Below is an interview with Radames Pera, who played the role of John Edwards (Mary's first kiss):
1. How did you come across your part as 'John Edwards' on LHOTP?
I had an audition at MGM Studios in Culver City, which was like any other, except for the fact that I got to meet Michael Landon straight away, rather than a preliminary interview with the casting director on the show. This was a rare occurrence. I believe my prior work helped me skip the step of the often tedious and unnerving process of getting a gig in Hollywood. I remember reading for Mr. Landon that day, and what a pleasure and privilege it was. I don't think they saw too many others after that, as Michael and his team liked what they saw in me.
2. How were you received by the main cast?
Basically, all productions at the time were populated by consummate professionals, and you didn't get to work in Hollywood if you weren't one. I was received accordingly. Now, with child actors, there's more focus on "the new guy entering the classroom", literally, but I'd say the playing field was pretty even for me. Before Little House, I had recently finished my own series (Kung Fu) and was simply joining members of another (though not initially as a "regular" on the show). I was their "guest". There was mutual respect all around, but it was to a definite "pecking order".
3. Tell me about your daily routine on set, and life behind the scenes?
Nothing exciting here: show up at the assigned time (crack o' dawn usually), sit in a makeup chair, go to the real on-set schoolroom with the other kids if they happen to be working that day too. Try to absorb my studies until an Assistant Director knocks on the door and calls me to the set. Do the work. Rinse and repeat. Go home, study my lines for the next day's shooting. It was high pressure, anxiety-creating, yet fun work. I was treated as an "outsider" when I returned to "regular school". This was always a considerable letdown from the specially charged air of a film production. However, Alison Arngrim (AKA Nellie Oleson) and I went to the same elementary school, different junior highs, and then the same high school together in Hollywood. She was a year behind me. Until we worked on the show together, I didn't know we had gone to the same schools. In 11th grade (16 or 17 years of age) I didn't respond to her request of love, as I was busy trying to get out of school. Fortunately, Alison has a big heart and we are good friends now. When I was on Little House, I was the oldest "kid" on the set, and so I paid more attention to the adults I was working with than the "younger folk".
Melissa Sue Anderson (AKA Mary Ingalls), whom Michael Landon saw fit to develop a romantic storyline with my character, was a couple of years younger than me. She had never done such acting before, and nor had I for that matter. She'd probably admit now that she wasn't ready for it and it caused some difficulties. I did my best to put her at ease with me by trying to develop some authentic camaraderie we could share on-screen, but she would have none of it. The combination of being rejected by my peers at "regular school" and her rejecting my friendship in the working environment eventually got to me, and one day I lost my patience with her while in the little (and actual) school room - I needed to borrow a pencil for some math work I had, and she had 3 sharp ones next to her tablet, so I asked to borrow one and she pointedly said "No." I replied, under my breath, "What a b****..." The other kids (about 4 of them: Melissa Gilbert (Laura) and Alison Arngrim included) all contained their reactions ("OMG!" etc.), but were astonished I had said what we all thought. Miss Anderson distinctly had something lodged between her butt-cheeks, but I was the only one foolish enough to tell her so. Of course, this partially led to me getting written out of the show.
1. How did you come across your part as 'John Edwards' on LHOTP?
I had an audition at MGM Studios in Culver City, which was like any other, except for the fact that I got to meet Michael Landon straight away, rather than a preliminary interview with the casting director on the show. This was a rare occurrence. I believe my prior work helped me skip the step of the often tedious and unnerving process of getting a gig in Hollywood. I remember reading for Mr. Landon that day, and what a pleasure and privilege it was. I don't think they saw too many others after that, as Michael and his team liked what they saw in me.
2. How were you received by the main cast?
Basically, all productions at the time were populated by consummate professionals, and you didn't get to work in Hollywood if you weren't one. I was received accordingly. Now, with child actors, there's more focus on "the new guy entering the classroom", literally, but I'd say the playing field was pretty even for me. Before Little House, I had recently finished my own series (Kung Fu) and was simply joining members of another (though not initially as a "regular" on the show). I was their "guest". There was mutual respect all around, but it was to a definite "pecking order".
