| Revision as of 15:44, 11 February 2008 editAnmaFinotera (talk | contribs)107,494 edits remove plot tag after some excellent clean up work from ItsLassieTime :)← Previous edit | Revision as of 15:45, 11 February 2008 edit undoItsLassieTime (talk | contribs)6,724 edits →Key episodes, 1954 – 1964: Deleted - unreferenced and appears to be POVNext edit → | ||
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| *Lane, a boy on the Holden Ranch. Played by Stuart Lee (1971-1972) | *Lane, a boy on the Holden Ranch. Played by Stuart Lee (1971-1972) | ||
| ==Key episodes, 1954 – 1964== | |||
| {{POV-section|date=February 2008}} | |||
| *] (1954). Eleven year old Jeff Miller (]) is bequeathed a neighbor's collie named Lassie but the dog is reluctant to leave her dead master's house. Jeff discovers Lassie is guarding a cache of money from the thieving designs of a hired hand. Pilot and premiere episode. One of two episodes starring Pal, the collie of the MGM Lassie films. Debuts of Rettig, Clayton, and Cleveland. | |||
| *] (1957). The Millers discover a runaway named Timmy (]) hiding in their barn. After contacting a social worker and Timmy's relatives, Ellen (]) and Jeff provide Timmy with a ] on the farm. Jon Provost's debut. | |||
| <!--deleted per {{non-free}} tag (see Talk)] as portrayed by ] and Jon Shepodd in their debut episode, "Transition", (fourth season, 1957). The two would be replaced at the beginning of the fifth season.]]--> | |||
| *] (1957). Gramps has died. Ellen and Jeff decide to sell the farm and move to Capitol City. A young couple, Paul and Ruth Martin buy the farm, and adopt Timmy. Jeff realizes Lassie will never adjust to life in a busy city and leaves her on the farm with Timmy. Cleveland died shortly before filming on the episode began. Last appearance for Tommy Rettig. Jan Clayton and Joey De Vieira (as Porky) each have one last appearance in the following episode, "Timmy's Family". Ruth (]) and Paul Martin (Jon Shepodd) debut. | |||
| *"The Ring" (1958). Ruth feels the farmwork is overwhelming her husband Paul and invites Paul's uncle, Petrie J. Martin to join them on the farm. Timmy takes a dislike to him. When Petrie fashions a ring with Lassie's image on it, Timmy is won over. ]'s debut as Uncle Petrie. The show's sponsor, ], offers its first premium (a ring) in conjunction with this episode. 77,000 rings were mailed to viewers. | |||
| *"The Storm" (1958). Debuts of ] as Ruth Martin, Hugh Reilly as Paul Martin, and Todd Ferrell as Boomer Bates. | |||
| *"The Water Boy". Cully Wilson helps Paul find water for a well with his divining rod. Andy Clyde's debut as Cully Wilson. | |||
| *"]" (1962). In a three part story, Lassie goes to market with Paul and Timmy. She is shut in a truck and carried hundreds of miles from home. Once freed, she travels through field and forest to be reunited with Timmy. Often cited as the best of the Lassie episodes and the first mini-series on television. A retelling of Knight's ''Lassie Come-Home''. | |||
| *"The Wayfarers" (1964). In the opening episode of the eleventh season, the Martins move to Australia where Paul will teach agriculture. Lassie remains in the States due to Australia's strict quarantine restrictions. She becomes the companion animal of first Cully Wilson and then Corey Stuart, a Forestry Service worker. Last appearances of Jon Provost, June Lockhart, and Hugh Reilly. | |||
| ==''Lassie's Great Adventure''== | ==''Lassie's Great Adventure''== | ||
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| Lassie | |
|---|---|
| File:Title Screen 01.JPGLassie Title Screen, (c1958) | |
| Genre | Action and Adventure Animals Children's programs Drama |
| Created by | Based on the character created by Eric Knight Robert Maxwell |
| Starring | Tommy Rettig Jon Provost Jan Clayton June Lockhart George Cleveland Hugh Reilly Robert Bray Jack De Mave Jed Allan Ron Hayes Larry Wilcox Pamelyn Ferdin |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of seasons | 19 |
| No. of episodes | 588 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 24 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | September 12, 1954 – March 24, 1973 |
Lassie is an American television series originally broadcast from September 12, 1954, to March 24, 1973. The series follows the adventures of a collie named Lassie. The show's run lasted 17 seasons on CBS before entering first run syndication for its final 2 seasons. Lassie was one of the longest running dramatic series on television.
