‘Little House On The Prairie’ Child Star Says Set Was Crazy With ‘Cigarettes And Glasses Of Gin’

The American sitcom Little House on the Prairie, which aired from 1974 to 1983, tells the story of the Ingalls family’s trials and triumphs as they navigate life in the pioneer town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota. Although the last episode aired four decades ago, the show continues to capture viewers’ hearts, maintaining its allure and relevance through reruns and syndication.

A few days after the surviving cast members recently reunited to celebrate the TV series’ 50th anniversary, Alison Arngrim, known for her portrayal of the memorable character Nellie Oleson, shared her reflections on her time and the show’s enduring impact in a candid interview.

Alison Arngrim talks about ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and how on-set culture was

While speaking with Fox News Digital, Arngrim revealed that most of the co-stars would not have imagined that the series would still be relevant after a lengthened period of time. “If you would have told us 50 years ago that this show would remain timeless, we would have thought you were crazy,” she told the news outlet. “We had no concept that this show would still be airing on television 50 years later. We didn’t even know if there would still be TV in 50 years! We were stunned that this show became a hit.”

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She added that among all the actors involved, it was only Michael Landon who had believed in the enduring legacy of the series, and consistently vocalized his confidence in its longevity to his fellow casemates.”He told [co-star] Melissa Gilbert. ‘Long after we are all gone, they’ll still be watching this,’” Arngrim explained. “And everyone he said it to shook their heads and smiled, nodded and went, ‘He’s crazy.’ No one believed him. Everyone said, ‘Oh, isn’t that sweet? He clearly lost his mind.’ No one thought this thing would be going 50 years later, We are dumbfounded. We are thrilled. We’re so grateful.”

The 62-year-old explained that the work environment during the series’ production was not as calm as it was portrayed on screen, as most of the actors engaged in different vices.

“It was the ‘70s, people drank, people smoked. [Landon] did all of these things. It was kind of strange you’re on set, and people are standing around with cigarettes and glasses of gin,” she admitted. “It seemed odd, but that was TV in the ‘70s. It was like ‘Mad Men.’”