Episode Guide: Season 15 1968-1969

When Robert Bray left the series after four seasons, the public was told Bray had "tired" of the series. Unfortunately, Bray really left due to an alcohol problem.

Replacing Bray were two rangers who would alternate as the human leads—they designated themselves as "Lassie's godfathers," taking care of her while Corey recovered from burns received in a forest fire. Jed Allan (later to go on to daytime drama) made a pretty stalwart ranger, but Jack DeMave's character seemed pretty wooden.

The series also attempted to enter a new youngster into the series for an occasional appearance; Mark Miranda played Neeka, a 13-year-old Tlingit Indian boy adopted by Scott's old mentor. Neeka appears in seven episodes in season 15 and four in season 16. Mark Miranda then returns as Andy Lopez, one of the boys fostered at the Holden Ranch.

Trivia Note: Ranger Bob Erickson was named for Lassie's most prolific writers, Robert Schaefer and Eric Freiwald.

"Lassie's Race for Life" (09/29/68):

As Corey, Lassie, and a young woman consulting with the Forest Service on landslide prevention aid a poisoned goose, its mate waits faithfully by. Bill: John Cliff. Clay Adams: Morgan Jones. Linda Monroe: Patricia Owens.

"Burst of Freedom" (10/06/68):

Lassie races for help after an earthquake traps Corey under a tree in the path of an incipient rockslide, but the motorist who picks her up nets and drugs her, selling her to a vet conducting animal experiments. Professor Jonathan Leod: Vaughn Taylor. Cliff: Berkeley Harris. Ann: Merry Anders.

"The Holocaust" part 1 (10/13/68):

While going out with the smoke jumpers, Corey and his partner Lane are trapped in the path of an advancing firestorm. Badly burned and rushed to the hospital, they've been tracked by Lassie, who is headed off by ranger Bob Erickson, who takes her in. Dave: Ron Hayes. Control: Lloyd Nelson. Bob Erickson: Jack DeMave. Dr. Baker: Gregory Morton. Ed: Darwin Joston. Lane Becker: Robert Brubaker. With Robert Patten.
   • Note: Robert Bray doesn't actually appear in this episode; instead clips from "A Time for Courage" are inserted showing Corey surveying the fire, then going off with the smoke jumpers, parachuting in, and being trapped.

"The Holocaust" part 2 (10/20/68):

The director of the Forest Service sends Scott Turner to help decide Lassie's fate after they realize Corey's recovery will take months. But while Scott and Bob survey the fire site, Lassie escapes Bob's trailer to reach the hospital just as Corey is being transferred to another. She's assisted on her journey by a friendly policeman who delivers her to the hospital—but now she must find her master. Dave: Ron Hayes. Director: Donald Woods. Policeman: William Bramley. Doctor: Tyler McVey.
   • Note: Lane dies from his burns in this outing.

"Last Frontier" (10/27/68):

Lassie and Scott, flying to Juneau, Alaska, and their pilot Johnny Chalmers, son of Scott's old mentor Dean Chalmers, land near a glacier to help a hunter and his partner, who was mauled by a bear and who is now wandering, feverish and wounded, in the forest with a gun. Johnny Chalmers: Jeff Pomerantz. Wayne: Philip Pine. Dave: Douglas Henderson.
   • Trivia: The boat that Chalmers lives on is called a "wannigan." His deceased wife was named Martha.

"Eagle's Dynasty" (11/03/68):

After Scott and Lassie are introduced to Johnny's adopted brother Neeka, Dean and Scott survey an island, where they rescue a female eagle that has become sodden from a fall in the lake while Lassie protects her eaglet from a lynx. Neeka: Mark Miranda. Dean Chalmers: Robert Rockwell. Johnny Chalmers: Jeff Pomerantz.

"Day of the Wolf" (11/10/68):

While Dean and Scott continue their survey of the waterfront, Neeka and Lassie go fishing, but the boy must take charge when Lassie breaks her leg in a trap—and a wolf is stalking the injured dog. Neeka: Mark Miranda. Dean Chalmers: Robert Rockwell.

"Glacier Canyon" (11/17/68):

Dean is knocked unconscious repairing a gas leak on their cabin cruiser and a recovering Lassie braves icy waters to find Neeka and Scott, who are finishing up the last in a series of glacier studies. Then they must wait while the Coast Guard effects a rescue. Neeka: Mark Miranda. Dean Chalmers: Robert Rockwell. Dispatcher's Voice: Lloyd Nelson. Johnny Chalmers: Jeff Pomerantz.
   • Trivia: The cabin cruiser they are using is named the "Tongass Ranger," radio frequency WZ3325. The Coast Guard boat sent to the rescue is the "Cape Florida."