3. Tell me about your daily routine on set, and life behind the scenes?
Nothing exciting here: show up at the assigned time (crack o' dawn usually), sit in a makeup chair, go to the real on-set schoolroom with the other kids if they happen to be working that day too. Try to absorb my studies until an Assistant Director knocks on the door and calls me to the set. Do the work. Rinse and repeat. Go home, study my lines for the next day's shooting. It was high pressure, anxiety-creating, yet fun work. I was treated as an "outsider" when I returned to "regular school". This was always a considerable letdown from the specially charged air of a film production. However, Alison Arngrim (AKA Nellie Oleson) and I went to the same elementary school, different junior highs, and then the same high school together in Hollywood. She was a year behind me. Until we worked on the show together, I didn't know we had gone to the same schools. In 11th grade (16 or 17 years of age) I didn't respond to her request of love, as I was busy trying to get out of school. Fortunately, Alison has a big heart and we are good friends now. When I was on Little House, I was the oldest "kid" on the set, and so I paid more attention to the adults I was working with than the "younger folk".
Melissa Sue Anderson (AKA Mary Ingalls), whom Michael Landon saw fit to develop a romantic storyline with my character, was a couple of years younger than me. She had never done such acting before, and nor had I for that matter. She'd probably admit now that she wasn't ready for it and it caused some difficulties. I did my best to put her at ease with me by trying to develop some authentic camaraderie we could share on-screen, but she would have none of it. The combination of being rejected by my peers at "regular school" and her rejecting my friendship in the working environment eventually got to me, and one day I lost my patience with her while in the little (and actual) school room - I needed to borrow a pencil for some math work I had, and she had 3 sharp ones next to her tablet, so I asked to borrow one and she pointedly said "No." I replied, under my breath, "What a b****..." The other kids (about 4 of them: Melissa Gilbert (Laura) and Alison Arngrim included) all contained their reactions ("OMG!" etc.), but were astonished I had said what we all thought. Miss Anderson distinctly had something lodged between her butt-cheeks, but I was the only one foolish enough to tell her so. Of course, this partially led to me getting written out of the show.
4. Did Walnut Grove look and feel like a real town in person?
No. It felt like a set. The camera lens is a magical thing.
5. How were you transported around the set?
Lots of dusty hot walking!
6. What are some of your fondest memories from your time on the show?
Working with Michael Landon, Victor French (Mr. Edwards), Patricia Neal (who played Julia Sanderson - John Jr.'s real mother who died from a terminal illness) and Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Snyder Edwards - who worked in the post office, and became John Jr.'s adoptive mother with Mr. Edwards). I also enjoyed hanging out with Melissa Gilbert, Alison, and Katherine MacGregor (Mrs Oleson). They remain great professionals and great people.
7. Do you believe you fulfilled Michael Landon's vision of what your character should be?
Great question! Yes, I do, and I say that with confidence - though at the end I was turned into an unfaithful young city fop, which was NOT how the character was written or originally developed to be. John Jr. was betrothed (engaged) to Mary, and he was supposed to come back and be with her after she went blind (this was not in the original books, but as it was explained to me). The incompatibility of Melissa Sue Anderson and I, along with the serious falling out Michael Landon had with Victor French (albeit patched up 3 years later) is what led Landon to write the whole family out of the show, which he accomplished by the elaborate episode where Pa and Mary come to Chicago to find out John had become unfaithful (Episode: Times of Change, 1977). The line Landon delivered which accomplished all of this was, "So John, are you coming back to Walnut Grove or are you going to visit your folks out in California?" And with that, the Edwards family was history! - Until Michael and Victor made up a few years later, that is. Another irony here is that I left the show to study Acting, Writing and Directing with Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC. I came back 3 years later and heard Victor was back on the show! I was so excited that I went to visit the shooting set, which happened to be the same day they filmed the finding of John Jr.'s dead body! Ouch!! Of course, they all had a laugh. I was reeling. (In the series, John Jr. was murdered after finding out about a business corruption.)
