Episode Guide: Season 6 1959-1960

A new Lassie takes over the role at the beginning of the season, due to "Lassie Jr's" bout with cancer. "Lassie Jr" recovered but never worked on the series again. Rudd Weatherwax was at that time training one of "Lassie Jr's" sons to be an eventual replacement, but the dog ("Baby") was still young yet. Another son of Lassie Jr was rushed into training. This dog, nicknamed "Spook," was never at ease on the set due to an accident early in filming. According to Ace Collins' book, "Spook" only served as Lassie for six months, but the dog actually appears briefly at the end of season five, in all of season six and most of season seven. Toward the end of season seven "Spook" is replaced often with the former Lassie-in-training, "Baby," the Lassie with the largest, most expressive eyes. "Baby" continued in the role into the ranger years, but "Spook" is still around early in season eight (as in "Lassie at the Grand Canyon").

People who had not complained when Lockhart and Reilly took over their roles as Timmy's parents immediately noticed that "wasn't the real Lassie" (the new dog was visibly different, with a much wider blaze) and wrote thousands of letters.

"The New Refrigerator" (09/06/59):

Ruth loves her new refrigerator, but Lassie prefers meals from the old icebox instead—precipitating a battle of wills between the two women of the household. Mr. Cuppy: Don Beddoe.
   • Note: Poor Ellen Miller! For three and a half seasons she hinted she wanted an electric refrigerator, but Ruth was the one who got it! This is another episode June Lockhart loves to tell tales about; it is, admittedly, silly. In talking to Mr. Cuppy, the iceman, Ruth mentions they take coal and oil from him in the winter. One wonders if the idea of "Mr. Cully" came from this gentleman's name, as Cully Wilson's truck said "Coal and Oil" on the side.

"Old Henry" (09/13/59):

Timmy borrows money from the bank to buy an old plowhorse for a dollar when he finds out the animal will be destroyed, but Paul says they cannot keep feeding the animal since he can't do any work. When Timmy remembers having seen a harness in an old mine and goes in to fetch it, he becomes trapped.

"The Contest" (09/20/59):

Timmy enters a "why I love my pet" contest and entrusts Lassie to get the entry to the mailman on time, but she spends so much time aiding neighbors in trouble that the letter is not delivered. Willy Brewster: Linda Wrather. Sam Burke: Trevor Bardette. Silas Huff: Jon Lormer. Contest Announcer: Hal K. Dawson.
   • Trivia: The contest is sponsored by the Calverton Sentinel, which figures again in "Star Reporter."
   • Note: Flashbacks from "The Big Cat" are shown in this episode.
   • My Favorite Scene: Willy tells Timmy and Ruth that Lassie shouldn't be penalized for being a "Good Smartan" like in the Bible.

"The Mascot" (09/27/59):

Baseball great Roy Campanella comes to coach the Calverton Boys' League just as Timmy puts in a bid for Lassie to become team mascot. But when Timmy overhears two boys bargaining over who will pitch the first game and is threatened that Lassie will not get the mascot position if he tells, he's thrown in a quandary. Campanella plays himself. With Rickey Murray and Terry Rangno.

"The Sulky Race" (10/04/59):

A down-on-his-luck harness horse racer who needs to win just one more race to start his own farm boards his two horses, Big Boy, his future stud horse, and Lazy Joe, Big Boy's stablemate, at the Martin farm. But at an early time-trial, Big Boy turns up lame. Sam Snow: Paul Fix. Race Announcer: H. Lloyd Nelson.

"Growing Pains" (10/11/59):

After Timmy gets a "real shiner" in a fight, Ruth can't understand the self-respect he's gained with his larger classmates and forbids him to play football with them. But Timmy defies his mother so he won't be called a "mamma's boy." Steve: Steve Talbot. Mike: Mike McGreevey. Eddie: Eddie Little.
   • Note: Timmy says he's nine-and-a-half in this episode.