"Track of the Jaguar" part 1 (11/24/68):

Visiting the Denning quarter horse/cattle ranch to see if badly-burned land can be once again used for grazing, Scott helps a rancher when a jaguar threatens his livestock, including a newborn colt named Shooting Star whose mother Lady died giving birth after the jaguar frightened her. Billy Cameron: Paul Petersen. Paul Denning: Garry Walberg. Doc Barnes: Ed Prentiss.
   • Trivia: The horse Billy is exercising is "Sundance."

"Track of the Jaguar" part 2 (12/01/68):

After the jaguar attacks Billy's beloved bloodhound Jason, the boy joins Scott and Lassie in hunting the killer feline. But inquisitive Shooting Star follows Billy into the hills where he becomes the prey. Billy Cameron: Paul Petersen. Paul Denning: Garry Walberg.
   • Note: For some inexplicable reason, a cougar helps Lassie fight the jaguar away from Jason. We never learn why.

"New Horizon" (12/08/68):

When Scott and Lassie rejoin Bob in California, where he and graduate student Diane Stafford are working on ideas for underwater parks, they rescue a pelican—who returns the favor when Scott and Diane are trapped underwater by a net. Diane: Wende Wagner.
   • Note: This is one of the few episodes after "The Holocaust" that Bob and Scott are in together. Filmed at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California.

"Out of the Frying Pan" (12/15/68):

Lassie is kept busy while Bob and his partner exercise some forest service mounts in the surf: she's trying to protect a lost kitten who belongs to a dog-hating local woman from a predatory hawk while also chasing down Starfire, a recalitrant horse. Amy Baker: Ellen Corby. Al Jennings: Morgan Jones.
   • Note: Beefcake for 1960s Lassie fans: DeMave and Jones ride horseback shirtless!

"Lassie and the 4-H Boys" (12/29/68):

Two brothers disagree over the fate of Butch, their 4-H bull—Russ, who's made a pet of the animal, wants to keep him, but Ken wants to sell him for beef to earn their college tuition. So when Butch wanders away, Ken accuses Russ. Russ Hines: Jim Halferty. Ken Hines: Jerry Mathers. Mr. Hines: Steve Brodie. Judge's Voice: Lloyd Nelson.

"Deadly Game" (01/05/69):

Lassie's day with Jingo on his master's construction site turns too busy: first she pulls the beagle away from a blasting site, then, in trying to get him out of a house about to be demolished, Lassie is herself trapped. Hank: Roy Engel. Worker: H. Lloyd Nelson.

"What Price Valor?" part 1 (01/12/69):

Bruno, a war dog under rehabilitation, suffers from flashbacks after being exposed to blasting and escapes from his run. Warning the construction crew and local ranchers that Bruno is dangerous, Lassie, Bob, and his trainer Mike then try to find him before the others do. Mike: Norman Alden. Joe: Mike Farrell (billed as "Michael Farrell"). Carl: John Cliff. With Wayne Heffley.

"What Price Valor?" part 2 (01/19/69):

After Bruno stampedes a herd of horses and kills a calf, the area ranchers begin hunting the dog. Lassie, finding him first, tries to lead him home. Then Buck is thrown from his horse and it looks as if Bruno will attack him. Mike: Norman Alden. Buck Grant: William Smith. Joe: Mike Farrell (billed as "Michael Farrell"). Charlie Withers: Stuart Randall. Jim Malone: James McCallion.
   • Note: James McCallion used to play Mi Taylor opposite another 1960s animal star, King, of the the television series National Velvet, which also featured Arthur Space (Doc Weaver) as Velvet's father, Herbert Brown.

"A Chance to Live" (01/26/69):

While Bob surveys a potential campsite on the Oregon coast, Lassie befriends a mallard and her ducklings, but the animals are endangered by a quite innocent source: a man caring for his car in the woods. Jack: Bill Williams. Man: Sam Edwards.

"The Return Home" (02/02/69):

The owner of a dune buggy concession/club refuses to allow the Forest Service to stabilize an area of his property near a lake, where dune erosion threatens the lake and the nearby village. While Bob thinks of a way for Rick to keep his club and protect the dunes, the club's expectant mutt Lady keeps returning to the now sand-engulfed shack she once lived in—and ends up having her pups in the midst of the raceway. Rick Butler: Sammy Jackson. District Ranger: Bill Williams.
   • Trivia: Bob was evidently something of a mechanic in his younger years. He mentions that many a boy who tinkered with cars later became a pilot or astronaut. Was he perhaps also talking about himself?

