Melissa Gilbert Reflects on 'Horrifying' 'Little House' Costume Mask
The 'Little House on the Prairie' star shared her reaction to a vintage Laura Ingalls Halloween mask, comparing it humorously to other iconic figures.
Melissa Gilbert, known for her role as Laura Ingalls in the beloved 1970s television series "Little House on the Prairie," recently expressed a mixture of amusement and horror upon discovering a vintage Halloween mask of her character.
Gilbert, 62, shared on Instagram that while she has received numerous accolades throughout her career, the "spot-on, beautifully conceived and wildly convincing costume" mask held a unique, albeit unsettling, place among them. She posted a side-by-side comparison of her image from the show and the mask, which featured an unusually stern and somewhat distorted depiction of Laura Ingalls.
Gilbert playfully quipped that the mask bore a stronger resemblance to Lou Ferrigno, the actor who portrayed The Incredible Hulk, than to her character. This observation sparked a wave of humorous comments from her followers, who offered their own comparisons, suggesting the mask looked like Lee Majors from "The Six Million Dollar Man," Mickey Dolenz from The Monkees, or even Ronald Reagan.
The costume in question was part of the "Famous Faces" line produced by Brooklyn-based company Ben Cooper, Inc. These costumes typically included a plastic mask and a vinyl smock. The "Little House on the Prairie" ensemble featured a floral-printed dress reminiscent of pioneer attire.
Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls from the show's premiere in 1974 until its conclusion in 1983, began her time on the series at age 10 and ended it at 19. The show has recently seen renewed interest with a Netflix reboot.
Some fans shared their own nostalgic experiences with homemade "Little House" costumes, while one follower admitted to owning the exact Ben Cooper mask, expressing delight in wearing it. The mask is currently listed for sale on eBay.