"The Flying Machine" (10/18/59):

As the smallest in the group, Timmy chosen to be test pilot for the gang's homemade glider. But the test flight will be held over a cliff! Steve: Steve Talbot. Eddie: Eddie Little. Alma Stevens: Shirley Mitchell.
   • Trivia: Steve's brother is in the Army.
   • Note: Steve and Eddie seem to be playing "themselves," as they mention their names as being "Steven Talbot" and "Edward Little."

"The UNICEF Story" (10/25/59):

Since this episode was withdrawn from the original syndication, I have included a longer than usual summary for it; it was written specifically for the 1959 "Trick or Treat for UNICEF" campaign.

On a windy night, Lassie hears screaming coming from the woods, and upon investigating, finds an unfamiliar girl wandering about. Befriending the girl, Lassie brings her home to the Martins. They discover she is Anna, a European refugee that the Wilkins family has taken in temporarily. She is enrolled in the Calverton school and Timmy begins acclimating her to the area by taking her on a picnic. He notices she always eats as if she is starving; at first he does not notice that she is also hoarding food. Anna is continually coming in late, and then Miss Hazlit begins having complaints from Rudy that things are disappearing from the childrens' lunch boxes. When Rudy accuses Anna in front of the other kids, Timmy fights with him until Miss Hazlit breaks it up and makes Rudy apologize. Timmy comes home, however, and overhears Miss Hazlit telling Ruth that she also suspects that Anna is the thief. Timmy is disturbed, but agrees to let Miss Hazlit take care of the matter. In the meantime, Ruth volunteers to ask the children to Trick or Treat for UNICEF, but most of the children are against it because they don't get to keep the money. At lunch, Miss Hazlit sees Anna go back into the cloakroom, and the girl indeed does steal some food out of a lunchbox. When Timmy and Lassie go to look for her, they find her in the woods with a cache of food. Miss Hazlit asks Anna to apologize to the students and explain to them why she did so, and in broken English, Anna tells them that she is saving up food to send to her large family (four brothers, three sisters, and her parents) who were always hungry. After hearing Anna's story, all the children agree to go Trick or Treating for UNICEF. We see them asking for money (even Lassie has a UNICEF box) and at the end, Willy, playing the piano, Timmy, and Anna sing the "Trick or Treat for UNICEF" jingle. Miss Hazlit: Sally Bliss. Willy: Linda Wrather. Rudy: Scott Morrow. Anna: Karen Dicker.

   • Note: The Calverton children should count themselves lucky! When we were asked to go Trick or Treating for UNICEF in our school in the early 1960s, we were told we couldn't collect candy if we were collecting for UNICEF. The Calverton children are told to ask for a penny along with their candy.

"Water Boy" (11/01/59):

Paul needs a new well, and Cully Wilson swears he can find water with a divining rod rather than Paul hiring an expensive geologist. Cully: Andy Clyde.
   • Note: This is the first episode in which Cully appears; he also mentions "Mrs. Wilson," although subsequently we never hear of her, or if Cully is a widower.

"The Whopper" (11/08/59):

Ruth is disturbed by the tall tales Timmy is telling to impress Willy Brewster—a problem compounded when he tells Willy and Flip that Mrs. Larson, a new neighbor living in a run-down house, is a witch. Willy: Linda Wrather. Flip: Flip Mark. Mrs. Larson: Edith Evanson.

"The Bounty Hunter" (11/15/59):

Due to stock killings by a puma nicknamed "Satan," the local farmers hire a bounty hunter, a curt, unlikable man whose tracking dog King and Lassie immediately strike sparks off one another. Les Matthews: John Anderson.
   • Note: King looks like dog star "Spike" with some dark spots painted on his face; if so, it's the dog's first appearance on the series. This dog, also trained at the Weatherwax Kennels, played Old Yeller in the classic Disney film of the same name and was also "Patrasche" in the David Ladd film A Dog of Flanders. Spike continued to make guest appearances on Lassie for several years.

