The Olsens...and their ages

[Ireneparalegal]

It has occurred to me over the years, that the Olsen's must have been quite old when they married and had children. When you consider, this is the era when young girls were married as young as 16 years of age and had children right away. Obviously Mrs. Olsen was not in her late 20's. Nels had a receding hairline and looked to be in his mid 40's. The children were less than 9 years old when the show began and even then, the Olsen characters didn't appear young. Are we supposed to assume they married late in life?

[catlover79]

It seemed kind of a stretch that Mrs. Oleson would really be Willie's mother...she looked too old. Then again, women of that era had many children even into their late 40s, so who knows? Was it ever revealed how Nels & Harriet met, and how old they were when they married? I don't think it was.

[Ireneparalegal]

The only hint I got was when Harriet talked abt how she had a business/store when she was a single lady and that is how she met Nels or that is how she married Nels, something like that. She was talking abt how having a family store is what put her in a position to have her choice of the males in herotownship. God, I can't remember which episode it was she said this.

[catlover79]

I think that was the season premiere of Season 6. She was telling Nellie why she and Nels gave her the business (to find a husband). Needless to say, Nellie was not exactly thrilled. :rofl:

[Ireneparalegal]

I think that was the season premiere of Season 6. She was telling Nellie why she and Nels gave her the business (to find a husband). Needless to say, Nellie was not exactly thrilled. :rofl:
Oh yes, ok that was it. She was giving her this speech on how it would help her find a man. :lol: The whole time Nellie had this look on her face that cracked me up big time. :lol: "WHO'S GOING TO DO THE COOKING?"

[catlover79]

Who could forget her attempt at waiting tables? "COMING RIGHT UP!!!" :eek: :rofl:

[Ireneparalegal]

:rofl:

That poor skinny man who ate their regularly (why???) and complained abt her cooking all the time. :lol:

[catlover79]

He must have been a glutton for punishment. It certainly wasn't for the delicious food and friendly service!! :rofl:

[Ireneparalegal]

He must have been a glutton for punishment. It certainly wasn't for the delicious food and friendly service!! :rofl:
:rofl:

How abt the atmosphere? The feeling of being indoors away from the dirt and dust. :lol:

[Madame X]

It has occurred to me over the years, that the Olsen's must have been quite old when they married and had children. When you consider, this is the era when young girls were married as young as 16 years of age and had children right away. Obviously Mrs. Olsen was not in her late 20's. Nels had a receding hairline and looked to be in his mid 40's. The children were less than 9 years old when the show began and even then, the Olsen characters didn't appear young. Are we supposed to assume they married late in life?

Actually, Nellie and Willie are the youngest children still left at home. There were five older Olesen children who all fled Walnut Grove to get away from Harriet as soon as they could! ;)

[Ireneparalegal]

Actually, Nellie and Willie are the youngest children still left at home. There were five older Olesen children who all fled Walnut Grove to get away from Harriet as soon as they could! ;)
:eek: :rofl:

[schoolmom]

:rofl:

That poor skinny man who ate their regularly (why???) and complained abt her cooking all the time. :lol:


Yeah, and then after Nellie gets pregnant, he tells her that her cooking
sure had improved since that happened.

[schoolmom]

[QUOTE=Ireneparalegal]It has occurred to me over the years, that the Olsen's must have been quite old when they married and had children. When you consider, this is the era when young girls were married as young as 16 years of age and had children right away. Obviously Mrs. Olsen was not in her late 20's. Nels had a receding hairline and looked to be in his mid 40's. The children were less than 9 years old when the show began and even then, the Olsen characters didn't appear young. Are we supposed to assume they married late in life?[/QUOTE

Probably just took Harriet a long time to find someone willing to marry her!
ha! Actually, in the episode, "The preacher takes a wife" we find out that
she had been engaged at one time to a minister. But he ended up breaking
their engagement, because he felt he couldn't be a good minister & husband
at the same time.

[Madame X]

Probably just took Harriet a long time to find someone willing to marry her! ha! Actually, in the episode, "The preacher takes a wife" we find out that she had been engaged at one time to a minister. But he ended up breaking their engagement, because he felt he couldn't be a good minister & husband at the same time.

