Actor Dean Butler played the role of Almanzo Wilder on “Little House on the Prairie” – This is him today

By
Monica Pop
-

If you loved the iconic series Little House on the Prairie, you certainly remember handsome Almanzo Wilder, the husband of Laura Ingalls. This character was portrayed by Dean Butler, and the role remains until this day one of the most significant in his career as an actor.

Youtube/Melissa Sue Anderson Fan

Butler was born on May 20, 1956, in Prince-George, British Columbia, Canada, but his family soon moved to North Carolina. He was into studying and attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he majored in communication arts. Besides his studies, Butler has always been interested in acting as well, so even when he was just a teen, he took part in a number of commercials thus wanted to pursue a career in film.

His dream of becoming an actor didn’t take long to become a reality, all thanks to his love towards that profession and legendary actor and director Michael Landon who chose Butler for the role of Wilder in Little House on the Prairie.

Youtube/Melissa Sue Anderson Fan

Butler recalled the time he was auditioning for the part that changed his life forever.

“I remember reading for Michael and he watched me read, put his hand up like this [like watching through a binocular] and he looked at me through his hands,” Butler said in an interview. “It was a thrill to see that, what of a terrific director he was, what a star he was. He walked in the room with the boots, the jeans, the whole thing.”

Landon was impressed by young Butler and asked him what he was doing in May, to what Butler replied how he was taking his final exams. “When do they finish?” Landon asked. “On the 18th of May,” Butler answered. “I’ll see you on the 21st’,” Landon said, and it was the start of a new career and a new and very meaningful friendship between the two.

Youtube/Melissa Sue Anderson Fan

Before he stepped on the set, Butler hadn’t seen a single episode of the show, nor he had ever read the book, but that all changed after he became part of it. After he started reading Little House, Butler said, “There was something idyllic about it, simple and beautiful. Little House made life beautiful and warm, it was sweet and touching. It had a dream quality that the audience responded beautifully to.” 

Youtube/Melissa Sue Anderson Fan

On his first day of filming, Butler almost got himself into a huge trouble. Namely, he was asked to shoot a scene in which he was supposed to drive a horse wagon 200-yards down a hill, something he had never done before. Unfortunately, his hat fell, and as he reached to grab it, he lost control and the horses, along with the wagon, almost ended up crashing into an oak tree. Luckily, one of the crew members reached the horses and prevented a tragedy.

It was then that Landon approached Butler while chewing a cigarette and said, “I can double you but not replace the horses on the show.” Butler said, “That was my first taste of being with Michael, but it was great fun.”

Youtube/Melissa Sue Anderson Fan

As the show moved on, Butler’s character became more and more popular. There was a scene that brought him an award, that of “Most Memorable Kiss” on screen. He and Laura kissed for the first time and it was a huge moment for the whole crew and the series. In fact, it was probably Melissa Gilbert‘s first ever kiss in her life.

“But it was certainly treated as it was her first kiss ever, which certainly added a bit of responsibility to the whole thing,” Butler said.

Youtube/Melissa Sue Anderson Fan

After the series was over, Butler starred in other movies, including TV series The New Gidget, and film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He guest starred in Murder, She Wrote, Who’s the Boss?, The Love Boat, and JAG.

Butler never really stopped working with Little House on the Prairie. He remained devoted to the project one way or another. After he established his own production company, he produced some extra content of the show for the fans and did two documentaries, Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura and Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Youtube/Melissa Sue Anderson Fan

“The series has meant a huge amount to me in my life, and so to get a chance to support it, nurture it, for audiences to find it in a new way, is really an incredible experience for me. I wouldn’t trade it,” he told Hollywood Soapbox.

In 2001, Butler married the love of his life, actress Katherine Cannon. The two met during the audition for Landon’s series Father Murphy.

Asked whether a reboot of the classic series should be done, Butler says, “The show is more beautiful now than it was when it was new. Why mess around with it? Why change it, why do it again? I’m sure it’ll happen, and we’ll all be watching closely to see how they do.” Well, we definitely agree.

arty

Assisted living facility under investigation after images of 86-year-old’s injuries surface

By
Maryane
-

The decision of placing your elderly parents in a nursing home is not an easy one. Sadly, for many people, that’s the only option they have.

When a man named Benny Gomez reached the New Jersey nursing home Westfield Center, he was convinced his 86-year-old mother would be well taken care of. But he was wrong. 

One day he got a call and was told how his mom had an accident and suffered severe injuries on her head and face. She had to be taken to hospital. 

