Wed, 12/14/2011

Catching up with "Half-Pint:" Melissa Gilbert Talks "Little House," "The Miracle Worker," and Michael Landon

In her newly released Archive Interview, Melissa Gilbert describes her experiences as a child actress, playing "Laura Ingalls" on the much beloved series Little House on the Prairie. She details the show's production schedule, discusses her co-stars (including the bond she shared with her on-screen father, Michael Landon), and reflects on specific episodes of the program. She also chronicles her roles as a director and producer - her  directorial debut was on the after-school special, Me and My Hormones, and she co-founded Half-Pint Productions when she was still a teenager.

Below Melissa Gilbert shares tales of Little House on the Prairie:

On the final episode of Little House on the Prairie, "The Last Farewell:"

And on the legacy of Little House on the Prairie:

Watch Melissa Gilbert's full interview here.

About this interview:

In her three hour interview for the Archive of American Television, Melissa Gilbert discusses her career as an actress/producer/director. She shares stories of her famous grandfather, Honeymooners creator Harry Crane, and recalls her early foray into acting in television commercials. Gilbert then details her time playing "Laura Ingalls" on the much beloved series Little House on the Prairie. She describes working with Michael Landon, and recounts memorable episodes, including "The Lord is My Shepherd," "Laura Ingalls Wilder," in which her character gets married, and the series finale, "The Long Farewell." Gilbert talks of playing Helen Keller in the TV movie The Miracle Worker, for which she was nominated for an Emmy, discusses playing the title role in the made for TV movie, The Diary of Anne Frank, and speaks of her production company, Half-Pint Productions. She also describes her directorial debut on the after-school special, Me and My Hormones. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on April 18, 2011 in Tarzana, CA.