Laura Ingalls Wilder Classic “Farmer Boy” Inspires All-New Collector’s DVD

Santa Monica, CA, October 28, 2008 – Legacy Documentaries proudly announces the release of Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura, a Direct-to-DVD documentary inspired by the Laura Ingalls Wilder children’s classic, Farmer Boy. Executive Producer, Dean Butler, portrayed Almanzo Wilder on the long-running Little House on the Prairie TV series from 1979 to 1983.

Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura was shot on location at Almanzo’s beautifully restored childhood home in Burke, NY. In addition to scenes from the Farmer Boy book featuring young Almanzo, his father James, Morgan horses and oxen calves, the documentary utilizes excerpts of Farmer Boy text read by actress Katherine Cannon (Beverly Hills 90210, Father Murphy), newly imagined Laura Ingalls Wilder archival photographs, and animated Garth Williams illustrations from the Little House on the Prairie books. Also featured are interviews with Little House historian William Anderson, author Barbara Walker, and Morgan horse expert, Karen Lassell.

Composer and songwriter, Jay Asher, writer of scores and songs for HBO’s Maximum Security and NBC’s Fame, in addition to arrangements for 20th Century Fox’s Blame It On Rio, contributed the lyrical, romantic melodies for Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura.

The bonus feature, The Wilder Homestead Today, offers a review of the homestead’s annual season including restoration and preservation activities, daily tours, Civil War re-enactments, Morgan horse shows, and arts and crafts demonstrations.

Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura is designed as a companion to the famous Little House on the Prairie books and the much-loved television series, which starred the late Michael Landon as Pa and Melissa Gilbert as Laura. “We hope audiences enjoy our program as much as we loved making it,” stated Butler.

Produced by Legacy Documentaries in partnership with the Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder Association, this collector’s DVD is available now for $21.95 exclusively from the Wilder Homestead in Burke, NY.

To order Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura please contact the Wilder Homestead at (518) 483-1207 or order online at http://almanzowilderfarm.com/.