Alison Arngrim, known for her role as Nellie Oleson in the classic television series "Little House on the Prairie," has shared details about the on-set atmosphere during the show's original run, describing significant alcohol consumption and widespread smoking among cast and crew.

Speaking on the "Here's What Happened" podcast, Arngrim, 64, recalled an "old Hollywood" mentality among some of the older crew members, likening the environment to the series "Mad Men." "They came from an era where everybody smoked and everybody drank, like all the time," she stated.

Arngrim noted that while the children on set did not smoke, many of the adult cast members and crew members frequently smoked, with Marlboros being a common sight. She also claimed that the crew would consume "a couple of cases of beer" daily, with provisions made to replenish the supply if it ran low. Michael Landon, the show's lead actor and executive producer who played Charles "Pa" Ingalls, would reportedly "take a shot of whiskey" during filming. Arngrim also described a "whole bar" in the prop truck, where drinking would commence at the end of each filming day.

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Arngrim, who starred in the series for its first seven seasons from 1974 to 1981 and returned for a guest appearance in 1983, also touched upon the pressures faced by young female stars in Hollywood. She mentioned that managers and agents sometimes attempted to foster competition and animosity among the young actresses. "You take three little girls who are just becoming teenagers and lock them into a studio, and then you also have the whole Hollywood thing of being pitted against each other and competition," Arngrim explained. She expressed surprise that the young cast members maintained their friendships and "survived the whole seven years without killing each other."

IMAGE2 Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson

"Little House on the Prairie" was recently rebooted by Netflix, with a new cast and setting. Arngrim also has a guest role in the revival, portraying a different character named Ida, described as a "crazy lady in the woods."