Episode Guide: Season 10 1963-1964

As in 1957, the show was reaching an empasse: Jon Provost was getting too old for the role of Timmy and he also wanted to attend school full time. The initial idea was to bring in another boy, but then the Wrathers had another idea: why not give Lassie an adult companion, one who could bring her to all sorts of locations which would serve as inspiration for different stories?—after ten years, they were sorely running out of farm stories.

Some wondered if not having a child with Lassie would leave young viewers with no one to identify with. Interestingly enough, when studies were done, they found children did not identify with the young character on the series, but with Lassie herself!

For the series' new lead, the Wrathers chose Robert Bray, handsome enough to draw teenage viewers and rugged enough to be believable as a forest ranger. Furthermore, since the character was a forest ranger, he and Lassie could travel to different locales. He was to be introduced in the five-part episode "The Disappearance" and the producers would allow the ratings to decide if people would accept Lassie with an adult.

As if in transition to next season, the classic Lassie music changed this season. The new music was by Nathan Scott, whose distinctive style can be easily distinguished in the 1961 jet fighter movie, X-15.

"Lassie and the Birdwatch" (09/29/63):

Timmy, trying to pass a critical arithmetic test, keeps getting sidetracked helping Lassie rescue ducks trapped in the mud of a marsh being drained during migration season.
   • Note: The writers never could seem to let Timmy grow up. In this episode he's about thirteen. The test he's taken is on weights and measures, which is an elementary school subject.

"The Agreement" (10/06/63):

Matt Krebs and Cully argue over a strip of land that borders both their property; Krebs, saying the property is his, wants to cut down a stand of trees to plant corn, but Cully insists the trees should stay for the benefit of the wildlife. Krebs: Eddy Waller. Cully: Andy Clyde.
   • Note: This may be the piece of property Cully and Krebs bought together in "Lady from Nevada."

"Lassie to the Rescue" (10/13/63):

After yet another neighbor is almost hurt on the cliff road, Ruth and her friends plan take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again when Paul says legislation will take another year. Then the danger of the road hits close to home. Ernie Evans: Nelson Olmstead. Claire Evans: Natalie H. H. Core.

"Jeeper" (10/20/63):

A neighbor's large shaggy, friendly—and extremely clumsy—dog, who even Timmy and Lassie consider a nuisance, rescues a small boy, but it's Lassie who gets the credit.

"A Time for Giving" (10/27/63):

When Ricky returns to France, he can't take his Yorkshire terrier with him, so he leaves him with Timmy. The boy considers giving little Silky to Cully, but is the mischievous creature too lively for him? Cully: Andy Clyde.
   • Note: Here's a continuity glitch: Ricky named the terrier "Bozo" because the dog was a clown and made him laugh—but now the dog is named "Silky." Copyright problems, perhaps? Or they didn't think "Bozo" was a good name for a dog about to become a continuing character?

"Three Alarm" (11/03/63):

Ed Washburne lobbies for a new fire engine to replace the Calverton Volunteer Fire Department's ancient truck, but a stingy but influential man convinces the town council that it's not needed. Washburne: Dick Foran. Joe Bly: Charles Watts.

"The Treasure" part 1 (11/10/63):

While on a 2-day camping trip, Timmy and Cully visit the cabin of deceased John Barrett, who lived a Thoreau-like existance near a local lake. A plaque above his fireplace says "Look upward, friend. The eagle knoweth wherein lieth the world's greatest treasure." When they notice that an eagle found in the cabin clutches a pouch, they are determined to find out what "treasure" he may carry. Cully: Andy Clyde. Ranger McBride: James Brown. Mr. Downey: Robert B. Williams.
   • Note: Cully talks about using kites for signalling during World War I. We previously heard about Cully's war experiences in "Shadrach." James Brown played "Rip Masters" on another canine TV series, Rin-Tin-Tin.

"The Treasure" part 2 (11/17/63):

Cully's leg is trapped under a boulder after he and Timmy are caught in a rockslide while climbing up to Solomon's nest. When he goes for help, Timmy finds a man Lassie stopped from shooting the eagle building a trap for it. Cully: Andy Clyde. Ranger McBride: James Brown. Mr. Downey: Robert B. Williams.

"Lassie and the Winged Enemy" (12/01/63):

While doing a nature study project, Timmy finds cocoons belonging to the destructive gypsy moth on area trees. Miss Hazlit: Sally Bliss.

"High Tension" (12/08/63):

While trying to take an aerial photo from his kite to win a Camera Club contest, Timmy gets both kite and camera caught in the electrical lines over a neighbor's brand new stable—and then the structure catches fire. Al Livermore: Stuart Randall.
   • Note: One of Timmy's photos shown at the beginning has Lassie leading a foal. These may have been shot out of order and that is the blind colt of the story by the same name. Later, when the stable catches fire, the first horse you see becoming panicked at the smoke and fire is not wearing a bridle and is in a totally different type of stall from the four horses Timmy rescues. This is because this horse scene is an intercut from "Gentle Savage."

