I don’t know about you, but I can’t seem to get Walnut Grove out of my mind. My whole summer seems to be planned around the Cast Reunion on July 12-14th.
As we were driving home on Sunday after my husband’s graduation weekend, I came up with the greatest idea for the next ten weeks of blog posts—a post highlighting each Little House cast member attending.
First up is Charlotte Stewart—the lovely Miss Beadle.
Walnut Grove’s sweetest teacher welcomed Laura and Mary to school in season one and watched them grow up. The first four seasons of Little House would not have been the same without Miss Beadle and her Lemon Verbena perfume.
One of my favorite episodes with Charlotte, besides Country Girls (that I talked about in yesterday’s live video), is Four Eyes. If you remember, Mary gets glasses and loves them until Nellie and Willie start teasing her. It was Miss Beadle, and her handsome beau, who convinced Mary to wear her glasses with pride.
Not only did Charlotte play the role of Miss Beadle, but she appeared in countless other television shows and movies including Twin Peaks, Eraserhead, Tremors, Highway to Heaven, Bonanza, The Walton’s, Speedway and many more. Charlotte has even shared the screen with Elvis Presley!
She has had an extraordinary career, but we all love her most as Ms. Beadle on Little House on the Prairie.
In 2017, Charlotte wrote a memoir—Little House in the Hollywood Hills: A Bad Girl’s Guide to Becoming Miss Beadle, Mary X, and Me. You might not want to read it aloud to your elementary-age kids, but I respect how Charlotte was willing to open up about her past struggles with drugs and alcohol, and where that lifestyle led.
Charlotte is also a breast cancer survivor, who works diligently making her Beadle Bags to support women with breast cancer.
How many of you have Beadle Bags?
Rumor has it that Charlotte might be making a Baby Grace Beadle Bag… that’s if I can get my act together and send her a picture!
Every bag features a photo from Little House on the Prairie and Charlotte sews each one herself. They run for $45.00 which includes shipping and an autographed photo!
You can order your own Beadle Bag by contacting Charlotte by email directly. lottebanks@yahoo.com
I didn’t have any interactions with Charlotte on the set. By the time I started, Miss Beadle supposedly married the pig farmer and moved away. But after almost fifteen years of reunions and cast appearances, we are finally getting to know each other.
Just last month in Missouri, we stayed with the same host family. Charlotte is an amazing storyteller, and boy does she have stories. Sipping white wine on the patio, curling up on her bed sharing pictures, and supporting each other throughout the weekend cemented our growing friendship.
As I’ve said in the past, Charlotte reminds me of my grandmother. Her commanding personality, yet small stature bring back wonderful memories of my Grandma Lou. Every time I’m around Charlotte, I feel my grandmother’s presence and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.
What a treat to join Charlotte Stewart in Walnut Grove this summer.
You don’t want to miss it!
Much love to you!!
Wendi Lou
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