''The Young Pioneers'' was a trial-run

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

television series about young newlyweds who settle in the

Dakota Territory The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of No ...

during the 1870s. If the first three episodes had received good ratings the series may have found a place on the network’s fall lineup.Lee Margulies, Trial Run for Young Pioneers, ''The Los Angeles Times'', April 1, 1978, page 32
/ref> The series was based on the plot of

Rose Wilder Lane Rose Wilder Lane (December 5, 1886 – October 30, 1968) was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, political theorist and daughter of American writer Laura Ingalls Wilder. Along with two other female writers, Ayn Rand and Isabel Pa ...

’s 1933 novel ''Let the Hurricane Roar'', which was reissued as '' Young Pioneers'' though the main characters names came from her novel '' Free Land''. In March 1975 the television film '' Young Pioneers'' was watched by 40 million viewers,Spend Christmas with 'Young Pioneers' Dec. 19, ''Lebanon Daily News'' (Lebanon, PA), December 11, 1976, page 26
/ref> so in December 1975 a second film ''

Young Pioneers' Christmas ''Young Pioneers' Christmas'' is a 1976 American made-for-television Western drama film which was broadcast by ABC in December 1976 as a Christmas special starring Linda Purl and Roger Kern. It was a sequel to the made-for-television movie '' Youn ...

'' continued the story of homesteaders Molly and David Beaton, and served as a pilot for a planned ABC series. ''The Young Pioneers'' series aired on Sundays at 7 p.m. The first episode was a two-hour movie, followed by two sixty-minute episodes.

Cast

Linda Purl Linda Purl (born September 2, 1955) is an American actress and singer, known for her roles as Ashley Pfister (Fonzie's girlfriend) on ''Happy Days'' (she originally played Gloria as Richie’s date in season 2 episode 6), Sheila Munroe in the 1982 ...

as Molly Beaton, newly married homesteader *Roger Kern as David Beaton, newly married homesteader *

Robert Hays Robert Hays (born July 24, 1947) is an American actor, known for a variety of television and film roles since the 1970s. He came to prominence around 1980, co-starring in the two-season domestic sitcom '' Angie'', and playing the central role of ...

as Dan Gray, neighboring homesteader *

Robert Donner Robert Donner (April 27, 1931 – June 8, 2006) was an American television and film actor. Early life and career Donner was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, Michigan and Texas. He spent four years in the United States Navy ...

as Mr. Peters, neighboring homesteader *

Mare Winningham A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four y ...

as Nettie Peters, daughter of Mr. Peters *Michelle Stacy as Flora Peters, daughter of Mr. Peters *Jeff Cotler as Charlie Peters, son of Mr. Peters

Production

The series’ exterior scenes were filmed on the Empire Ranch, near

Sonoita, Arizona Sonoita (; ood, Ṣon ʼOidag) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 818 at the 2010 census. The origin of the name of the CDP is the O'odham ''Ṣon ʼOidag'', which may be best t ...

, with interior shots filmed at the 20th Century-Fox studios in Hollywood. Four sod structures were built for the series, with a house and a barn in both Arizona and California.

Ed Friendly Edwin "Ed" Samson Friendly Jr. (April 8, 1922 – June 17, 2007) was an American television producer. He was responsible for creating the television programs ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'', ''Little House on the Prairie'', and ''Backstairs at ...

, who had earlier produced the two-hour pilot film for NBCs ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books is a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adolescence in the Midwestern United States, American M ...

'', was ''The Young Pioneers'' producer.

Earl Hamner Earl Henry Hamner Jr. (July 10, 1923 – March 24, 2016) was an American television writer and producer (sometimes credited as Earl Hamner), best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s as the creator of two long-running series, ''The Waltons' ...

, creator of ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., based on his 1961 book ''Spencer's Mountain'' and the 1963 film ...

'', was brought in to help with the project. He wanted the series to progress like a novel, with each episode to be a single chapter, and the audience seeing the progression of the nearest town of Wildrose.Earl Hamner’s new series, ''The Salt Lake Tribune'', April 2, 1978, page 48

Episodes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Young Pioneers, The (Tv series) 1970s American television miniseries
1970s Western (genre) television series 1970s American drama television series 1978 American television series debuts 1978 American television series endings American Broadcasting Company original programming Christian entertainment television series Television shows based on American novels