List of Lassie episodes (season 1)

The first season of the television series "Lassie" premiered in the United States on CBS on September 12, 1954. Produced by Robert Maxwell, follows the adventures of a female rough collie named Lassie and her young owner Jeffrey Miller (Tommy Rettig). The series also features Jan Clayton as Jeff's mother Ellen and George Cleveland as Ellen's father-in-law and Jeff's grandfather "Gramps." Lassie and Jeff are often joined in their adventures by Jeff's best friend, Sylvester "Porky" Brockway (Donald Keeler), and Porky's basset hound Pokey, who was considered an uncredited series regular.

The season spanned twenty-six episodes, with the season finale airing on March 6, 1955. The song "Secret of the Silent Hills (Theme from the Lassie TV Series)," is used for both the opening and ending theme. Composed by William Lava, the orchestral theme was originally created for the 1940 radio show "The Courageous Dr. Christian".cite web |url=http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/lassie.html |publisher=The Media Management Group |work=ClassicThemes.com |title=Lassie /Jeffs Collie /Timmy and Lassie |accessdate=2008-02-16 ]

In 1955, the show won an Emmy Award for the Best Children's Program category.cite web |url=http://www.cbs.com/specials/cbs_75/timeline/1950.shtml |publisher=CBS |title=CBS at 75: 1950s |accessdate=2008-02-22 ]

Production

In 1954, producer Robert Maxwell sought out Rudd Weatherwax and his rough collie Pal, known to the public as "Lassie". Lassie had become a household name in the 1940s after Pal had played the heroic and intelligent dog in a series of MGM films. After the last movie, Weatherwax and Pal had been performing at fairs and rodeos. When Maxwell approached Weatherwax with a concept of producing a new television series starring Lassie, Weatherwax agreed and a pilot was quickly produced.cite book |last=Collins |first=Ace |title=Lassie: A Dog's Life |date=1993-10-01 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0140231830|oclc=29878000 ] Both Maxwell and Weatherwax agreed that the series should center on "a boy and his dog." CBS executives were impressed with the pilot and gave the show a full-year contract. Also impressed was the Campbell Soup, which became the show's primary sponsor.cite book |last=Collins |first=Ace |title=Lassie: Celebrating 50 Years of Love guide book (included with DVD set) |year=2004 |publisher=Classic Media ]

With the pilot a success, "Lassie" went into production and debuted on Sunday, September 12, 1954. Pal, who was seventeen when the series went into production, performed the role of Lassie in the pilot episode, "The Inheritance," and "The Well," which was filmed as a secondary pilot, but became the 24th episode of the series. After the filming of those two episodes, Weatherwax retired Pal, who died a year later. Pal's son, "Lassie Junior," took over the role and stage name of Lassie for the rest the rest of the first season, as well as the next four seasons.

Reception

Millions watched the first episode, in which Lassie is bequeath in a neighbor's will to young Jeffrey Miller, but refused to stay with him until she had tamed a thief after her late master's hidden savings. The ratings grew for the second episode, and remained high for the rest of the season.

Episodes

References

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*cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/lassie/show/1110/episode.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabssh&tag=tabs;episodes |publisher=TV.com |title=Lassie Episode Guide |accessdate=2008-02-14

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