The Olsens...and their ages - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 10-25-2007, 08:59 PM

It has occurred to me over the years, that the Olsen's must have been quite old when they married and had children. When you consider, this is the era when young girls were married as young as 16 years of age and had children right away. Obviously Mrs. Olsen was not in her late 20's. Nels had a receding hairline and looked to be in his mid 40's. The children were less than 9 years old when the show began and even then, the Olsen characters didn't appear young. Are we supposed to assume they married late in life?

catlover79 · 10-25-2007, 09:08 PM

It seemed kind of a stretch that Mrs. Oleson would really be Willie's mother...she looked too old. Then again, women of that era had many children even into their late 40s, so who knows? Was it ever revealed how Nels & Harriet met, and how old they were when they married? I don't think it was.

Ireneparalegal · 10-25-2007, 09:11 PM

The only hint I got was when Harriet talked abt how she had a business/store when she was a single lady and that is how she met Nels or that is how she married Nels, something like that. She was talking abt how having a family store is what put her in a position to have her choice of the males in herotownship. God, I can't remember which episode it was she said this.

catlover79 · 10-25-2007, 09:13 PM

I think that was the season premiere of Season 6. She was telling Nellie why she and Nels gave her the business (to find a husband). Needless to say, Nellie was not exactly thrilled.

Ireneparalegal · 10-25-2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I think that was the season premiere of Season 6. She was telling Nellie why she and Nels gave her the business (to find a husband). Needless to say, Nellie was not exactly thrilled.

Oh yes, ok that was it. She was giving her this speech on how it would help her find a man.

The whole time Nellie had this look on her face that cracked me up big time.

"WHO'S GOING TO DO THE COOKING?"

catlover79 · 10-25-2007, 09:17 PM

Who could forget her attempt at waiting tables? "COMING RIGHT UP!!!"

Ireneparalegal · 10-25-2007, 09:18 PM

That poor skinny man who ate their regularly (why???) and complained abt her cooking all the time.

catlover79 · 10-25-2007, 09:20 PM

He must have been a glutton for punishment. It certainly wasn't for the delicious food and friendly service!!

Ireneparalegal · 10-25-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

He must have been a glutton for punishment. It certainly wasn't for the delicious food and friendly service!!

How abt the atmosphere? The feeling of being indoors away from the dirt and dust.

Madame X · 10-28-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

It has occurred to me over the years, that the Olsen's must have been quite old when they married and had children. When you consider, this is the era when young girls were married as young as 16 years of age and had children right away. Obviously Mrs. Olsen was not in her late 20's. Nels had a receding hairline and looked to be in his mid 40's. The children were less than 9 years old when the show began and even then, the Olsen characters didn't appear young. Are we supposed to assume they married late in life?

Actually, Nellie and Willie are the youngest children still left at home. There were five older Olesen children who all fled Walnut Grove to get away from Harriet as soon as they could!

Ireneparalegal · 10-28-2007, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame X

Actually, Nellie and Willie are the youngest children still left at home. There were five older Olesen children who all fled Walnut Grove to get away from Harriet as soon as they could!

schoolmom · 10-30-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That poor skinny man who ate their regularly (why???) and complained abt her cooking all the time.

Yeah, and then after Nellie gets pregnant, he tells her that her cooking
sure had improved since that happened.

schoolmom · 10-30-2007, 08:36 PM

[QUOTE=Ireneparalegal]It has occurred to me over the years, that the Olsen's must have been quite old when they married and had children. When you consider, this is the era when young girls were married as young as 16 years of age and had children right away. Obviously Mrs. Olsen was not in her late 20's. Nels had a receding hairline and looked to be in his mid 40's. The children were less than 9 years old when the show began and even then, the Olsen characters didn't appear young. Are we supposed to assume they married late in life?[/QUOTE

Probably just took Harriet a long time to find someone willing to marry her!
ha! Actually, in the episode, "The preacher takes a wife" we find out that
she had been engaged at one time to a minister. But he ended up breaking
their engagement, because he felt he couldn't be a good minister & husband
at the same time.

Madame X · 11-01-2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schoolmom

Probably just took Harriet a long time to find someone willing to marry her! ha! Actually, in the episode, "The preacher takes a wife" we find out that she had been engaged at one time to a minister. But he ended up breaking their engagement, because he felt he couldn't be a good minister & husband at the same time.

He probably felt he couldn't be a minister and be married to a woman who treated people in an un-Christian way. That would be hypocritical.

ThomasE · 11-01-2007, 03:15 PM

That would have been a little twist to the show. You would have a man og God and then a devil sent heathen in holy matrimony. LOL.

10-25-2007, 08:59 PM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	The Olsens...and their ages It has occurred to me over the years, that the Olsen's must have been quite old when they married and had children. When you consider, this is the era when young girls were married as young as 16 years of age and had children right away. Obviously Mrs. Olsen was not in her late 20's. Nels had a receding hairline and looked to be in his mid 40's. The children were less than 9 years old when the show began and even then, the Olsen characters didn't appear young. Are we supposed to assume they married late in life?
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10-25-2007, 09:08 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	It seemed kind of a stretch that Mrs. Oleson would really be Willie's mother...she looked too old. Then again, women of that era had many children even into their late 40s, so who knows? Was it ever revealed how Nels & Harriet met, and how old they were when they married? I don't think it was.
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11-01-2007, 03:15 PM	#15
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	That would have been a little twist to the show. You would have a man og God and then a devil sent heathen in holy matrimony. LOL.
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10-25-2007, 09:11 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	The only hint I got was when Harriet talked abt how she had a business/store when she was a single lady and that is how she met Nels or that is how she married Nels, something like that. She was talking abt how having a family store is what put her in a position to have her choice of the males in herotownship. God, I can't remember which episode it was she said this.

10-25-2007, 09:13 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I think that was the season premiere of Season 6. She was telling Nellie why she and Nels gave her the business (to find a husband). Needless to say, Nellie was not exactly thrilled.

10-25-2007, 09:17 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Who could forget her attempt at waiting tables? "COMING RIGHT UP!!!"

10-25-2007, 09:18 PM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	That poor skinny man who ate their regularly (why???) and complained abt her cooking all the time.

10-25-2007, 09:20 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	He must have been a glutton for punishment. It certainly wasn't for the delicious food and friendly service!!

10-30-2007, 08:36 PM	#13
schoolmom Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 11, 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 85	[QUOTE=Ireneparalegal]It has occurred to me over the years, that the Olsen's must have been quite old when they married and had children. When you consider, this is the era when young girls were married as young as 16 years of age and had children right away. Obviously Mrs. Olsen was not in her late 20's. Nels had a receding hairline and looked to be in his mid 40's. The children were less than 9 years old when the show began and even then, the Olsen characters didn't appear young. Are we supposed to assume they married late in life?[/QUOTE Probably just took Harriet a long time to find someone willing to marry her! ha! Actually, in the episode, "The preacher takes a wife" we find out that she had been engaged at one time to a minister. But he ended up breaking their engagement, because he felt he couldn't be a good minister & husband at the same time.