Origin
Lassie first appeared in 1938 as a character in a short story written by Eric Knight for The Saturday Evening Post. Knight's tale of a collie traveling hundreds of miles to be reunited with her human friend was widely popular. The author expanded the story to a full length novel and published the work as Lassie Come-Home in 1940.
In 1943, the novel was realized as the MGM feature film, Lassie Come Home starring Roddy McDowall, Elizabeth Taylor, and Pal, a collie owned and trained by Rudd Weatherwax. Pal starred in six additional MGM Lassie films before Weatherwax, in lieu of back pay, received the rights to the Lassie name and the Lassie trademark.
Weatherwax left Hollywood and toured America with Pal for several years. Pal performed as "Lassie" in a variety of venues to great acclaim. Television producer Robert Maxwell persuaded Weatherwax that the dog's future lay in television. Lassie went into production and debuted on CBS Sunday, September 12, 1954.
Plot
In the show's first episode (1954), Jeff Miller, an eleven year old boy living with his mother, Ellen, and grandfather, "Gramps", on a farm near the fictional town of Calverton, is bequeathed a rough collie named Lassie. Episodes during the first several seasons follow Jeff's adventures with Lassie on the farm and the negihboring vicinity. At the opening of the fourth season (1957), a tattered runaway named Timmy (Jon Provost) is discovered hiding in the Miller barn. The Millers take a liking to the boy and provide him a foster home.
Midway through the fourth season, "Gramps" dies, and Ellen and Jeff decide to move to Capitol City. The farm is sold to Ruth and Paul Martin who adopt Timmy. Before Jeff departs the farm, he leaves Lassie with Timmy, knowing the dog could never adjust to life in a busy city. The Martins are joined on the farm by Paul's uncle, Petrie J. Martin. Family friend, Cully Wilson, an elderly farmer and nature lover, plays a part in many episodes.
The Martin years end with the first episode of the eleventh season ("The Wayfarers", 1964) when Paul, Ruth, and Timmy move to Australia. Lassie remains in the States due to Australia's quarantine restrictions and finds a home with Cully Wilson. Cully suffers a heart attack, and Corey Stuart (Robert Bray), a ranger with the United States Forestry Service, gives Lassie a home. When Stuart is seriously disabled fighting a forest fire, two of his fellow rangers, Scott Turner (Jed Allan) and Bob Erickson (Jack De Mave), befriend Lassie. Lassie's life with the rangers is one of wilderness adventure and perils. Near the end of the show's 17 year CBS run, Lassie strikes out on her own for a year with no explanation to the viewer regarding the whereabouts of her ranger friends. Her year alone becomes one of aiding the needy humans and animals she encounters during her rambles.
Following Lassie's year alone, the show was cancelled on CBS. Lassie continued however, in first run syndication. The syndicated series picked up where the CBS series left off: Lassie is still on her own when two young hikers pull her from a river and take her to Holden Ranch, a home for troubled boys. It is there that Lassie finds a new home and new adventures. After two syndicated seasons on the Holden Ranch, Lassie ended its run.
Role of Lassie
Over the course of the television show's 19 seasons, Lassie was portrayed by six male collies. Five of the six Lassies were descendants of Pal, the Lassie of the MGM films. Larger than the females, males were chosen for the role because they are more impressive on film, and shed once a year rather than twice a year, as the females do. Contrary to popular belief, there were never multiple dogs on the set performing as Lassie -- one to pull a rope, for example, one to open a door, one to jump from a window, etc. Doubles were used occasionally but only for distance shots (Lassie running through a field, for example) and stunts.
Pal starred in the 6 MGM Lassie films. His long career in show biz was coming to a close when he appeared in the two pilots filmed for the series. In "The Inheritance" (filmed in black and white), young Jeff Miller receives Lassie as a bequest. In "The Well" (filmed in color), an unused well on the Miller property becomes a source of contention. Both pilots were aired during the first season, (1954) with "The Inheritance" being the premier episode. When Pal retired after his two television appearances, his son Lassie Junior stepped into the role.
Lassie Junior, son of Pal, appeared through all three Jeff years (1954-1956) and two Timmy years (1957-1958). He retired to battle cancer, (from which he recovered) and never worked the series again.
