A Christmas They Never Forgot (21 Dec. 1981)

Snowbound on the Ingalls homestead on Christmas eve, Caroline, Laura and Hester Sue share memories of Christmases past.

Director:

Michael Landon

Writers:

Don Balluck, Laura Ingalls Wilder (based upon the series of books "Little House" by)

Stars:

Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Michael Landon	...	Charles Ingalls
Karen Grassle	...	Caroline Ingalls
Melissa Gilbert	...	Laura Ingalls Wilder
Lindsay Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Sidney Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Dean Butler	...	Almanzo James Wilder
Jason Bateman	...	James Cooper Ingalls
Melissa Francis	...	Cassandra Cooper Ingalls (as Missy Francis)
Wendi Turnbaugh	...	Grace Ingalls
Brenda Turnbaugh	...	Grace Ingalls
Linwood Boomer	...	Adam Kendall
Ketty Lester	...	Hester-Sue Terhune
Matthew Labyorteaux	...	Albert Quinn Ingalls
Melissa Sue Anderson	...	Mary Ingalls Kendall
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Newell Alexander	...	Frederick Holbrook

Storyline

Snowbound on the Ingalls homestead on Christmas eve, Caroline, Laura and Hester Sue share memories of Christmases past.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance | Western

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1981 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ed Friendly Productions, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode marked the last time all of Charles and Caroline Ingalls' biological children - Mary, Laura, Carrie and Grace - and adopted children Albert, James and Cassandra appeared in the same episode, and certainly was one of the only times everyone was under one roof at the same time. This was the final episode for Linwood Boomer and Melissa Sue Anderson (who played Adam and Mary Kendall, respectively).

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Soundtracks

"Away in a Manger"
(1885)
Music by James R. Murray (1887)

User Reviews

All in the Family!

Christmas Eve, 1886- It's going to be a fun, old fashion Ingalls family Christmas. Technically, it's Ingalls/Kendall/Wilder and Terhune, but what's in a name? They're all family and all together and that's what counts. Well, sir, Charles and Caroline get the surprise of their lives when Hester Sue arrives in a wagon, baring tidings of good cheer, in the forms of Adam and Mary. With them at the table with Charles, Caroline, Laura, Almanzo, Carrie, Albert, Grace, James and Cassandra, they gave thanks and dug right in, then after dinner Charles played the violin and Almanzo strummed the guitar. It was indeed a happy time. But then, the snow fall outside turned into a blinding blizzard. Needless to say, nobody would be going anywhere, so it looks as though the little house on the prairie is going to be packed to the rafters. Well, since they're all spending the night together, what could they do to pass the time? Well, after Hester Sue sings a hymn, Caroline regales everyone in the story behind her pretty Christmas necklace, which she didn't wear in past Christmases, but anyway, it all began when Caroline was a little girl. Her father just died and she took an instant disliking to her stepfather, Frederick Holbrook, who was actually a nice man. Seems he had lost his old man at young Caroline's age and so he bestowed upon her a gift given to him, converted into a necklace. Caroline loved it and instantly excepted Frederick. It's a goldurn Christmas miracle!

Now it's Almanzo's turn. He regales us with a tale from his youth: about his own good but strict family and their Christmas rituals. It all started when young Almanzo's belief in Santa Claus was torn asunder by his older brother Royal showing him the presents their folks thought they'd kept well hidden, giving Almanzo a crisis of faith, but thankfully his Pa put things in much better perspective to keep little Manly's belief alive and well, and ol' Royal sure got his comeuppance come Christmas morning; Storytime was rudely interrupted by the barn door blowing off in the storm, and once Charles and Almanzo fix it, Laura regales everybody with the story of their first Christmas in Kansas and how Mr. Edwards braved a terrible storm to spend Christmas with the Ingallses, from the pilot episode; There's time for one more fond Christmas memory: Hester Sue, you're up. She tells of a Christmas when she was little, during the Civil War. It seems that because Santa Claus was white, he might not cater to the needs of the black children, or so Hester Sue thought. Her parents told her otherwise. Nobody knows what the REAL Santa Claus looks like. But the girl seemed convinced the rumors were true, but that night, Hester Sue happened to look out her bedroom door and sure enough, a black man was putting presents under her tree. Debunking the rumors and restoring Hester Sue's faith. Of course the Santa turned out to be her Pa, but she didn't find that out until years later; Well, sir, Christmas morning was a hit. Sure the little house was nearly buried in snow, but Charles braved the weather to get to the barn and get the presents. It was truly a merry Christmas for all.

Fantastic episode and a great Christmas story, and many other great stories within it. My favorite had to be Almanzo's story and how his father helped to undo Royal's lies and taught that boy a lesson by taking away his presents. Second favorite is Hester Sue's. What wonderful, loving parents they all had. Even Hester Sue's father's boss was a nice man; If only there was more time, we could have heard stories from Adam and Charles. Well, this episode marks the final appearances of Adam and Mary, who I must say was given a very raw deal at this point in the series. Incidentally, I wonder if anybody else noticed that Linwood Boomer was listed in the beginning as a special guest star, and Melissa Sue Anderson was listed during the end credits as an "also starring". She was right there from the beginning of the series and now, returning for a cameo after a year-long absence, she's tucked away in the end credits. Methinks she and the producers didn't get along, and they only coaxed her back so we could all see the entire (living) Ingalls family together one last time. Probably just as well, I heard she was a real pain in the ass to work with, but that's just speculation. I wasn't there. But anyway, despite all the tragedy that seems to strike the people on this show, their Christmases are always merry, and this is one of them. A chorus sings carols throughout, to truly give it that holiday feel. No real drama, no dilemma, no tragedy, just happiness and cheer. This Christmas, check it out.