Lassie is a fictional character that has starred in, or been the subject of, many radio shows, movies, TV shows, and books, entertaining generations of children around the world from 1938 to the present. Old-Time Radio (OTR and the Golden Age of Radio refer to a period of Radio programming lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until This is a listing of topics pertaining to Television programs. A Book is a set or collection of written printed illustrated or blank sheets made of Paper, Parchment, or other material usually fastened together Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Filming the Lassie TV series, on location in Florida (1965)
^{—courtesy State Archive of Florida}

History

1930s–1940s

The character of Lassie was created by British-American author Eric Knight in the short story "Lassie Come-Home" published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1938 and as the novel Lassie Come-Home in 1940. Lassie is an Emmy Award -winning American Television series that follows the adventures of a female rough collie named Lassie See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Eric Knight ( April 10, 1897 - January 15, 1943) was an author who is mainly notable The short story is a literary genre of Fictional Prose Narrative that tends to be more concise and to the point than longer works of fiction such The Saturday Evening Post was a weekly Magazine published in the United States from August 4, 1821 to February 8, A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story

Roddy McDowall and Lassie in Lassie Come Home (1943 movie)

In Knight's story set in Depression-era England, a young Yorkshire boy owns an exceptionally beautiful and loyal collie (described as mahogany and sable in color), but when the family faces severe economic hardship, the dog is sold to a wealthy nobleman. Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall ( September 17, 1928 – October 3, 1998) was an English -born Lassie Come Home ( 1943) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Feature film starring Roddy McDowall and canine actor Pal in a story England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. Both boy and dog grieve over the separation, made worse when the new owner transports Lassie hundreds of miles away to his estate in Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. However, the collie's instinct and courage cause her to escape, and the book follows Lassie's desperate efforts to return to the boy she loves.

In 1943, the book was made into the first Lassie movie, Lassie Come Home, which generally followed the plot of the book, and which starred Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor. Lassie Come Home ( 1943) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Feature film starring Roddy McDowall and canine actor Pal in a story Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall ( September 17, 1928 – October 3, 1998) was an English -born Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress The movie was a hit and enjoyed favorable critical response. ^[1]

MGM followed its success with more movies in the 1940s featuring the canine hero: In 1945, Son of Lassie premiered, starring Peter Lawford and June Lockhart. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Son of Lassie is an MGM Feature film released in 1945 starring Peter Lawford, Donald Crisp, and June Lockhart and the dog Peter Sydney Lawford (September 7 1923 &ndash December 24 1984 was an English-born American Actor, member of the " Rat Pack," and brother-in-law June Lockhart (born on June 25, 1925, in New York City, New York) is an American Television and Film Actress The next year, 1946, Courage of Lassie premiered (with Elizabeth Taylor, from the first film), and the "Lassie Radio Show" began (aired until 1949). Courage of Lassie is a 1946 American film It stars Elizabeth Taylor, and is the story of a Collie dog

1950s–1990s

Tommy Rettig with Lassie (1955), now syndicated as Jeff's Collie

Between 1954-1973, there was a long-running television series, Lassie, in the U. Thomas Noel Rettig, more familiarly Tommy Lassie is an Emmy Award -winning American Television series that follows the adventures of a female rough collie named Lassie Lassie is an Emmy Award -winning American Television series that follows the adventures of a female rough collie named Lassie S. Eventually, other series followed in the 1980s and 1990s from different production companies. In 1997, a Canadian production company, Cinar Inc. (now Cookie Jar Entertainment), produced a third Lassie television series (1997–1999) for the Animal Planet network in the U.S. and YTV in Canada. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Lassie was a Canadian Television series which aired from 1997 to 1999 on YTV in Canada and Sunday nights on the Animal Planet network in Animal Planet is an American Satellite and Cable Television channel (also broadcast via IPTV in the UK) launched on The United States of America —commonly referred to as the YTV is a Canadian English language Cable television Specialty channel aimed at Youth, available nationwide through cable

The various series had different casts, with some tying back to the original series and others being new concepts. All included the basic theme of Lassie being a highly intelligent collie frequently helping her owners get out of trouble, making the Lassie concept one of the longest running of any collective series. ^[2]

Recent years

In 2005, a remake of the original Lassie Come Home movie was produced in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Starring Peter O'Toole and Samantha Morton, Lassie was released in 2006. Peter O'Toole (born 2 August 1932) is an Irish and British actor who achieved instant stardom in 1962 playing T Samantha Morton (born May 13, 1977) is a Golden Globe Award-winning and two-time Academy Award -nominated English actress ^[3] It was warmly received by critics such as Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune, who called the acting "splendid" and "excellent". The Chicago Tribune is a major daily Newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and owned by the Tribune Company ^[4]

The copyrights to the films and series are split because so many production companies picked up the story (and changed its characters and focus) over the years. The rights to the trademark of "Lassie" and TV series are held by Classic Media; however, Warner Bros./Turner Entertainment holds the rights to the "Lassie" films originally made by MGM. Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Turner Entertainment Company Inc is an American media company founded by Ted Turner.