Spook, son of Lassie Junior, was rushed into the show while his brother Baby was in training to take on the role. Spook never became comfortable in front of the cameras after an overhead light crashed to the floor on his first day. He appeared briefly in season five (1958), in all of season six (1959), most of season seven (1960), and very briefly in season eight (1961). Spook appeared in the well known opening credits of the Timmy-era show walking with Jon Provost down a country lane.
Baby, son of Lassie Junior and brother to Spook, shared Spook's thespian chores at the end of season seven. Baby appeared during the latter Timmy years (1961-1963) and two of the Ranger years (1964-1965). Baby's large, expressive eyes made him the most popular and beloved of all the Lassies. Sadly, Baby died at the age of eight years – the only "Lassie" not to live at least seventeen years.
Mire appeared in the last Ranger years (1966-1969) and the Lassie alone year (1970).
Hey Hey appeared during the two syndicated Holden Ranch years (1971-1972).
Other animal cast
Countless animals -- dogs, cats, pigeons, horses, sheep, goats, skunks, raccoons, wolves, cougars, bears, elephants, ostriches, lions, tigers -- all appeared on the series. A few of the most memorable:
- Jeff Miller has a horse named Domino while his friend Porky Brockway (Donald Keeler) has a basset hound named Pokey. Domino and Pokey make several appearances in the early seasons. Pokey made so many appearances he was regarded by producers, crew, aand cast as a regular.
- In Porky's debut episode, "The Lion", an escaped lion wreaks havoc in the Miller kitchen while Jeff and Porky cower beneath the table. Several lions were used in filming the episode. When one lion eluded his handlers, the crew and cast stood with bated breath as the animal prowled about behind the scenery.
- In season four's "The Goose", Timmy visits with his new neighbor and classmate, Wilhelmina "Willy" Brewster (played by Linda Wrather, daughter of the show's producers, Jack and Bonita Granville Wrather). Willy's pet goose Melody is accidentally loaded onto a truck headed for market. Melody reappears with Willy in season five's "The Christmas Story".
- Timmy's burro Lucky appears in two fourth season episodes, "The Burro" (where she's named Josephine) and "The Elephant". Lucky also appears in one season five episode, "The Horse Show". In "The Horse Show", Timmy refers to Lucky as "he" while Uncle Petrie (George Chandler) refers to the burro as "she".
- In the Martin seasons, Ruth Martin (June Lockhart) has a cow named Bessie who is mentioned several times and makes at least one significant appearance. In "Bessie", Timmy and Lassie save the cow when Ruth sends her to the slaughterhouse.
- In "The Eagle" from season seven, Timmy gives "Mrs. Eagle" a goose egg to raise after her own egg is destroyed by a vandal. The performing eagle, a male named Solomon, reappears in the season eight episode, "Lassie and the Eagle", in season nine's "Eagle's Lair", and in season ten's "The Treasure", according to Ace Collins in the liner notes for the 50th anniversary DVD set. In the book Gifts of the Eagle by Kent Durden, the author states the eagle involved is a female named Lady.
- Timmy's neighbor and friend Cully Wilson (Andy Clyde) has a hound named Sam. The dog is one of Lassie's comrades in adventure and is frequently featured. In one poignant and profound episode, Sam is killed defending Cully from a rampaging maverick steer. Mad with grief, Cully stalks the steer with a shotgun. When he has the opportunity to despatch the steer, Cully's loving, gentle nature asserts itself and the old man finds he's unable to kill the helpless animal.
- Timmy adopts a raccoon and names him Melonhead. The animal is killed by teenagers speeding on the highway.
