"THE VOICE OF TINKER JONES"

The town becomes divided when Mrs. Oleson offers to buy a bell for the church, but only if she can put up a plaque. The differences and arguing begin to affect the school children. A mute craftsman, Tinker Jones, steps in and with the help of the school children, is able to make a bell.















I enjoyed watching this episode. I thought it was funny when one of the men told this other man (Kennedy) he didn't understand why he cared that the bell came from Mrs. Oleson and Kennedy said... "Well, next thing you know, she's going to want to change the name of the town to Olesonville!" LOL Little did he know!!! lol

I loved seeing the children working together and even Nellie and Willie cooperating and giving some of their toys for the bell!
Great episode!

I like the way that the children work together

It was very rare to see Nellie and Willie cooperating!! I guess Lauras' quote: "you won't have anybody to be mean to anymore if you tell" really worked. (like THAT would stop her!)

It makes me cry. Did you see Tinker's face when he sees the bell hanging in the church? There is a so deep happyness in his whole being for what he has done that it makes you cry...

Vanesa.

I commend the actor who played Tinker. It's hard to act only with body movements and facial expressions and not use your voice. He did a great job to convey his thoughts.

Karen Grassle did an outstanding job in A matter of faith when she had to carry scenes all by herself, too.

When I was twelve or maybe thirteen I thought this episode was really dumb. :b Now though I really like it.

I agree, Tinker did an excellent job! That would've been really hard to do.

Now, Mr. Kennedy later becomes Judd Larabee, right?

The parts where the grown-ups are arguing in the church are amusing. Some of the things said are really funny.
"Why, next think you know, she'll be preaching." Harriet looks very appalled!

I also really like the part when the kids take Mr. Hanson's oil cans and he can't figure out where they went! ~laughs~

Did anyone else here catch Tinker Jones in "Columbo: Double Exposure"?

enjoyable episode though not a favourite of mine

I really love this episode, and it brings tears to my eyes. I think it is really wonderful that the children are able to give up their toys, and put aside their differences to help Tinker make the bell for the church...the kids are able to show a maturity that, in this instance, many of the adults are not able to do.

When I first saw the LHOP movie, " The Last Farewell", I cried my eyes out at the end when the church bell was ringing for the last time. I couldn't help but think, "But...that's the bell that Tinker and the children made so long ago!" That really tore me up. Of course, I was crying my eyes out anyway because of the whole theme of the movie (a good-bye to Walnut Grove), but the thought of the bell being destroyed possibly really got to me...I'm pretty sentimental, I guess...

I always thought this episode was classic Little House, and it will always be one of my favorites. :cabn:

Here is the cute pict of Carrie. She made this face when Tinker gave both her sister horses and she didn't see anything for her... lol

I just saw this one again yesterday. It's one of my favorites. A lot of my favorites are from season 1. That was a great season. What's great about this episode is the kids coming together, sacrificing their toys, to get the church what it needs. They showed the adults how to cooperate, put their petty differences aside, and get things done.

I just watched this episode for the first time the other day. what a good episode! i enjoyed it

Did anyone notice a young Sean Penn as one of the school kids? He had no lines. I still remember about 6 years ago I was watching this episode and all of a sudden those beady little eyes...and that big nose. I looked it up on the internet and sure enough... it was him. His father Leo Penn directed this episode. Look for him next time!

easyt72000 wrote:

Did anyone notice a young Sean Penn as one of the school kids? He had no lines. I still remember about 6 years ago I was watching this episode and all of a sudden those beady little eyes...and that big nose. I looked it up on the internet and sure enough... it was him. His father Leo Penn directed this episode. Look for him next time!

No foolin'?!! Makes me wonder who else 'now famous' appeared in the show. Someone care to start a thread?
Welcome to the board easy72000!!

The guy who played Bud Bundy was in it,too...

I watched this episode last night. It was very good at portraying how churches can split over these kinds of things (sadly). And of course I'm glad that the church all got back together at the end.

great episode. I love, how all the children of WG helped out with Tinker Jones.

u can learn from kids

One funny line in this one, especially if you watch it after you've seen the entire series, is Kennedy's line, when he's complaining about Mrs. Oleson wanting to put the Olesons' name on the plaque: "The next thing you know she'll want to change the name of the town to Olesonville!" Well, she would -- eight years later.

Loved this one

What I loved about this episode, was at the end, all the children, even Nellie and Willie was "good" and everyone was proud of them.
Sometimes I wish they showed a "one time" character again, and Tinker was one of them.

I just got done watching the episode. I love how the children helped Tinker make the bell.