"Tempest" part 1 (02/09/69):

Bob and Lassie visit the wild, surf-tossed Oregon coast where logs washed downriver into the bay are creating a problem, where they meet Jake Peterson, an old acquaintance of Lassie, a former forest ranger who now is a crab fisherman. The logs prove even more dangerous next day, when Jake takes Lassie out fishing with him. Jake Peterson: Ford Rainey. And Chief Tom McAdams as himself.

"Tempest" part 2 (02/16/69):

Huddled together in his disabled boat, Lassie and injured Jake Peterson ride out the tumultuous surf. But as the boat heads for the Cliffs, Bob and the Coast Guard begin a dangerous rescue. Jake: Ford Rainey. Pilot: Christian Drake. And Chief Tom McAdams as himself.

"To Catch a Crow" (02/23/69):

Scott's crusade to prove to congressman Ted Worth that a camp for Job Corps volunteers will not introduce "hoodlums and thieves" into the neighborhood is endangered when a crow snatches his son's watch, implicating Luke Roberts, a former deliquent determined to do something with his life. Luke Roberts: Richard Evans. Roy: Cal Bartlett. Ted Worth: Peter Hobbs. Phil Worth: Dan Ferrone.
   • Trivia: Scott was born and raised in Chicago, and, from a comment he makes, may have had a troubled adolescence.

"Walden" (03/02/69):

Lassie befriend Patricia Prescott, who refers to herself as "Walden," a free-spirited teenage girl, who has left home to live in the wilderness like her idol, Henry David Thoreau, after the young woman cleans up a picnic area. But both of them are endangered by aftershocks from an offshore earthquake. Walden: Hilarie Thompson. Sheriff: L.E. "Buck" Young. Dispatcher: H. Lloyd Nelson.
   • Note: Notice the City Hall Scott parks in front of early in the episode. This same set was also used as a hospital in the Timmy episode "The Dognappers."

"The Stalker" (03/09/69):

Lassie leads the search for a tiger that escaped while en route to the zoo. The frightened animal is on a rampage. Rick: Richard Tretter. Lori: Patricia Derby. Andy: Kevin Hagen. (TV Guide synopsis courtesy Sharon Turner.)

"Price of Wisdom" (03/16/69):

When Scott and Lassie visit Neeka and Dean Chalmers at their temporary home, Neeka takes Lassie with him to help finish collecting and identifying plants for a school project, and meet Clay Bowers, a former construction worker with a leg injury who has turned into a bit of a hermit. Neeka asks Bowers to help him with his project, partially to draw the embittered man out of his shell. Neeka: Mark Miranda. Dean Chalmers: Robert Rockwell. Mr. Bowers: R.G. Armstrong.
   • Note: Dean is on annual leave and is caring for Oakwood Lodge as a favor to his old friend Mr. Haskell.

"Night of the Ghost" (03/23/69):

Scott, Lassie and Neeka survey riding trails and camp out at the hotel of an derelict mining town reputed to be haunted by a wolf and the man who killed him. Whistling winds, falling objects and a sound like a wolf howl continue to spook both Neeka and Lassie, especially after darkness falls. Neeka: Mark Miranda.

"Time of Crisis" (03/30/69):

While his dad's in town, Neeka gets the idea to drive his father's truck. It strikes a rock, gas spills, and Neeka and Lassie escape in time, but the resulting explosion send the horses fleeing. When found, Neeka's horse Cloudy is badly hurt—and may have a broken leg. Neeka: Mark Miranda. Chalmers: Robert Rockwell. Dr. Samuel Roderick: John Harmon.
   • Note: Scott does not appear in this episode.

"Lassie and the Flying Squirrels" (04/06/69):

Lassie helps two flying squirrels find a new home.

"Moonshiners" (04/13/69):

Brothers Leroy and Woody, with their mongrel dog Charley, move into the Clear Lake National Forest in order to make moonshine undisturbed, but when Bob catches Woody buying supplies for their product, Leroy tries to distract the ranger—by setting a small fire in the tinder-dry forest. Woody: Wayne Sutherlin. Leroy: Buckland Noah Berry. Ranger: Patrick Waltz.
   • Note: Spike plays Charley.

          »» Sixteenth Season          «« Fourteenth Season          •• Episode Guide Contents Page