Little House on the Prairie is inspired by a true story. Michael Landon, the creator of the program, based himself on the novels of the real Laura Ingalls Wilder to portray the characters. While some did indeed exist in real life, others are simple creations on the part of the producers. What about Alice Garvey and her family? Did they really cross paths with the Ingalls?
The screenwriters of Little House on the Prairie sometimes had to use their imagination to write episodes of the cult series from the 70s. The show is well inspired by real eventsbut the plot does not follow Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books to the letter. For example, there is no Nellie Oleson in reality and Mary Ingalls was never married to a certain Adam Kendall. So, watching the series, we discover that several parts have been added, including one on the Garvey family.
Who is the Garvey family in Little House on the Prairie ?
Of 1976 to 1980, Hersha Parady played Alicethe matriach of the Garvey family in Little House on the Prairie. The character won the hearts of spectators quickly, in just three seasons. She is the wife of Jonathan Garvey (Marlon Olsen), with whom she has a young son, Andrew. After moving to Walnut Grove, Alice became the teacher of the school for the blind and her husband became close to Charles Ingalls by working alongside him at the mill.
However, their story met a tragic fate when Alice dies in blind school fire in season six. As for Jonathan, after the death of his wife, he left town with his son.
Did they really exist?
It turns out that in reality, There is no person named Alice Garvey in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s works. The character was invented from scratch for the storyline and dramatic needs of the series Little House on the Prairie. The same goes for her husband, Jonathan Garvey. Researchers and historians have found no trace of their existence. To fill the 200 or more episodes of the program, it was necessary to add protagonists and antagonists who could make the life of the Ingalls more interesting and thrilling in the eyes of the public.
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