“All we know there was some kind of incident, very vaguely described, and the result of that is what these photos depict,” attorney Marulyn Barnosa told CBS2.

When he saw his mother’s condition and all those huge bruises and cuts on her face, he had hard time believing they were from a ‘simple fall’ from her wheelchair. He could sense something more serious was in question. 

“She doesn’t have a single bruise anywhere on her body,” he said.

Not willing to let the facility’s staff off the hook, he demanded answers by posting his mother’s photos on Facebook.  

“My mother was assaulted numerous times,” Benny told TAPinto Westfield. “She tells me that they were rough with her. They hit her over the head with a hair brush multiple times.”

The staff, on the other hand, issued a statement saying their residents’ well-being was their number one priority but were not willing to go into details regarding the accident. 

The poor woman is now recovering from her injuries and the police is investigating the case. 

“She tells me the aides are rough with her and they hit her,” Benny said. “I bring it to their attention and they always have an excuse.”

Once the photos of Benny’s mother surfaced online, many people took their time to share their personal experiences with the nursing home, and they weren’t pleasant at all. 

Only if Benny knew this before thrusting his loving mom in their hands. 

A person named Manuel Cruz spoke to CBS2 and said:

“It reminded me of my mom it brought back memories.” 

He went further to explain what really happened. 

“It was a terrible experience she was screaming and crying most of the times,” he said. “Every time I’d walk in she’d be sitting in a wet diaper… I would get in and hear her screaming from the doorway. The second you walk into the unit you smell urine all over the carpet.”

The managers at the nursing home stay on their position that they take great care of their residents, but people whose parents lived there say the opposite. 

We hope Benny’s mom would recover completely and will be able to tell what had really happened on the day she ‘fell off’ her wheelchair. 

arty

High school in Iowa opens up game with heartfelt rendition of national anthem

By
Monica Pop
-

During the 19th century, “The Star-Spangled Banner” became one of the most beloved and most widely accepted patriotic tunes. This period was the time when many people turned to music whenever they felt like expressing their deepest emotions of love towards the country. Although the military had adopted the song for ceremonial purposes, it wasn’t until 1931 that it was officially accepted as a national anthem. 

U.S citizens stand for the flag and the anthem to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their freedom. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played at sport games and other significant gatherings to send a message that no matter the race, the religion, or the political differences, we are all Americans. 

The lyrics along with the music make the anthem pretty challenging to perform. That’s why it’s only sang by professional musicians or played on a recording. However, during a sporting event at an Iowa school, the hymn was performed by both the members of the competing teams and the crowd, and listening to it gives us goosebumps. 

Facebook/WHO TV Channel 13 News

It happened last February when people were eagerly waiting for the high school girls’ basketball game to take place. North Polk intended to play a musical recording of the anthem before the start of the game, but things didn’t turn as planned. The recording wouldn’t start playing and there was no professional singer around. Would that mean the powerful lyrics of the anthem wouldn’t fill the air? Certainly not. In one moment, the audience, the students, the referees, as well as the school staff started singing on their own. 

Facebook/WHO TV Channel 13 News

All those voices harmonized in one is one of the most emotional anthem performances you’ve ever heard. So many emotions put into a single tune. 

When it came to singing “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!” everyone involved was so caught up into the moment that it sounded like seasoned chorale. We are sure that if you don’t know the background story, you would never guess there is no professional musician involved in the astounding performance. 

Facebook/WHO TV Channel 13 News

Many people took the time to praise these people’s action. Most agree how it should always be done this way and how the school should start a tradition. One person writes: “I applaud every person STANDING there and singing. Every parent every grandparent, every teacher, every coach for installing something so powerful as our national anthem into these children. I stand and applaud every child in that gym for standing and singing.” 

Take a look at it in the video below. 

arty

Prince Harry blames the UK press for “destroying his mental health”

By
Monica Pop
-

Prince Harry probably expected his marriage to former Suits star Meghan Markle to place them under the spotlight, but he hardly ever believed that their lives will become number one story for the tabloids and the magazines even nowadays.

It all started with him and Meghan stepping down from the royal duties and leaving Britain, probably for good judging from the events which followed after the so called Megxit, and continued with the now infamous Oprah interview. However, no matter how the couple’s public appearances and openness about the life as royals ‘enrages’ some members of the British royalty, The Sussexes don’t seem to be planning on staying silent, which is exactly what Meghan spoke about with Oprah.

The world expected for Harry and his brother and father to get on good terms after they met at Prince Philip’s funeral, but that didn’t happen as Harry felt ambushed and refused to discuss any matters without his wife there.

