Lassie (TV series) facts for kids
Lassie is a famous children's TV show. It was shown on CBS from September 12, 1954, to March 24, 1973. The show is all about the exciting adventures of a smart collie dog named Lassie. She often helps her human and animal friends.
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About the Show
The idea for the Lassie TV show came from two people. They were TV producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax. They wanted to tell a story about a farm family in the American Midwest and their dog.
The Original Lassie Dog
The dog chosen to play Lassie was named Pal. Pal was a real dog actor. He had already played Lassie in seven movies made by MGM. Pal filmed the first two test episodes for the TV series. After that, he retired from acting. All the dogs who played Lassie on the TV show after Pal were his descendants. This means they were his children or grandchildren. All of them were male dogs. Rudd Weatherwax trained every single one of them.
Changes Behind the Scenes
In 1957, a new producer took over the show. His name was Jack Wrather. He worked with his wife, Bonita Granville Wrather. They helped guide Lassie through its most popular years. The show was known for its special "Whistle Theme" song by Muzzy Marcellino.
Lassie's Adventures
The Lassie TV show changed its setting and stories over the years.
The Farm Years
For the first ten years, the show was set on a farm in the American Midwest. These stories focused on Lassie's close friendship with a young farm boy.
The Farm Boys
- For the first three years, Tommy Rettig played the farm boy.
- In 1957, Jon Provost took over the role. He became the new farm boy.
- Jan Clayton played Tommy Rettig's mother.
- June Lockhart played Jon Provost's mother.
- Hugh Reilly played Jon Provost's father.
- Both actresses, Jan Clayton and June Lockhart, were nominated for special awards called Emmys.
- The show was most popular during Jon Provost's time, in the early 1960s.
- Some episodes from these years were even put together. They made a color adventure movie for movie theaters.
Lassie and the Forest Rangers
Jon Provost left the show in 1964. The story changed, and Lassie left the farm. She became friends with three Forest Rangers. They had many adventures together. These adventures took place in beautiful natural areas across America. Some famous places included Monument Valley and Alaska.
Lassie's Final Home
In the last two years of the show, Lassie lived at a home for children who needed help. She continued to have adventures there.
Why the Show Ended
In the early 1970s, new rules were made for TV shows. These rules meant that Lassie would have to move to a later time slot. For 19 years, Lassie had been shown at 7 pm. The people who made the show felt that a later time would not be good for its young audience. So, the show was cancelled.
Lassie's Legacy
Even after it was cancelled, Lassie has always been on TV. It has played in reruns for many years. This means old episodes are shown again and again. Lassie has never been off the air since it first started. The show also inspired many products for kids. These included comic books, play sets, and clothes. The show won two Emmy Awards in its early years.