8. Do you think LHOTP could be 'restarted' today if the town were to be rebuilt, a good cast and crew were found, and the story picked up from where it left off (excluding 'The Last Farewell' where the town was blown up!!!)?
No. The show was a product of its era, and I'm not sure if it could fly again today. The tapes, DVDs and now Blu-Rays will continue to be cherished and passed along to future generations for some time yet. There is no need to resurrect it in any other way. It's perfect in its original completeness.
9. To wrap up ... favourite episode and why?
Hard to say. I loved working with Patricia Neal in my first episode, and I also loved working with Victor and Michael in the episode I mentioned earlier. It was ALL a great experience and an honour to be a part of. I'm proud to have been a part of two great TV Westerns (with Kung Fu being an "Eastern Western"). It's a legacy I take as a solemn responsibility. One of the reasons I enjoy fan events so much, is because it's a chance to give back to the people who keep it alive in their hearts.
~
Interviewer: Thank you for taking the time to recount your experience on the TV show for littlehousedocumentary.weebly.com!
Note: Facebook conversation done on August 12, 2015.
No. It felt like a set. The camera lens is a magical thing.
5. How were you transported around the set?
Lots of dusty hot walking!
6. What are some of your fondest memories from your time on the show?
Working with Michael Landon, Victor French (Mr. Edwards), Patricia Neal (who played Julia Sanderson - John Jr.'s real mother who died from a terminal illness) and Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Snyder Edwards - who worked in the post office, and became John Jr.'s adoptive mother with Mr. Edwards). I also enjoyed hanging out with Melissa Gilbert, Alison, and Katherine MacGregor (Mrs Oleson). They remain great professionals and great people.
7. Do you believe you fulfilled Michael Landon's vision of what your character should be?
Great question! Yes, I do, and I say that with confidence - though at the end I was turned into an unfaithful young city fop, which was NOT how the character was written or originally developed to be. John Jr. was betrothed (engaged) to Mary, and he was supposed to come back and be with her after she went blind (this was not in the original books, but as it was explained to me). The incompatibility of Melissa Sue Anderson and I, along with the serious falling out Michael Landon had with Victor French (albeit patched up 3 years later) is what led Landon to write the whole family out of the show, which he accomplished by the elaborate episode where Pa and Mary come to Chicago to find out John had become unfaithful (Episode: Times of Change, 1977). The line Landon delivered which accomplished all of this was, "So John, are you coming back to Walnut Grove or are you going to visit your folks out in California?" And with that, the Edwards family was history! - Until Michael and Victor made up a few years later, that is. Another irony here is that I left the show to study Acting, Writing and Directing with Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC. I came back 3 years later and heard Victor was back on the show! I was so excited that I went to visit the shooting set, which happened to be the same day they filmed the finding of John Jr.'s dead body! Ouch!! Of course, they all had a laugh. I was reeling. (In the series, John Jr. was murdered after finding out about a business corruption.)
8. Do you think LHOTP could be 'restarted' today if the town were to be rebuilt, a good cast and crew were found, and the story picked up from where it left off (excluding 'The Last Farewell' where the town was blown up!!!)?
No. The show was a product of its era, and I'm not sure if it could fly again today. The tapes, DVDs and now Blu-Rays will continue to be cherished and passed along to future generations for some time yet. There is no need to resurrect it in any other way. It's perfect in its original completeness.
9. To wrap up ... favourite episode and why?
Hard to say. I loved working with Patricia Neal in my first episode, and I also loved working with Victor and Michael in the episode I mentioned earlier. It was ALL a great experience and an honour to be a part of. I'm proud to have been a part of two great TV Westerns (with Kung Fu being an "Eastern Western"). It's a legacy I take as a solemn responsibility. One of the reasons I enjoy fan events so much, is because it's a chance to give back to the people who keep it alive in their hearts.
~
Interviewer: Thank you for taking the time to recount your experience on the TV show for littlehousedocumentary.weebly.com!
Note: Facebook conversation done on August 12, 2015.