Now, as Harry and Meghan signed contracts with Netflix and Spotify and Harry started working as Chief Impact Officer for mental health service start up ‘Better Up,’ we will be hearing from the two even more often than we expected.

Harry, for example, opened his soul to host and comedian James Corden as the two took an open-top bus ride around LA back in February and revealed who it is to blame for destroying his mental health.

“[The British press] was destroying my mental health,” he said.

“This is toxic. So, I did what any good husband and what any father would do. It’s like I need to get my family out of here. But, we never walked away, and as far as I’m concerned whatever decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away. I will always be contributing, but my life is public service so wherever I am in the world it’s always going to be the same thing.”

Further, he added how he doesn’t feel that he and Meghan really walked away, but on the contrary. “It was never walking away. It was stepping back rather than stepping down. It was a really difficult environment.”

Source: YouTube Screenshot/ The Late Late Show with James Corden

Harry isn’t fond of the press and the tabloids as he still believes it was them who contributed to his mother’s death.

You can take a look at Harry’s interview in the video below.

arty

11-year-old boy jumps from the window of a moving school bus to escape beating from bullies

By
Monica Pop
-

One devastated father shared a horrific story of how his 11-year-old son could have lost his life after he jumped out of a moving school bus in an attempt to escape the bullies who were beating him.

The poor boy leapt from the window and landed on a moving pickup truck before he landed on the highway. According to The New York Post, the father, Dion Murphy, spoke to FoxAtlanta5 and explained how his son was scared of what those bullies could do to him before he decided to do what he did. “One student jumped in his face, he was pushing him against the window, when he fell, the other student took his shoe and in a desperate attempt to escape it, he jumped out the window.”

The boy, who attended the Youth Middle School in Walton County, Georgia, was left unconscious and suffered a serious elbow injury. “I believe he was trying to escape the situation. At this moment, he felt his back was up against the wall,” his dad said.

The bus stopped at a turn lane and ambulance was called.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time for Dion’s son to be the victim of bullies. According to Dion, he had seen a tape of his boy being beaten by other students during a meeting at the principal’s office the previous Friday. Sadly, nothing had been done in order for further incidents to be prevented.

“There’s more tapes and that’s why I’m so upset because the school neglected the bullying act and did not do anything about it,” he said.

“They took it as horseplay, but my son could have lost his life.”

Since the incident, Dion’s son is no longer part of that school.

arty

Royal experts believe that Prince Charles “may never forgive Harry” for dragging family name through the mud

By
Monica Pop
-

With still a lot going on between the members of the British royalty, many believe that the chances of Prince Charles ever getting over Prince Harry’s accusations are getting slimmer and slimmer with each passing day.

It all started after The Sussexes decided they had it enough from the family and stepped down from their royal duties in hopes of pursuing other careers. They moved to Canada and then left to America where they currently live.

Meghan and Harry got contracts with Netflix and Spotify and the chances of returning to Britain again are pretty much non-existent.

Shutterstock

And as if turning their back to the royals wasn’t enough, the two made things even more heated after they gave Oprah Winfrey a bombshell interview during which they accused The Firm of racism and Harry said he was now free as his brother and father left “trapped” inside the system. Meghan also opened up about her suicidal thoughts and claimed the family didn’t want to offer her any help because it would be bad for their reputation.

However, despite all that, many were convinced that Harry meeting with his family at his grandfather’s funeral would be an opportunity to fix what has been broken. He indeed had a conversation with Charles and William but it was reported how he felt ambushed and didn’t want to discuss any matters without Meghan by his side. She, on the other hand, didn’t attend the funeral because she was advised by her doctor not to travel, considering she’s pregnant, and because she didn’t want to be in “the center of attention.”

Youtube/Theroyalfamilychannel

A day ago, Harry appeared on Dax Shepard’s ‘Armchair Expert’ podcast and spoke of his childhood and his royal family again. He said his father “suffered” because of his upbringing by the Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh and that he treated Harry the way he was treated, calling it “genetic pain,” as per the Daily Mail.

Shutterstock

With this said, it doesn’t look like Prince Charles could ever forgive Harry for dragging the family name through the mud. In fact, royal experts believe that Charles plans on ditching Harry and Meghan from the family once he takes the throne and even giving a royal tittle to Harry and William’s step-sister Laura.

“With the way things are going, Charles may never forgive Harry, which hasn’t gone down well with Elizabeth,” an insider told US Weekly. “She feels that he’s putting his pride before the best interest of the monarchy. She has enough on her plate dealing with the loss of her husband. It’s drama she can do without.”

