Little House On The
Prairie: Season One
1. Harvest Of Friends
The Ingalls settle on the banks of Plum Creek in Walnut Grove. To get the
farm set up, Charles must take on several jobs at once. He promises one
person that if he didn't get the job done in the specified time, the
person could have his oxen. Charles gets injured one day when he is out on
a picnic with his family. The person comes to pick up the oxen because he
believes that Charles won't get the job done on time. Charles tries to get
some bags of grain stacked, but he collapses soon after starting. Then
Mary and Laura try to stack the bags. While they are working, the other
men in Walnut Grove come to help stack the grain.
b: 11-Sep-1974 pc: 1002
NOTE: In the early first-season episodes, Harriet Olsen's character is
that of a dark, rude, snobbish woman. Her character (which added the "town
gossip" tag later in the season) later became one of comic relief -- a
cross between her early character and Wile E. Coyote (in that her efforts
to shame the Ingalls or otherwise get her way always failed).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Country Girls
Laura and Mary start school for the first time. That is where they meet
Nellie Oleson, who frequently refers to them as "country girls". Since
Laura hasn't been to school before, she tries especially hard with her
schoolwork. The students have to write an essay to present in front of the
class. Laura recites what she would have written on the paper if she could
have, instead of what was actually written on it.
b: 18-Sep-1974 pc: 1001 w: Juanita Bartlett d: William F. Claxton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. 100 Mile Walk
Guest Star: Don Knight (Jack Peters) Richard O. Hurst (Jacob Jacobsen)
Bill Zuckert (Tom Cassidy) Terry Lumley (Connie Faraday)
In the beginning, things look very good for the Ingalls until a bad
hailstorm ruins their crops. Charles and some other farmers must leave to
look for work. They end up working in a quarry. While Charles is away,
Caroline is able to get the women of Walnut Grove to join together to
harvest the remaining crops.
b: 25-Sep-1974 pc: 1003 w: Ward Hawkins d: William F. Claxton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Mr. Edwards' Homecoming
While Charles is in Mankato, he runs into Mr. Edwards and invites him to
come to Walnut Grove. Caroline tries to match Mr. Edwards up with Grace
Snider, but instead she just ends up in the way since Mr. Edwards is able
to charm Grace all by himself. Although there are a couple problems that
must be overcome, things turn out for the best in the end.
b: 02-Oct-1974 pc: 1004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. The Love Of Johnny Johnson
Guest Star: Mitch Vogel (Johnny Johnson) James Vincent McNichol (Harry
Baker) James Vincent McNichol (Harry Baker)
Laura falls in love with a new student, Johnny Johnson. Johnny, who is a
lot older than Laura, is interested in Mary instead. Although Mary is not
interested in Johnny, Laura's actions cause tension between the sisters.
When Charles finds this out, he is appalled that either of his girls is
involved with Johnny.
b: 09-Oct-1974 pc: 1005 w: Gerry Day d: William F. Claxton
NOTE: Johnny Johnson walks around barefoot, possibly a reference to the
classic Huckleberry Finn character.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. If I Should Wake Before I Die
Guest Star: Josephine Hutchinson (Amy Hearn) Ruth McDevitt (Maddie)
After her friend dies, Miss Amy, an old lady, convinces the Ingalls and
Doc Baker to help her stage her own death. Amy thought this was the only
way to get her family to come and see her.
b: 23-Oct-1974 pc: 1006 w: Harold Swanton d: Victor French
NOTE: The Luggage Bag used by Amy is the same one used by Albert in Home
Again
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Town Party, Country Party
Guest Star: Kim Richards (Olga Nordstrom)
Laura becomes good friends with a lonely schoolmate, Olga, who has one leg
that is shorter than the other. Charles secretly helps Olga by building
her an elevated shoe. When Olga's father finds out he is upset at Charles
until he sees Olga running and playing with the other school children.
b: 30-Oct-1974 pc: 1007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Ma's Holiday
Guest Star: Victor French (Mr. Edwards) Richard Bull (Mr. Oleson)
Charles and Caroline decide to go on a second honeymoon and leave Mr.
