Ed Friendly

A TV producer (and not to be confused with veteran TV news producer Fred Friendly), Ed Friendly brought shows to the screen for adults and children alike. For adults that included the ground-breaking Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968-1973). "Ed could really make the deals," said his production partner George Schlatter. "He sold the 'Laugh-In' pilot to Timex to sponsor and then to NBC. The cost of the special was about $200,000, which seems impossible now." The show went on to be a hit with its cutting edge comedy. For children, Friendly's wife urged him to create a series from a book their daughter was reading. He didn't do it until he noticed his daughter was reading the books again and again, so he purchased the rights to Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. The resulting show was also a hit, running from 1974 to 1983. Friendly was a bit upset that the show became a starring vehicle for Michael Landon, so he also produced "a faithful adaptation" of Little House as a miniseries in 2005. Friendly died from cancer at his southern California home on June 17. He was 85. From This is True for 17 June 2007 Suggestions for further reading: Little House On The Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder Amazon Price: $10.17 Customer Review: This is a great resource for teachers because it makes it so easy to introduce younger children to a great classic they would otherwise be unable to enjoy. The reader's voice is very easy to listen to, the pace is great, and the fiddle music adds so ...   Little House on the Prairie (Little House, No 2) by Laura Ingalls Wilder Amazon Price: $6.99 Customer Review: I love Laura Ingalls Wilder as an author. I think her books are interesting and well written. Her descriptions of events, places, people, and time periods cannot be beat and it draws you right in.   Little Town on the Prairie (Little House) by Laura Ingalls Wilder Amazon Price: $8.99 Customer Review: First let me say that I read this in the full-color collector's edition, and it was lovely. Thick, glossy pages that could withstand much "love" and Garth Williams' lovely drawings enhanced with color. Very nice. In Little Town on the P...   Little House on the Prairie Boxed Set by Laura Ingalls Wilder Amazon Price: Customer Review: I did not see the books as they were sent directly to my 7 year old granddaughter. She called as soon as they arrived and thanked me. She loved them and has already read a few. She was very happy.   Little House on the Prairie 75th Anniversary Edition by Laura Ingalls Wilder Amazon Price: $11.46   Newsfeed display by CaRP

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