for The Wizard of Oz.
While critics were initially lukewarm, audiences quickly embraced Little House on the Prairie. It ran until 1983, followed by three TV movies. The series also reignited interest in Wilder’s original books and helped preserve historic sites connected to the Ingalls family, many of which remain popular tourist destinations today.
The show hasn’t lost its charm. Little House on the Prairie continues to air in syndication and on streaming platforms like Peacock, Prime, and even free services such as Pluto TV and The Roku Channel. In fact, Nielsen Media Research recognized the series in January 2025 as a top streaming legacy program, reporting 13.25 billion minutes viewed on Peacock in 2024—proof that the story of the Ingalls family continues to resonate, particularly with adults aged 35–64.
Fifty years later, Little House on the Prairie still feels like home for millions of viewers, offering timeless lessons on resilience, family, and community.