Think Little House on the Prairie was flawless? Think again!
This beloved classic had its share of goofs and behind-the-scenes drama that slipped past editing — and into TV history.
From mystical pregnancies (Laura was pregnant for over a year) to anachronisms like bras and perms in the 1870s, Little House wasn’t as historically accurate as it seemed. Not to mention the infamous Colonel Sanders cameo — decades before he was even born!
Wigs, Dummies, and Disappearing Coats
Nellie Oleson’s curls? A painful wig. Laura saving Albert from a train? That was a dummy, not a person. And the Minneapolis winter? Apparently not cold enough for coats — thanks to summer filming in Arizona.
Real Friendships & On-Set Feuds
On-screen enemies Nellie and Laura were best friends off-screen, but not everyone got along. Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary) was seen as cold by castmates, and Melissa Gilbert’s relationship with Michael Landon soured after learning of his affair with a young crew member.
Emotional Depth & Odd Choices
Episodes like “My Ellen” delivered gut-wrenching grief, but often lacked adult intervention or logical storytelling. Meanwhile, Michael Landon kept the mood light — sometimes with frogs in his mouth!
Production Goofs
A “traveling quilt” appeared in multiple homes, and school routes magically changed from episode to episode. In a risky first day on set, Dean Butler (Almanzo) nearly crashed a wagon — Michael Landon had to step in.
The Fate of Albert
Albert Ingalls’ leukemia storyline in Look Back to Yesterday left fans wondering: did he die or not? Even the actor admits it was never made clear.
Aging? What Aging?
By The Last Farewell, characters should’ve aged considerably — but somehow looked frozen in time. And where was Harriet Oleson? Actress Katherine MacGregor was reportedly in India on a spiritual retreat… or feuding with Landon over pay.