Many of the movies and TV episodes are widely available on VHS and DVD, and are still aired on television. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is The 1954 – 1957 episodes of the Lassie TV show were later syndicated as Jeff's Collie and televised on the Animal Planet channel, along with the later seasons of the series which retained their original title of "Lassie. In Broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast Radio shows and Television shows to multiple individual stations without going through Lassie is an Emmy Award -winning American Television series that follows the adventures of a female rough collie named Lassie Animal Planet is an American Satellite and Cable Television channel (also broadcast via IPTV in the UK) launched on " The later seasons' programs featuring Jon Provost and Robert Bray continue to be rerun in many countries.

Lassie continues to make personal appearances as well as marketing a line of pet food and a current pet care TV show, Lassie's Pet Vet on PBS stations in the United States. Lassie's Pet Vet is a Reality television series about the health lifestyle and community of pets The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the

Lassie is one of only three animals (and one of very few fictional characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny) to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – the others being silent-film stars Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Mickey Mouse is a comic animal Cartoon character who has become an icon for The Walt Disney Company. Clyde Rabbit (uncleMrs Bugs Bunny (wifePapa Bunny (fatherMama Bunny (motherRugs Bunny The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a Sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood Los Angeles California, USA, that Rin Tin Tin (often billed as Rin-Tin-Tin in the 1920s and 1930s was the name given to several related German Shepherd dogs seen in films and television dramas Strongheart was the screen name of Etzel von Oeringen ( October 1, 1917 – June 24, 1929) a German shepherd that became In 2005, the show business journal Variety named Lassie one of the "100 Icons of all time" – the only animal star on the list. Variety is a weekly entertainment trade newspaper founded in New York in 1905 by Sime Silverman ^[5]

The dog behind the character

The first dog to star as Lassie in the 1943 movie Lassie Come Home was "Pal", originally from Glamis Collies of California. Lassie Come Home ( 1943) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Feature film starring Roddy McDowall and canine actor Pal in a story Pal ( June 4, 1940 - 1958 was a male Rough Collie. He was the first of a line of collies to portray the fictional female collie Lassie. The original owner could not train the dog and hired Studio Dog Training School to do the job. When the owner could not pay the bill, Pal was acquired and trained by brothers Rudd Weatherwax and Frank Weatherwax. Animal training refers to Teaching Animals specific responses to specific conditions or stimuli. Ruddell Bird "Rudd" Weatherwax ( September 23, 1907 &ndash February 25, 1985) was an American Actor and animal trainer Frank Thrall Weatherwax ( June 23 1902 &ndash December 17 1991) was an American Actor and animal trainer. Also assisting with training on the MGM studio lot was Frank Freeman (a. k. a. Frank Inn), who later went on to fame as the trainer of Higgins, the dog who played Benji in a series of 1970s films. Frank Inn was born as Elias Franklin Freeman, ( May 8, 1916 - July 27, 2002) was an American animal trainer. Higgins ( 1957 &ndash 1975) was one of the best-known Dog actors of the 1960s &ndash 1970s Benji is the name of a fictitious Dog who has been the focus of several movies from 1974 through the 2000s and is also the title of the first film in the series ^[6]In 1950, Rudd Weatherwax co-wrote a book, "The story of Lassie, his discovery and training from puppyhood to stardom", recounting Pal's rise to an international icon. ^[7]

Pal was bred with a number of female dogs to ensure the Lassie look could be continued. The Lassie looks of sable coat with a white blaze, large white collar, and four white paws is legally trademarked. A trademark or trade mark, represented by the symbols ™ and ®, or mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual The collies are also intentionally bred oversized so that the males selected can work with older child stars.

All collies playing Lassie have been male, playing a female dog. The female collie loses her coat at least once a year, making it unsuitable for use year-round. Also, the male is larger and a child actor can play opposite the dog for longer before outgrowing him.