"The Land Grabber" (11/22/59):

After Paul refuses to consider selling his land to a real estate broker, someone ruins his tomato crop and sets fire to his hay after dousing the entire crop with gasoline. Sheriff Miller: Robert Foulk. Mr. Cranston: Ken Mayer. Mike: Mike McGreevey. Accomplice: Jack Williams.

"The Man from Mars" (11/29/59):

When Timmy sees a meteorite fall on the Martins' property, he's sure it was a spaceship from another planet—and that a man from Mars is wandering around the farm. Funny thing is: food keeps disappearing from the Martin house! Professor: Everett Glass.
   • Trivia: The chimp's name is Freddy.

"In Case of Emergency" (12/06/59):

After neighbor Hank Allen dies on the way to the Capitol City hospital, fifty miles away, the Martins spearhead a plan to start a community emergency room, but a prominent farmer who owns a building that could be used for the purpose not only refuses to let them use it, but tells other area businessmen the hospital is unnecessary. Jason Blalock: Percy Helton. Dr. Stuart: Grandon Rhodes. Uncle Petrie: George Chandler. Junkman: Perry Cook.
   • Note: Uncle Petrie, having left the series without fanfare at the end of the previous season, is suddenly visiting; you never see him again. (It's very possible this episode was filmed for the previous year and then not shown.) Amusing scene: Lassie "negotiates" with the junkman.

"Star Reporter" (12/20/59):

Timmy persuades editor Ira Caldwell to let him try to earn money by selling newspaper subscriptions to the Calverton Sentinel. While trying to sell a subscription to Mr. Vance, he overhears a plan to rob the local dairy's co-op. Ira Caldwell: James Bell. Mr. Vance: Tyler McVey. And Ben Morris.

"Alias Jack and Joe" (12/27/59):

During a game, the boys begin fighting and Flip is knocked out by a rock thrown by Rudy. The boy makes Timmy and his Japanese pal Sam believe Flip is dead and it's their fault, so the two boys and Lassie flee to avoid "losing face" and disgracing their families. Sheriff Miller: Robert Foulk. Sam Kuramoto: Dick Kay Hong. Flip: Flip Mark. Rudy: Scott Morrow.
   • Note: The episode title comes from the aliases that Timmy chooses for them: Timmy is Lefty Jack, Sam is Joltin' Joe. Lassie is Moll.

"Judas Goat" (01/03/60):

Phil Houston's stockyards suddenly gets a new source of lambs for market thanks to his assistant Joe Morton and Lassie seems to be reacting to strange noises, but not coming from the new silent dog whistle Timmy recently purchased. Joe Morton: Bill Erwin. Bob Thomas: Steve Pendleton. With Tom Brown and K.L. Smith.

"The Space Traveler" (01/10/60):

When Timmy and Don accidentally release a guinea pig from an experimental rocket, they replace it with Timmy's guinea pig Alexander the Great. But the Army that suspects the guinea pig in the rocket—and therefore Timmy and Don—was exposed to deadly radiation. Don: Tommy Nolan. Colonel: Walter Coy. Assistant: Chris Warfield.

"The Maverick" (01/17/60):

A large and uncannily smart mongrel dog who's been a nuisance on neighbors' farms is trapped in a gorge, and although two of the angry farmers want the stray dead, the Calverton animal control representative is determined to save him. Joe Smith: Ross Elliot. Mel: David McMahon. Len: Lloyd Nelson.
   • Note: Spike appears again, sans "makeup." He's even credited. Here is your chance to see Lloyd Nelson, who did so many of the radio voiceovers needed in various scripts. He also appears "live" in "The Musher."

"The Grasshopper and the Ant" (01/24/60):

Timmy, studying grasshoppers for a school project, becomes so worried about a possible plague when he sees a big nest of the insects that he speaks up at the Grange meeting and tries to buy insecticide with his own money. It's only then that even Paul takes him seriously—and is glad he did. Silas Huff: Jon Lormer. Ted: Phil Chambers. Dan Porter: Byron Foulger.
   • Note: Here's a rarity: Ruth in pants!