"Lassie's Gift of Love" part 1 (12/15/63):

Timmy and Mr. Nicholson, an elderly toy mender visiting the Martins start a Christmas project to feed hungry woodland animals—but when their presence draws wolves down from the hills to kill farm animals, they are forced to stop. Al Livermore: Stuart Randall. Matt Krebs: Eddy Waller. Mr. Nicholson: Lloyd Corrigan.

"Lassie's Gift of Love" part 2 (12/22/63):

While Timmy, Paul, and Mr. Nicholson bring the mended toys for the hospital into town, a wolf tries to break into the Martin barn. Giving chase, Lassie is inadvertantly trapped in the wolves' den with their young cubs. Al Livermore: Stuart Randall. Matt Krebs: Eddy Waller. Mr. Nicholson: Lloyd Corrigan. Ed Washburne: Dick Foran. Minister: Nolan Leary.
   • Note: As observed in "The Twister," here's another instance where you can tell "the woods" is an interior set: when Mr. Nicholson, Paul, and Timmy are searching for Lassie, you can hear the echo of their voices bouncing off the soundstage walls.

"Day of Darkness" (12/29/63):

The new colt on the Martin farm is born blind and Paul feels the kindest thing to do would be to put it to sleep. Doc Weaver: Arthur Space.

"Horse Thief" (01/05/64):

When Square Deal, the horse Timmy and Ed Washburne once owned, returns from the hills and begins raiding mares from nearby farms, the neighboring farmers want to kill him. Washburne: Dick Foran.

"Her Master's Voice" (01/12/64):

While on her way to fetch Timmy from school during an electrical storm, Lassie is stunned by a lightning bolt striking close by. When she awakens she cannot hear because her eardrums are shattered. In the meantime, Paul searches for a sourch of pollution in the well house. Doc Weaver: Arthur Space.
   • Note: The scene with Lassie bringing in Bessie is reused in "A Challenge for Lassie," but was used first in "The Twister." An inconsistancy: in "Judas Goat," Timmy buys a silent dog whistle; in this episode Doc Weaver says he gave Timmy the dog whistle.

Extended Note: The classic Lassie joke has been for years this: "Bark! Bark-bark! Bark!" "What is it, Lassie?" "Bark! Bark-bark-bark! Bark-bark!" "What, Timmy's fallen in the well?" It's such a classic jibe that Jon Provost is writing his autobiography, apparently to be called Timmy's in the Well.

As far as I can see, of the dangerous things he could do, Timmy:
...let a rabid dog out of a cage ("Graduation")
...ate deadly nightshade berries ("Berrypickers")
...threatened by an escaped female circus elephant ("The Elephant")
...hides out in the treehouse when he has pneumonia ("Spartan")
...threatened by a mother wolf ("The Wolf Cub")
...falls into the lake ("Transition" and "The House Guest")
...develops a high fever from the measles ("The Crisis")
...is almost shot by Paul ("Hungry Deer")
...ignores severe stomach pains; he's diagnosed with appendicitis ("Hospital")
...is trapped in an abandoned house with Boomer ("Trapped")
...wanders into a live mine field ("Junior GIs")
...is menaced by a bear ("Campout" and "The Renegade")
...is trapped in a mine ("Old Henry")
...gets a black eye playing football ("Growing Pains")
...nearly flies a home-made glider off a cliff ("Flying Machine")
...runs into a burning house to save a neighbor lady and passes out ("The Whopper")
...is endangered by dynamite picked up by an escaped lab chimp ("The Man from Mars")
...is locked in a shed with Lassie by an armed robber ("Star Reporter")
...runs away from home believing he and a friend killed someone ("Alias Jack and Joe")
...is exposed to radiation ("Space Traveler")
...gets trapped on a cliff with Rudy and Don ("Explorers")
...is trapped in a pipe ("Wrong Gift")
...is caught in quicksand ("The Fog")
...is trapped on a ledge ("The Rescue")
...is out in the woods hunting a dangerous tiger ("The Gentle Tiger")
...is tossed out of a little racing car and knocked out ("Big Race")
...is trapped in a mine with Cully ("Fool's Gold")
...is threatened by a bull ("White-Faced Bull")
...is threatened by a rabid dog ("Mad Dog")
...freezes while on a narrow path at the Grand Canyon ("Lassie at the Grand Canyon")
...is threatened by a killer collie ("Mysterious Intruder")
...is trapped in a badger hole ("Badger Game")
...is knocked out ("Hike")
...is stalked by a presumably dangerous tiger ("Lassie and the Tiger")
...with Lassie, is carried off in a balloon, must survive in the wilderness, and almost drowns ("The Journey")
...almost drowns ("Disappearance" part 1)
...is caught in an earthquake and threatened by a dam spillover ("Moving Mountain")
...is struck by a hit and run driver ("Hit'n'Run")

So of course the big joke is that never once has this kid ever fallen into a well! It was Paul who did, or, actually, almost fell into the well, in this episode. The only main character in the Lassie series, in fact, who ever fell down a well was Lassie herself, in Season 17's "Well of Love," a.k.a. "For the Love of Lassie."

