Young Pioneers (film)
| Young Pioneers | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama Western |
| Written by | ABC Circle Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | March 1, 1976 |
Young Pioneers is a 1976 American
Plot
David and Molly Beaton, 18-years-old and 16-years-old respectively, marry and leave their native Iowa to make a life for themselves as homesteaders in the Dakota Territory of the early 1870s.[10] The U.S. Government Homestead Act offers applicants 160 acres of land in undeveloped areas. Those who stay on the land for five years become the official owners.[11] The young couple manages to survive government and railroad corruption,[12] and perseveres through blizzards, a grasshopper invasion, crop destruction, and giving birth in a sod house among other challenges.[13]
Production
The project was developed and produced by
400 actors and actresses were interviewed before Linda Purl and Roger Kern were offered the lead roles of Molly and David Beaton.[16]
Cast
- Roger Kern as David Beaton
- Linda Purl as Molly Beaton
- Robert Hays as Dan Grey
- Shelly Juttner as Nettie Peters
- Robert Donner as Mr. Peters
- Frank Marth as Mr. Svenson
- Brendan Dillon as Doyle
- Charles Tyner as Mr. Beaton
- Jonathan Kidd as Dr. Thorne
- Arnold Soboloff as Clerk in Land Office
- Britt Leach as Mr. Loftus
- Dennis Fimple as Man in Land Office
- Bernice Smith as Mrs. Svenson
- Janis Jamison as Eliza
- Jeff Cotler as Charlie Peters
- Lucky Hayes as Second Woman
- Earl W. Smith as Man in Boxcar
- Michelle Stacy as Flora Peters
- Mare Winningham as Nettie Peters
References
- ^ “‘Young Pioneers’ brave raw Dakota wilderness.” Austin Daily Herald, 17 February 1976.
- ^ “TV Scout Reports.” The Times and Democrat, 1 March 1976.
- ^ O’Connor, John J. “”Young Pioneers’ Offers Good Family Entertainment.” The Missoulian, 6 March 1976.
- ^ “Inside TV: ‘Angels’ to Star Wayne Rogers.” Los Angeles Times, 4 December 1975.
- ^ Deeb, Gary. “Happy Days for ABC.” Chicago Tribune, 13 March 1978.
- ^ Hanauer, Joan. “ABC, its power growing, list fall schedule.” The Times-Standard, 2 April 1976.
- ^ Hanauer, Joan. “Old Pilots Don’t Die.” The Daily Register, 1 June 1976.
- ^ “Christmas Specials Top Week’s Nielsen Ranking.” Los Angeles Times, 22 December 1976.
- ^ Lee Margulies, Trial Run for Young Pioneers, The Los Angeles Times, April 1, 1978, page 32
- ^ Gardella, Kay. “’Young Pioneers’ Producer Looks to Libraries for Ideas.” Daily News, 23 February 1976.
- ^ O’Connor, John J. (March 1976). "TV: 'Young Pioneers.'". New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ Henniger, Paul. “Competition for The Waltons?” Capital Journal, 1 March 1976.
- ^ “Video Networks Take Youth Route.” The Daily News, 26 February 1976.
- ^ “Series Pilot Work Starts.” The Evening Sun, 5 December 1975.
- ^ Lochte, Dick. “Book Notes: If Winter Could Kill.” Los Angeles Times, 22 February 1976.
- ^ Scott, Vernon. “’Young Pioneers’ Producer hopes to attract teen Viewers.” The Daily Herald, 28 February 1976.
- ^ Shelton, Robert. “Out Takes From Old Tucson.” Tucson Daily Citizen, 29 November 1975.
- ^ Hoffman, Steve. “’Young Pioneers’ Looks Like Best Of New Westerns.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 March 1976.