Cast
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Main characters
- George "Gramps" Miller, Ellen Miller's father-in-law and Jeff's grandfather. Played by George Cleveland (1954-1957)
- Ellen Miller, a war widow and mother to Jeff Miller. Ellen manages a small weatherbeaten farm near the fictional town of Claverton. Played by Jan Clayton (1954-1957)
- Jeff Miller, a farm boy and son to Ellen Miller. Jeff receives Lassie as a bequest from a neighbor. Played by Tommy Rettig (1954-1957)
- Ruth Martin, Paul Martin's wife and Timmy Martin's adoptive mother. Played by Cloris Leachman (1957)
- Petrie J. Martin, Paul Martin's uncle. Played by George Chandler (1957-1958)
- Paul Martin, a farmer and Timmy Martin's adoptive father. Played by Hugh Reilly (1958-1964)
- Timmy Martin adopted son of Paul and Ruth Martin. Played by Jon Provost (1957-1964)
- Paul Martin, a farmer and Timmy Martin's adoptive father. Played by Jon Shepodd (1957)
- Ruth Martin, Paul Martin's wife and Timmy Martin's adoptive mother. Played by June Lockhart (1958-1964)
- Bob Erickson, a forestry service worker and Jed Allan's friend. Played by jack De Mave (1968-1970)
- Jed Allan played Scott Turner, a forestry service worker and Bob Erickson's friend (1968-1970)
- Corey Stuart, a foresry service worker. Played by Robert Bray (1964-1968)
- Dale Mitchell, Ron Holden's friend and a former resident at Holden Ranch. Played by Larry Wilcox (1971-1972)
- Keith Holden, Ron Holden's brother. Played by Larry Pennell (1972)
- Garth Holden, head of Holden Ranch, a home for boys. Played by Ron Hayes (1971)
- Ron Holden, Garth Holden's college age son. Played by Skip Burton (1971-1972)
Recurring characters
- Doc Weaver, a veterinarain. Played by Arthur Space (1955-1964)
- Sylvester "Porky" Brockway, Jeff Miller's friend. Played by Donald Keeler (1954-1957)
- Jenny, a telephone operator played by Florence Lake (1954-1964)
- Ed Washburne, a hardware store owner. Played by Dick Foran
- Sheriff Billings. Played by House Peters, Jr.
- Cully Wilson, Timmy's friend and neighbor. Played by Andy Clyde (1959-1964)
- Scott Richards, Timmy's friend. Played by Kelly Junge, Jr. (1957)
- Wilhelmina "Willy" Brewster, Timmy's friend. Played by Linda Wrather
- Sheriff H. Miller. Played by Robert Foulk (1958-1964)
- Amy Hazlit, a schoolteacher. Played by Sally Bliss (1958-1963)
- Boomer Bates, Timmy's friend. Played by Todd Ferrell (1958)
- Ed. Played by Darwin Joston (1966-1968)
- Neeka, an Aleut youth. Played by Mark Miranda (1968-1970)
- Lucy Baker, a young girl, Elaine Baker's daughter and a neighbor to the Holden Ranch. Played by Pamelyn Ferdin (1971-1972)
- Elaine Baker, Lucy's mother and a neighbor to the Holden Ranch. Played by Jay W. ManIntosh (1971-1972)
- Mike Bishop, a boy on the Holden Ranch. Played by Josh Albee (1971-1972)
- Karl Burkholm, a baker near the Holden Ranch. Played by Karl Swenson (1971-1972)
- Andy Lopez, a boy on the Holden Ranch. Played by Mark Miranda (1971-1972)
- Willy Carson, a boy on the Holden Ranch. Played by Radames Pera (1971-1972)
- Dr. Sue Lambert, a veterinarian at an animal sanctuary near the Holden Ranch. Played by Sherry Boucher (1971)
- Lane, a boy on the Holden Ranch. Played by Stuart Lee (1971-1972)
Lassie's Great Adventure
In 1963, a five part story was filmed in the High Sierras called "The Journey". In the story, Timmy and Lassie are swept away in a hot air balloon that eventually comes to rest in the Canadian wilderness. The two friends face many perils before being rescued. Although the show's sponsor, Campbell's Soup, objected to multi-part stories (believing viewers would not want to tune in week after week to find out what happens from one episode to the next), the story was popular with three episodes hitting the top ten for the weeks in which they aired. The five episodes were quickly edited into a feature length film and released through Twentieth Century–Fox as Lassie's Great Adventure. The film is 104 minutes in length and was filmed in color – the only Timmy and Lassie color episodes. The film is available on DVD.
Production notes
Theme music
The most recognizable Lassie theme song, "Whistle," was written by Les Baxter. ASCAP records suggest this theme was used on the show from 1958-1964, and then again in 1966 until the series ended. Other themes used over opening and closing credits included orchestral renditions of an aria from Gounod's opera Faust and the traditional tune, Greensleeves.
Sponsor
Lassie was sponsored for its entire run by Campbell's Soup. The company asked that their products be visible on the set and so, in episode after episode, Campbell's products are seen in background shots.
In 1956, the company sponsored a "Name Lassie's Puppies" contest with the grand prizes being Lassie's pups and $2,000. Company executives flew to winners' homes to hand deliver the puppies.