Edwards in charge of the children. The honeymoon doesn't turn out very
well because Caroline keeps worrying about the children. Back at home, Mr.
Edwards has his hands full with Carrie.
b: 06-Nov-1974 pc: 1010 w: Dale Eunson d: Leo Penn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. School Mom
Guest Star: James Vincent McNichol (Harry Baker) Dirk Blocker (Abel Makay)
Kelly Thordsen (Baker Makay)
After Ms. Beadle sprains her ankle, Caroline becomes the substitute
teacher. Caroline takes a special interest in helping an older student,
Abel, learn to read. One day Mrs. Oleson shows up and causes Abel to quit
school. Because of this Caroline quits, but returns after she convinces
Abel to give school another chance.
b: 13-Nov-1974 pc: 1011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. The Raccoon
Charles allows Laura to adopt a baby raccoon, Jasper. After being caged,
the raccoon bites Laura and Jack and runs away. The family fears that
Laura and Jack might have rabies until a healthy Jasper returns.
b: 20-Nov-1974 pc: 1013 w: Joseph Bonaduce d: William F. Claxton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. The Voice of Tinker Jones
Guest Star: James Vincent McNichol (Harry Baker) Sean Penn (school kid)
Chuck McCann (Tinker Jones) Wayne Hefflet (Mr. Kennedy)
The town becomes divided when Mrs. Oleson offers to buy a bell for the
church, but only if she can put up a plaque. The differences and arguing
begin to affect the school children. A mute craftsman, Tinker Jones, steps
in and with the help of the school children, is able to make a bell.
b: 04-Dec-1974 pc: 1012 w: Tony Kayden and Michael Russnow d: Leo Penn
NOTE: This was one of the few times where we saw the nice side of Nellie
Oleson (prior to her eventual marriage to Percival Dalton in the
sixth-season finale).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. The Award
While studying for an optional history exam in the barn, Mary accidentally
knocks over a reading lamp and starts a fire. Caroline punishes Mary by
telling her she couldn't take the exam. Mary doesn't tell Ms. Beadle this
until the day of the exam.
b: 11-Dec-1974 pc: 1014 w: Michael Landon d: William F. Claxton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. The Lord is My Shepherd
Guest Star: Ernest Borgnine (Jonathan) Victor French (Mr. Edwards)
Caroline gives birth to a baby boy. The boy dies soon afterwards. Because
Laura believes it was her fault that the baby died, she leaves home and
goes on a trip to get closer to God. On the mountain she climbs, she meets
Jonathan. Jonathan makes a wooden cross for Laura. One time while she is
washing in the creek, the cross falls off and floats downstream. Her Pa
discovers the cross and is able to figure out where she was.
b: 18-Dec-1974 pc: 1008 w: Michael Landon d: Michael Landon
NOTE: This was a 2 hour episode.
Both feature-length and two-part versions of this episode exist for
syndication. The beginning of the two-part version includes highlights
from the first hour.
The reruns do not show Laura losing the cross, so first time watchers will
wonder how she lost it
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Christmas At Plum Creek
The Christmas holiday is approaching and the members of the Ingalls family
go about their holiday shopping in secrecy. Laura is able to buy her mom a
stove that she wanted after she sells her horse to Mr. Oleson.
b: 25-Dec-1974 pc: 1015
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Family Quarrel
After a major disagreement, Nels and Harriet go their separate ways.
Everybody in town tries to get the two back together.
b: 15-Jan-1975 pc: 1017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. Doctor's Lady
Guest Star: Anne Archer (Kate) Kevin Hagen (Dr. Baker)
Dr. Baker falls in love with Harriet's niece, Kate. Dr. Baker realizes
that she is too young for him when he sees Kate running around with Mary
and Laura.
b: 22-Jan-1975 pc: 1016 w: Arthur Heinemann s: Arthur Heinemann & Ann
Beckett d: Lewis Allen
NOTE: Dr. Baker is credited as guest as he is part of the main story here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. Plague
Guest Star: Leslie Landon (Leslie)
A typhus outbreak strikes Walnut Grove, and after awhile, it seems as
though they are all displaying the same symptoms. The church doubles as a
makeshift hospital, where Charles, Dr. Baker and Rev. Alden are
quarantined with the sick. After awhile, Mr. Edwards gets sick and lets on
he had purchased some cornmeal. Turns out the cornmeal is rat-infested
(something viewers are in on all along). By the time Charles and Dr. Baker
come upon the shed, hundreds of rats are combing through the storage shed.