He probably felt he couldn't be a minister and be married to a woman who treated people in an un-Christian way. That would be hypocritical. ;)

[ThomasE]

That would have been a little twist to the show. You would have a man og God and then a devil sent heathen in holy matrimony. LOL.

[catlover79]

Can you even imagine Harriet as a minister's wife!? :eek: :seeya:

[lovebetty]

I always think about how weird that would be. She didn't tend to act christian, but that was just part of it. Back then the minister's wife was expected to do things for the chuch all the time. She'd hate those dutys.

[catlover79]

Instead, poor Nels got stuck with her. :eek: :crazy: :lol:

[Marvo301]

Instead, poor Nels got stuck with her. :eek: :crazy: :lol:
I always felt sorry for Nels. Not only was he married to Harriett. But he had Nellie for a daughter and Willie for a son. And if that wasn't bad enough he later got stuck with Nancy too! How much is one man supposed to take! The man was a saint for putting up with all of them!

[catlover79]

At least Nellie and Willie both mellowed out and matured as they got older. Jury's out on Nancy - let's HOPE she followed her adopted siblings' example!!

[Marvo301]

At least Nellie and Willie both mellowed out and matured as they got older. Jury's out on Nancy - let's HOPE she followed her adopted siblings' example!!
I don't remember Nancy ever showing any signs of maturity (or mellowness!) but who knows? Most people do mature eventually!

[lovebetty]

We can only hope.

[catlover79]

I always felt sorry for poor old henpecked Nels. I read a comment years ago that said that the Olesons were the Bundys of Walnut Grove - I think that's a pretty fair assessment!!! :crazy: :lol:

[Family Ties Forever!]

I'm not sure the age of the Nellie and Willie characters. The actress that played Nellie was twelve in 1974 and the actor who played Willie was six in 1974.

So even though Allison was twelve we were supposed to believe that her character Nellie was under the age of nine? The character Wille certainly would have been.

[janet42]

I'm not sure the age of the Nellie and Willie characters. The actress that played Nellie was twelve in 1974 and the actor who played Willie was six in 1974.

So even though Allison was twelve we were supposed to believe that her character Nellie was under the age of nine? The character Wille certainly would have been.

Allison was small for her age. That why she was able to pull it off. She also was a great actress. She said playing Nellie helped her release anger that she had that was caused by the sexual abuse that she received from her brother early in her life.

[Jack1000]

Oh yes, ok that was it. She was giving her this speech on how it would help her find a man. :lol: The whole time Nellie had this look on her face that cracked me up big time. :lol: "WHO'S GOING TO DO THE COOKING?"

LOL! Nellie (to Percival) " I HATE THIS PLACE AND I HATE COOKING AND I HATE SHORT PEOPLE!

Percival pauses, and than dumps the bowl of eggs all over Nellie's head! LOL!

Percival: "I also have a very short temper!!! Why your Mother built this place for you I'll never know you certainly can't cook, you certainly have no right to be dealing with the public! And as pretty as you are, you don't need a restaurant to catch a husband in the first place!"

He storms out, furious. Nellie is just left SPEECHLESS with her mouth open! LOL! (For the first time ever! She knows that this guy is not gonna take any of her tantrums or crap!)

Caroline comes in: "Nellie, what happened?"

Nellie: "Something wonderful! He said I was pretty!!!" LMFAO!!!

One of my favorite exchanges in the whole series!!!

Jack

[Schmoopie]

LOL! Nellie (to Percival) " I HATE THIS PLACE AND I HATE COOKING AND I HATE SHORT PEOPLE!

Percival pauses, and than dumps the bowl of eggs all over Nellie's head! LOL!

Percival: "I also have a very short temper!!! Why your Mother built this place for you I'll never know you certainly can't cook, you certainly have no right to be dealing with the public! And as pretty as you are, you don't need a restaurant to catch a husband in the first place!"

He storms out, furious. Nellie is just left SPEECHLESS with her mouth open! LOL! (For the first time ever! She knows that this guy is not gonna take any of her tantrums or crap!)

Caroline comes in: "Nellie, what happened?"

Nellie: "Something wonderful! He said I was pretty!!!" LMFAO!!!

One of my favorite exchanges in the whole series!!!

Jack

I haven't seen that in ages, but I totally remember those lines!