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Little House Stars Recall Set Meltdowns
17 Oct
Summary
- Cast members shared stories of fainting due to intense heat on set.
- Filming conditions were so challenging that multiple people passed out.
- Women faced harsher conditions due to their period costumes.
Cast members from the beloved Western family drama "Little House on the Prairie" have shared shocking behind-the-scenes accounts of filming conditions, revealing that extreme heat on set frequently led to fainting spells.
Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Oleson, described her first day as "complete chaos and confusion," culminating in her passing out due to the heat in Simi Valley. She noted that when other cast members, including Sean Penn, also fainted, the crew realized the severity of the temperature.
Further anecdotes highlighted the struggles faced by the cast. Arngrim recalled disliking episodes filmed in bleachers, where temperatures soared, and Charlotte Stewart reportedly lost consciousness during a scene. Dean Butler pointed out the exacerbated discomfort for actresses wearing layers of dresses, petticoats, and stockings compared to the men's simpler attire.
Pamela Roylance and Jennifer Donati also shared their experiences. Roylance recalled Michael Landon allowing her to unbutton her blouse due to the miserable heat, a breach of convention. Donati, who played an infant, humorously noted she was "pampered" and kept cool.
"Little House on the Prairie" aired on NBC from 1974 to 1983, loosely based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's books and chronicling the Ingalls family's life in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