They get the salesman out of the office (he's also fallen ill) before
burning the shed. In the end, there's several casualties, but Mr. Edwards
survives.
b: 29-Jan-1975 pc: 1019
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. Circus Man
Guest Star: Red Buttons (O'Hara)
A traveling circus man, O'Hara, comes to Walnut Grove and tries to get
everyone to believe he has magic healing powders. However, he is really
found out when Mrs. Oleson almost loses her life when she tries his
healing powders instead of having an operation.
b: 05-Feb-1975 pc: 1018 w: Ward Hawkins s: Preston Wood and Ward Hawkins
d: Victor French
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. Child Of Pain
Guest Star: Harris Yulin (John Stewart)
When it is found out that a young boy, Graham, is being beaten by his
alcoholic father, John, Caroline takes care of the boy while Charles stays
with John to try to get him to stay sober.
b: 12-Feb-1975 pc: 1020
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20. Money Crop
Guest Star: Alan Fudge (Joseph Coulter) Art Lund (Tom Jorgensen)
A college-educated farmer named Joe moves to Walnut Grove with his
pregnant wife. He tells the Walnut Grove-area farmers of a new hybrid of
corn that would produce good crops, to which the farmers are very
enthused. They decide to buy some of this new seed. While on the way back
to Walnut Grove with the seed, Joe gets into an accident when his horses
become spooked. The wagon tips over and Joe is trapped underneath.
Concerns over Joe's tardiness gives way to suspicions that he took off
with the money. But Charles keeps a cooler head and decides to retrace
Joe's route. Eventually, crows flying over the area where the accident
occurred (some of the seed had spilled out, drawing the black birds) help
Charles locate the accident and rescue a now-delirious Joe. While
recovering at home, Joe learns of the nasty attitudes from the area
farmers (they were beginning to verbally abuse his wife), and decides he's
going to move. That is, until Charles shows him that the now-repentant
farmers are planting the corn. Joe is touched and decides his family will
stay.
b: 19-Feb-1975 pc: 1021 w: Ward Hawkins s: John Meston d: Leo Penn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21. Survival
Guest Star: Jack Ging (Marshal Anders) Robert Tessier (Jack Lame Horse)
The Ingalls have to seek shelter when a blizzard hits. There they meet an
Indian who helps them out. A marshal, looking for the Indian, comes by and
arrests him. Charles helps the Indian escape. Later the Indian comes by
again and brings food to the Ingalls. The marshal sees the Indian and
shoots him. When the marshall realizes what the Indian was doing, he
regrets his previous behavior toward the Indian.
b: 26-Feb-1975 pc: 1022 w: John Hawkins s: John Hawkins and Preston Wood
d: William F. Claxton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22. To See The World
Guest Star: Mitch Vogel (Johnny Johnson)
Johnny Johnson leaves to "see the world" and Mr. Edwards goes along with
him to keep him out of trouble. Johnny meets up with a girl who is able to
trick him out of a lot of money. Mr. Edwards talks to this girl to try to
have her convince Johnny to go back home.
b: 05-Mar-1975 pc: 1023
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23. Founder's Day
Walnut Grove celebrates this great day with several different
competitions. There are very competitive spirits between the Oleson's and
the Ingalls.
b: 07-May-1975 pc: 1024
NOTE: One of the earliest episodes where the character of Harriet Oleson
is used as comic relief, instead of the dark, rude, snobbish woman in
early-Season 1 episodes. The scenes where she tries to compete with Nellie
in a three-legged race are a hoot. The comic-side of Mrs. Oleson will be
the path her character would often take in later episodes.