Eight generations of Pal and his descendants portrayed the beloved collie in more than ten movies and two television series, until the late 1990s. All of the canines starring in those movies and TV series were owned and trained by Frank and Rudd Weatherwax and later by Rudd's son, Robert Weatherwax. ^[8]

This tradition continued in 1997, when Cinar began shooting the third Lassie television series for the Animal Planet network. Lassie was a Canadian Television series which aired from 1997 to 1999 on YTV in Canada and Sunday nights on the Animal Planet network in Animal Planet is an American Satellite and Cable Television channel (also broadcast via IPTV in the UK) launched on In the first season (1997–1998), Lassie was played by "Howard", an eighth generation collie descended from Pal. ^[8]

Midway through production, Cinar replaced Howard with a non-Pal descended dog. Lassie fans objected, arguing that only a dog in the Pal bloodline could be considered an "authentic" Lassie. They protested to Cinar and Animal Planet, along with Golden Books Family Entertainment (which had licensing rights at the time to the Lassie image). Western Publishing, also known as "Western Printing and Lithographing Co In response, "Hey Hey II", a ninth-generation direct descendant of Pal owned and trained by Carol Riggins, was brought in to assume the role of Lassie for the final thirteen episodes of the show in 1999. ^[8][9]

Following Animal Planet's cancellation of the TV show, Classic Media subsequently acquired the Lassie trademark from the Weatherwax family in 2000. Classic Media Inc is an American Production company /distributor of family programming acquired in 2007 by UK-based rival Entertainment Rights. ^[2] In 2003, Classic Media ended its contract with Weatherwax to supply Pal-bloodline collies to portray the Lassie character.

In the 2005–2006 remake of the original Lassie movie, a non-Pal bloodline collie named "Mason" was used in the title role. Although Mason was praised as "photogenic" by Chicago Tribune critic Michael Wilmington, Lassie devotees objected to the movie's use of a non-Pal bloodline collie. The Chicago Tribune is a major daily Newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and owned by the Tribune Company ^[4][10]

In late 2005, following the shooting of the movie, Classic Media contracted with Carol Riggins to supply "Hey Hey II", as the ninth generation Lassie in the Pal bloodline. More recently, Robert Weatherwax has disputed the use of collies other than his as authentic Pal-bloodline "Lassies", which has received some news media attention and comment on Lassie fan websites. ^[11]

Lassie in the media

Films

• Lassie Come Home (1943) - Pal plays the title character. Lassie Come Home ( 1943) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Feature film starring Roddy McDowall and canine actor Pal in a story The year 1943 in film involved some significant events Events Top grossing films (U Pal ( June 4, 1940 - 1958 was a male Rough Collie. He was the first of a line of collies to portray the fictional female collie Lassie.
• Son of Lassie (1945 - Pal plays the title character, while another dog appears as Lassie. Son of Lassie is an MGM Feature film released in 1945 starring Peter Lawford, Donald Crisp, and June Lockhart and the dog The year 1945 in film involved some significant events Events Paramount Studios releases theatrical short Cartoon
• Courage of Lassie (1946) - stars Elizabeth Taylor, who also appeared in the first film; despite the title, this one features Pal as "Bill". Courage of Lassie is a 1946 American film It stars Elizabeth Taylor, and is the story of a Collie dog The year 1946 in film involved some significant events Events Top grossing films (U Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress
• Hills of Home a. Hills of Home is a 1948 Drama film, the fourth in a series of MGM Lassie films k. a. Master of Lassie (1948) - Pal actually plays "Lass. The year 1948 in film involved some significant events Events Laurence Olivier 's Hamlet becomes the "
• Challenge to Lassie (1949) - retells Greyfriar's Bobby story. Challenge to Lassie is an American drama directed by Richard Thorpe and released October 31 1949 by MGM Studios. The year 1949 in film involved some significant events Events Top grossing films (U Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh, Scotland, after reportedly spending fourteen years guarding his owner's
• The Sun Comes Up (1949) - stars Jeanette MacDonald as a bereaved mother who hates Lassie (played by Pal), due to the dog's inadvertent role in her son's death. The Sun Comes Up is a 1949 MGM Lassie picture Set in the rural south of the United States a bereaved war widow ( Jeanette MacDonald The year 1949 in film involved some significant events Events Top grossing films (U Jeanette MacDonald (June 18 1903 &ndash January 14 1965 was an American singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier
• The Painted Hills (1951) - Pal plays "Shep". The Painted Hills, also known as Lassie's Adventures in the Goldrush, is a 1951 Action film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM and directed by Harold
• Big Jake (1971) An unknown, uncredited descendant of Pal plays "Dog". Big Jake is a 1971 Western film starring John Wayne and directed by George Sherman. The year 1971 in film involved some significant events Events February 8 - Bob Dylan 's hour long documentary
• The Magic of Lassie (1978)
• Lassie (1994)
• Meiken Lassie (1996) - an animal television series which was produced in Japan. The Magic of Lassie was produced by The Wrather Corporation in 1978 The year 1978 in film involved some significant events Top grossing films (U Lassie is a 1994 Adventure Family film directed by Daniel Petrie and featuring the fictional collie Lassie. The year 1994 in film involved some significant events Top grossing films (U Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar)
• Lassie (2005) - Mason stars as Lassie. Lassie is a family-based British / Irish / French 2005 film directed by Charles Sturridge. The year 2005 in film involved some significant events Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Devil's Rejects, Cheaper

