Just today I received a request for the speaking schedule for Dean Butler and William Anderson for this weekend's Laura Ingalls Wilder event! Here it is! At the bottom I have also attached a link to the activity schedule for both days as well!
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days
Program Schedule
Saturday August 7, 2010
9 a.m. Museum Opens
10 a.m. William Anderson Book Signing, author of Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls
Wilder (Romulus Female Seminary)
11 a.m. Dean Butler Presentation, actor who portrayed Almanzo Wilder (Laura’s husband) on
the TV Show Little House on the Prairie (Village Square)
Noon William Anderson Presentation (Brooks Grove Church)
Noon–12:30p.m. Children’s Fashion Promenade – Join in the fun and show off your prairie outfit! “Best
costume” awards for the portrayals of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Almanzo Wilder and
Miscellaneous Ensemble (including Laura’s sisters). (Village Square)
1 p.m. Dean Butler Book Signing (Village Square) – limited to 100 autographs ($5/$10 charge
per autograph to help cover Butler’s appearance fee.)
2 p.m. William Anderson Book Signing author of Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls
Wilder (Romulus Female Seminary)
3 p.m. Dean Butler Presentation (Village Square)
4 p.m. Dean Butler Book Signing (Village Square) – unlimited autograph session ($5/$10
charge per autograph to help cover Butler’s appearance fee.)
Sunday August 8, 2010
9 a.m. Museum Opens
10 a.m. William Anderson Book Signing, author of Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls
Wilder” (Romulus Female Seminary)
11 a.m. Dean Butler Presentation, actor who portrayed Almanzo Wilder (Laura’s husband) on
the TV Show Little House on the Prairie (Village Square)
Noon William Anderson Presentation (Brooks Grove Church)
Noon–12:30p.m. Children’s Fashion Promenade – Join in the fun and show off your prairie outfit! “Best
costume” awards for the portrayals of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Almanzo Wilder, and
Miscellaneous Ensemble (including Laura’s sisters). (Village Square)
1 p.m. Dean Butler Book Signing (Village Square) – limited to 100 autographs ($5/$10 charge
per autograph to help cover Butler’s appearance fee.)
2 p.m. Book Signing with William Anderson, author of Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura
Ingalls Wilder (Romulus Female Seminary)
3 p.m. Dean Butler Presentation (Village Square)
4 p.m. Dean Butler Book Signing (Village Square) – unlimited autograph session ($5/$10
charge per autograph to help cover Butler’s appearance fee.)
Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Dean Butler, the actor who played Almanzo Wilder, husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder, on the TV show, Little House On The Prairie. Butler will be at the museum both Saturday & Sunday as part of our Laura Ingalls Wilder Days event. Since leaving Little House, he has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies. In addition to that, he has his own production company, Legacy Documentaries, where he has produced among other films, a documentary about the real Almanzo Wilder, entitled, Life Before Laura, which details Almanzo's younger years in Burke New York. He also has a documentary about Laura slated to be out by the end of this year.
Since this blogger grew up reading The Little House Books and watching the TV show, this interview was a real thrill for me and I hope you are excited about Dean's visit after reading the interview!
GCV Blogger: We know that you played Almanzo Wilder, the husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder on the TV Show Little House On The Prairie. However, you took it one step further, and made a documentary about the real Almanzo Wilder, and now another one about Laura herself. What was so compelling about them that moved you to do this?
Dean Butler: I choose to do the documentaries because I've always wanted to stay connected to Laura material. They are beautiful stories and as an actor I respond very much to visual media. It was a natural thing for me. The documentaries do not concern the TV show. The Almanzo documentary chronicles Farmer Boy, which, of course, was not shown in the TV series. The Laura documentary is really about her journey as a writer. I have found that people who loved the books and the series have a desire to see and learn more about Laura and Almanzo.
GCV Blogger: I think I just heard that Little House On The Prairie plays in 100 countries every day. Is that true?
Dean Butler: It actually plays in over 100 countries a day. The show has never been off the air since it premiered in 1974.
GCV Blogger: Why do you think the show has such staying power?
Dean Butler: Little House was never a hip thing. It was old when it was new but it had a sincerity factor that continues to resonate with people. It's not sophisticated but it was never meant to be. It's timeless & beautiful. I think that everyone who was involved in it is enormously grateful that we were a part of something like this. There is currently a little house musical which just finished it's first tour and will probably be back for a second season. People continue to respond to this material.
It is a highly romantic view of the American experience. Certainly the real experience was different and harsh and the Ingalls family did not have an easy time. But what Laura Ingalls Wilder was able to do was spin her families tragedies in a way that leaves you hopeful that tomorrow could be a better day. They never quit. Even at the moment that Pa shakes his first in the air in despair during The Long Winter, the moment passes and they find their way out of it. Today we have so much coming at us, that the the simplicity of that life, the grounding of it, makes you feel like it's going to be ok.
GCV Blogger: What can we expect from your presentation?
Dean Butler: I tend to be pretty free from with these. I'll probably talk for about 20-25 minutes about joining the series and then open it up for questions. Depending on the questions these things can be really intriguing, funny and even touching. Everyone usually ends up having a lot of fun.
GCV Blogger: What question would be the most interesting to ask you?
Dean Butler: People always ask about working with Michael Landon & Melissa Gilbert which is always interesting but an intriguing question would be the similarities between Michael Landon and Laura Ingalls. At first glance they may not seem very similar but they were both story tellers in their own right, and fearless and tenacious in their own ways.
