Some cast members of "Little House on the Prairie" hadn't seen each other since the TV show ended in 1983.
That's OK, neither had their fans.
More than 18,000 people gathered for the Little House on the Prairie cast reunion and festival celebrating the show's 50th anniversary at a park in Simi Valley, California, not far from Big Sky Ranch where much of the series was filmed. They learned to churn butter, blacksmith and use a washboard. They toured a replica of the Ingalls' house, the Oleson's Mercantile, and the one-room school house.
But mostly they came to see the actors they loved.
These were not casual fans, but those with custom shirts ("In a world of Nellies, be a Laura") and wore bonnets and calico dresses. They carried books, posters, vintage lunch boxes and aprons to get autographed. Iced-coffee outsold beer. They paid $665 for a photo with the cast.
They stood in lines ― for more than five hours at times ― for a chance to meet their favorites and get selfies. They thanked the stars for being a big part of their childhood.
Most people wanted to see Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura; Karen Grassle who played Ma/Caroline Ingalls; or Alison Arngrim who played Nellie Oleson. Some cast members have appeared at smaller tributes, but this was the first time most of them were together.
The three-day festival celebrated the show's pilot episode, which aired as a movie on March 30, 1974, on NBC. The full season began that fall. Created by Michael Landon and based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the show's reunion drew people from across the country, with several coming from France and Sweden. Landon, who also directed and starred in the show, died in 1991. Several other cast members have died, including Victor French (Mr. Edwards) in 1989, Richard Bull (Mr. Oleson) in 2014, and Katherine MacGregor (Mrs. Oleson) in 2018
Two popular actors, Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary) and Matt Labyorteaux (Albert) weren't there. ("Real Housewives" fans: neither did Kyle Richards, who played Alicia.) But that didn't stop fans from posting with grown-up twins Wendi Lou Lee and Brenda Turnbaugh, who appeared on the show as toddlers.
"It's like a big family reunion," Melissa Gilbert says.
As part of the 50th anniversary, there are dozens of events across the country, including Arngrim's one woman show, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch."
You can stream "Little House on the Prairie" on some networks including Freevee, Amazon Prime and Peacock.
See the "Little House" reunion festivalSee the fans and sets from 'Little House on the Prairie's' 50th anniversary festival
Gilbert played Laura for nine seasons, growing up from the little girl in braids to a married mom. She has starred in TV movies and series, appeared on "Dancing with the Stars," wrote two memoirs, served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild, and acts in plays and musicals.
Gilbert launched Modern Prairie, a lifestyle site, with Nicole Haase, in 2022. The site features classes ranging from coping with grief to flower arranging as well as products made by women and from women-owned businesses.
Gilbert, 59, is married to the actor and director Timothy Busfield.
More:How 'Little House on the Prairie' star Melissa Gilbert shaped a generation of women
“My very favorite show is the pilot. When we were making it, all of us were in similar situation to what the family was in. We didn’t know what it was going to be like, we didn’t know how to do, we didn’t know each other, we were learning to bond … in the mud, in the snow. I always felt like the actual experience we were having helped to make the pilot feel genuine,” says Grassle, 82.
Sidney Greenbush, 53, had not been back to Big Sky Ranch since she left the show. “It feels like when you go to your childhood home and you haven’t lived there for a long time and there’s a certain familiarity that comes back,” she says.
Her twin sister Rachel Lindsay Greenbush, who also played Carrie, got married at the ranch years ago. She says being back at Big Sky gave her all the feels: “It’s like giving a little piece of me back."
Arngrim, 62, has written a best-selling book, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" (which is a must-read for "Little House" fans) and has turned the book into a one-woman show.
Jonathan Gilbert, Melissa Gilbert's younger brother, has lived a private life the past 40 years since leaving "Little House."
"I had a whole spiritual journey for maybe 20 years, I’ve worked in finance on Wall Street, lived in Manhattan for a long time," Gilbert, 56, says. "But really at the end of the day, there’s nothing better than acting with the 'Little House' cast. Of all the things, that feels most like living, which was odd because I spent the whole time after 'Little House' trying to figure out how to live. What I really didn’t realize was that I was already home."
Dean Butler, 67, has a book out this summer, “Prairie Man."
He described his writing routine: “It was every morning at 5 a.m. getting up before the sun, sitting down at the dining room table and every day for two hours.”
Twins Wendi Lou Lee and Brenda Turnbaugh, 46, played Grace Ingalls.
Lucy Lee Flippin, 80, talked about how she got into character, and said the setting on the ranch helped. But the costumes really did it. “They make you walk different and stand different," she says.
The twins, 43, both played Rose Wilder. Jennifer Steffin said "I'm so happy to see so many fans."
Patrick Labyorteaux, 58, said one of his favorite memories was when they filmed at MGM studios with guest star Ray Bolger from "The Wizard of Oz." “On the floor was this piece of movie history," he says: the yellow brick road. His brother Matt Labyorteaux played Albert Ingalls on the show.
Linwood Boomer, 68, created a very popular show based on his life, "Malcolm in the Middle." He is the founder and board chair of Healing California, a nonprofit that provides free medical, dental and vision care. He donated all money fans paid for autographs and photos to the charity.
Ketty Lester, 89, signed some of her CDs for fans and sang at a worship service at the reunion. “You don’t know how much it means for me to see you,” Ketty says. “I’ve always loved the people that love me."
Many asked Charlotte Stewart to pose in the replica of the school house where she had played teacher, Miss Beadle. Stewart, 83, brought her tiny 15-year-old dog, who was a hit among fans. She also sold lemon verbena perfume, like she was known for wearing on the show.
Two of Michael Landon's children, Leslie Landon Matthews, 61, and Michael Landon, Jr., 59, attended the reunion.
“When we pulled up, we didn’t know, there might be a line, it’s all the way around the corner. Oh my gosh, this has been unbelievable,” Landon, Jr., says. “And you’ve totally rekindled our hearts for the show and the love of the show. Thank you for that.”
Jonathan Kovacs, 54, said he was happy to meet so many fans. His son served as an ASL interpreter as he greeted fans.
Brian Part, 62, played Mr. Edwards' son.
David Friedman, 53, played Jason Carter, and stopped acting after childhood.
Pamela Roylance, 71, helped plan the reunion. She said the was surprised by "the kindness and stories from fans."
Victor French, who played Mr. Edwards, died in 1989. His son came to the reunion. Many fans hugged him - and asked him to sing the song his father was known for: "Old Dan Tucker."
Bonnie Bartlett, 94, might have the longest career of any cast member. She's acted for more than 70 years. Many might remember her as played the mom in the movie "Twins."
You can watch "Little House on the Prairie" on Freevee, Amazon Prime, Peacock and purchase episodes on Apple TV.
While the cast celebrated the 50th reunion in Simi Valley in March, there are several more events planned around the country including in Connecticut, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Various cast members will attend.
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