Written for television by Blanche Hanalis and starring/directed by Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls (father of the author of the series of books upon which the show was based, Laura Ingalls Wilder). The pilot originally aired on 30 March 1974 and resulted in being picked up by NBC as a series for the 1974-75 television season.
Melissa Gilbert portrayed Laura Ingalls as a child in the pilot and the entire NBC series and subsequent TV specials.
It still remains one of NBC’s highest rated pilot episodes.