Hersha Parady (Alice Garvey) Exclusive Interview!
Hi Hersha! Thanks for taking the time to be interviewed about your
role as Alice Garvey on Little House On The Prairie.
1. Wow, It's been over 30 years now since Little House first
aired on TV. What do you think of it's success after so many years?
Would you have thought it would still be as popular today as it was
many years ago?
The gifts Michael Landon had, and the friends and colleagues he
brought with him from previous works made for a beautifully produced
show - the best cast and guest artists, writers, all the crew....
Michael knew the buttons to push in his writing to move us without
being maudlin or overly sentimental. Between all of that and David
Rose's musical score, how could he miss?!
2. What was it like to be on Little House? Had you ever read the
books by Laura Ingalls Wilder before getting the part of Alice
Garvey?
No, never read the books. The only things I read as a young person
were plays. Being on Little House, as I've said often, put my
expectations a little high, when I later worked on other projects -
I'd often find myself very unimpressed in comparison to Little
House's high quality production values! I had good friends on Little
House, some I had known before coming on the show, and being able to
work with so many talented (and very, very GOOD people) was quite a
ride for 3 years.
3. How did you get the role of Alice Garvey? Was it competitive?
I had worked as a guest artist in one episode, playing Michael's
sister-in-law. They liked me and when they wanted to find a wife for
Merlin Olsen, I got lucky! Merlin and I meshed together very
naturally. Competition for the role? Oh, I'm sure there was plenty!.
4.
Any found memories you wouldn't mind sharing about your experience?
No secret about Michael's legendary practical joking - so that
definitely provided many memories! He'd kid me often about my being
rather STRONG! And LOUD! Not your "Miss Beadle type"! I'd bust a few
of the props I'd use and eat like I was HUNGRY - not like a lady of
that period at a tea party! And of course, there was the "using
Blind Mary Ingalls' baby as a battering ram" in my final episode,
which has always provided a good laugh!
5. Who would you say on the set made the biggest impression on
you personally?
On the set? Oh dear, that's a tuffy! I'd have to think on that
one... there were guest actors that I loved to watch... working with
Katherine MacGregor and Richard Bull was always a real treat,
especially because they were good friends of mine. Also, Larry
Germain, Whitey and Dabbs Greer were all very special to me.
6. What was it like to work with Merlin Olsen? Were you a fan or
ever seen him play football before working with him on Little House?
Nope! Had no idea who he was before my reading with him for Alice.
He's a lovely, good man - a real sweetheart.
7. Do you have a favorite episode?
I like bits and pieces from a couple of episodes, as far as my
"work" goes. I think I enjoyed doing the last episode with the fire
more than any of them, ironically - it was great fun playing with
fire and getting to "act up a storm"!
8. What, if any, affect did your role as Alice Garvey have on
your career over the years? Are you still associated with or
recognized from being on the show?
I don't believe my role as Alice had any "good" effect on my future
career - I think if I had had a small part on "Charlie's Angels" it
would have meant more to the networks (even NBC) than my Little
House gig. And YES - after all these years, I'm still recognized!
9.
In the episode "May We Make Them Proud" the character of Alice
Garvey is killed off. A lot of fans didn't like the way it was
written and some call it one of Mike's dark episodes of the series.
What are your feelings about it?
I've heard from many that the episode was not what they expected
from Michael, but there were reasons why he had to kill me off. From
my point of view, as I earlier mentioned, WHAT a way to go! To be
honest, not sure I ever watched the episode, so I can't remember all
that happened, but I'm sure Michael did it for a reason and did it
beautifully.
10. Finally, How are things going for you these days? Any
projects in the works?
"Things" are just great! I continue my work in the theatre, and plan
a return to Hollywood ASAP!
Webmasters Note: Interview was done on January 30, 2006. Special
Thanks to Barnaby Marriott for his assistance with this interview.