Campbell's offered two premiums during the show's 10 year "farm" seasons. One was the friendship ring from the fourth season episode, "The Ring" (1957). The company mailed 77,715 rings to viewers. In 1959, the company offered a wallet "made of rich brown plastic" and emblazoned with a picture of Lassie in conjunction with the episode, "Old Henry". 1,343,509 wallets were mailed to viewers who sent in 5 different labels from Campbell products. The labels represented 6.5 million cans of Campbell's products sold.
Awards
- Emmy Awards for Best Children's Series, (1955, 1956)
- Peabody Award for excellence, (1956)
- Honors from the PTA, the National Association for Better Radio and Television, Gold Star, and Billboard
- In 1960, Lassie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- One of Timmy's gingham checked shirts hangs in the Smithsonian Institution.
- Lassie and the show's stars appeared on nine TV Guide covers.
Subsequent history
Classic Media currently owns the rights to the Lassie series, however Warner Bros. (through Turner Entertainment) holds the rights to the Lassie films made by MGM (see Lassie main article). Reruns of the 1954-1957 episodes starring Tommy Rettig were later syndicated as Jeff's Collie while the Provost years were syndicated as Timmy and Lassie.
The TV series has since been revived twice, as the syndicated The New Lassie in 1989, (set in Glenridge, California, with Will Estes playing opposite Lassie), and later a Canadian-produced Lassie, which aired on the Animal Planet network 1997-1998. Corey Sevier starred opposite Lassie. The show was set in the fictitious village of Hudson Falls, Vermont.
Merchandise
Lassie generated books, comic books, punch out books, toys, games, and other items for the juvenile market. Some of the most prized period items for collectors include:
- Lassie themed clothing (pyjamas, bathrobes, shirts, sneakers)
- Whitman "Lassie" punch out book
- Lassie friendship ring and Lassie wallet with paper inserts, mailing envelopes, etc.
- Lassie Halloween costumes
Other items prized by collectors include:
- Promotional photographs and materials
- Lassie and Lone Ranger tie-ins from the episode "Peace Patrol"
- Props and costumes with documented provenance from the show
Miscellanea
- Contrary to popular mythology, Timmy Martin never fell into a well. Characters who fell into wells on the show include an entrepreneur ("The Well", season 1), Lassie ("Well of Love", season 17) and Uncle Petrie ("The Crow", season 4).
DVD releases
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lassie's Great Adventure | 5 | June 26 2001 |
| Lassie: Best of the Lassie Show | 3 | November 25 2003 |
| Lassie: Lassie's Christmas Stories | 3 | November 25 2003 |
| Lassie: Best of Jeff's Collie | 3 | November 25 2003 |
| Lassie: Lassie's Birthday Surprise | 3 | November 25 2003 |
| Lassie: Lassie's Gift of Love | 3 | November 25 2003 |
| Lassie: 50th Anniversary Collection | 24 | September 14 2004 |
| Lassie: Flight of the Cougar | 3 | March 6 2006 |
| Lassie: A Mother's Love | 4 | May 1 2007 |
See also
- The New Lassie, American TV series (1989-1990)
- Lassie (1997 TV series), Canadian TV series (1997-1999)
Compare with
References
- Collins, Ace. Lassie: a dog's life. Cader Books, Penguin Books, 1993.
- "Lassie ... My Best Friend". Jack and Jill, November 1959.
- Lassie: 50th Anniversary TV Collection. Classic Media/Sony, 2004.
- "The Life and Times of Lassie". TV Guide, July 4, 1959.
- Provost, John. Timmy's in the Well: the Jon Provost story. Cumberland House Publishing, 2007.
- http://classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/lassie.html for information in re 1957 thematic music.
- Eric Knight, Lassie Come-Home. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1940. (ISBN 0030441013)
- ^ Ace Collins, Lassie: A dog's life. Cader Books, Penguin Books, 1993; pp.76-78. (ISBN 0140231838)
- "The Life and Times of Lassie". TV Guide, July 4, 1959
- "Lassie Episode Guide: Season 17, 1970-1971".
- "Lassie Episode Guide: Season 6, 1959-1960".
- TV Themes
- "Lassie (History timeline)". Classic Media. 2005. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
External links
Categories:- Children's television series
- 1954 television series debuts
- 1973 television series endings
- 1950s American television series
- 1960s American television series
- 1970s American television series
- First-run syndicated television programs
- Television programs based on novels
- Peabody Award winners
- Emmy Award winners
- Television series about animals