"A Challenge for Lassie" (01/19/64):

After the farm suffers successive crop losses in a drought, Timmy uses Lassie as collateral for the fee at the Midvale Field Trials, which offers a $200 prize to the winner. With Will Zuckert, Willis Bouchey, Edward Kimmer, and Ted Stanhope.
   • Note: The name of the company on the side of the truck Timmy and Lassie hitchhike in is "Ramsey Bros. Farm." Ramsey must spell bad luck for Lassie; it's also the name of the company that takes Lassie away in "Lassie's Odyssey." The scene of Lassie herding the sheep seems to be from "The Black Sheep."

"The Disappearance" part 1 (02/02/64):

The Martins are enjoying their mountain camping trip—until a storm that nearly drowned Timmy and Paul leaves Lassie adrift in a lake. Grizzly Tatum: Arthur Hunnicutt. Cully Wilson: Andy Clyde.

"The Disappearance" part 2 (02/09/64):

The Martins reluctantly leave camp without Lassie, not knowing she has been rescued by forest ranger Corey Stuart, staying at a friend's cabin across the lake. Corey: Robert Bray. Jed Bingham: Garry Walberg. With Tim McIntire and Walter Stocker.
   • Note: Tim McIntire is the son of John McIntire and Jeannette Nolan, who appeared in the movie Lassie: A New Beginning. He guest stars again in "The Strongest Instinct"

"The Disappearance" part 3 (02/16/64):

Lassie accompanies Corey on a search for a inexperienced hunter who is shooting animals out of season—and who carelessly starts a forest fire with tracer bullets. Corey: Robert Bray. David Frasier: Edward Faulkner. With Tim McIntire and Walter Stocker.

"The Disappearance" part 4 (02/23/64):

Corey cannot stop Lassie from coming along when he leaves on avalanche patrol. Meanwhile, Timmy learns Lassie is still alive. Corey: Robert Bray. Jed: Garry Walberg. Tom Baldwin: James Noah. Jeanne Baldwin: Gigi Perreau.

"The Disappearance" part 5 (03/01/64):

Lassie rescues Corey and partner Tom Baldwin, buried in the avalanche, and they make their way out of the wilderness. Corey: Robert Bray. Tom Baldwin: James Noah. Jeanne Baldwin: Gigi Perreau.

     • Cast member updates for "The Disappearance" courtesy Sharon Turner.

"Lassie Counts Sheep" (03/08/64):

Local farmers are puzzled—but annoyed—when their sheep disappear for a few days, then mysteriously reappear, no harm done. With Wallace Ford.

"Lassie and the Moving Mountain" (03/15/64):

On a hike to Indian Cave to test Timmy's new CB radio, an expensive purchase Ruth disapproved of, Timmy and Lassie are caught in an earthquake and threatened by a crack in the dam at Rock River Canyon. Russ Beeler: Richard Geary. Don Hawkins: Harlan Warde. Sheriff Thompson: Kelly Thordsen.
   • Note: The radio unit costs...gasp...$45!

"Lassie and the Piglets" (03/22/64):

Feeling that he's ready for more responsibility, Paul gives Timmy a litter of piglets, who escape and are stalked by a bobcat.

"Guide Dog" (04/05/64):

Timmy and Lassie try to help a Seeing Eye dog regain his confidence after he's cowed after saving his master from an accident. Doc Weaver: Arthur Space.

"Bee Line" (04/12/64):

Timmy tries to get some bees back in their hive after a bear wrecks Cully's plan for beekeeping. Cully: Andy Clyde.

"Hit'n'Run" (04/19/64):

Lassie is the only witness when a neighbor's son accidentally hits Timmy with his car, then runs away, so when the young man begins visiting him in the hospital to see if he remembers anything, Lassie becomes hostile.

"Lassie and the Savage" (04/26/64):

Calverton is alarmed by the return of Blaze, a "untrappable" wolf dog, but a professor is intrigued by the canny animal and accompanies the hunt for him. Professor: Arthur Franz. Al Livermore: Stuart Randall.

"The Samaritans" (05/03/64):

Paul lets Timmy have his own patch of corn, but the responsibility becomes a problem when raccoons begin raiding the field: Timmy wants to protect the corn without having to kill the marauders.

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