"Homing Pigeon" (01/31/60):

After he trades some old sports equipment for a homing pigeon, Timmy's next task is to train her. But only Lassie—and a male pigeon attracted to the new homer—knows "Bright Eyes" is endangered by a hawk on her first long-distance flight.

"The Explorers" (02/07/60):

After Pat, a member of the Explorer Scouts, gives a speech about hiking to members of Timmy's Cub Scout group, Timmy, Don, and Rudy go on their own hike, which leads them into the Badlands—and in over their heads. Don: Tommy Nolan. Rudy: Scott Morrow. Pat: Barry Curtis. Scout: Jackie Wrather.
   • Note: The dog in the close-up shots of Lassie and the two Explorers is a different collie than "Spook."

"The Epidemic" (02/14/60):

While Paul tends a neighbor's herd, he discovers they have hoof-and-mouth disease—and now Princess, the new purebred cow he invested $1000 in, and the Martin's old cow Bessie are threatened with slaughter. But Timmy and Lassie take steps to make sure it doesn't happen. Doc Weaver: Arthur Space. Mr. Corey: Todd Griffin. Tom Barker: Robert B. Williams.
   • Note: Ouch! You mean Paul didn't know the cow he bought was pregnant? You can tell "city folks" wrote these episodes!

"Fur-Coated Killer" (02/21/60):

A neighbor may lose his new means of moneymaking when minks from his mink farm are blamed for slaughtering chickens. But the killer turns out to be something more dangerous: a wolverine! Jed: Walter Reed. Doug Walker: Phil Chambers.
   • Note: Check it out—Doug Walker's house is the same one as appeared in "The Epidemic" as the farmhouse of another family!

"Judgment Seat" (02/28/60):

The father of a new girl Timmy befriends now owns the land Paul is renting for his alfalfa crop—and plans to flood the field before Paul can harvest it. Linda Miles: Eileen Chesis. John Miles: Phillip Terry. Sheriff Miller: Robert Foulk. Judge Baxter: Nolan Leary. Thomas Horton: Robert Burton. Ed Carter: Stoney Smith.
   • Note: Leary previously played Dan Cook in the Jeff episodes.

"The Elephant" (03/06/60):

After Timmy and other schoolchildren saved up enough money to purchase an baby elephant for the Capitol City Zoo, the city authorities find there is no place to house it, so, newly named "Peanuts" by Timmy, it ends up boarding at the Martin farm. Mayor Tad Smythe: Ted Stanhope. Deliveryman: Ben Weldon. Mr. Trumbull: Charles Ahrt. Secretary: Edna Hubbard.
   • Trivia: Peanuts was born at the zoo in the city of Franklin.
   • Note: Watch Ruth's angry tirade on the way to going to speak to the mayor—it's a classic. Love Paul's "Goodbye, dear" at the end.

"Clementine" (03/13/60):

Timmy saves the life of a rooster that Paul suspects was involved in cockfighting, but Skeeter, a neighbor's hired hand, recognizes "Clementine" as a champion fighter named Dynamite who was left for dead. When Clementine is well again, Skeeter steals him. Skeeter: Mouritz Hugo. Terry: William Benedict. Deputy: Robert Bice.

"The Puppy Sitter" (03/20/60):

Lassie, who is in bad spirits when it turns out she is not expecting puppies, refuses to have anything to do with Henry Enders' Irish setter puppies that Timmy caring for while he is away. Henry: Eddy Waller. Doc Weaver: Arthur Space. Mr. Johnson: Ed Parker.

"The Champ" (03/27/60):

Flip makes fun of Timmy's Junior Farmers project, a runt piglet named Champ who has a penchant for running away—straight into trouble. Flip: Flip Mark. Vern Ellison: Murray Alper. Mr. Endicott: Fred Sherman. Tramp: William Bakewell.