Radio shows

• Lassie Show (1947-1948) ABC radio network. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network.
• Lassie Show (1948-1950) NBC radio network. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's

TV shows

• Lassie (1954-1973) – produced in the U.S. on the CBS television network, first starring Tommy Rettig, later Jon Provost, and finally Robert Bray
• Lassie's Rescue Rangers (1970s) – a cartoon series by Filmation,
• The New Lassie (1989-1991) – produced in the U. Lassie is an Emmy Award -winning American Television series that follows the adventures of a female rough collie named Lassie The United States of America —commonly referred to as the CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Thomas Noel Rettig, more familiarly Tommy Jon Provost (born Jonathan Provost on March 12, 1950, in Los Angeles, California) is a former Child actor of Film and Robert E Bray (October 23 1917 &ndash March 7 1983 was a Film and Television Actor probably best remembered for his role as the Forest ranger Lassie's Rescue Rangers was an animated TV show produced by Filmation and featuring Lassie, running from 1973 to 1975 For the unrelated isometric graphics engine used by Ultimate Play the Game in their 8-bit computer games see Filmation engine. The New Lassie was an American Television series which aired in first-run syndication for two seasons beginning in 1989, reviving S. in first-run syndication, set in Glenridge, California. Will Nipper, later known as Will Estes, played Lassie's boy. Will Estes (born William Estes Nipper, October 21, 1978, Los Angeles California) is an American Actor best known
• Lassie (1997 TV series) (1997-1999) – produced by Cinar of Canada for the Animal Planet network, starring Corey Sevier as "Timmy Cabot" and set in mythical Hudson Falls, Vermont, although the show was actually filmed in Quebec
• Whose Line Is It Anyway? – As a guest appearance with Wayne Brady and Brad Sherwood during the skit "Duet", where Wayne and Brad sang a country song to Lassie. Lassie was a Canadian Television series which aired from 1997 to 1999 on YTV in Canada and Sunday nights on the Animal Planet network in Animal Planet is an American Satellite and Cable Television channel (also broadcast via IPTV in the UK) launched on Corey Daniel Sevier (born July 3, 1984 in Ajax Ontario) is a Canadian actor Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Whose Line Is It Anyway? (abbreviated to Whose Line? or WLIIA) was a short-form Improvisational comedy TV show Wayne Alphonso Brady (born June 2, 1972) is an Emmy -winning American Comedian, Singer and Television personality Bradley Ramone Sherwood (born November 24, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American Actor, Comedian, and corporate
• Meiken Lassie (Famous Dog Lassie) – an animation produced in Japan by Nippon Animation from January 14, 1996 to August 18, 1996. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar)
• Lassie's Pet Vet – a current PBS pet-care program. Lassie's Pet Vet is a Reality television series about the health lifestyle and community of pets The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the

Books

Other

• Captain Loxley's Little Dog And Lassie The Life-saving Collie: Hero Dogs of the First World War Associated With The Sinking of H. M. S. Formidable Diggory Press ISBN 978-1905363131

See also

• Collie

Lassie inspired a number of similar "heroic dog" characters, including:

• The Littlest Hobo
• Here's Boomer
• Benji

References

External links

• Classic Media's Lassie Site
• The Lassie Network
• Photographs of Lassie on location from the State Library & Archives of Florida
• Podcast about America's history with dog performers
• Carol Riggins – official website
• "Lassie returns", CBS News, October 11, 2006. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. (video)
• Weatherwax Trained Dogs