GCV Blogger: Bill Anderson, Laura Ingalls Wilder historian will also be presenting. You've done a lot of events haven't you?
Dean Butler: Yes! Bill is a great contrast because he's seen maybe 3 Little House Episodes. So you get someone who can really talk about the show and someone who can really talk about the books.
GCV Blogger: Now I'm going to ask you my own LHOTP question! What was your favorite storyline that you go to play as Almanzo?
Dean Butler: Well there are 3 that really come to mind.
The first is a romantic one. The one that really gave us the Almanzo character. It's the Sweet 16 episode, which is based on These Happy Golden Years, where Laura becomes a school teacher and Almanzo starts to see her differently, and they fall in love. That episode was played multiple times the first season that it ran which is unheard of.
GCV Blogger: Well I think that's probably because not only did Almanzo see her differently, but we as viewers saw her differently as well.
Dean Butler: Exactly! Melissa even talks about this. It was a real evolution point for the series and a real turning point for her. It also really marked the beginning of Michael Landon's exit as an actor. When a show is about a father's love for his family, and the little girl grows up and falls in love, there is no more sitting in Pa's lap and telling him about school that day. There is no going back.
The next episode is Sunshine and Shadows which is really the book The First Four Years made into 2 episodes for TV. Laura and Almanzo did not have an easy time of it when they first married, and faced so many difficult things together. As an actor, it was great being able to play that out.
My third favorite episode has a comedic twist. It's called The Nephews and is about Royal, Amanzo's brother's boys coming to visit and they are just terrors. It was the kind of comedy that Michael was so good at writing. Those boys had Almanzo's number and there was a lot of upset and hi-jinks. It was really fun to play and watch!
Got your own questions for Dean Butler? Don't miss our Laura Ingalls Wilder Days this coming weekend where Dean will be speaking twice per day and providing ample time for your questions as well as signing autographs. You will also be able to purchase a copy of his Farmer Boy DVD, the trailer of which, you can see below.
And stayed tuned Little House fans because on Thursday I'll be sharing an interview with Laura Ingalls Scholar William Anderson!
Today's post is by guest blogger, 9 year old Olivia Mullins, who has been to both of our previous Laura Ingalls Wilder Days and is looking forward to attending this year! This is an awesome event that truly is something your children will remember for a long timer to come!
My favorite thing to do during summer vacation is go to Laura Ingalls Wilder Day at the Genesee Country Village & Museum! There are so many fun things to do there!
If you want to, you can come in a costume and enter in the Pageant. There are different categories. You can dress up as Laura, one of her sisters, Almanzo, or Nellie! Last year, my sister won First prize in the Sister category. She won as Carrie, and got a gift card to the museum gift shop.
My favorite part of Laura Day is going to make the crafts there and churn butter or wash clothes.
With "Ma Ingalls" Karen Grassle
Every year I enjoy meeting the character from the “Little House” show. First, it was Alison Angrim, then Karen Grassle, and now Dean Butler (I hope Mary comes next!). My sister and I have the Little House books, so we pick out the book that most suits the character and we ask them to sign the books.
My family and friends make an old fashioned lunch and we dress up. We go into the big field where people play old fashioned baseball and we sit down and eat our lunch. I help my family by telling someone what they should make, by listing it out of my Laura Books. We have brought cheese, bread, hard-boiled eggs, sugar cookies, corn muffins, and apples. Last year we brought delicious fried chicken!
Sister MacKenzie Washing Clothes
There are tons of things to do and there is something for everyone! I think Laura Ingalls Day is awesome because you get to go back in time and experience the things people did in the 1800's! I love history, and if you love history like I do, then you should go to Laura Ingalls Day at the Genesee Country Village! Maybe I'll see you there!
Join us August 7th and 8th as we host our third and what will be our best to date, Laura Ingalls Wilder Days.
Everyone will enjoy kneading bread, making soap and corn husk dolls or tin ornaments at this event designed for the whole family. You also can try your hand at two-man sawing and rail splitting, compete in sack and three-legged races or enjoya horse-drawn wagon ride, among many other activities.
Children are invited to dress as their favorite "Little House" character and join in a pioneer Fashion Promenade.
Included in the festivities will be Dean Butler, who portrayed “Almanzo Wilder,” Laura’s husband, on the popular television series “Little House on the Prairie.” Butler’s presentations will include Q&A and autograph sessions.
Also appearing for Q & A and autograph sessions will be William Anderson, well known historian, lecturer, Wilder biographer and author of more than a dozen books on Laura and her family, including Pioneer Girl, the biography Laura Ingalls Wilder, A Little House Sampler and The Story of the Wilders.
A special exhibit of more than 25 Laura Ingalls Wilder artifacts will be in the museum's Meeting Center on display for the public. Included are rare ambrotypes of Ma and Pa Ingalls, a book "Pa" Charles read to Laura and her sisters as children and a handwritten letter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. There will also be first editions of her books, signed illustrations by Little House illustrator Garth Williams and other Ingalls memorabilia.
Tickets, are available at the museum’s gift shop, by phone: 585-538-6822, online, and at Wegmans
Admission: adults $16, youth (4-16) $10, seniors 62+ & students with ID $13, children under 3 admitted free.
You can also click on the link below to purchase tickets!