"The Phone Hog" (04/03/60):

While driving to the local dam to help sandbag after heavy rains, Paul is trapped in his truck by a downed power line during an electrical storm, but Timmy can't call for help because a garrulous woman is constantly on the telephone. Jenny: Florence Lake. Mrs. Harper: Sarah Selby. Mike: James Parnell.
   • Trivia: Flip's last name is Rogers.

"The Chase" (04/10/60):

After watching two callous city hunters and their rented hound ruin a neighbor's fence, Timmy and Cully Wilson lead the men on a chase through the forest using a young raccoon's scent as bait. It's a grand practical joke—until one of the unexperienced men accidentally shoots the other. Cully: Andy Clyde. Brownie: Dick Whittinghill. Caswell: Hal Smith.
   • Note: The hound later appears as Cully's dog Sam.

"The Killer" (04/17/60):

Sam Burke buys a savage German Shepherd named Bismarck after a bobcat supposedly depredates his flock of sheep and attacks the Martin stock as well, leaving a lamb orphaned—but Lassie knows that something else was responsible for the killings. Sam Burke: Trevor Bardette.

"The Moved Monument" (04/24/60):

Paul, Henry Enders, and some other farmers may lose some valuable farmland—and Paul an expensive fence—due to a road building project. Henry Enders tells the Martins he understands some of the original survey markers were once moved, so the two men try to find any that are still out of place. Henry Enders: Eddy Waller. Lee Stinson: John Cliff.

"The Alligator" (05/01/60):

Flip will get Timmy's turtle Myrtle if Lassie behaves like the greedy dog in Aesop's Fables, and indeed she does drop her bone—because she saw the escaped alligator that's taken up residence in the lake! Flip: Flip Mark. Trucker: Ken Ernest.
   • Note: An oddity—the little dog who turns up in "Stablemates" as "Spot" and in "Lassie's Good Deed" as "Ruff" is seen here as Flip's dog, Butch, but Flip doesn't have a dog in any other episode.
   • Blooper: When Paul comes out of the barn and sees Flip and Timmy trying to get the dogs to drop their bones, he asks what they are doing, and Timmy responds, "Butch and I are doing an experiment." Butch is the dog's name; he should have said "Flip."

"The Wrong Gift" (05/08/60):

When Willy's costly Mother's Day gift and Timmy's more frugal choice are mixed at the store, Timmy can't bear to tell his mother after seeing her happy reaction, so he takes steps to make up the difference. Willy: Linda Wrather. Mrs. Brewster: Bonita Granville Wrather. Mrs. Tuttle: Irene Tedrow. Pipefitters: Frank Gerstle and Richard Reeves. Mr. Slocum: Howard Wright.
   • Trivia: Timmy's mysterious friend "Jed West," whom we never see in any episode, is mentioned! His name turns up again in "Lassie's Odyssey."
   • Note: This was the only time executive producer Bonita Granville Wrather played Mrs. Brewster (the character is played by another actress in "The Goose") to her real-life daughter; more commonly she contributed to the series as a narrator between multi-episode stories, although she later appears in two Corey Stuart stories.

"The Fog" (05/15/60):

The Martins' weekend camping trip turns dangerous when a treacherous fog envelops their camping area—and Timmy is stuck in a sinkhole in the swamp and threatened by a maurauding wolf while searching for Lassie.
   • Note: Ruth also wears pants in this episode.

"The Hermit" (05/22/60):

Timmy befriends Herman, an ex-mountain climber who lives like a hermit with his goat Gertrude, but a visiting construction worker and his son from the city call him crazy and urge the Calverton townspeople to force him to leave town. Then Arnie disappears and Herman is blamed. Herman: Nelson Leigh. Mr. Watson: Richard Travis. Arnie Watson: Jimmy Baird.
   • Trivia: Pete Richards runs the local hardware store.
   • Note: Jimmy Baird was the brother of Sharon Baird, one of the original Mouseketeers.

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