Shutterstock

William on the other hand is ready to give his brother one last chance to prove his loyalty to the family.

“He believes that in order to repair damage and destruction from Harry’s interview, the best approach is to keep things civil with his brother rather than fanning the flames and fighting back with a tit-for-tat attitude,” US Weekly reports.

“Elizabeth is proud of William for taking the dignified approach, unlike Charles, who still hasn’t forgiven Harry for dragging his name through the mud.”

arty

5-year-old girl and her toddler brother found alone with their parents’ decaying bodies who died after eating poisoned pickles

By
Monica Pop
-

A five-year-old girl and her toddler brother spent 3 whole days locked inside their apartment next to the dead bodies of their parents, Alexander Yakunin 30, and Viktoria, 25. During that time, the girl took care of her brother and the two slept by their mommy and daddy’s side.

After Alexander and Viktoria didn’t show up at a family gathering, their family got concerned and called them. It was the girl who answered the phone and told her aunt that her mom and dad were “sleeping too long” and that her daddy’s body turned black, according to The Sun.

The aunt, Natalia, drove to the apartment only to see her brother and her sister-in-law dead. She immediately called 911 and both police and ambulance arrived at the scene. The heartbreaking incident took place in Bolshoye Kuzomkino, Russia.

“I ran in… and saw everything. I fell down and screamed,” Natalia said about discovering the lifeless bodies.

Alexander and Viktoria were described by their family and neighbors as perfect parents who took great care of their children, and the tragedy left everyone who knew them heartbroken and devastated.

Allegedly, the cause of death is severe food poisoning. As per The Sun, before they died, Alexander and Viktoria ate pickles given to them by Alexander’s grandmother. It is suspected that the botulinum toxin from the pickles might have been the reason for the young parents’ deaths. This toxin can cause paralysis and respiratory failure, which leads to death.

However, the exact cause has not yet been revealed, although the families of the deceased are still looking for answers. Viktoria’s mother, 61-year-old Galina Yasturbenko, told news outlet 78.ru, “They said we must bury them in sealed coffins. We are shocked. Nobody knows what happened.”

The children are currently under the care of their paternal grandfather.

Rest in peace Alexander and Viktoria. Our hearts go out to the grieving families.

Featured image:Representational image

arty

Marine who lost his life in Iraq saving that of his fellow Marines is honored in a new documentary

By
Monica Pop
-

To be part of the military takes courage, sacrifice, and incredible devotion to the country. That is the reason why not everyone can be a soldier ready to put their life on the line each and every day.

This is a powerful story of just how far a Marine was ready to go for the sake of his comrades’ well-being and how he lost his life in order to save theirs.

Source: YouTube Screenshot/ Three-Branches

The horrific incident that had the whole country speaking and praying took place on April 14, 2002, when the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, LtCol Matthew Lopez conducted a meeting with some Iraqi officials in Husaybah, Iraq.

Sadly, as members of the Battalion were on their way south towards Camp Husaybah, their convoy was ambushed. It was then that they went in for a hasty search of a line of vehicles at the back. Cpl. Jason Dunham became suspicious of a SUV and decided to take a closer look. To his surprise, the vehicle was loaded with AK-47s and RPGs. The person behind the wheel got out of the car and started fighting Cpl. Dunham. At that moment, the two other Marines, Private First Class Kelly Miller and Lance Corporal Bill Hampton, immediately rushed towards Cpl. Dunham to help him.

Source: YouTube Screenshot/ Three-Branches

However, Cpl. Dunham could be heard yelling, “No, no, watch his hand,” warning his fellow Marines of the grenade that man was holding. In an attempt to save Miller and Hampton’s lives, Cpl. Dunham tried to stifle the grenade using Kevlar helmet and his own body.

Source: YouTube Screenshot/ Three-Branches

Sadly, he suffered very severe injuries and not a lot could be done. After the horrific incident, Cpl. Dunham was put on life support, but passed away ten days later.

In 2007, the late Marine was given the Medal of Honor, and in 2009, a guided-missile destroyer was named after him.

However, the story of Cpl. Jason Dunham’s bravery, courage, and sacrifice is yet to be presented to millions. The documentary The Gift will hopefully be released soon with the help of the donations of people and organizations. You can see the trailer below, and you can donate if you wish.

The Gift honors the members of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and Cpl. Jason Dunham who wasn’t afraid to sacrifice his life.

arty
1...761762763...1,036Page 762 of 1,036