Let's discuss the primitive style television shows and define it. Primitive television depicts the late 1800s and into the early 1900s in this definition. Not just the "Western's" but the day to day living of early settlers attempt to make a better way for their family.
With this working definition in mind, what ever happened to the television shows that illustrated the primitive living? Think about The Little House on the Prairie, The Walton's, and Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman as prime examples.
For the GenX, we longed to see what the characters were up to and how they coped with such rustic settings and drama. Think about Laura Ingalls who was more of a tomboy character. She was more into fishing and climbing trees than dolls and playing with Nellie Olson. Or when Mary Ingalls went blind, how did someone living blind cope with getting around without the modern amenities we have in our advanced, technological era of today.
While into the early 1900s, the Walton's lifestyle of cutting their own lumber and logging it to their on property saw mill to then truck it to the customer. Or John Boy's entrepreneur mind to begin a newspaper with a large, mechanical printing press squeezed into the small shanty next to the main house.
What I miss is the awe and suspense of that era. Speaking on The Little House on the Prairie, I was fascinated by the entire assembly of what I would call primitive living. No electricity. No running water. Yes, there was still a day-to-day routine and economy and the episodes were still filled with Laura developing into a woman, the Ingalls' fighting to pay off debt, rogue outsiders disturbing Walnut Grove and escorted out of town all while singing Onward Christian Soldiers.
Seeing the sawmill function with the use of a water powered mill run the saws was fascinating to me. How did that simple water wheel provide the raw power to employ the staff? The church and school doubling up and filled with the variety of people worshipping. Then, Monday all of the age groups of children collected into the room to learn their various lessons and then homework completed on slate tablets (portable chalkboards) all under a lone teacher. Where is this in television today?
Moving to Dr Quinn in the 1990s, this outsider had to make a stand as a woman "in a man's world" attempting to heal or console the ailing. Coming from the Northeast, prosperous family and having a few modern (modern for 1867) conveniences to the Wild West of Colorado Springs she finds herself having to adopt three children from one of her first patients as she lay dying.
Again, television depicted a primitive lifestyle yet captivated us for several seasons with the suspense of no 911, no IV bags or ER rush, no racing car, or Airwolf to get a heart from point A to B. This was raw inventiveness and kept us captivated while primarily a clean, easy family friendly television show.
While not an advertisement whatsoever, the latest rendition of The Little House on the Prairie has held my attention as well as several others. The true leaving the known for the next unknown with children in tow, crossing a life threatening river, building a log home from scratch, all while fearing wolves and Native Americans is a welcomed and tremendous sight.
Do you enjoy the Primitive Style Television shows? Did they hold your attention?
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